This chapter is dedicated to @Clouie Mae Domingo
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“Rio, sigurado ka ba rito?”
Lalong lumawak ang ngiti ni Rionach habang tinatapos ang pagsasabit ng bawang sa bintana. She adjusted her eyeglasses and handed Cristy a wooden stake, “Of course, I am! Pasensya na pala at naubos ang bawang ninyo. Minsan talaga kailangan nating magsakripisyo para matalo ang mga kampon ng kadiliman! But yeah…I guess you won’t be able to cook fried rice anytime soon.” Pagkibit-balikat nito.
Kamuntikan pang mawalan ng balanse si Rionach kung hindi lang agad naalalayan ni Cristy ang tinutuntungan nitong upuan.
“I-It’s fine. Ang mahalaga naman maging ligtas ang pamilya namin.”
Napabuntong-hininga na lang ang dalaga at kinakabahang tinitigan ang matalim na panaksak na ibinigay nito sa kanya. Kung saan ito kinuha ni Rio, wala na siyang balak alamin pa. Nasanay na lang si Cristy sa pagiging misteryoso (at wirdo) nito.
Sa kabilang banda, hindi pa rin niya maiwasang kabahan.
“Umm… Sasaksakin natin ang bampira?”
Rionach nodded and jumped down from the chair, her large cat earrings dangled. Her eyes were bright with joy.
“A stake to the heart, yes, exactly! Anywaaay, I already surrounded this place with protection spells, pero mas mainam nang maging handa.”
Napalunok na lang si Cristy.
It was Friday night.
Pero hindi tulad ng ibang college students na may kanya-kanyang gala ngayong gabi, Rio insisted that this was a good time to put up protective spells and other “safety measures” inside the Malvar’s residence. Katulad nga ng sinabi nito kanina, walang nakakaalam kung kailan sasalakay ang halimaw.
‘Sana lang tigilan na kami ng---'
"Nak, kailangan niyo ba ng tulong?"
Mula sa kusina, nilapitan sila ni Mr. Malvar. He still had his sleeves rolled up while drying his hands with a wash towel. Kakatapos lang nitong maghugas ng mga pinggan. Pero sa kabila ng ngiti sa mga labi ng kanyang ama, nararamdaman ni Cristy ang takot sa mga kilos nito. Ever since he found out about his brothers' deaths, kapansin-pansing lumalim ang eyebags ni Mr. Malvar dahil sa kawalan ng tulog.
'That rich boy was right...nasa panganib nga ang pamilya ko.'
But the saddest truth is, si Mr. Kent Malvar na lang ang natitirang pamilya ni Cristy.
A few years ago, her mother died of colon cancer. Magmula noon, inako na ni Mr. Malvar ang pagiging ilaw at haligi ng kanilang maliit na tahanan sa Eastwood Heights.
'Kaya handa kong isugal ang lahat para maprotektahan si papa.'
Cristy forced a smile. "Hindi na, pa. Kaya na namin 'to ni Rio. Let's just trust her. She knows what she's doing!"
She tried to sound cheerful.
Emphasis on "tried".
Thankfully, bigla na lang sumabat ang kanyang kaklase at mabilis na nilapitan si Mr. Malvar. Rionach grinned cheekily and handed him a gun that she hid inside her large jacket, "Mamaya mo kami matutulungan, sir! Kapag ipapain ka na namin sa halimaw. Sa'yo na muna 'to, sir! That might come in handy later~"
Napanganga naman si Cristy.
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Paranormal"Stare at the dark too long, and you'll eventually see what isn't there..." If someone offered you an opportunity to investigate the deadliest (and craziest) mysteries in Eastwood, will you be brave enough to accept it? An epic paranormal adventure...
