[Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, Philippines]
Under a canopy of stars in the quiet town, Uncle Tibor sat with three eager children: Justin, Peter, and Mateo. The night air was cool as they settled in, ready for a story
"Earth," Uncle Tibor began, his voice a low rumble.
"Earth is the third planet from the sun and the only known place in the universe to support life. That's what Google says, anyway. So, yeah, we live here. We don't know exactly how we were made; that's why there are theories about us coming from monkeys, the Big Bang, or whatever. And then there's religion."
He continued, "Some people debunk the monkey theory, others say religion exists because there is a God who judges us, sending us either to hell or heaven, and others don't believe that there is a God at all."
Uncle Tibor paused for effect. "Then this phenomenon happened 20 years ago. A strange rock, as big as a four story building, came hurtling from outer space and—whoosh!—it slammed into the earth!"
Mateo, unable to contain himself, blurted out, "Did the people who lived on Earth survive??"
Uncle Tibor adopted a serious, disappointed expression. "No," he said gravely.
The children gasped, their eyes widening in shock.
"Of course, they survived! Because the people who live on Earth are us! Buang!" Uncle Tibor exclaimed, a playful grin spreading across his face.
"Oh! Yeah!" The tension broke, and they erupted in laughter, the sound echoing softly in the forest night.
"Okay, okay, let me finish the story!" Uncle Tibor chuckled, raising a hand to quiet them.
The children nodded eagerly, their eyes shining with anticipation.
"So, after it hit—bam!—no one was injured and no one died because the rock landed in the desert. It left a huge crater there."
The children's faces were a mixture of shock and curiosity, illuminated by the faint starlight, and they leaned in, hanging on every word.
"All the scientists worked together to examine the rock that landed in the Sahara Desert. They discovered an inscription that read '6 Days Preparation'. That same day, most people felt strange inside. They felt an energy surging through them. They felt like they had a power. As humans, we couldn't believe it. Even the scientists couldn't explain this phenomenon! Most religious people's faith wavered because of what they witnessed that day! But some people believe that the power they feel is from God." Uncle Tibor paused, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "It was like something out of a comic book."
Justine and Mateo couldn't contain their excitement. "Oh, like Superman!! Choo choo!!" "Spider-Man!! Yeah, right?!" Mateo added, his imagination running wild. "Mo sugot ka Spider-Man ka pero ang web sa lubot mo agi?" ("You agree to be Spider-Man but the web comes out of your butt?")
"Di ko uy!" ("I don't want to!") Justine retorted, wrinkling her nose in mock disgust.
"Now, children, silence! I will continue the story!" Uncle Tibor said, raising his hand with a smile.
"Okay, Uncle Tibor!" they chorused, their excitement bubbling over.
"Good. Four days after the rock landed, people already knew they had powers. But people are ignorant, you know? During those four days, people used their power for good and bad, just like in the comics. Some tried to be heroes, while others just caused chaos."
"The waiting ended on the sixth day. Without warning, portals blinked into existence across the world, and from their depths emerged creatures of nightmare - monsters that had previously only existed in the comic book," Uncle Tibor declared, his eyes widening as he relived the shock of that moment.
"After months of investigation and meetings, they discovered that this rock had a significant source of energy! Consequently, all the countries in the world cooperated, establishing a global organization to prepare for what was to come," Uncle Tibor recounted, a distant look in his eyes as if reliving the events.
Peter raised his hand, his brow furrowed with thought. "What, Peter?" Uncle Tibor asked, acknowledging him.
Peter, with a curious face, asked, "Ahm, Uncle Tibor, do you still believe in God? I see you going to the chapel every day, cleaning and praying, even with this phenomenon that not even scientists can explain, and most of the religious people questioned their faith that, 'Is there even a God in this world?'"
"Yes," he replied firmly, his eyes filled with conviction. "I'm one of the 'some' people who still believe that there is still God in this world even though there are some strange happenings in our world that can't be explained. My faith in God is still the same, although I have a lot of questions about why this is happening, but I know there is a reason for everything on why God let this happen."
Justine and Mateo's eyes widened, glowing with curiosity. "Ohhhh," they exclaimed in unison, absorbing his words.
"Speaking of powers, how do we know if we have powers, Uncle Tibor?" Mateo asked, his voice filled with anticipation. Both Mateo and Justine leaned closer, their faces inches from Uncle Tibor's, eager for an answer.
"Okay, okay, just sit down and listen to the story, and we will get there eventually," Uncle Tibor said, gently gesturing for them to settle down.
Uncle Tibor paused, his eyes twinkling with anticipation. "So, after the organization was built from each country, they gathered all the people in their country, especially the children, examine them and use the energy of that rock to determine if you have a power or nah nah (nah nah means 'or not') and boom!"
"What?? What??" Justine and Mateo cried out, their eyes wide with disbelief and excitement.
"That's it. End of the story," Uncle Tibor declared, clapping his hands together as if to signal the end.
Justine and Mateo exchanged disappointed glances. "Oh, mennn," Mateo groaned, slumping back against the tree. "Just like that?"
Justine nodded in agreement, her face scrunched up in dissatisfaction.
Uncle Tibor chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Patience, young ones. Every story has its own time. For now, it's time for you to go home and rest. We'll continue the story another night."
'Your story,' Uncle Tibor thought to himself, a secret smile playing on his lips.
Justine and Mateo reluctantly stood up, their earlier excitement replaced with a sense of longing for more. As they turned to leave, Mateo couldn't resist one last question. "But Uncle Tibor, can you give us just a little hint of what's to come?"
Uncle Tibor smiled enigmatically. "Let's just say, this is just the beginning."
Peter looked at Uncle Tibor with a curiousity. "Uncle Tibor, if everyone has the potential for a power, do you have one too?"
Uncle Tibor stroked his chin, a nostalgic smile playing on his lips. "Well, Peter, in my younger days, during that chaotic time after the rock landed, I did discover something about myself..."
Before Uncle Tibor could elaborate, a sudden flurry of wings filled the air. A large number of birds took flight, their calls sharp and urgent as they scattered in all directions. The trees around them began to sway violently, as if buffeted by an unseen force.
"What's happening?" Justine cried out, grabbing Peter and Mateo's arms, her voice laced with fear.
Uncle Tibor's eyes widened, his gaze fixed on a point in the distance. "A portal!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with a mixture of awe and concern. "It's opening nearby!"
Justine and Mateo, despite the obvious danger, couldn't contain their excitement. "A portal!" Justine exclaimed, pointing towards a swirling vortex of energy that had materialized in the depths of the forest.
"This is so cool!" Mateo added, his eyes wide with wonder and a hint of nervousness.
Uncle Tibor, however, was not amused. "Run!" he shouted, his voice filled with urgency. "Get some help! This is not a time for excitement, young ones!"
A deafening roar echoed through the forest, shaking the very ground beneath their feet. It was the sound of a creature of immense size and power, sending shivers down their spines and silencing their excitement.
As if in response to Uncle Tibor's warning, a massive tree, uprooted from the ground, flew through the air and landed with a thunderous crash where the three children had been standing just moments before.