World After Worlds

The Datu had cried and cried and cried until his tears dried up. Covering her body with satin silk, they head back to the banwa to commence her burial. She died unjustly that's why Datu Pita wanted to give her the most grandiose funeral to have passed on to another life with no remorse. 

Upon the arrival of the body, the people of the Banwa who loved their young lady dearly mourned along with Datu Pita's loss. 

Maki who received the news had walked rapidly at first but found himself running to see Datu Pita who had Yanar's body. He halted when he saw a large cocoon visage that was being carried by Datu Pita himself. He had to reach out for something to lean on as he felt his knees staggering. He doesn't want to believe it but how can he not if the Datu confirmed it? 

His mind goes blank and his body moves on its own, wishing to see her again even though she was all bones. He had their future laid. If she is found he will accept any punishment. How come she came back dead? What went wrong? How did she die?

"Datu Pita," Maki called out. The Datu absentmindedly ignored him and brought his daughter back home. Lapil who became temporarily in charge of handling the matters on the banwa prevented Maki from stepping on the balay of the Datu. 

"Datu Pita needs time alone with his daughter." He said politely but there is an authoritative tone with it. 

"I have to see her." He replied inattentively and brushed off Lapil's arm that interrupted him. Lapil looked at the young man who seemed lost just like Datu. Then, he wondered if this is one of the young lady's admirers in this land. If he was, there's no surprise. It might be ridiculous but Lapil's starting to reconsider the embellish rumor about her beauty. How can a single person be beloved by so many people? He doesn't even have one.

"You can see her, but you can't approach her," Lapil said agilely. Maki immediately nods his head that Lapil had to let him in. As he passed him, he stood in front of his people with Datu Pita's warriors. 

"Today, we finally found the Bai who has been missing. However, she is dead. Today, she came home with Datu Pita, and he wanted to give her a funeral she deserves." He announces calmly. "Everyone, cooperate." 

Maki ambled towards Datu Pita's where it might be. On his way, he had met Tala who was smiling from ear to ear, looking in a certain direction. When he followed her gaze, he saw Datu in dazed still embracing the giant cocoon he brought back. 

The rotten smell came from the corpse spread all over the place but no one cares how nauseated the small was. What mattered was whose body was decomposing right there. 

Maki clenched his fist looking at Tala. But, he chooses to ignore her for now. He stepped his foot one after another. Closer and closer he pauses in the middle of the room. 

"Datu, t-the Bai, we need to clean her body. She hates being dirty." He mumbled in a blank tone but his eyes were so deep of emotions that wanted to burst out. 

"...right, you're right. Yanar hates being dirty." Datu Pita agreed lifelessly and loosened his hug to the body. 

He opened the satin silk that was covering her, the horrid smell worsened but the attention of the two men focused on the putrid and decaying remnants of the woman. She was already decomposing to the bone that she was barely recognizable. Her face is distorted so that there is no skin left, and her torso appears to be bitten and eaten by wild animals. Her left arm was missing and her legs were not aligned properly. 

She had the worst state. Maki, who had been holding himself for a while, had his knees wobble. He kneeled on his spot, gaping at the woman he chose to be his wife. The first woman he ever liked. Was dead right after they made love. 

He gawked at her clothing, she was wearing the same woven skirt she had worn that night. The upper garment that went missing in the middle of their activity had been found by the Datu and the son of Rajah. Even her ornaments and jewelry were intact to her carcass.

Maki wanted to cry, he wanted to grieve. But does he deserve to be sad? He was the reason why this happened to her. He must have guarded her. He must have protected her. He must have searched even better in the early days. He might have found her still alive. 

All his regrets, sorrows, and agony brewed up altogether that he was overwhelmed by the emotion and he went blank. 

He laughed. He started to laugh with no humor. Instead of happiness, he sounded like he was crying out loud. Datu Pita doesn't find it strange since his daughter was loved by many. And many will also mourn for her death… 

Maki bowed his head on the wooden floor, not realizing that he started to sob. He weeps angrily, not knowing who to blame other than his own. 

Tala who was watching silently was the only person who sees this scenario as an odd event. Maki hates her umbo; he has no reason to wail with everyone. He was the one who brought her to her death door. 

Lapil who came into the scene saw another person grieve for the death of one person. He doesn't understand the people of this land, why are they grieving together with the Datu. They are not even blood-related to one another. 

This young but dead Bai was loved by all. While on the other hand, he looked at the second daughter of Datu Pita, Tala was hated- she was just intently watching everything.. She was well-known as the home wrecker's daughter.