Mirror (AU MaiChard Fanfic)

Outtake

About fifty years ago...

The silence was deafening.

Maine Mendoza had been walking around a deserted street in Quiapo for an hour or so, trying to find Jerald and Valeen who suddenly disappeared. It was already eleven o'clock in the evening and she was starting to worry.

"Psst."

Maine turned around, trying to search for the source of the sound. There was no one there. Okay, Menggay. Guni-guni mo lang siguro iyan. 'Wag mong takutin ang sarili mo.

"Psst."

Maine froze and backed away. Okay, this isn't funny. Thank God RJ was abroad for business. He would have enjoyed this. In fact, he would have made fun of her for being so scared.

"Psst."

This is so creepy. Maine thought to herself. Asan ba kasi sina Val!?!

"Psst."

"Sino ka?" She called out. "Magpakita ka! Je, bibigwasan kita kung ikaw iyan! Hindi na ako natutuwa."

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows, making Maine jump in shock.

"Hi, Miss! Ako iyung tumatawag sa iyo," said the man who looked tad familiar. He was wearing a black shirt, skinny jeans, and white sneakers. "Sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you."

"Teka lang. RJ, ikaw ba iyan? Anong ginagawa mo dito? Asan si Mama Ten? 'Wag mong sabihin na iniwan mo siya sa Italy."

The man gave her a hesitant smile. "Sorry, Miss. Chard ang pangalan ko. Baka kamukha ko lang iyung RJ na sinasabi niyo."

"Seryoso ba?"

"Oo! Ngayon nga lang kita nakita eh."

Maine smiled awkwardly, wondering why she immediately felt at ease. She should leave and find her friends, but she couldn't. She shook her head and then glanced over at Chard.

"Teka. Kuya, ano iyung nasa likod mo?"

The man gestured at her to follow him and she found herself obeying.

"Tinatawag kita kanina kasi gusto kong ipakita itong tindahan ko. Baka kasi magustuhan mo iyung mga tinda namin dito."

"Ano bang mare-recommend mo dito?" Maine asked as he showed her around the shop. Shelves were full of expensive objects, jewelry, and artifacts. "Iyung pinaka-mura niyong item dito? Parang ang mahal kasi lahat."

Chard smiled. "Ah, alam ko na ang hanap mo. Teka lang ha? Ilalabas ko lang."

He moved towards a door to the right and dragged a tall object covered by a white cloth.

"Ito iyung sinasabi ko," Chard said, waving a hand at the object next to him. "Tingnan mo. Pwede mong tanggalin iyung tela."

Maine approached him and pulled the sheet off the item until it fell to the floor. It was a large six-foot tall mirror with an elaborate frame decorated with weird symbols.

"Salamin?"

Chard nodded. "Matagal na sa amin ito pero hindi nabibili dahil masyado daw mahal. Kaya ayun, bagsak presyo na siya ngayon."

"Ano bang meron dito? Anong special dito?"

"Well, kapag hinawakan mo ang salamin na iyan, makikita mo daw ang soulmate mo," Chard explained. "Of course, hindi ko pa naman na-try pero baka gusto mo. No charge naman."

Maine burst into laughter. "Sige, kapag wala ba akong nakita, libre na ito?"

The man just smiled in response.

"Sige, ito na."

Maine took a deep breath and then placed her hands on the flat surface mirror. She closed her eyes then willed her soulmate to appear before her.

After a few moments, light shimmered around her and then darkness obscured her vision. Maine gasped, trying to move her hands away from the cold glass. Blood started to pour from the mirror, spattering her face and chest until she was drenched.

"Help," she cried out in desperation a sharp flash of pain shot up her arms. But it was too late. She disappeared in a flash of light and only Chard was there to notice it.

This must be my lucky day! He thought to himself. I just need a few more souls so I can finally be free from this torment.

After a several minutes, Chard heard footsteps from outside the store.

"Maine?" A female voice called out. "Asan ka?"

"Menggay?" A male voice joined her. "Bakit niyo kasi siya iniwan? Ayan tuloy, hindi natin siya mahanap!"

"Sorry na, RJ! Si Je kasi..."

Chard turned, expecting to see Maine's companions.

"Susmaryosep, Valeen. 'Wag mo ng ituloy. Teka, si Je ba iyun?"

"Je!" Valeen ran towards Chard, slapping his right arm. "Nandito ka lang pala! Nakita mo ba si Meng."

"Sorry, Val! Nandito lang si Meng kanina."

"Paps," RJ followed behind a few steps, smiling warily at him. "Si Menggay?"

"Hindi ko sure eh. Nakatingin lang siya sa salamin kanina."

Valeen looked confused for a moment. "Salamin? Ay! Iyung nasa likod mo? Ang ganda naman niyan!"

"Try mong hawakan, Val! Ikaw rin, RJ! Makikita niyo daw ang soulmate niyo kapag nilagay mo ang kamay niyo sa salamin," he said brightly.

"Sige," Valeen said, approaching the mirror slowly. "Wag kang iiyak kapag hindi ikaw ang nakita ko sa salamin."

"Sandali," RJ interjected. "Huwag kang lalapit sa salamin."

Valeen stopped and turned to face RJ. "Bakit?"

"Hindi si Je ang kaharap ko ngayon."

Note: The outtake is one of my entries for the AMACon 3 30-day Drabble Challenge.