hysteria

19

liv

Nakakainis! I was literally blocked by two fucking strangers. Like, what's wrong? May galit ba sila sa akin? Binato ko na lamang ang cellphone ko dahil sa inis. "Tangina..."

It was already 8 pm nang tumayo ako mula sa kama. I was so damn exhausted. Up until now, parang gusto ko nalang matulog buong araw at hindi tapusin yung ibang assignments sa school.

My unit isn't that far from our school, by the way. It's just that I am often stuck up from the heavy traffic that's why it's no wonder why I am always late.

Madilim ang buong unit. Lights from the outside were already starting to flicker-- you know the ambience and aura, which is actually orangey.

I am always alone, but I am still capable of  handling my business well. Hindi naman kasi talaga nakakatakot ang maging mag-isa sa bahay.

Unless...some unknown creature is living with you, yet you still don't know.

I really wanted to go and get some water, since ramdam na ramdam ko na talaga ang sobrang panunuyo ng aking lalamunan. Kinuha ko sa desk yung journal ni zoe. Ewan ko ba, parang may feeling pa rin ako na may mas mabigat pa itong ebidensiya. Maybe we can find him through this.

I was on my way downstairs when I halted my walk because there were photos falling from the notebook I am holding.

I slowly kneeled, as I scanned each of them one by one.

I am never...expecting this.

Babae. Dugo. Litrato.

Nanginginig, dahan-dahan ko pinulot ang mga ito.

Oo. Bawat litrato, puno ng dugo-- puno ng mga marka ng mga alaala ng mga babaeng pinatay. I almost puked out. I just can't imagine how gruesome the incident is. Nasisikmura pa kaya niya ito? Is Zoe really enjoying this? Or does he really have a reason why is he doing it? Hindi ko alam. Sobrang gulo! Nakakapangilabot. "Tangina talaga..."

Nangingingig ang aking mga kamay habang inaabot pa nang isa-isa ang iba pang mga litrato. I cannot even recognize which is which, and who is who. I don't know where Vienna, Lucia, Hazel, and Loriel are. Ewan! Baka nga may iba pa, eh. Sadyang pinaghalo-halong kaba at takot ang aking nararamdaman ngayon. 

Sino? Sino ang susunod? May isusunod pa ba?

Those untroubled photos were unfortunately replaced by hideous horrors. I can definitely sense fear from their smiles. Those innocent women were murdered without any fair justice... and that's because Zoe is still missing.

"That jerk. Kingina, mamatay na kamo siya." I mumbled out.

Saktong pagtayo ko na sana mula sa aking puwesto ay siya namang pagkalaglag nang nag-iisang litrato na natira pa mula sa journal.

Wait-- meron pa pala?

Baka mas malala pa.

"This might be-- oh shit."

This time...I literally ran out of words to say.

Sobrang lala nga.

Next thing I knew, I just saw myself suddenly flopping down onto the stairs, with trembling body. I am still conscious, but my mind is not at its normal thinking.

Napatulala na lamang ako sa ere.

I can't compose myself! Damn...What the fuck did I just see?

Tinignan ko muli ang litrato. 

Alam kong hindi ako maaaring magkamali...because the photo I am looking onto right now...

is me.