AOMI
Nang makapasok kami sa mansion ay agad na sumalubong sa akin ang isang buhay na puno sa mismong gitna ng sala. Nakakulong ito sa isang glass cage at walang bubong ang sumisilong dito kaya't ang sinag ng araw ay nakakapasok rito at naiilawan ang dahon na siyang nagpapakinang dito na parang glitter.
The inside of the mansion looks more like a jungle unlike the Jurassic kingdom theme outside. Everything on the walls itself tells that the owner of the place is a nature addict. The huge walls are painted with forest images with different creatures, from the small ones up to the dinosaurs that I have never seen before. Some of the meat-eating monsters of the Jurassic period looks realistic and so are some of the sea monsters painted on the floor.
The chandelier designs are like tree branches with its lightbulbs in the center of the flower. The couches are in emerald green silk paired with a brown wooden table. The vases are like made from 300 year old clays which is totally way expensive than my house. The hanging frames are also made of varnished woods with crafted leaves and flowers.
"What do you think wife?" Biglang tawag sa akin ng asawa ko na ngiting-ngiti na pinagmamasdan ang reaction ko. I was too focused on the surrounding that I did not even know why the hell am I in front of the glass wall where the tree was planted.
"Well..." I wandered my stare again at every corner of the living before glancing back at my husband. "I feel like I'm in a forest inside a mansion."
I just hope there are no hanging monkeys on the kitchen or snakes in his master bedroom. Talagang tatakbo na ako paalis at lalanguyin ko ang dagat pauwi.
As I look at my husband, I already see him clear his throat to stop his chuckle before speaking, "You haven't seen the kitchen yet." He said giving me his grin like the kitchen will be worse than the living room.
***
"Holy crap!"
The last thing I expected is seeing a deadly animal in the kitchen that I often see in tv shows. Para akong mahihimatay nang makitang may mga makamandag na ahas na nakasabit sa mismong chandelier ng kusina at ang posisyon ng mga ito ay parang handang umatake sa tao.
"Triton! What the hell?"
"Relax baby, they're not real."
Halos mangiyak-ngiyak na ako habang nakatingin sa nakasabit na king kobra at rattlesnake na parang tatalon na mula sa chandelier.
"What if your visitor has a heart problem?" Reklamo ko sa kaniya na tinawanan niya lang habang dinuduro ko ang chandelier. I do not want to see anyone collapsing in here if someone just wants to visit. Specially my family who's not even fond of any animal!
"Don't worry. I don't take people here other than you and my family. This place is to special for some random people to visit." He explained as he try to calm me down by hugging me from the back.
This man is really secretive. He likes keeping secret from other people but he's slowly opening his door when a person becomes very close to him. I love it though. Pinagsisihan ko tuloy na naging open ako nang bongga sa maraming tao tapos hindi naman pala sila magtatagal. I trust easily and end up regretting it in the end. I should have been more cautious.
"Well then that's good news. You don't have a hospital in here nor a clinic. We don't have any place for emergencies."
"Well, I built this place where everything you need is in it. I have my little clinic inside so don't you worry that much."
Wala naman akong nagawa kung hindi ang bumuntong hininga at tumango nang marahan. I almost forgot that he is a safety freak. He's a biologist after all so life for him (animals or not) is very important.
"Then that's better. Now, are you gonna tour me again or are we eating already?"
Other than the fancy furniture and the jungle like style of the kitchen including the green grass carpet, the wooden crafted dining chairs and the round table, I can already see some food stocks on the kitchen cabinet with transparent doors.
I immediately felt hungry and thought of cooking food for lunch. It has been hours since we got here and its already 10:45 am. I need to prepare something for us to eat.
"Well if you're hungry, I think we should really make our meals before we go to Hilda."
Agad na nagsalubong ang kilay ko nang magbanggit ang lalaki ng hindi pamilyar na pangalan. "Who the hell is Hilda?"
I have never heard of that name in my whole life! Is it some random woman? Maybe a family of him I haven't seen or heard before?
"You'll know him after we eat." He shortly answered before walking towards the fridge.
My dubious look even worsen as I squeeze my eyes looking at him but he can't see me since he already went to the kitchen cabinet and started taking some ingredients.
Did he just say him? Hilda is a him? Now I'm getting more confused. I have never heard him talking about his Hilda and I have never heard of a man named Hilda.
"Are you helping sweety?" He asked without even turning his head back to face me and making himself busy with taking some meat in the fridge beside the cabinet.
Instead of asking more or even forcing him to talk about it, I just walk to him and started helping him out with the ingredients of our dish. It'll just come out later for sure.
***
"So, about this Hilda you want me to meet, can you tell me about her?"
Since the both of us are now cool and comfortably eating to fill our empty stomach after the long flight to come here, my mind won't stop bothering me until I eventually come up and ask.
"It's not her babe. Hilda is a male."
I stop myself from scooping with my spoon and look at him while frowning. How the hell did that happen? I never thought Hilda can also be a name for men?
"Sounds peculiar."
"I know. I named him." He immediately claimed as he feeds himself again.
My forehead immediately raised while looking at him as I try to beg for a clearer explanation. Hindi ko maintindihan kung anong nangyayari hanggang sa mapagtanto ko kung sino ang tinutukoy niya.
"Are we talking about your gorilla friend?"
Why did I even forget about it? We have been talking about that monkey before we even got here! Of course he will name that gorilla! He just said he's a friend!
"Yes. And I prefer you calling him by his name." Him owning a gorilla is already shocking news but I have never thought that he'll give a woman's name to a male! I think I really married a mad man!
"W-well...okay. I suppose you want me to treat your friend like a human. I see."
Now this is getting really creepy. I have never thought of anything like this in my whole life. Are zoologists really like this or he is just unique?
"Aomi, please. Don't be rude to him. He never done anything wrong to you. And besides, you haven't seen him yet. I love you but please respect my friend." The way he begs at me made me realize how heartless I am. Where's the understanding wife I plan to be? I can't even respect my husband's love and care for other creatures.
Maybe this is the problem of being not a nature nor an animal lover. I become cruel to the environment and ignore the things that the world is giving. My husband on the other hand is very caring and I loved him for that. Human or animal, he always gives his love and care. I don't deserve such perfect man.
"I'm sorry baby." Paghingi ko ng tawad dito habang malamlam na tinitigan siga sa mata. I don't even know why he liked me in the first place. I am not even as good as him. All I know is that, I'm a workaholic lady with a family to feed until I met him on a seminar. We just got comfortable with each other and now, we're married.
"Oh no baby. You don't say sorry to me. I will introduce you to him and you'll be a nice friend too okay?" He still sounds pleasing and with gentle respect and understanding.
I have no choice but to nod before continue eating my lunch since I have an acquaintance later on.
***
"This place is so huge Triton! I might get lost in here."
We have been walking for so long but we are still not yet on the cage he was talking about. Well hindi naman umabot ng oras ang paglalakad namin but I just feel like finding it will take us forever! Ilang liko na ang ginawa namin, ilang pintuan na ang nilagpasan pero wala.
"Turn right honey and you'll see it." I sighed heavily before obeying and turned right that made me stop and gasped.
I was thinking of a normal sized cage with metal grills just like how I see it in zoos or in some animal movies. Turns out the cage he's talking about is no ordinary. It is way bigger and way better than how it goes in movies.
The walls are made of strong transparent glass which enables us to see the forest-like environment inside the cage. It is so huge that I can even see man-made ponds on it with living fishes. I even bet a falls can fit in there! There are a lot of fruit bearing trees you can name inside the cage like a perfect forest. From the green grasses to the small butterflies flying, you can already call it a normal forest.
"Welcome to Hilda's mansion sweetie." My mouth is hanging open as I wander my gaze at every side of the forest although you can never see it completely since the cage is really big.
I bet the size of the cage is half of this huge mansion. It occupies almost half of the island so I will not be surprised if the I really get lost in his house.
"This cage is more expensive than the half of this mansion." I bet he paid at everything living inside this cage. From the plants to the rare insects and the other animals inside it, I bet it costs too much that can already have the same worth as my life's payment.
"Nah. The prize is not that high. I did not bring any highly expensive animals or some wild plants. All I wanted is to create a mini-ecosystem for Hilda."
Mini? Does this look like a mini to him? If it is then I don't know how to differ huge and small anymore.
"Speaking of that friend of yours, where is he? Your male gorilla with a woman's name?" My curiosity about its name is taking my whole mind. Of all the names in the world, why Hilda?
I waited for his answer and turn my head to face Triton who's giving me this warm smile.
"I met him in a jungle in Africa. He was wounded so I asked for my team to get him for me and I took him in my personal zoo and helped him. Since I tend to forget what I learn, I forgot about distinguishing male and female western lowland gorillas. I thought at first that he was a girl because of his face not until I realized I was not looking at his balls. I did not change his name anymore because I want to remind myself how stupid I am even if I studied a lot." He started chuckling and so I stop myself from laughing before rolling my eyes.
This man is really kind hearted to animals. I can never imagine how his life runs before I came to his life. I don't see him doing his work like how zoologists do. Maybe he loved his work so bad.
"Next time, don't get some random animal and name it already. You just made your gorilla look gay." We started laughing at each other but then we both stopped when we heard a loud drumming sound. I thought it was some ringtone or what but I got surprised when my husband immediately pulls my wrist to make me walk a bit closer to the wall.
The good thing about the cage is that, I can still hear the inside of it but not that much. I have never thought that someone is drumming inside. Who could that be?
"You heard it sweety? Its Hilda beating its chest." My eyes got widened and I turn my head back at the wall at a lightning speed. I don't know why but a great anticipation is building inside my heart. It is like, I will be seeing a once in a lifetime phenomenon.
I wandered my gaze while hearing the drumming sound again which made my heart beat even faster. After a second, I saw a giant monkey covered with a coarse black hair but unlike its back, you can see that its fur is in gray color.
It is walking in a very proud manner while its big chest is out and its huge arms moving along with its feet stepping on the green grass. After a second, it stopped walking while looking at us then it started hammering its chest. Making my heart halt in too much amusement.
***