Arts of Heart (Compilation of OSS)

ART 109

RED PAPER, BLUE PAPER, OR NO PAPER?

"Narinig niyo na ba ang kwento ni Aka Manto?" nakangiting tanong sa amin ni Sir Russell.

Agad naman niyang nakuha ang atensyon ng lahat dahil doon. Si Sir Russell ang isa sa mga paborito kong guro kahit medyo bago pa lamang siya rito sa aming paaralan. He's always calm and aside from that, he's very charming that makes every girl drools over him.

Some of my classmates seem excited to hear the story while others find it boring. Nakangiti lamang si Sir na pinapanood kami at mukhang wala siyang pakialam kahit hindi interesado ang iba sa amin.

"Aka Manto is a Japanese urban legend about a masked spirit who wears a red cloak, and who appears to people using toilets in public or school bathroom. Kapag nasa loob kana ng banyo ay makakarinig ka ng misteryosong boses na nagtatanong ng, "Do you want blue paper or red paper?" Kapag pinili mo ang 'red paper', you will be sliced apart until your clothes are stained red with blood and when you choose 'blue paper', you will be strangled until your face turns blue," saad niya dahilan para tumahimik ang klase. I could clearly see how thirst are them to hear more from our teacher.

"Sir, paano po kapag wala sa pagpipilian ang isinagot?" one of my classmates asked.

"If you try to be clever or outsmart him by choosing a non-mentioned third option, or keeping silent, a hand will come out of the toilet you are sitting on and pull you down into the underworld," dagdag niya pa.

"Ano ba 'yan wala pala akong choice, haha."

"Red na lang piliin ko kung sakali, hahaha!"

"Ako blue, favorite ko 'yon eh, hahaha!"

Nakangiti lamang si Sir habang pinapanood ang reaksyon ng aking mga kaklase. They take it as a joke. Halatang hindi sila naniniwala.

Maging ako man ay hindi rin naniniwala but there's something about Aka Manto I am curious about. Base sa pagkukwento ni Sir ay batid kong limitado lamang ang kaniyang mga sinabi dahil marami pang katanungan ang hindi masagot sa aking isip.

Mabilis ko siyang sinundan pagkalabas niya ng classroom. "Hmmm, Sir...May gusto lang po sana akong itanong?"

"Ano iyon, Macey?"

"May iba pa po bang way para makatakas kay Aka Manto?" He froze upon hearing my question. My eyebrows furrowed because of his sudden reaction.

"Yes," seryoso niyang sagot.

"Sir, do you know what is it?"

Mabilis ang kaniyang naging pag-iling. "Hindi ko rin alam but there is only one person I know who knew how to escape from his cruelness at kung tatanungin mo ako kung sino, I'm sorry it's not yet time to tell you." Pagkatapos noon ay iniwan niya akong tulala.

Kinabukasan ay gumulantang sa amin ang balita tungkol sa pagkamatay ng aming kaklase. She was found at the last stall of our bathroom bathing in her own blood. Lalo lamang nabuhay ang aking kuryosidad. I think it's connected to Aka Manto but i know no one will believe on me so I remained silent.

Hindi lamang isang beses naulit 'yon kun'di nasundan pa ng maraming beses. Katulad ng kwento ni Sir Russell, some of them died drowning in thier own blood, some were missing and others died without any wounds--seems someone choked them to death.

---
"Mommy, are you okay?" sigaw ko sa labas ng aming banyo.

Mabilis na bumukas ang pinto at iniluwa noon ang aking ina. Binalot na naman ako ng pag-aalala dahil sa kaniyang kalagayan--gusot ang damit;magulong buhok; maputlang labi; pagod na mga mata; at may mga pasa sa katawan.