Chapter 4-5 (1/2)

Chapter 4: The Surface Is Different From Down Below

That night, Roselda couldn't explain her feelings. She was lying on her bed which was made from plied bamboos and covered with a wide banig1 or sleeping mat made from a softer type of buri2.  She's been trying to sleep but couldn't. Something was troubling her. Perhaps, she couldn't cast her mind off from what happened by the rocky area today.

He's a merman, she said in her mind. She still couldn't believe that she met a creature like him. A known pigment of imagination but in fact, real. Are there more others like him underwater, she asked herself. The questions kept on building in her mind.

She decided to get up and fetch water to drink. When she returned to her room, she opened the window. The moonlight pa.s.sed through the thin curtain hanging like a veil, and then struck the little jar placed on her table. Inside that jar was the black pearl given by the merman. It was soaked in the salt.w.a.ter as it shone under the moonlight.

Roselda came near the jar and peeked at the pearl. She didn't tell her Mamang and Papang about it when she got home.

It was already dark when she returned and her Mamang was waiting by the gate.

“Where did you wander off?” her mother started immediately as she came close. Concern was visible on her face.

She did a mano3 to her mother before politely responding, “Just around the beach, Mang. I picked some sh.e.l.ls and conches.” She showed her net bag that's full to the brim.

The elder didn't reply, only puckering at her.

“I’m sorry, Mang. I returned so late. I was so absorbed in collecting them.”

That's it. After her simple confession, she was then let in.

Roselda didn't really understand why they're so concerned every time she returned late. She knew it's only natural for parents to worry, but it's quite suspicious when they're too concerned about every small thing.

She gazed through the window and stared at the full moon. There were no clouds in the dark sky so she saw the wide expanse of the twinkling stars. So beautiful. She looked back at the black pearl inside the jar. Just as beautiful as this pearl, she thought.

—–

The mermen and mermaids were not allowed inside the palace but their anxiety could be felt around. Something bad had happened to their Head Maayo and everyone wanted to know what it was.

Managat had no idea about anything; yet, he felt grave things must have happened.

This translation is posted only in Sharramycats. If you're reading this on a different site then you're only nurturing aggregators.

“Please, calm down, everyone!” said one merman.

Although his thin lips can't be seen opening, everyone heard him in their minds. This merman was thin and has long arms and fingers. His bluish-gray skin suited his tail which was also grayish but with spots of black and pale blue colors. He's Umala, the counselor.

(AN: Dialogues of merpeople are originally italicized by the author, most probably since it's made through resonance to communicate instead of simply speaking.)

“Please, listen.” he raised his right arm and continued, “The Head Maayo has contracted a strange illness. A disease which has just appeared again since it was discovered a thousand years ago.”

This news has caused concern from the listeners.

“The Healer,” Umala looked at a stunted and a bit plump merman; white hair almost all fallen out  and with small eyes where vigilance were evident, a tail that's pure white with streaks of gray and light yellow on the side, and a mark on his chest that distinguished him as a healer: two horizontal lines with a dot beneath. He's Maalam, the Healer. Umala continued, “is doing all tests possible to find the cure for our dear Head Maayo.”

The healer nodded. He's one of the experts in this field; whatever disease was sent to him, he can cure them. And because of this, everyone finally calmed down.

“Do not worry,” Umala said while smiling―Managat had the pa.s.sing-thought that he must be pleased with what's happening―as he finished, “we will do everything we can to cure the Head.”

Gradually, the mermen and mermaids began dispersing from the palace door. Some of them were grateful, while others were still visibly shaken. On the other side, Managat was not encouraged by any of Umala’s statement. He knew that everything was much severe than told. He understood when he looked at the healer; he noticed a great deal of anxiousness from his eyes.

“Father!” he immediately called the healer.

The healer turned to him with sadness in his eyes.

Managat neared and asked, “What happened?”

He didn't respond to Managat immediately but instead looked into his eyes. “Son, I have sincerely prayed to Bathala4 to never let this disease appear again. But,” he shook his head, “some things couldn't really be evaded, and this is one of them.”

Roselda, on the other side, yawned. Finally, sleep has visited her, she said in her mind. She left her window open and walked back to her bed. Before she fell asleep, she thought once more of the sea and Managat, the merman. What could he be doing now?

—–

1Banig - a hand-woven sleeping mat traditionally made in buri2. It's typically used in earlier times in the Philippines but now could only mostly be found in provincial areas.

2Buri - a type of plant where its leaves are used in making mats and fans ()

3Mano - from Spanish term 'mano' (hand); a traditional gesture of respect to the elders in Filipino culture. The young 'uns take the offered right hand of the elder then presses it to their forehead and say ”Mano po”.

4Bathala - the supreme G.o.d in the Philippine Folklores (check TLseiji’s earlier post on  for more expository details.)