Florescence

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

April 4, 1895

I tightened the zip tie I attached to in my woven basket. Dalawa ang nakakabit sa kanang parte ng handle ng bike ko, at kakakabit ko lang ang isa sa kaliwang parte nito.

I decided to bring my bike, kahit na malapit lang naman ang haunted house sa amin. Balak ko kasi na pumunta sa farm para mamasyal at masabihan si daddy tungkol sa munting pagsa-salo-salo namin mamaya.

Tinignan ko ang maliit na box na hawak ko, at napansin na ubos na ang zip tie para sana sa pagkakabit ng basket.

Tinanggal ko kasi noon ang basket ng bike ko kasi na di-distract ako nito pag gusto kong bilisan sa pagpepedal ng bisikleta. Now that my mom wanted me to deliver the food to the new neighbors who apparently living in the haunted house they say, I thought that I need my basket, para mas convenient sa akin.

Lumapit ako sa isang aparador malapit sa kung saan naka park ang bike ni Mahing. Like what I usually do before calling it a day, I always check my bike if it still in the right condition. Ganoon din ang ginagawa ko sa bike ni Mahing, simula noong umalis sila rito.

I quickly grabbed the new box of zip ties and pick one so I can attach it in my basket. Ganoon ang ginawa ko sa babang parte ng basket para maikabit ko sa head tube ng bisikleta. I suddenly grab the basket to make sure that it doesn’t detach while riding my bike. When I am satisfied, I put the food container in it.

Before going, I briefly went to my room and braided both sides of my hair, just like what I usually do. Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang repleksyon ko sa vanity mirror, para makita ang ayos ko. I am wearing a denim jump short, with a bright yellow shirt underneath it. Sinuot ko rin ang knee socks ko na may rainbow color stripes sa taas na parte nito, at sinuot ko rin ang white na sapatos ko na naging dirty white dahil madalas ko itong gamitin tuwing lumalabas.

I glanced my clock on my side table and saw that it was quarter to 4:00 in the afternoon. I looked back at my reflection in the mirror and give myself a thumbs up. “You can do this Malaya. It might be haunted but it is still just a house. It might be scary, but it can’t hurt you,” I assure to myself.

I took a deep breath and walk straight to my door, then downstairs. Napansin ko na nasa kusina pa rin si mommy, and this time she was preoccupied on baking my cake.

“Mommy, aalis na po ako.” Agad siyang napatingin sa akin. Ibinaba niya ang mixing bowl na hawak niya saka may kinuha na food container. Mas maiit ito kumpara sa ibinigay niya sa akin kanina.

“Pakibigay din ito anak,” she said as she handed me the container. Kinuha ko ito sa kanya at nakitang may laman na meatballs ito. Another favorite food of mine.

“Mom what should I do with the containers?” She looked at me confusingly, kaya nagpatuloy ako.

“I mean, should I give it to them as well? Or should I wait for them to transfer the foods to their own containers so I can get ours back?”

Mommy chuckled at my question and then shook her head. “If they are good neighbors, they will give the containers back to us, anak.”

I furrowed my brow and nodded slowly. “So, it’s like a test? We are testing them?”

She looked at me in awe, and chuckled again. “Something like that,” she said while nodding.

“Alright, then I better go. I don’t want to go there in the dark,” I said, and I didn’t wait to see my mom’s reaction.

Sa garahe ako pumunta at ipinatong ang maliit na container sa mas malaking version nito sa basket ng bike ko.

It’s April, our summer break. Mas mahaba ang araw ngayon kasysa sa gabi, and I presumed it was already 4:00 PM now; though, I can still see the sun up high. Kahit ganoon, hindi ko pa rin maiwasang mangamba sa pagpunta sa haunted house na iyon.

Bumuntong hininga ako saka umalis na sa bahay. The haunted house was just few meters away from ours, and after that house was Mahing’s bungalow.

“Malaya, saan ang lakad natin anak?” I glanced the other side of the road, and there was Uncle Dan who was busy watering his plants.

The east part of the road ay tatlong bahay lang ang naka pwesto. Ang bahay namin, bahay nina Mahing, at ang haunted house. Karamihan na sa kanluran parte ng baryo ay ang mga ibang taga rito, kabilang na doon si Uncle Dan na nasa tapat lang ng aming bahay.

“Doon po,” turo ko sa Haunted House, saka napahinto sa pagbi-bisikleta. Tumingin si Uncle Dan doon saka napatango.

“May ibibigay ka?” tanong niya at pansin ko na napabaling ang tingin niya sa basket ng bisikleta ko.

Napatikhim ako saka tumango. “Opo. Na pag-utusan lang po ni mommy. Hindi po kasi namin sila direktang na welcome pagdating nila rito, kaya pupunta po ako ngayon sa kanila.”

Uncle Dan put down the hose in his plant box, and now his full attention was now on me. Nakaupo lang naman ako sa bike ko habang naka baba ang dalawang paa para mabalanse ito.

“Rinig ko sa mga kapit-bahay na birthday mo ngayon.”

I raised my brows and put a force smile. “Ah, opo.”

“Kung ganoon, Happy Birthday!” maligaya niyang bati, pero nasa basket ko ang tingin niya, kaya tinignan ko rin ito.

My lips pout because a thought just crosses my mind. I slightly tilt my head, and look at Uncle Dan, who was now smiling brightly at me. His crooked teeth stand the most out of his physical appearances. Kahit sobrang kinis ang ulo niya dahil kalbo siya, nangingibabaw pa rin ang imperpektong ngipin niya, and just like most of the villagers here, Uncle Dan is no different with our bronze skin color. Sina Tita Nila at Mahing lang talaga ang mestiza sa amin. Agaw pansin din ang malaki tiyan ni Uncle Dan.

“Thank you po,” pagpapasalamat ko sa pagbati niya.

“Sige, anak. Ingat sa pagpunta.”

Muling bumalik ang pangamba ko dahil sa sinabi ni Uncle Dan. Hirap kong pinagmasdan ang haunted house hindi kalayuan sa amin. Kahit may araw pa naman, may kung ano sa bahay na iyan na hindi ko maisatinig.

Napalunok ako, saka nagsimulang mag pedal nang dahan dahan. All the stories that were circulating in the village simultaneously pop in my mind. Na meron daw nag-pakamatay sa punong akasya na nasa gilid ng bahay. Sabi ng iba, bigla na lang daw nawala na parang bula ang mga dating nakatira diyan. Meron din akong narinig na, umalis daw ang dating may-ari dahil nasapian daw yung isa niyang kamag-anak at namatay sa mismong bahay na pupuntahan ko ngayon.

Alin man doon ang sinasabi nila ay totoo o hindi, hindi ko pa rin maiwasang mangilabot. I do believe in ghost, but I don’t believe they hurt people or what. Pero sa paraan kasi nang pag kwekwento ng mga taga rito, parang totoong totoo.

“Malaya!”

“What the f---” I trailed off, then stop pedaling immediately. Ramdam ko ang bilis ng pagtibok ng puso ko at ang pagbuo ng butil ng pawis sa noo ko.

Kunot noo kong hinanap kung sino ang lintik na tumawag sa akin. There I saw, Uncle Dan’s daughter, Liway. Uncle Dan continued watering his plant. Nasa labas naman ng pintuan ng kanilang bahay ang kanyang anak. Kumakaway siya sa akin at may kung ano sa ngisi niya ang mas nagpangilabot sa akin.

“Malaya!” she sang my name in a creepy way. She then skipped towards their gate, while holding her doll, na napagkamalan ko noon na voodoo doll dahil sa kapangitan nito. Pero gawa daw iyon ng kanyang nanay.

“Saan ka pupunta?” She smiled at me with her big eyes wide open. Just like her father, she has crooked teeth. The only difference was that hers were imprisoned with braces.

She was about to cross the road when my heart started to beat like crazy. Agad akong nag pedal ng mabilis, dahil ayaw kong makasalamuha ang bruhang iyon.

“Malaya!” I looked behind and saw her chasing me.

I bit my lip and pedaled as hell, just to get away from her.

Hindi ko na napansin ang takot ko sa haunted house kahit palapit na ako rito, dahil kahit ano pang kwento ang narinig ko tungkol sa bahay, mas takot ako sa lintik na Liway na yan.

The gate of the haunted house was oddly open. I looked behind me again, and that determined witch was still running towards me. She even waved her voodoo doll at me.

I gulped hard, and maintaining my momentum, I courageously directed my bike inside the gate. Pumasok asko saka agad isinarado ang gate. Buti nasa loob ang handle nito, kaya hindi makakapasok si Liway.

“Malaya!” Liway knocked the gate, disturbing the birds from nowhere.

I put my two legs on the ground to keep my balance. “Liway, just go h-home,” pagtaboy ko sa kanya.

“Huh?”

I groaned and took a breath. Tinignan ko rin ang dala kong containers at nakitang nasa loob pa rin ang mga ito ng basket ko.

I raised my head to the gigantic gate before me, which was blocking everything outside. “I said, just go home. I don’t want to play with you right now.”

“What? But we just played tag?”

“Tag? What? We didn’t…” I groaned in dismay and merely shook my head. Nakalimutan ko na bobo pa la ang isang ‘to.

I impatiently exhaled, then unconsciously glanced my surroundings. “We are not…” I stop midsentence as my jaw drops in awe.

Napatingin ako sa paligid ko at doon ko lang napagtanto na ang lawak pa la ng lupain ng haunted house na ito. This was my first time setting my foot inside the gate. Kaya ngayon ko lang rin talagang makikita ang itsura ng bahay.

If you were merely outside the gate, you couldn’t see the house because it was guarded with tall brick walls around it. Kaya siguro maraming nagsasabi na haunted house ito kasi maliban sa walang nakatira noon, wala ring naglakas loob na lumagpas sa gate nito; hindering them from seeing the actual look of the house.

“Wow,” I softly uttered my surprise.

“Malaya! Come on!” I heared Liway’s tantrums behind me, but everything seemed to be irrelevant because of the unexpected view in front of me.

Napaangat ako sa naglalakihang Acacia tree. If I’m not mistaken, there were four of them, standing mightily a few meters away from where I am standing right now. May mga nakapalibot na ibang puno sa buong area ng bahay. Kaya hirap talaga na makita ang loob nito.

I pulled out the stand of my bike using my feet, para makatayo ito mag-isa. Agad akong tumayo saka inilibot ang mga mata sa buong paligid.

There was a pathway, and I think it was made of cobblestones. There were weeds and mosses in between the spaces of the rock. Marami ring naglalakihang d**o sa gilid nito, indicating that the area had been abandoned for a long time.

I started walking, and the gentle breeze welcomed me. I could hear the soft chirps of the birds and the distinctive sounds of the crickets. Dahan-dahan kong tinahak ang pathway, patungo sa kung nasaan ang bahay.

“Holy crap,” I muttered.

This was no haunted house at all. In the middle was a huge acacia tree, and there was the house, attached right in the middle of it. It was a freaking tree house!

It was big. I know it was old, but it doesn’t look like it. Mangha kong pinagmasdan ang hagdan nito pataas. The house had a terrace all around it. Meron ding munting bulbs na nakasabit sa bawat sanga ng puno. They were all hang in an organized way. I could imagine how beautiful it looks like if they were lit in the night.

There were also vines climbing its walls, as though they were meant to be there to make the house majestic. Nasa harapan na ako ng hagdanan, inangat ko ang tingin ko sa bahay. Napalunok ako saka tinignan kung nasaan ang bike ko.

“Ay! Yung pagkain!” sambit ko sa sarili. Sa sobrang mangha ko sa bahay, nakalimutan ko ang rason kung bakit ako nandito. Agad kong tinahak ang daan pabalik sa bisikleta ko. Ngunit nang nasa gitna ako ng daanan, may narinig akong kaluskos.

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad, at sinuyong ang paligid ko. Ramdam ko ulit ang pag-ihip ng hangin. Pero kung kanina, sobrang gaan sa pakiramdam, ngayon parang iihi ako sa nginig dahil sa namumunong takot.

I mean, the tree house was indeed beautiful, but I couldn’t help but feel eerie. Mukhang wala kasing tao, pero parang may nagmamasid sa akin.

Nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad. I could no longer feel Liway’s annoying presence, kaya sigurado akong umiwi na iyon. That meant, I am really alone here right now. Sana hinayaan ko na lang si Liway na samahan ko rito, nang sa ganoon kahit nabwi-bwisit ako sa kanya, at least hindi ako mag-isa.

I looked at the food containers, then back the house again. Mukhang wala namang tao sa bahay. Hindi ko naman pwedeng ilagay na lang sa kung saan. Ayaw ko naman umakyat pataas para iwan ito sa labas ng pinto nila.

I came here to at least see them. Pero wala naman sila. Should I just go back, and try next time? Maaga pa naman, pero kung pupunta ako kina daddy, baka kakainin lang ng mga katrabaho niya ang dala ko.

Kung uuwi naman ako, baka uutusan ako ni mommy na ibigay ito kina Uncle Dan. I don’t want to see Liway, baka kung ano pa gawin niya sa akin. It’s my birthday for sake.

“Ah!” Napatili ako nang may marinig ulit na kaluskos. This time, mas malakas na. Kaya kung sino o ano mang ang gumagawa ng ingay na iyon, nasisiguro kong malapit na sa kung na saan ako.

Agad akong sumakay sa bisikleta ko nang marinig ulit ang kaluskos. Mas lumakas na rin ang pag-ihip ng hangin, kaya rinig ko ang pagsayaw ng mga puno. The eerie vibe is evident now.

“Nope. Not today. I’m going home,” I said.

I am about to turn and open the gate when a loud sound invaded my whole being. Sumigaw ako pero nang makita kung saan nanggagaling ang ingay, ay agad kong tinuptop ang bungaga ko.

A puppy was barking in front of me.

“Holy…” I bit my lips and pulled out my bike stand.

Agad kong nilapitan ang puppy, at napaatras ito pero nanatiling tumatahol ito sa akin.

“Hey. It’s okay,” I gently said.

I crouched down and extended my hand, cautiously reaching the poor puppy.

“It’s okay. Are you alone? Where’s your mommy?” The puppy was still barking at me. I protruded my lips, at tinignan lang siya.

Sinulyapan ko ang gate, saka ibinalik ang tingin sa tuta. Bigla akong napatayo na ikinatahimik niya.

“We’ll find your mom, okay?” I assured the puppy, kahit alam kong hindi naman niya ako maiintindihan.

Binuksan ko ang gate, at narinig ko ulit ang pagtahol niya. I glanced at the puppy. “It’s fine. I’m not leaving you here.”

Dahan-dahan ko siyang nilapitan. I cautiously crouched down to slowly tap the puppy’s head.

Kumalma siya kaya napangiti ako. “There. We’re good, right?” sabi ko sabay haplos sa kanyang ulo.

“What’s your name? Do you have your collar?” I am about to crouch down more to peek on the puppy’s neck, when I heared a creak from the gate.

Agad kong binuhat ang puppy, hinagkan ko ito, at napapikit na lang. Is this it? Is this my end? But it’s my birthday! Oh my God. My birthday and my death anniversary? I can’t believe this is happening.

“Please, please,” I mubled quietly.

“Who… are you?”

What? I open my eyes, at nagulat na isang lalaki ang nasa harapan ko.

The puppy whimpers on my arms, kaya pareho kaming napatingin dito.

“Why do you have my dog?” he asked coldly.