David’s P.O.V.
Then, I continued reading the game mechanics in front of those male third year students who just kept on scratching their heads on what I did. Now, they could not spoil their eyes anymore by looking closely at Helena from head to toe!
“Ano, naiintindihan niyo na ba? May malabo pa ba? Do you have any questions or do I still need to recall what I already explained to all of you?” maangas na tanong ko sa kanila.
As one of the Senior officers and with Corps Commander highest rank in the Citizenship Army Training, the Junior students should respect me whether they liked it or not. Kung ayaw nila, madali lang naman akong kausap. I always had the right to give them a punishment of fifty push-ups!
“Wala na po. Okay na po, Sir!” sagot ng mga nasa unahan—the same students na palagi namang pinapaulit-ulit si Helena sa pagsasalita kanina.
“Good!” I said as I held my head up high.
Time flew so fast and we didn’t notice that the Juniors’ obstacle course was done and because no one from them had seen the last flag, Helena was assigned to get it—to show them a proof that there was actually a gold flag. I wanted to join her pero pinigilan niya ako. Kaya na raw niyang mag-isa ‘yon at dito na lang daw ako para ipagpatuloy ang Seniors’ obstacle course.
Another hour passed and Brent’s group won over the others. It means that the Seniors’ obstacle course was already done as well and until now, Helena wasn’t yet able to find her way back. It only made me worry about her whereabouts.
Nasaan na ba siya? Bakit hindi pa siya bumabalik? I asked myself trying to think straight.
Isang oras pa ang lumipas at nagdidilim na rin ang paligid pero wala pa rin si Helena. Nag-aalala na rin ang mga guro. Ako? I was only carrying my backpack. Hindi ko lang pinapahalata but deep inside, sobrang nagpa-panic na ako. I was already afraid and nervous of thinking what might happen to her. Anxiety was slowly killing me.
I had to do something!
That was the main reason why I immediately grabbed a flashlight and took the direction where Helena had gone by. However, Mrs Cheng held me back because it was indeed dangerous.
“Pero, Ma’am naman… ano pong gusto ninyong gawin natin dito? Maghintay hanggang bukas? Kung delikado kasi masukal ang gubat, eh ‘di mas delikado para kay Helena dahil nag-iisa lang siya. Paano kung may masamang nangyari na pala sa kanya? Tatanga na lang po tayo rito? Wala na po tayong gagawin? Maghihintay na lang kung kailan siya babalik? Kung ganyan ‘yong paniniwala niyo, ako hindi. Hahanapin ko po si Helena. Kahit delikado, ililigtas ko siya. Ibabalik ko siya rito at hindi ako titigil hangga’t hindi ko siya nakikita,” mariing sabi ko. In the end, hindi rin nila ako napigilan.
Hanggang sa naramdaman kong may humawak sa braso ko. “Paano kung ikaw naman ‘yong mapahamak, Dave?” tanong ni Vanessa.
“Mas gugustuhin ko pang ako na lang, ‘wag lang si Helena. I can risk myself for her,” tinanggal ko ang pagkakahawak niya sa braso ko at nagsimula nang tahakin ang masukal na gubat na dinaanan ni Helena.
I even heard Brent shouted that he would help me search for Helena but I didn’t mind him anymore. Wala akong pakialam sa kanya. I didn’t have to join forces with him. Alam kong makikita ko si Helena kahit anong mangyari… at hindi ako susuko kahit mag-isa lang ako.
Malayo na ang narating ko at patuloy na ring kumalat ang dilim sa kapaligiran pero hindi ko pa rin nakikita si Helena.
Shit! I cursed.
It looked like the flashlight’s battery would be drained anytime soon. It was a good thing that I still had a small flashlight that I always brought just in case of emergency. I was also able to pack some foods in my backpack before I lost sight of Helena… but how I wished that I could have given her my whistle before she ran away to find the gold flag.
“Helena! Nasaan ka na ba?” sigaw ko. I also used my whistle to alert her wherever she was.
Pero wala akong narinig na tugon. All I could hear was the sound of different insects surrounding the forest. Alam kong hindi magiging madali pero hindi ako titigil sa paghahanap sa kanya. I wouldn’t give up on her!
“Helena!” I screamed again. Tumatagaktak na ‘yong pawis ko kahit napakalamig ng paligid.
Then, it started to rain until it had swollen the whole forest. Flood started to shroud the roots of the trees until I found myself seeing an almost horror movie setting. It was too dark, halos wala na akong makita. This made me worry even more about Helena’s whereabouts. I couldn’t help but think how she was coping up with this kind of scenario. I knew, she was too afraid because she was all alone. Kaya lalong hindi ako dapat sumuko.
Sa kabila nang lahat, kahit basang-basa na ako at hindi ako sigurado kung tama pa bang direksiyon ang aking tinatahak, ilang hakbang pa ang aking ginawa para lang mahanap ko siya. Dala na rin ng pagod, umupo muna ako sa tingin ko’y isang malaking ugat ng puno at nagpasyang magpahinga.
Ngunit hindi pa ako gaanong nakatatagal doon nang makarinig ako ng boses ng isang babae pero tila malayo pa sa pwesto ko ang kinaroroonan niya. “Tulong!”
“Helena?” bulong ko. Si Helena nga ba talaga ‘yon? Tumayo ako at naglakad nang muli dahil nabuhayan ako ng loob.
My hopes went high. I knew, I would be able to see her soon enough. I just had to become more determined not to lose my perseverance.
Sumigaw ulit ako sabay gamit ng pito. “Helena, ikaw ba ‘yan? Helena! Nasaan ka?”
Pero hindi siya sumagot. I almost ran even though it was too hard for me to surpass the flood, the roots and the mud. I didn’t care anymore what would I get at the end of this because Helena’s safety was more than enough for me.
“Helena!”
Nagpa-panic na talaga ako, pero mas ginanahan ako ngayon dahil alam kong nasa malapit na lang siya. I knew what I heard was her voice and no matter what happened, I would continue searching for her. Hindi ako babalik at hindi ko siya iiwang mag-isa lang dito.
Even though I was already tired, hungry, wet and cold, I continued searching the way I thought I heard her voice. I would find her and giving up would never be an option.
You can do this, Dave. Don’t give up on her. I whispered with conviction.