Edited by: Edmalyn Rose Petras

(LOVE STORY)

I WENT HOME then and it was too late when I felt he was following me again. I still feel the fear and horror all over my body every time I continue to walk with him always every night. I do not know who he is but I am confident that he is not an ordinary creature.

When I got home, I went straight to my room, but I stopped feeling until here he still followed me. With so much fear I felt I decided to look for him. And I saw him under my bed. My whole system trembled and my hair rose as he stared at me intently. Her red eyes doubled my fear and horror all over my body.

According to the stories I hear from the elders, the Sigbin people do not choose to be victimized as long as they find meat to eat, they will kill them. But I only wonder one thing, why is he not victimizing me? He should have eaten me before. But I think he is the reason why someone dies in my family every year. I quickly went to the warehouse to get the ax to stop the monster following me.

I was not even able to enter the room to face the monster under my bed when my family saw me holding an axe.

“Sister, it’s not her fault!” My brother stopped me.

I frowned. “You know him?” The only thing that came out of my mouth.

“He is not the one who kills our family,” Father began. “He is your protector whenever his people want to attack you.” Father further explained.

“But why is someone dying in our family?”

“It was in exchange for him to be with you, Dianne.” My Father’s short response.

I was stunned and did not speak. At that moment many questions arose in my brain. Why is he protecting me from his people? And what is his real purpose for me?

From my deepest thought the lights suddenly went out, I even wondered why Father lit a candle, but later I saw the monster come out of my room. I bravely approached him and held his head so he let me do that. The fear and horror I was feeling was replaced by a light feeling and sadness in the creature in front of me. I don’t know why, but when I looked into his eyes again, I seemed to know what that meant. He fell in love within me.

“Why do you like me. So we are different worlds?” I asked him.

He did not answer, only a gentle face I saw in him.

~*~

A year passed when I learned the truth about Sigbin who had always followed me. The light in my room always turned off so he could be free to do what he wanted to do. As I spent more time with him, I gradually fell in love with him. Maybe it’s really like that when you are close to something or that creature.

One night we were sound asleep when I felt Sigbin move next to me. I could hear him saying something so I was suddenly worried. I do not understand, but I know something bad will happen. My chest throbbed with fear when something thundered loudly on our roof. The door of my room opened and it gave birth to the Father and my brother who were obvious on their faces full of fear.

“I will be next,” Father said. “I love you all very much!” Father cried for us, so I couldn’t stop myself from crying.

I hugged Father tightly as well as my brother did.

I looked at Sigbin’s behavior with us as if he was ready to protect us. I let go of the hug and approached Sigbin. “It’s just that you remember indiscriminately with love.” Full of love I said.

After I said that he left without saying a word as the cracks in the roof disappeared. I think he went with his companions. He was sad to leave, but in my memory and in my heart he was the best creature that came into my life.

~*~

THE NEXT DAY, I woke up sad because the monster that always protected me was gone. When I arrived at the kitchen, Father had already served breakfast, my brother was helping him.

“Dianne,” Dad said at the dinner table. “I know Sigbin has been a part of your life. But there are times when we have to gamble or sacrifice, for the good of all.” This is the Father.

“Father, will he come back?” I will ask. That immediately came to my mind because of my concern for our friend Sigbin.

“He is kind to all the Sigbin I have met, son. Compared to his other creatures that eat human flesh and even animals. But I do not know if he can still come back to us.”

“I’m worried about him, Father!”

“We do not hold the fate” Father replied. He shook his head slightly when he said that.

“But why me? We are different worlds” I insisted.

“Come with me, Dianne! I’ll show you the world I grew up in before I met you.”

“My father and brother, I can’t leave them!” Shaking I said.

“I promise I will return you to your families” He was still convinced.

I took a deep breath before agreeing to his wishes. I accompanied him to the thick forest towards his world. I was riding behind him while he was running as if he did not care about the darkness, at least he was used to seeing in the dark. We stopped opposite the ballet because my hair was growing. Horror and fear I first felt at the same time as the strong wind blew. I hugged myself as Sigbin, who was with me, stood in front of the ballet.

“What are we doing here?” My question was full of fear.

“Do not be afraid my love. You will surely be happy when you are in our world”

I looked across the ballet tree. It’s really creepy and according to the rumors of the elders here all the elements are said to live. I swallowed. I was hesitant to join his world, but I was already here. Will I still retreat? I took a deep breath before I could finally get close to him.

I just didn’t seem to answer, but I just ate our breakfast. When night came I was lying on my bed and meditating while looking at the ceiling. Until now I had not forgotten the creature that protects me. I asked in my mind that I would be with him one last time.

I felt dizzy when I felt cold here in the room. My eye hit the open window. Astonishment flashed across my face because before I went to sleep, I closed the window. I got up and closed the window, but as I was about to go back to lying down I noticed something on my side. Its red eyes seemed to twinkle in the dark.

“S-Sigbin?” I said. When I met who it was.

“It’s me, Dianne” He replied.

I do not know if I will be happy or afraid of his return because I finally heard his voice.

“C-Can you speak?” I can’t believe it.

“Don’t be afraid, Dianne. Approach me!”

“I thought that would never come back!” I said. I slowly approached him. I still think that way on his face. Gentle, kind and loving Sigbin.

“I came back for you” He said.

“Why did you bring me back?” I will ask.

“I want to be with you, Dianne. I want to stay by your side. The words you said to me last night will inspire and make everyone realize.” He explained.

“No one will hurt any of you, dear” He said.

I nodded in response to what he said. My eyes witnessed how the tunnel slowly opened. I was held in Sigbin’s hand.

“Close your eyes” He said. I followed what he said. I just feel my feet stepping. I know we have entered the tunnel.

“We are here my love” I heard him say.

I slowly opened my eyes. I was amazed at how beautiful I could see. You look like you are in paradise, but you will meet other creatures. All the different elements are here. The fear I felt was replaced by a smile.

“Nice” I said in amazement.

“This is our home,” he said. He started walking and I accompanied him. “Only a few of us have a gun.” He added.

“Why do some of you kill?” I asked curiously.

“We need to protect our home because other people are bullying our home.” Sigbin answered me.

We arrived at a small bamboo house. We went in and he made me sit on the wood while he just stood there.

“I have another question that has always haunted my mind.” I said. He nodded in response to what I said. “Why are you protecting me from people like you Sigbin? And why do you kill someone from my family every year?”

He did not say a word for a long time, but later he also said that I was shocked and could not believe it.

“Year 2010, that night. We were in the forest with my fellow tribesmen and an old man got lost in the ballet. He was out of breath and tired as if at any moment he would run out of breath. He was when he saw us. My other colleagues were planning to eat him, but I stopped him because I only felt good for the old man. He was pitiful to look at at that time because he was suffering from illness. And it was given to him to sleep until we had healed him.

“In return for coming to give us his daughter. But he did not comply with our agreement. We warned him that if we do not give what we want. There is another replacement. That is death. Dianne, so I protect you because My compatriots are forcing you to take you even if there is a replacement. Every time I watch you I have a strange feeling. We do not hide these kinds of feelings because we are monsters when people consider us.”

I could not speak immediately when he finished telling the story. I still can’t believe that Father or I can do this. Why does Father seem to tell me a different story? Suddenly I burst into tears because my Father lied.

“I’m going home,” I said despite my sobbing.

“I understand how you feel” He said.

He led me out of the tunnel. I looked at the ballet tree where I was standing in the tunnel we came out of. I then climbed up behind Sigbin after that he started running back home.

“Thank you,” I said as we were across the house. “Are you leaving again?” I’m still connected.

“I will come back to visit you” He replied.

“Thank you again,” I said and kissed him on the cheek. “You’re coming back!” He nodded softly in response to what I said.

I entered the house and went straight to my room. I looked at the clock, it was 3:30 am. Because I was drowsy, I did not realize that I had fallen asleep.

The next day, I confronted Father with his lie because I told him about going to the home of the elemental creatures. He immediately apologized to me and I was immediately given another chance.

Since then I have not seen the Sigbin.

THE END