Deive's car screeched into a halt. He was breathing hard. Did he hit someone or something? Where is it? Did he kill it?
Some men who were drinking at a makeshift store rushed to him. "Hey, handsome! Are you okay?" one of them asked and knocked on the windshield of his car.
His heart was pounding wildly when he opened the window of his car. "Don't mind me. I am sure I am hit something. Can you c-check it?" He must get his wits together. He must bring it to the hospital. He hoped it was stll alive.
"You didn't hit anything. The black cat crosses the street," answered the small man. Then he saw a black shadow that was running away.
"Just a black cat? I-I didn't see that one." He was worried over nothing.
"When a black cat crosses your way, that is a bad omen," said the old woman.
Deive gave the old woman a bewildered look. She looked serious as if that statement about the superstitious belief on black cats was a fact. It was already the modern times. Who else believed in mystical beliefs anymore?
"I am sorry but I don't believe that. But thanks for the warning. I must go now," he said to the group.
He would really experience bad luck if he didn't get to Villa Celesta soon. Even if he was forced to marry Callea, he didn't want her to think that he hated the idea. His old man will be more pissed off and he would find himself in the dump soon.
"Where are you going, child?" the old woman asked him.
"In Villa Celesta."
Everyone hitched their breath as if one person. Extreme fear reflected on their faces.
"Are you an exorcist or a paranormal expert, young man?" the old woman asked. "Do you want to help the suffering souls in that house?"
He shook his head. He imagined the traditional healers who perform rituals to communicate with spirits and elements using their chants and wearing their bandanas on the head. No, that image on his head was a far cry from him. "No, ma'am. I will visit my future bride there."
"Oh, my god!" exclaimed the old woman and clutched her chest. The rest of the men put their hands together as if in prayer.
The biggest of the bunch gulped. "Aren't you aware that bad spirits lurked there? Ghosts abound that place. It is a haunted house."
"Yes! Last night, we even saw a white lady standing at the verandah. It was really eerie," said the man who was mostly bones and skin.
His face twitched as he tried not to laugh out loud. Ghosts? White lady? Haunted house? These men must be really drunk with all the weird things they see.
"I have to go now. Thank you very much," Deive said.
He was about roll the car's window when the old woman stopped him. "Wait!" Then the old woman put her hand on his head and murmured a prayer. "Please protect this man from the evil spirits."
The other men also put their hands together and joined the prayer. "Amen."
"Always pray, young man," said the old woman and took his hands. "I hope that God won't leave your side."
He thanked them. From the chat that brought bad luck to a haunted house. Elements and ghosts? For Pete's sake! There were lots of technologies invented. They even sent men to the moon. There was human cloning, plant and animal mutation. Ghosts and elements were a thing of the past. It was only used to scare the little kids to sleep or as scaring tactics by the Spaniards to the Filipinos during colonial times. You could only see those ghosts on films and horror books.
From the store, he didn't find any more houses along the way. All he could see were fields illuminated by the moonlight. After a few minutes, a huge house could be seen from the view.
Villa Celeste. It was an old house built during 1920s. It was a Victorian inspired house made mostly of wood. It was three-story tall. It looked like a haunted house for other people. But for him, it was a fine example of classy architecture.
He slowed down the car as he neared the iron-wrought gates of Villa Celesta. He beeped and an old couple opened the gate. "Good evening, Señorito Deive!" greeted the old man. "I am Lito, the caretaker of this mansion. And this is my wife, Poling."
He shook their hands. "Good evening to you."
"Señorita Callea has been waiting for you. Why did you arrive so late, Sir?" Poling asked.
"The traffic on SLEX was horrible. My apologies. Is Callea still up?" Deive asked.
"Maybe she's already resting. The light is off on her room. Maybe you will meet her in the morning. But Marina is waiting at the door," explained Lito.
"Who's Marina?" Deive asked. Her grandfather mentioned the couple caretaker at the mention. There was no mention of this Marina.
"She is Miss Callea's companion. Please get inside so you can give your late dinner and you can rest," said Poling.
He went back to his car. "Why don't you ride with me back to the mansion?" he offered.
"We are on our way home. We only visit this place two to four times a week to clean up this place. Or if Marina and Miss Callea want us to buy something from town," Lito clarified.
"I see." It was only the two women in the house. Isn't that dangerous? Do they even have security there?
"Don't worry, Señorito Deive. Nobody would dare rob the mansion. They are terrified to even pass by this place," said Poling in an amused voice.
Lito elbowed his wife. "Watch your mouth. We don't want to give Sir Deive the wrong impression."
"Is there a problem?" Deive asked.
"What my wife meant was the Lopezes are respected in this town. So, even if this house has no guard, nobody would dare loot it. We have to go now, Sir. We will be back tomorrow to check on your needs."
Then he waved goodbye to the couple and kept on driving. He didn't really like old houses but he admired Villa Celesta. It was as if the moonlight was worshipping it as it cast its glow. The Lopezes tried their best to maintain its splendor. There was a certain romantic appeal to the house. According to his Lolo Jorge, Callea loved the house so much and preferred to live there. So, as her future husband, he must learn to appreciate the place as well.
There was a sprawling garden with a fountain in the middle. There was also a tall camachile tree. He looked like it as he gets off his car. He was used to the noise and brightness of the city. He was not a rural boy. But now he appreciated the silence of the night where he could only hear the night insects chirping. The beautiful moonlight was usually unnoticeable due to bright city lights. But he could see it clearly now because it was the only shining object in the night sky.
So this was her bride's world.
Very laid back. Very…
He looked around when he heard the wooden door squeaked as it opened. Feared clutched his whole being when he saw a hunchback. He stepped back. He asked himself if the stories about ghosts were real.
"W-Who are you?" he asked in a shaky voice. He was ready to run anytime. Is the place really cursed?
"I am Marina, Señorito Deive."
"Y-You are Callea's companion?" This was the woman that Callea trusted?
She nodded slightly. "Señorita slept while waiting for you. But I can reheat your dinner if you want to eat."
He took out his luggage from the backseat of the car. "Thank you but I am still full." Deive couldn't fathom why Callea had chosen this woman as her companion. She was not fit to be a bodyguard. Or maybe she was the reason why the people in town was afraid of Villa Celesta?
What was this lunacy? As if they also wanted to frighten him. Not to be judgmental and all. He now understood why townspeople were afraid of the place. It was an old house with a hunchback living on it. They weave their own stories. Well, the world was really judgmental and cruel.
"If you don't want to eat anymore, I will take you to your room so you can eat," she said then offered to bring his luggage.
"You don't have to. I can handle this. Where is my room?"
"At the second floor, second door from the end of the hall," Marina answered. "Please get inside because the night is starting to get colder. You might get sick."
Deive halted his steps when he felt like there were eyes on him from the second floor. He caught sight of the shadow of a woman. He looked away. Maybe it was just his imagination. It was just the three of them inside the house. Callea was already sleeping.
He must stop thinking too much. The scary stories from the drunk and the silly old woman were starting to get to him. But how could he explain this eerie feeling?