Heads Out

Courage is the Key

ON OUR RECESS, Jackie and I ate our lunch in the classroom. We put our desks together so that we can enjoy the food and chat at the same time. We are in the middle of a fun and good conversation when I felt a chill down my spine. I looked at my back where the chill came from and I found Andrew eating his packed lunch. I jumped off my seat and was about to go to him when all of his food flew over his head.

The classroom was filled with laughter and teasing. The surprised Andrew, even though bewildered, just shrugged the event off and excused himself to clean his clothes and hair.

“Andrew—” Before I chased after Andrew, I looked back at his desk and saw a smirking face printed on its wooden surface. I immediately and worriedly run after Andrew.

I found him washing his hair on a faucet near the gymnasium.

“Use this.” I handed my face towel to him. “Don’t worry. I haven’t used it yet. It’s clean.”

He reached for my towel and I smiled at him.

“Thanks,” he said.

After he dried himself off, I asked if he knew what happened.

“I’m not really sure. I was eating my lunch when I feel my desk was shaking. And the next thing I know, my mom’s cooking is all over me,” he explained.

What’s happening to Andrew is a big jigsaw puzzle to me. Why would a head figure spirit be after him? The first time I saw something like that is after the fire accident when I was in second grade. I don’t think Andrew is involved in that, since he is a transfer student. He is, right?

“Uhmm… Andrew, may I ask you something?” I hesitantly asked. “Are you really a transfer student?”

“Yes, I came from Star Elementary School,” he directly answered.

“But actually, I’m more like a returnee,” he added.

My eyes widened and my heart beated fast.

“R-returnee?”

“Yes. Though, I only studied here for one month after I transferred. I was in Mahogany class on my second grade.”

I felt like something heavy was put on my shoulders. A piece of the puzzle was solved. The phantom who is after him might be someone who died two years ago.

But I never saw any of the head apparitions took such violent actions. This is the first time.

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AFTER CLASS, I was deep in thought and that made Jackie worry again.

“Rika, are you still not feeling well?” Jackie asked while we were walking home.

“I’m fine. I just have a lot in mind,” I said with a smile.

“I don’t think you are fine! Ever since you returned with Andrew during lunch break, you kept silent and lost in thoughts. If something happened, you know you can count on me. You can tell me if something’s bothering you,” she said as she expresses her pure concern.

“Thank you, Jackie. You being with me are enough. I’m really okay. And when I’m not, I will really going to ask for your help.” Jackie is my best friend and I want to tell her everything. But this time, it’s safer for her not to know anything. I don’t want her to be involved on things that she will never see.

“Good! Best friends forever?” Jackie raised her pinky.

I giggled at her gesture and reached her little finger with my pinky. “Best friends forever!”

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AT HOME, my restlessness caught my mother’s attention.

“How’s school?” she asked.

“It’s fine. Most of my classmates were from my previous class. Jackie and I are still on the same class.”

“Is something happened at school today?”

I’m not really sure if I should tell my mom about the things I’m seeing. But she might know something since she’s an adult.

“Mom, can I ask you something—weird?”

She stopped her chores and sat beside me.

“Of course, baby. You can ask mommy anything,” she said as she strokes my long hair.

“Do you believe in ghosts?”

As expected, she got surprised by my query. She paused for a moment—thinking how she will reply to my question.

“Hmm... Yes, I believe there’s such a thing.”

“Are you afraid of them?” She laughed at my sudden follow-up.

“No, baby. Mommy’s not afraid of them. Are you?”

I nodded as a response, and buried my face on the table. She then lifted me up and hugged me.

“Oh, my baby. It’s normal to be afraid of ghosts. When I was at your age, I’m scared of them, too.”

I looked at my mom’s face. “How did you overcome your fear, mom?”

She gently touched my face. “Baby, whether it’s a ghost, a new place, or a test, we get scared of the things that we don’t know of or things that we know so little of.”

“To overcome your fear, you need to first understand it,” she said.

“You need to understand not only here...” she said pointing at my forehead, "...but also here," pointing at my chest.

I was trying to understand what my mom told me when a middle-aged man came to the kitchen. He’s wearing a white long sleeve with a blue striped necktie and dark blue pants. His hair has streaks of silver hairs that are neatly combed and styled.

“Dad!” I stood up and ran to my father’s arms. He immediately picked me up and gave me a hug before putting me down.

“Eri, your daughter won’t get what you mean if you leave your words like that,” he said with a smile on his handsome face despite of his age.

“Karl, darling, welcome home.” my mom said and she gave my dad a peck on his lips.

I sat on the chair next to my father's as my mom prepared his food.

“I thought you’ll be late because of your boss’s birthday party?” mom asked as she put my dad’s food on the table.

“Boss got drank immediately so the party ended earlier than expected.” My mom nodded and sat at the chair across my father’s.

“So, back to your conversation with your mom, can I ask permission to your girl talk?” my father asked as he make the beautiful eyes gesture.

I chuckled and nodded. “Yes, sir!”

“Thank you, ma’am. So, what your mom trying to say when she pointed at your head is that you need to know things and at the same time, you should also feel that you understand it.”

I got more confused and that made apparent to my father, so he tried to explain it again as he scoop an ice cube on his drink.

“Okay, let’s do it this way.” He put a cube of ice on his palm and asked, “Do you know what an ice feels like?”

“Cold?” I answered.

“Correct. You now know that the ice feels cold through here,” he said as he pointed my forehead with his other hand.

“Now, give me your hand.” He reached my hand and put the ice cube on my palm. “How does the ice cube feel like?”

“Cold!” I answered with a giggle.

“That’s right. Now, you both know that the ice feels cold here and here,” he said as he pointed at my forehead and chest simultaneously.

My father removed the ice from my hand and lifted me up and sat me on his lap.

“My Angel, overcoming your fear is not an easy task. If you want to overcome your fear, you must first not be scared of understanding what you’re afraid of. Understanding things also takes courage. If you need some encouragement, your mom and I will always be here for you. Don’t ever hesitate to ask for help and support. We’re always be here for you, angel.” My father gave me a soft kiss on the head.

“Thank you, Dad,” I said and hugged him tightly.

My parents are right. I need to overcome my fears if I want to help Andrew.

I just hope I could find the courage to do so.