Haunted
Cling... Clang... Cling... Clang... A sound of the door opening resonates in my senses before a blinding light awakened me.
NAPABALIKWAS ako sa pagkakadapa sa desk ko nang mapanaginipan ko na naman ang mga imaheng iyon na kalaunan ay dumadalaw sa bawat pagtulog ko. Images which Im completely familiar with flashes in my dreams. Lately, the sound of metals clinking and the sudden light disturbed me. I shook my head, clearing my thoughts.
Napalinga-linga ako sa paligid at nakitang mangilan-ngilan nalang ng mga kaklase ko ang nasa loob, partaking their lunches. I turned my gaze at the clock na nakasabit sa gitna ng pader sa harapan ng classroom. It was past ten minutes since lunch break starts. Tumayo ako mula sa upuan at saka napatingin sa desk ni Cheska. I stared at the empty seat. It has been four day since Cheska's absenteeism. I was worried especially that I havent received any messages and news about her...and her brother Harvey Dela Torre. Until now, I am still wondering what he has to do with Sahara.
Naglakad na ako palabas ng classroom. Isang pamilyar na boses ang sumalubong sa akin pagkalabas nang pagkalabas ko.
"Haizel,"
I turned to see who it is and Desiree stood infront of me, surprisingly. Wearing her uniform in a messy way, nakalugay ang kulay itim at mataas nitong buhok seryoso niya akong tinitigan. Her hair reminds me of Cheska.
Tiningnan ko siya at hinintay ang susunod nitong sasabihin. And I could almost curse at what she said next.
"Aris wants to talk to you."
I blinked. Ano na namang kailangan niya? The last time I had encountered him was that night in the rooftop. I dont know exactly what happened next after that. Matapos niya akong patulugin, I wake up in my own room. Tinanong ko si Manong kung paano ako nakauwi. A girl took me home that night again, the same as what happened after that initiation.
Inilihis ko sa isipan ko ang pangyayaring iyon.
"Why me? You could just talk to that jerk. I dont have nothing to do with him already." Tinalikuran ko na siya. I proceeded my way out of the classroom. Naglakad na ako at iniwan siya roon na nakasandal sa pader. I feel her following me pero binalewala ko siya.
"You forgot youre already under him. " Natigil ako sa paglalakad only to hear more fact from her. Napatigil din siya sa paglalakad. "Youre a Crescentia. And more over, he is The First. You should know your place and your role. " Inis nitong sabi.
I stood still. Ipinikit kong maigi ang aking mga mata,pilit na prinoproseso s isipan ko ang sinabi niya. A sigh escapes from me. She's right. When I was The First, ginamit ko rin ang posisyon ko para maipluwensiyahan ang iba. Kaya sa ginagawa ni Aris, hindi ako dapat nagrereklamo.
Hinarap ko siya, surrendering to that guy again."Okay. Where is he?"
"Clinic."
I STOPPED infront of the white door. The word School Clinic is carved in a gold signboard. Next to the door is the two windows covered with white curtains hanging from the inside. Giovanne Aris is inside this place. I wonder what happened to him to visit this kind of place.
I hold the knob at saka pinihit ito pabukas only to see our school nurse flirtatiously laugh infront of Gio inside. Gio's eyes turned to me and so as the nurse who's sitting in the bed where Gio is lying. I turned to the cold eyes of the only man inside the room. Anong nangyari sa kanya? Nabalian? Nasapak? I wouldnt be surprised.
"Miss Ferrer!" Bati ng nurse sa akin at saka tumayo. I wasnt surprise na kilala ako ng school nurse namin. Besides... "Any boys you have punched today, Miss Ferrer? What this time? Fracture? Or more than that? "
I saw how Gio's expression turned puzzle. Ofcourse, hindi niya alam ang kabalastugang ginagawa ko because he is also busy with his business na alam kong kagaya ng sakin. Hindi ko alam kung natutuwa ba akong naririnig niya ang lahat ng mga sinasabi ng nurse o magagalit. Either way, wala akong pakialam sa reaksyon niya.
Pumasok ako, completely ignoring her remarks. Nakita kong bumaba ang tingin ng nurse sa dala-dala kong supot. Si Gio naman inilihis na ang tingin sa akin. I smirked at his attitude.
The nurse went to her table just after giving a flirty smile to him. May binulong pa ito sa kanya pero hindi na naabot ng tenga ang mga ito. I rolled my eyes. Hindi ko mapigilang hindi mainis sa kalampungang nangyayari sa harap ko.
The nurse opened her drawers before turning her gaze at me.
"I dont wanna leave you two here but I remembered may ibibigay pa pala ako sa Guidance. " Nanatili ako sa kinatatayuan ko as I looked at what she's doing. May kinuha siyang mga folder sa drawer. She checked whats inside and when she had confirmed for herself it is the right file, dumiretso na agad siya sa pinto. Her eyes turned to me for a minute. I couldn't tell if she's glaring at me or just plainly looking at me. Inilihis ko ang tingin ko sa kanya and that move made her smirk.
"Magpagaling ka Gio. Babalik agad ako! " the nurse flirtatiously said bago pinihit ang pinto palabas.
I rolled my eyes in secrecy bago tinuon ang tingin sa lalaking nakahiga sa kama ng clinic. Just thinking how he ordered Desiree to fetch me some food for him made me want to strangle him. What is he even doing here? That's why he is not in class since this morning dahil nandidito siya? To sleep and flirt with the school nurse?
"It's surprising to see you here. Ano ka, nabalian? Nasapak? "Sabi ko habang unti-unti ay lumalapit sa kinaroroonan niya. "You must be that beaten up that you couldnt even buy your own food. "
From looking at the window, napatingin siya sa akin bago bumaba ang tingin sa supot na nilagay ko sa mesa sa tabi niya.
"What are you doing? "
Napatingin ako sa kanya. Eyebrows furrowing, tinitigan niya ako. "What? "
"Who told you to buy foods for me? "May pagkainis nitong sabi.
"Desiree. Why? "
I heard him groan when he heard her name. Tiningnan ko siya. Hindi ba siya nag-utos? Desiree told me to buy him lunch since he cant. He didnt mention that the reason why he cant is because of his laziness.
"Umalis ka na. " rinig kong sabi nito as he
"I'll leave once you paid me. " I said then tapped his arm. Hi eyes then turned to me. I held out my hand. Tiningnan niya ang palad ko na nakabukas bago muling ibinalik sa akin ang hindi makapaniwalang tingin nito. I hissed. "Wala ng libre sa panahon ngay-"
Hindi ko na natuloy ang sasabihin ko nang bigla ay hawakan nito ang kamay ko na nakalahad at saka hinila paupo sa kama. Nanlaki ang mata ko sa ginawa nito. My mouth was half open handa nang singhalan siya. But I didnt get a chance to when he spoke out the words that surely had surprised me.
"Just stay here for awhile," sabi nito habang nakatingin sa akin. I looked at him and saw the visible beads of sweat on his forehead. Now that he's this near from me nakita ko kung gaano kapula ang mukha nito. Without hesitation, itinaas ko ang kamay ko and the back of my palm landed on his forehead. And I tremble nang maramdamang mainit nga siya.
"You're sick," gulat kong sabi.
Tinabig niya ang kamay ko at saka sumandal sa puting pader na nasa likuran niya. His eyes wander inside the room. Tiningnan ko siya nang gulat na gulat. He's sick. Ive never expected that someone like him would actually get sick.
"I'm not," namumula niyang sabi habang nag-iwas ng tingin.
I grinned at his reaction. "Very tough to fight off that fever huh? Jerk."
Nagbalik ang tingin niya sa akin at isang galit na pares ng mga mata ang pumukol sa akin. Ha! Akala niya siya lang marunong mang-asar? After what he did to me on the rooftop, gusto ko siyang sapakin. But seeing how weak and vulnerable he looks right now made me think he's not a worthy opponent for today. Para siyang pusa.
"Come closer," sabi nito. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay ng marinig ko ang inutos nito.
"Ano?"
"I cant see it." sabi nitong mahina. His eyes from looking at my eyes moved down to my chest. My eyes widened. What is he doing?!
"Pervert!" sigaw ko matapos kong takpan ang harapan ko ng dalawa kong kamay. A silly smile escaped from his trembling lips.
"Its not that." sabi nito as he chuckles a bit. He blinked slowly first before continuing, "The tattoo."
Napahawak ako sa ibaba ng leegan ko where the tattoo is located. "I shouldve instructed Desiree to place it in the center of your neck for it to be visible to everyone."
Its a crescent moon. Two small stars were beside it. "Crescent moon. What does it mean to you?" I asked. His brows moved and I could almost curse at what I asked. Well, I was just thinking maybe may ibig sabihin ang marka na ito sa kanya.
"Maganda lang. " sabi nito.
I smirked. Of course for someone like him, hindi ko maiisip na bibigyang halaga niya ang mga bagay-bagay. Maybe he just saw this symbols somewhere, was attracted to it and there voila! His gang's symbolism. Napailing iling nalang ako as I muttered, "Baliw."
Tumayo ako mula sa pagkakaupo nang bigla ay higitin ako nito sa braso. In an intance nabalot ako ng nginig at kaba."Ano ba?! Kanina kapa nanghihila ah!" I shouted at him. Agad rin namang nawala ang inis ko nang makita ang ekspresyong binibigay nito sakin.
"What's the relationship between the two of you?"
Napataas ang kilay ko sa tanong nito.
"Are you two dating? What about that fat guy?" He asked.
Naguguluhan ko siyang tiningnan. I shake my head. "Jufiel? He's my cousin. What are you as-"
"And the other one?" sunod nitong tanong. The other one? Does he mean, Lemuel? Ipinikit kong maigi ang mga mata ko bago sumagot.
"Lemuel is my friend."
Somehow, that fact came straightly out of my mouth. I shrug his hold off me. Bumitaw naman siya nang gawin ko iyon. "What's with you?" Tanong ko, eyeing his strange gestures.
"That tattoo of yours is permanent."
Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi nito. "A-Ano?"
He smiled at saka bumalik sa pagkakasandal sa pader. He adjusted himself on the bed. Will he sleep? When I saw him close his eyes nilapitan ko kaagad siya at niyugyog siya.
"Hey, what did you just say? What permanent?" tanong ko as I slap his arms lightly to wake him up. I know he's not asleep. Nagtutulog-tulugan lang siya. I shake him by his arms again."Hey, tell me. Jerk, tell m-"
Napatili ako nang kabigin ako nito palapit. I froze in an instant when his arm swiftly move around my waist. I stopped breathing nang tumama ang hininga nito sa noo ko. My face is an inch away from his chest.Nanlalaki ang mga matang napatigil ako, pilit na prinoproseso kung anong nangyari. Why did our distance became this close? Sa laki ng kwartong ito, paano kami umabot sa ganito kalapit na distansiya?
"Noisy," he whispered.
His warm breath was ragged now that Im close to him. Ramdam ko rin ang init ng hininga nito at ng mga braso niyang nakapulupot sa akin. He's sick. He's very sick.
I put my palm on his neck at nagulat nang naramdaman ko kung gaano siya kainit. "Damn, you're burning!" Hindi ko napigilang hindi sumigaw sa gulat.
I heard him chuckle. "This is nothing."
Tiningnan ko siya, hindi alintana kung gaano kami kalapit sa isa't isa. "What? Ang init mo, kumag ka!"
"Stop calling me names," sabi nito habang nakapikit. His head moved, "Just stay for awhile."
"Hey, anong nararamdaman mo? Okay ka lang ba? What do you want? Magsalita ka nga."
His head moved again hanggang sa tumama ang noo nito sa noo ko. Natigil ako sa pagsasalita. Now the gap between us leveled to zero. I remained still. Rinig ko ang malalim niyang paghinga. His eyes are closed emphasizinv how thick his lashes are.. His lips are pressed in a thin line. A drop of sweat is making their way down his jaw. How can a jerk like this look so handsome kahit na may sakit? Damn.
"Gio," I called. "Gio," I called again but he didnt respond. Damn, anong gagawin ko? I looked around praying the nurse will come back.
"I'll look after him. Bumalik kana sa klase mo." Sabi ng nurse bago sinarado ang pinto sa pagitan namin.
Somehow, the words the school nurse said to me before finally leaving the school infirmary made me believe her a bit. Kahit na alam kung may gusto ito sa kumag na iyon, her expression when she said that Gio will be okay seems genuine. Kaya naman nang mapalagay na akong magiging okay rin siya ay umalis na ako at dumiretso sa sunod kong klase. Throughout the class, ang kumag na iyon lang ang nasa isip ko. Damn, Haizel! I tried to focus at the lecture. Nakatingin lang ako sa white board habang nagsusulat ang professor namin ng nag-vibrate ang cellphone ko. I secretly fished it out from my skirt's pocket at saka tiningnan kung ano iyon.
MMS from an unknown number.
Binuksan ko iyon at nakita ang isang picture. It's a picture of a red apple.
Napatingin ako sa mga kaklase ko. Maybe someone's sending me pranks. Pero nang makita ang mga kaklase kong ang mga mata's nakatingin lang diretso sa harapan ay nagbalik ang tingin ko sa cellphone. Baka prank nga lang. Ibinalik ko rin naman kaagad ang cellphone ko at saka ibinalik ang buong atensyon ko sa klase.
The bell rings for dismissal as the clock strikes 4:31. Huli ng isang minuto. Everyone starts gathering up their things after the last teacher left the room. Ako rin ay tumayo na at niligpit narin ang gamit ko. A classmate of mine went towards me. Tiningnan ko kung sino iyon and saw Aime, kaklase kong may singkit na mata. Her brown hair is tied neatly at the sides. Hindi kami close kaya naman nakapagtatakang bigla itong lumapit sa akin.
At mas nakapagtataka ay ang ekspresyon nito habang nakatingin sa akin.
She's scared. Why?
"Uhm...Lemil told me na m-magkikita r-raw kayo sa T-Theather room." stuttering, nagsalita siya.
"Lemil?" tanong ko.
"Eh? Y-Yung lalaki sa Class B. The third ng T-The Hierachy."
"You mean Lemuel?"
Her eyes widened. "Ah, yes! Lemuel!" sabi nito at agad na tumalikod. "A-Alis na ako."
I stared at her as made her way out of the room in haste. I dont know pero naramdaman kong may mali sa kanya. I could tell she's scared base sa mga pawis na tumatagaktak padaosdos mula sa noo nito. Her eyes wanders off inside the room, hindi makatingin nang diretso sa akin. Her lips were shaking.
Lemuel. Did he threatened her? Napailing na lamang ako at saka kinuha na ang bag ko. Lumabas na ako ng classroom at dumiretso sa may locker para ilagay ang bag ko. Kita ko ang mga estudyanteng kasama ko ay patungo sa direksyon ng lockers area. Mula sa kinaroroonan ko ay kita ko na ang locker ko. I was looking at it when suddenly, a man on his black jacket blocked my view from it. Hooding his head, kita ko kung paano ito hinarap ang locker ko. Habang palinga-linga'y unti unti nitong pinaskil ang isang papel sa locker ko. And in a swift move, he molded himself to the crowd of people. What was that?
Tinakbo ko na ang daan patungo sa locker ko and I was horried when I saw what's written on the paper. Written on it is the word "SURPRISE" in a bloody colored ink. Agad ko itong tinanggal sa pagkakadikit sa locker ko at napatingin sa mga estudyanteng papalayo na sa locker area. That man. Who was that?
Tiningnan ko ang locker number. 23. Maybe he had mistaken mine as someone else's. Ibinalik ko ang tingin ko sa papel na nasa kamay ko. Nagusot na ito dahil sa pagkakakuyom ng mga palad ko rito. Slowly, I opened the paper and the same word was all I read. It is written in red marker. I searched if there's anything else written aside from the word surprise and failed to.
A sigh escaped from me. Maybe nagkamali lang yung tao.
I crumpled the paper at saka sinuksok ito sa bulsa ng palda ko. I get my keys and opened my locker. And the next thing made me shiver. Inside my locker is...a red apple.
Nanginig ako.
The next thing I did was run.