Ghost Girl

Haunt # 6

Haunt # 6

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"How do you cure a person who has been possessed?" tanong ko kay Vladimir kahit na napilitan lang talaga akong magtanong sa kanya. No feasible choice eh. Siya lang ang puwede kong pagtanungan dahil alam kong hindi naman ako papansinin o kakausapin ni Benedict.

"Exorcism. Why? May kilala kang nasapian?" he asked curiously.

Oo, ako.

Instead of answering, I bit my lip and sat on my seat. This is not good. This is so not good. Malakas talaga ang pakiramdam kong na-possess ako. Now, I don't think it's a scary thing naman. I should actually be thrilled dahil sa wakas ay mararanasan ko na rin ang isa sa mga kababalaghang nababasa o naririnig ko lang before. But I'm so not thrilled. Why? Eh kasi I don't think it's the kind of thing na ine-expect ko eh. I mean, kapag ba na-possess eh nakakakita o nakakaramdam ng something sa iisang tao lang? May something kasi eh. May something doon sa unknown creature.

I'm pretty sure I really am possessed. Siguro kapag pumunta ako sa albularyo at ginamitan ng tubig at kandila para malaman kung anong something ang meron, makikita niya ang mukha ng unknown creature.

Wait. Hindi kaya... OMG, hindi kaya isang entity that doesn't belong to the corporeal world 'yung unknown creature? Hindi kaya isa siyang sugo ng kabilang daigdig na nagpapanggap lang sa katawang-tao? Posible 'yun eh.

I narrowed my eyes. That's it. I have a feeling na ganoon na nga siguro iyon. So what should I do? Maybe I need to confront him. But... ugh, that would mean I have to talk.

Fine. Kung ito lang ang way of exorcism ko, I'll talk to him.

I scanned the room, but it didn't take long para mahagilap siya ng mga mata ko. Why? Eh paano, kahit saan siya magpunta eh sinusundan siya ng mga fan girls niya. Ugh. At dahil sa kanya eh nalaman ko ang term na fan girl.

But I so don't have time for fan girls. I marched up to him and said, "Let's talk."

Kung nagulat ang mga fan girls niya sa biglang paglapit ko, mukhang mas nagulat siya. Pero it didn't stop him from following me all the way to the rooftop of our college building.

It was a gloomy late afternoon. Malapit nang mag-dismissal bell at wala kaming klase. Hindi lang kami makaalis from school dahil kailangan pa talagang hintayin ang dismissal bell.

I faced him with my arms crossed. "I'm possessed," diretsong sabi ko.

He blinked at me in surprise before giving me an amused look. Leche. So gusto pa niyang tumawa sa lagay na ito?

Hindi siya nagsalita, so I continued, "I'm possessed, and I think it's your fault," I said through gritted teeth.

"Anong ginawa ko?" nagtatakang tanong niya.

"That exactly is the reason we're here—to discuss kung anong ginawa mo. What on earth did you do? Why did I end up being possessed?"

He frowned. "Bakit ba sinasabi mong nasapian ka? Sino bang nagsabi sa'yo?"

"Walang nagsabi sa akin. I just knew it, okay? I'm not feeling normally. It's like I'm not me. It's a symptom of being possessed."

He held up a hand. "Teka lang, Mandy. Medyo magulo eh. Ano bang sinasabi mong hindi normal ang pakiramdam mo at bakit sinasabi mong may kinalaman ako diyan sa nangyayari sa'yo?"

"Well, it's because you would always appear in my mind, and everytime I unfortunately have to look at you, I feel weird," I answered, glaring at him.

He stared at me with his mouth parted open.

"What?" I demanded. "What's with that reaction? Does it mean you really have something to do with it? Pinakulam mo ba ako? O pinasapian sa kung anong entity? What are you, anyway? Are you from the kabilang daigdig or something?"

He just kept staring at me until the side of his lip arched slightly. Lumapit siya sa akin. "Mandy, you're not possessed," he said, obviously trying not to laugh. Leche, gusto niya talaga akong pagtawanan eh nasapian na nga ako eh!

"Eh ano?" I snapped.

Hindi ko alam kung anong kaartehan niya at bigla siyang namula. Mainit ba? Eh ang lakas-lakas ng hangin at makulimlim ang langit eh. Ang weirdo niya, sagad. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay while waiting for his answer, pero mas lalo lang siyang namula.

He cleared his throat before speaking. "Hindi ko masasagot 'yan," he muttered.

"Hindi mo masasagot o ayaw mong sagutin?" I demanded.

He shifted uncomfortably. "Sa tingin ko ay hindi ako ang dapat na sumagot diyan sa tanong mo."

I put my hands on my hips. "Look here, Wesley Montes," I snapped. "You're probably the only one who give me answers, but you're now depriving me the right to know why I'm poss—okay, fine, not possessed—why I'm like this."

Kumurap siya at muling napaawang ang bibig niya.

"What again?" I snapped, sighing.

"It's the first time you called my name," he muttered.

"Eh anong gusto mong itawag ko sa'yo? Unknown creature? Come to think of it—that's what I call you in my mind, anyway," I muttered.

"You call me that in your mind?" he asked, suddenly amused.

Leche. Hindi ko talaga alam kung anong nakakatuwa o nakakatuwa sa mga pangyayari.

"Yes," I said irritably. "Now tell me what—"

"Have you ever had feelings for someone before?" he suddenly asked.

This time, I blinked. Nagulat ako sa tanong niya eh. "Excuse me? Of course I haven't. Why should I?"

He shrugged. "Maybe that's why you thought you're possessed."

"What are you talking about?" asar kong tanong.

He smirked at me. "I think you have to figure this on your own, Mandy."

"And why won't you help me? Pinapahirapan mo ba ako just because matagal akong pumayag to work together?"

Hindi ko alam kung anong meron, but he gave me a tiny smile and shook his head. "Hindi sa ganoon. Sa totoo lang ay gusto ko nang sabihin sa'yo ang posibleng sagot sa mga tanong mo. Hindi kita pinapahirapan, Mandy, pero sa tingin ko kasi ay ikaw ang dapat sumagot sa mga tanong mong iyan."

He put his hands inside his pockets and lowered his head before walking away.

At ako?

I was left with my mouth hanging open.

Weird.

Malamig naman ang panahon. Mahangin at makulimlim naman ang langit.

So bakit pakiramdam ko ay mainit ang mukha ko?

Am I really not cursed, after all? Maybe I am coming down with fever and flu. Pero... hindi eh. Hindi naman parang magkakasakit ang pakiramdam ko. Hindi rin naman mainit ang buong katawan ko. Mukha ko lang.

As I headed for the stairs, I caught a glimpse of my reflection on one of the windows.

Oh, shit.

Why is my face red!?

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