Halloween's Scars

04

Chapter 4,

"That's right, si Flea Shin." I said when Wyn spoke Flea Shin's name.

"Y-you know her?" Kaylee asked. Umiling naman ako sa kaniya.

Gusto kong sabihin sa kanila ang nakita ko sa timeline ni Sophie ngunit andito si Miss. I want to talk to them about this matter without Miss knowing. I want to clarify things first.

"Who's that?" Miss asked.

"She's Sophie's bestfriend." Daven said.

What do you mean? How come I don't know her? At bakit siya andoon sa friends list ni Your Death? May kinalaman rin ba siya sa nangyari?

"Gosh, yeah! Si Flea," Aldia sighed after saying those words before adding it. "She's Sophie's closest, ando'n rin siya sa Halloween Night Activity!"

Kumunot ang noo ko. Bakit naman siya ando'n? She's not our classmate. Section lang namin ang ando'n!

O may iba pa?

I cursed in my mind. This is an annoying puzzle!

"Bakit siya ando'n? As far as I know, when the police came and searched the whole school... kayo lang ang ando'n!" Miss said, also confused.

"I don't know, Miss. Bigla nalang siyang sumulpot at hinatak si Sophie." Kaylee. "Umalis sila... and then, Sophie texted me na puntahan namin sila minutes after."

"Pinuntahan namin sila at nadatnan nalang namin na nakahawak si Flea sa kamay ni Sophie, pilit na inaangat. Bumitiw si Sophie kaya siya nahulog." Aldia. "Nangbumitiw siya, sumigaw din siya sa takot." Tumingin si Aldia sa akin.

"Me, Aldia and Sophie shouted. And that's when you heard us and followed our voice." Ramdam ko ang init ng ulo ko ng sabihin iyon ni Kaylee. "Pagdating niyo, napatingin kami. And after that, Flea's already gone."

"What?! At bakit hindi niyo sinabi sa mga pulis?!" Miss shouted with anger. Tama si Miss! Dapat ay sinabi na nila ang nangyari.

"We can't talk. Naguguluhan rin kami! Minsan nga ay nawawala ang memorya ko dahil sa trauma! Ngayon ko lang ulit naalala!" Wyn said.

Walang maalala?! Dissociative Amnesia! It occurs when a person doesn't remember some of traumatic event, and that's what's happening between them!

"I-I don't even remember Flea Shin. Ngayon—ngayon l-lang." Kaylee.

"S-shesh, that's right. Sa ilang taon naming pag-iisip kung ano ba talaga ang nangyari, ngayon lang bumalik ang lahat." Daven.

"How about Bryan? Why did he refused?" I asked. Kanina ko pa kasi iniisip kung bakit hindi siya sumama sa amin. He can help us. So, he should help us.

"I don't know, either. He was panicking yesterday, too." Daven said before turned his head into Miss. "But I can talk to him, Miss."

Miss nodded. "We're just part of this Halloween Night Activity incident. Now, we should not be afraid and find out the truth." Lahat kami ay tumango.

Miss is right. Kung ang gagawin lang namin ay ang matakot, para lang kaming hostage sa Activity na iyon.

I'm pretty sure, it was not an accident. Sadya iyon, at ang kailangan namin ngayon ay ang makausap si Flea Shin Tenje. She's the key of all. Or maybe the reason why Sophie died.

Nangmakauwi na kami ay agad kong hinila si Kaylee papalapit. "Are you okay?" I asked. She looks awful.

"No, of course." She sighed and gave me a short smile. I laughed bitterly and pat her shoulder.

"Of course, hindi. I'm just checking you. Please be safe." I said before she hugged me and opened the door of their car. She waved at me before she casually sat at the seat. I waved back.

Wala na akong ibang maisip kung hindi ay iyon parin. Kaylee is having a hard time—I mean, lahat kami. She's always been cheerful so it's unusual for her to be that problematic.

I promised to myself that I will find out who's the reason behind the 'accident' and what really happened in that night.

I sighed when I was walking towards the door of our house. "Only if I come with them that night." Napabuntong hininga ulit ako habang nakahawak sa door knob bago ito binuksan.

I saw Ate cooking at the kitchen, "Oh? Mom's here early, she's upstairs." She directly said when she saw me. I just nodded and smiled.

Umakyat ako sa second floor at agad ko namang naalala ang nangyari noon. I still remember the feeling of being scared while looking at the girl waving at me.

I am not that scared right now dahil ibang bahay na ito. After the incident happened, umalis na kami roon. But still, I can't remember the full scene. Iyon lang. Iyong nahulog ako habang nakatingin sa babae.

I knocked at my Mom's door bago ko ito binuksan. Tinutupi niya ang mga damit niya ng buksan ko ito.

"Ma!" I happily said before giving her a warm hug.

"Oh, pinagpapawisan ka! Wala bang aircon sa taxi?" She said it laughing.

I miss her so much. She's really busy with her job. She's a doctor. A busy busy doctor, kaya minsan ay gabi na siya umuuwi o kaya naman ay doon na siya natutulog sa hospital.

She's really gorgeous and smart. Hindi ko na matanong kung saan nag-mana si Ate dahil alam na alam ko na kung kanino.

Dad is on London, doing some of his business. He's been working there since I was 5. I don't have a lot of memories with him. Umuuwi naman siya ng ilang linggo o kaya naman ay buwan taga taon.

But I wanted to be with my parents. Iyong kapag uuwi ka ay andyan agad sila at sasalubungin ka ng yakap at mga ngiti. Mababango na ulam na nakahain sa lapag. At sabay na kumain at matulog.

I respect their works kaya I didn't told them what I actually want and felt. But in my birthdays, they said you should wish what you really want... And I'm always wishing it.

"Kamusta ka?" I smiled when Mom asked.

"Ikaw ma?" She chuckled when I asked. Niyakap niya ulit ako at nilaro-laro ang buhok ko.

"Mabuti naman. Are you enjoying your school?" Agad akong napahiwalay kay mama.

"Wala namang nagbago Ma, eh. Sila pa rin ang kaklase ko at si Miss pa rin ang guro ko." I laughed.

"But are you having fun with them?" My system froze to think.

Yes, Mom.

But now, I can't answer that one. We're in trouble. We are all in trouble that we all made.

That request... the Halloween Night Activity, the accident, the trauma, it all came back.

How will we handle it all? Kung lahat ay takot? Kung lahat sila ay natatakot?

I smiled at Mom and realized that my tears are now falling. I saw Mom's eyes saddened. I covered my eyes with my hands.

"Sa totoo lang Ma..." I felt Mom's hands patting my head.

"Nahihirapan na rin ako..."

_✿_