However, he did not show any change in his expression as he did not want to complicate things with Lola Yma.

“Hmm? This booklet is indeed unusual.” Lola Yma noticed that the booklet is not normal. For a normal person, they will not be able to tell anything, but for babaylans like Lola Yma, she could immediately tell something is different.

“Unusual?” Hearing Lola Yma’s remark, chairman Buboy could not help but asked.

“Yes, this is heavier than it looks. No wonder the kapre was furious when they took this.” Answered the old woman.

Then they proceeded to look for the cluster of molave trees in the Forest Park. It did not take them long to find it as it was also near the trail that most tourists and their guides take whenever they walk through the woods. Once they were in front of the molave trees, Lola Yma started to chant. It was not loud, but the chant was resonant. The ambience of the forest added to the mystifying effect of Lola Yma’s actions. After a few minutes of chanting, the area around the cluster of molave trees started to change, and a slight heavy pressure descended on to everyone, aside from Lola Yma, Mawi felt a little bit suffocated and chairman Buboy, having no gift to connect with the spirits, had it worst as he started to pant, although lightly.

“Hmm? Why is it only you?” The kapre appeared out of nowhere and stared at the three people standing in front of its home. Hearing the voice, Buboy immediately paled for he knew that it was the spirit talking. Mawi was a bit better, and Lola Yma appears to be fine.

“Here is your booklet! I have completed what I promised you.” Said Lola Yma in a flat voice, showing neither arrogance nor subservience. She then tossed the booklet into the cluster of trees and it landed near the central tree.

“You did not make the sacrifice offering. So, your end of the deal is not yet done!” the kapre protested.

“Hmph! My promise is that I would accompany those who offended you to conduct a sacrifice ritual, and I will return what they took. However, those who offended you did not show up, so it was not me who did not keep my part of the deal but the group that offended you.” Lola Yma did not back down and rebutted the kapre’s protests.

“Then where are they now?” Asked the kapre, sounding annoyed.

“I do not know. They were tourists, they left yesterday without even meeting with me.” Lola Yma also replied with an annoyed tone as she looked at the spirit with a sharp glint in her eyes. She was seemingly warning the spirit not to push the blame on her, or the spirit will know of the consequences.

“Hmph! It will be easy to find them all. I have already left my mark on that woman. Very well, since you have returned the booklet, I will not bother you now.” After saying his piece, the kapre started to turn around and go back to his home when he paused briefly and looked at Mawi. A hint of teasing and playfulness was apparent in his eyes, after a few seconds, it vanished and the pressure that fell on the area also disappeared.

A few hours later, news of a tragic bus accident was heard by the townsfolk of Initao. According to the news report, four people died in the accident, while everyone else was fine and only sustained minor injuries. It was also found out that the four people who died were tourists who visited the Forest Park. When Mawi heard of the news, he immediately knew that what happened was no accident, but an act of revenge from the kapre. However, the news of the death of these tourists did not even bother Lola Yma, as if she were already expecting such an event. Only she knows how tragic this incident is.

The day went on like normal. Mawi decided to learn the process of making bagoong (fermented fish) from Lola Yma and help her with her livelihood. Lola Yma was not stingy with him as well, treating him like her own grandson, and patiently taught and showed him the process of making it. Sabel just spent the day playing or observing her lola and Mawi while making bagoong.