Chapter 21 - its a jungle out there and another memory for me

I woke up but my body is buried with the earth I tried to pull away luckily its still soft. The destruction of the landslide cause by the overgrown trees. I still got my compass and my survival equipment.

My body got some cuts and bruises but I could manage, there is a wild banana I could use the sap of the tree to treat my wound and covered it with a banana leave. It rain heavily now. But I need to head west using a compass the red color represent north and black represent south.

I need water, I see a pitcher plant where it store water and drink it. Its rain water it should be fine, its getting darker and it will be dangerous to travel. I climb up the canopy tree because a lot of dangerous snakes roam here especially the reticulate python. Over here in the wild only Allah knows what lies deep in the jungle. Its really cold now. Because my clothes is wet.

“I have to make fire or else I will have hyperthermia…”

I find anything dry to make fire. Once I manage to start a fire thanks to my multipurpose machete sheath it has the basic needs to start a fire.

It started to get fogy due to the rain. This is all thanks to the military training and Darrel’s teaching. I eat insect now to get nourishment. But I also found butot a type of worm that eat the tree bark. I cook it and eat it. I’m pretty sure they all are worried about me.

The rain still never stop. This is still a dangerous place to be, I climb up the tree, and surely I saw I really large snake slithering on the ground. I could see from a far. At least 30 feet, I see even monkey is also quite. I slowly walk between branches, I look for a spot to sleep. I shut my eyes for a while.

Someone is talking to me.

“Hey Alex….what are you doing ?”

Its Darrel

“Get up kid!!”

I woke up its already morning and the fog covers the jungle, its a beautiful sight. But I had to return back. Once I head down from the trees, I heard a sound of water, and I head there is a waterfall. I used the compass, and head to the west. The forest is really serene and peaceful but its also dangerous to proceed with caution.

The place is filled with the orchids that I once hang with Frederica, I took one of the petal and keep it in my pocket. I head again using the compass. Its luckily that I found a waterfall. I drink some of the water to fill me. If I used the river path it will lead somewhere but I believed that the pathways is the upstream of the forest. Slowly the river become calm. But it's getting smaller.

“Shit.. this is getting nowhere…”

There is no sign of civilisation, but slowly I reach an abandon shack that was once a place for the loggers to rest, but I need to be careful for wild animals inside.

Seems safe. I entered the shack hoping finding something useful, an axe, but it's rotten. I continued again, along the way I felt somewhat weak, and I fainted. I suddenly hear someone is talking, but its not them.

“Mom…?”

I woke up, I’m in a village somewhere. My body is covered with some sort of medicine. Someone is looking at me, and they speak somewhat similar to the Lun Bawang. I tried to speak in Lun Bawang

“Ire iko?”

The man did not understand. The man wore a tribal dress, which is something only to be seen in the documentary.

“Kineu akam ko’?”

He speaks in Penan. I assume whether I’m ok or not, and I nod.

“Jian temeu.”

They speak in the Penan language which I said to them

“Wih Lun Bawang…”

They seems to understand me and another girl look at me, she look at the same age as me, she smile at me.

She speak in Lun Bawang which I understand.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Alex, I just got lost in the jungle due to a landslide”

“You are lucky then because there is thunderstorm pass by”

When I head outside of the house, its a community of them. I head out now I’m really don’t where am i.

“May I know what place is this?”

“Ummm….this is home…”

“Eh?”

“Yes, you lived where…?”

“In the city…”

“What city, what is a city?” Oh no…now I feel back in time. In the tribal era.

“Ummm big house….big road…..no jungle…”

“Never heard of it…”

“Uh…I from the other side of the forest…”

“Wow never seen it before….” This is getting nowhere.

“I need to return home…”

“Well you still hurt, you ribs is broken is surprising that you survive that…”

Now I understand with the banana wrapping. My clothe is already rip apart. Seems I need to rest before I travel back home.

The man took my machete and said to her

“My father ask me this strange weapon, its made with an usual stuff…”

“Its made from metal”

“Metal?”

“Uh…rocks melted and turn to steel..”

Its a small community which at least 20 people here.

“We usually move to another place to another…but we just started to lived here.”

“May I know your name?”

“Tama..”

“A…lex…”

“Yes Alex…”

“Alex…”

“Yes my name…”

They look at me in a strange way, because my skin is much fairer to them. And their hairstyle is a coconut style. I observe their way of life. They are hunter gatherers. They eat anything from the jungle.

With me my body is still hurt of the ribs. They offer me a food and medicine, I stay there for a while but Tama is always following me. To them I look like a giant.

But I could not wait any longer because they are looking for me. I took some stuff and they give me food. Tama said that they will escort to sent me back.

“I need to go to Long Pasia…”

“Long Pasia…ok…I will ask father…”

They seems to know Long Pasia. Tama wave goodbye and I followed them in the jungle again. This time they expertly shown me how to traverse the jungle. They teach me how to go through the pathway of the river. They know this jungle like their backyard. We reach to a place only to hear a helicopter passing by. It must be them looking for me. Once reach the place on a hill they pointed at and its Long Pasia, I could seen it from a far. They said to me this is end of their travels and wanted to return home, I thank them and hold their shoulder. We part ways. I walk towards the deep jungle until I found civilisation a road. Finally I slowly walk until reach Long Pasia.

Some of the people were surprised to see me and said

“Hey!! Are you the lost boy?”

“I was separated when a landslide struck”

“Hey called the research centre we found him”

“How many days I have been lost?”

“3 days…”

“Shit…I’m late to school…”

A pickup truck arrived and Tomal is there.

“Oh god!! Thank goodness you safe…”

“Uh…sorry…”

“You better but we wanted to sent back your friends but they did not wanted to…”

“uh…haha”

I felt a sharp pain its because of my broken ribs. I fainted again. I woke up again, and I’m in the a clinic. Laying in bed.

I see Hana and Sylvia is there.

They still asleep, where Amin and Mariam is there as well. Mom is next to me

“You awake…”

“Yeah…”

“Thank god you are safe…”

“Yeah lucky I guess…”

“How did you manage in the jungle?”

“I met the penan people…they the one that help me, and fixed me up”

“heh…you just give everyone a heart attack you know…”

“yeah…sorry…”

“But the penan people….it seems the nomadic tribe is here within the Long Pasia region”

“Yeah mom….I still remember where it is…because a helicopter pass by…”

“Its Miranda, She is worried sick…”

I heard people running and Miranda is there. She hugged me

“Oh god you are safe…that was a stupid thing you did…”

“Its fine…I’m ok just a broken ribs…”

“Its still not a good you really make everyone scared”

Hana wakes up first

“Big brother?…Big Brother!!!” She hugged tightly my rib still hurts

“Hey you want break my ribs again?”

Mariam and Amin wakes up and they jump at me and shouted

“You idiot!!!”

“Shit man, you really survived the jungle…”

“Hahaha…yeah..”

Sylvia saw me and started to cry and hugged me

“yeah….I’m safe and sound…”

My ribs!! It hurts like hell. Hana seems allowing it…though…mom also did not respond to it.

“Well, when we all heard from Tomal what really happen, Sylvia just charge towards the jungle and shouted I don’t want him to be alone there!!”

“Yeah, I’m fine still in one piece okay?”

“Not okay…”

“Mom…did you call Mr Rahman?”

“Yeah he said as long you all are back safely”

“The storm was unexpected….”

“Hey Tomal…”

“Well how is the jungle…”

“Beautiful…”

Miranda asked me

“Hey how did you manage to find here?”

“With a compass but with the help of the Penan people..”

“I could not be, the Penan is from the south…it must be one of the native here that have not yet discovered…”

“Maybe because they look at me like some alien…”

“I’m surprised that you are calm that time…”

“Don’t know, I felt the jungle is my home…”

“That is something kid…maybe next I could invite you”

“Yeah…”

“Seems Sylvia does not want to let go…” 😏 Mariam

“uh….could you let me go….”

“No…”

“Everybody is going to kill me like this….”

“no…”

“Hey…I’m fine….I’m not dead yet okay….” Why everyone is not surprised by this?

“You don’t know how much Sylvia is crying, like Hana….” Amin

“Ceh…I’m here already will ya…”

“Dude….you know a normal person would not survived that….”

“Maybe next you with me in the jungle…”

“Don’t forget me!!” Mariam

“Yeah me too Big brother!!”

“Me too….”

Ugh she tightly squeeze me, that rib is still painful😨

“mom…”

“You going to take flight back to KK, you need to be in the hospital…”

“Uh… I don’t think so, there is nothing wrong with me…though…”

“Really..?” Ouch she touch my ribs and it hurts like hell!!

“Alex do you still remember the place again?”

“Yeah sort of…”

“May need to visit again…”

“How about now…because I remember Tama told me that they moving…”

“Who is Tama?” Mariam, Sylvia and Hana

“Eh?”

“Who is Tama?” Mom

“uh…a girl….”

“wow…just like that you manage to meet another girl eh…”😙 Amin

“Asshole, she is there to treaty my wounds…”

“How does she look like?”

“Tribal, almost naked…” eh wait…is this trap question but I did said honestly 😯

“Kukuku…😈”

“Big brother….😠…”

“………” Sylvia is silent

“uh….? What is going on…” don’t just assume I getting another girl..💢

“She is one of the tribe member that could speak Lun Bawang…”

“Interesting she could understand it, how does she really look like…” Tomal not you also, you want to die again?

“We need to visit that place again…” you go not me with this girls in front of me look to pounce me

“We going to ride the helicopter…”

“Mom…?”

“Alright, there nothing to worried about…Alex is stupid”

“Yep he is…” is that what are you going to say to me Mar?

“Yep big brother is stupid…” not you also Hana

“Yep he is an idiot…you have me…and now you looking for another girl…” don’t say anything that make another misunderstanding!!💢

“Alex I think you fit enough to join the helicopter…”

“Yeah do you have anyone that could speak Penan?”

“I could because I always meet them…”

“Then Alex, Miranda and Tomal you go…” mom

“uh…I think not I’ve got a bad feeling if I visit that place again…”

“No choice because you seen it and remember the place…”

“Uhh….”

Sylvia does not want to let me go.

“Uh…I don’t, I can go…look she stuck here…”

“Today you all could rest at my house tonight…” don’t!!! 😱

Sylvia suddenly let go

“Okay mother-in-law…”

“Uh hum….just Aunt Mas okay…control yourself…”

“Got it…I will wait here” she is obedient with mom.. or is just this chill in my back

We took the helicopter and flew to the place and we finally found it, I never realise that I over a 50km from the research centre.

“You really travel that far…”

“Yeah…”

We manage to landed the helicopter and meet the elder again.

Seems Tomal is talking to the elder, Miranda ask me

“I’ve got a bad feeling…”

“What do you sense…big sis?”

“You know that if you return here and that elder suddenly approach is something else…”

I got chills in my back…

Tomal started to run towards me and said to me

“Get in the helicopter now, let me and Miranda here talking to them….its not safe…”

“Eh?”

“please….if you don’t want to return back to the city….” I got a feeling that is something to do with me

“Honey, just tell him…I also had this feeling already…”

“They said the girl that called Tama feel in loved with you and wanted to marry you…”

“EH!!!!!!” What the hell😱

“They said you look like a strong warrior that could carry a strong offspring…”

“Oh shit….” 🥶

“Ah ya….Alex you better run…”

I slowly entered the helicopter and I saw Tama is inside the helicopter…

“Eh?...”

She suddenly smile at me

“Alex!!!” And clinging to me😱

“Big brother Tomal !!!”

“Ah cha….this is bad and also funny honey let me stay and try to talk to the elder properly”

“Got cha…”

Miranda is with me and said

“I heard from your friends that you are a natural lady killer?” Those jackass💢

“Nah…you got it wrong…”

“Oh really, so how do we settle this?”

“I don’t know….” Oh how I really wish I just got stuck in jungle and die there at peace.

“Big sis you don’t know that I’m not going to survived this…”

“Just bare with it…while Tomal is explaining the situation”

Tomal return back

“Ok its settle but the elder wanted her to learn the outside world, so about marry her is just her wishes but not her father so you don’t worry about that…”

Huh…safe…I could just take the helicopter and flies off if its goes south.

“But they said is like a she represent the village for her to learn…”

Miranda asked her

“How old are you?”

“…..maybe 14?”

“Okay very well…let me talk to Aunt Mas first…”

“Uh ok, ok, ok, uh….are you sure….?”

“Your mom allowed It and wanted to adopt her…”

Eh!!? What the hell is this? Where the hell she will stay? Don’t tell me?

“Your mom said she will be your new little sister….😅”

“shit…”

“Language…!💢” Miranda

“Ugh….this is the bad feeling that I felt…back at Long Pasia”

We return back to Long Pasia, I saw my friends is waiting for me, when we landed.

“It is possible ask the pilot just sent me back to KK?”

“nope…its too far…just used the plane…”

“Well….its your problem now….” Don’t just leave this girl to me💢

Mom head first and smiling like a devil

“Welcome Tama….😈” ugh….she is up to something now…

The smiling faces of my friends turn to something else.

“Yo….are you serious….” 😮 Amin, shut up and die bastard

“Kukuku…..what a development….” Mariam….please die….

“Big brother is bringing another girl….”

“Darling…..” She turn a yandere expression ☺️

“uh…this not what you guys think…”

“What else…another girl trouble…” 😏 Mariam

“Mom…is big brother bringing other girls again?”

“Who knows…” Mom that is not what you guys think!!

“Alex” she is smiling

And she greeted them.

Mariam smile at her and greeted her.

Sylvia however is looking for blood and tried to calm her down

Hana also introduce herself to her.

Tama smile and introduce herself in Lun Bawang

“I’m Tama” which I translate to them

Amin hold my shoulder

“You the best…” he thumbs up to me,

“💢 oho….” He is dead. I head lock him, and knock his head

“Hey hair do!!”

Where fighting like little children while Mariam double kick us, straight to our face.

“Looks like its settle, well then Aunt Mas, where is Tama is staying?”

“At my house, she is Alex new adopted little sister…”

“Eh.?” Did mom decide out of whim

“Kukuku….what kind of a gossip that I could tell her😈” this is getting from bad to worst

“……this time is could not hold it any longer…” Sylvia😠 ugh not you….

“Yay!! A new big sister!!” At least she is not going for a kill

“Then let us pack our bags and return home….”

“mom…”

“Yeah…”

“Could I visit her one last time?”

“sure…go ahead, Hana will help you pack your stuff…”

“I have visit her already…”

“I’ll follow you, my stuff has already been pack…” - Sylvia

I went ahead while Sylvia followed me behind.

“You go on ahead this will be a long conversation…”

“No…but at least I could accompanied you….”

“but…I going to cry like a baby you know…”

“And I will be there to hug you…” ugh…

“fine…”

We reach the cemetery, I visit my grand parents

My grandma’s name

“Lunang A/P Mamang born in 1899 - 1991” she always loved to tell stories

“Julong@ Stevenson A/L Palong born in 1892 - 1991” grandpa is the one that mom tell me that he choose that name for me “Alexander…”

“Hey grandpa and grandma I’m sorry that I did not went your burials, I’m ashamed…at myself..”

I remember how I hang around with them…

“I have to go grandpa….grandpa…”

Next I visit her grave

“Hey Frederica….thank you for being my friend…even though it was short but it was meaningful in my life…..”

I had flashback in my life with her but this another farewell for me to leave this village where I grew up and born here. Where she hold my hand, where we played together all in my memories, she has always been in me….therefore I’m not going to lose it again.

“This is goodbye, Frederica….love you always…in my heart”

I started to cry. Everything that hold for years had let go again, this time I cried out loud. Someone from behind hold my arm, and I see Sylvia she hold me to her chest. It is warm, I cried as loud as I could

“Just let go….you gone through a lot…”

I cried like a baby. Sylvia is there to comfort me, for me is not love but someone who could share my pain in my heart.

“There…there…just stay still….”

Once I have done visit their grave, we waved goodbye to the people of Long Pasia with Miranda and Tomal. Once the airplane takes off, we saw the people there wave us goodbye.

I sat next to Amin.

“Loved this place, I wanted to visit this place again…”

“Yeah we loved it!!” - Mariam

“Good you all will be invited again…” mom

I look at the window where the village is getting smaller when we reach the clouds. Everything that I remember all of my past when through.

I leave it with a smile

“Thank you…Frederica….Natalie…”

I close my eyes…

We landed in KK airport where a ride a shuttle to head home, Dad is busy again with work. We stay there for the night at my house.

Mom said to us

“We make dinner, let me see what do we have here, since they give us a lot of “Kelupis and baked Butot…”

“Butot?”

“Is a type of worm…is really good..”

“Geh….” Mariam, Amin is disgusted

I ate it and they all are surprised

“You eat that?”

“Yeah…” hehehehe😈

“I wonder what you eaten in jungle?”

“Ummm caterpillar, butot, centipede, any insect I could find.. just get me energy…”

Everyone 😨

Sylvia eat the butot as well

“yum…like chicken…”

Hana eat it as well

“Yum…”

“Geh….” Mariam

“Hehehe…hey Amin☺️ come on man…”

“I’ll pass….”

I shoved it to his mouth and chew it. Mariam is horrified but also entertain

“How does it taste like honey?”

“Umm yum…it taste like chicken, come on honey😊”

“Get that thing out of my face!!!😖 hey honey don’t!!!!”

Amin forced her to eat and Mariam is surprised

“It does taste like chicken…”

“Alex could eat it alive though…”

😱

Tama eat the butot and said

“This is a rare food…only the rich could eat this…” Tama

“Then last night, what did ate the medicine that you give me?”

“Its made from a blood of a monkey, and bat wing…”

Everyone looked at me😒

“Hahah…that is something..”

“Go wash your mouth or drink the detergent for me will ya” Amin

“Hey when you guys gotta fresh-up!! Alex show them the room!!”

“Ahh…okay…”

When we all had dinner, while others is chatting with Tama she started to speak a bit of malay which Mariam teach her. I went outside, and wiping my bike. Mom give me an envelope

“What is this mom?”

“Is for you…from Frederica’s Parents”

“….”

I open it, its a picture of me and Frederica, nothing in mind now but I only smile. But I had this strong feeling for Natalie where she is the one that I loved but I know that many others wanted this but I want to make sure they not really hurt by this.

“Thanks mom”

When I look at Frederica is like looking together with Natalie…and now Sylvia.

“Mom?”

“Yeah?”

“Why mom letting Sylvia be part of this games of yours?”

“Alex…the reason I accepted Sylvia is because I like her, and also Natalie they both have what you look at. Someone who cared for you not by the outside but inside…”

“Really mom…but I loved Natalie…”

“I know…I don’t want you to have regrets in life when you started to reminiscing the past like with Frederica…because mom knows that you look at Natalie like you did with her…and now Sylvia…”

She is spot on, because the three of them is really drawn to me. Now there is two of them. Is it because they really is that really connected to me.

“But I treat Sylvia like a little sister to me…”

“I know that as well…but nothing like an experience with love…but don’t hurt them okay…just protect them like you cared for them…”

Mom really set my pathway what she wanted it to be. Natalie is same goes to you right? But now I had something about Sylvia too…this is getting crazy for me I really wish that I really hope that day I will decide all of this and ended this games that mom make for me. Mom also give another picture this time is with Sylvia I wonder when she did take that picture, at the hills!! That mean they see all of it.

Oh dammit that is embarrassing.

I kept that picture in my secret album as part of my memories. While Amin is sleeping I finally wrote my journal in my laptop. Writing the days that I had my rise and fall and what i have been doing since.