13th REAPER

5 | What I saw, what I felt.

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Pagka-uwi ko napansin ko agad na may kausap si Tita sa Telepono. I can't guess who she was talking with because I can't even hear her voice. She's sitting in the couch and she's whispering something on the phone that made me more curious. She never does that. Pag may mga kausap siya lalo na ang kanyang mga kakilala she always tends to brag anything. Her money, the grades of her daughter and how well she's taking care of me despite of me, lacking of gratitude towards them. Minsan nga nag-sasawa na ako sa paulit-ulit niyang sinasabi.

Hindi ko nalang ito pinansin at naglakad papuntang hagdanan nang bigla kong marinig ang dalawang kambal kong pinsan na nag-aaway sa kwarto nila. I found it so rare for them to be fighting like this. Hindi ko talaga alam ang nangyayari, umalis lang sila kanina and now I am witnessing unusual behaviors.

Kaya naman imbis na pumunta ako sa kwarto ay nagpunta ako sa kusina para mag-luto ng kanin saka ulam. Ayaw ko na naman mapagbuntunan ng galit. I was busy cutting the meat when I heard tita Mia's loud voice.

"Paano nangyari iyon?! Bakit wala akong matatangap!" napalunok ako. It was different from her voice whenever she scolds me. There was fear and remorse in her voice that made me want to know who's she's talking with.

Nagsimula kong lutuin yung ulam nang marinig ko na naman ang dalawang kambal na mukha na yatang umiiyak. Bigla akong napatigil at saka nakiramdam.

Ano nga ba talaga ang nangyayari? No one was even looking at me. mostly ang ginagawa nila pag-galit sila ay binubunton nila sa'kin lahat ng galit. Sometimes, they are hurting me physically, and there were times where the damage they cause are grave. Minsan hindi ako naka-lakad ng dalawang araw dahil sa mga hampas na natangap ko. I don't want to go through that again.

So, I remain silent. Naghanda na ako ng hapunan at tinawag sila pero mukhang wala silang ganang kumain at hindi nila ako pinansin. I waited for thirty minutes but there was no sign of them. Si tita pumasok sa kwarto ang dalwang magkambal ay nasa kwarto rin nila. I was left in the kitchen with a delicious food lying on the table and it's tempting the hell out of me.

Napatingin ako sa malayo para sana hindi na Makita pa yung pagkain pero hindi ko parin maalis ang attention ko doon. I was left with no choice. Agad akong kumuha ng pingan, kutsara at tinidor. Sumandok ako ng kanin at ng ulam at dali-daling kumain bago pa nila Makita.

Mabalisi ang nagging pagkain ko dahil natatakot ako na masabunutan na naman. Ayaw kasi nilang nauuna akong kumain. Natapos ko na ang pagkain ko at nahugasan ko na rin ang mga ginamit ko hindi parin sila lumalabas ng kwarto.

Nagtaka ako pero hindi ako nagsalita. Niligpit ko nalang ang lamesa at tinakpan ang ulam saka pumasok na sa loob ng kwarto ko.

I was smiling when I entered my room because today was extraordinary. I didn't receive any curses nor physically beating. I just wish that days would continue like this.

Agad akong humiga sa kama at sinindi ang electric fan bago natulog. In my sleep I was secretly wishing that whatever problems tita and the twins have, I wish it could last forever.

Mean? No, I'm getting even. They deserve it after all.

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Pagkagising ko kaninang umaga wala akong narinig na bulyaw o kung ano. The house was quite. Agad akong lumabas sa kwarto at tumingin sa paligid only to find that the twins and Auntie left the house earlier than I expected. Hindi rin nila ginalaw ang pagkain sa lamesa.

Okayyy... they are getting weirder each day. But, isn't that what I wanted? So, I set aside all my suspicious thoughts and prepare myself for school, like what I usually do.

Agad akong kumain at naligo dahil may pasok pa ako ngayong umaga. Nang matapos ay agad akong lumabas ng bahay. Sinigurado kong naka-lock ang pintuan at hindi naka-saksak ang mga appliances.

Inilagay ko ang headphones ko sa tenga ko. The music blasted on my ears and I'm liking the feeling. Hindi ko maiwasan makaramdam ng kakaiba ngayon. Ngayon ang araw na hindi ako nakatangap ng masasamang salita, Nagising dahil sa sigaw ni tita o nasabunutan.

I look at the sky and appreciate the color of the clouds, sun, and the sky. I felt the wind on my face and I smelled the fresh air in my lungs. I feel light today. I wish that days like this could last forever.

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Pagdating ko sa school agad akong pumunta sa upuan ko. Tinignan ko ang buong classroom. Mukhang absent ang dalawa kong pinsan. Agad kong inilabas ang mga gamit ko habang nakapasak pa rin ang headphones ko.

I was pretending on reading my book with my earphones on when someone again, grabbed my headphones. I'm sure this time that it wasn't my teacher because it's not yet time. So I'm ready to shout whatever curses I have in mind only to stop halfway when I saw Archelaus slumped on his table sleeping like a log.

I raise my brow. He's sleeping so who the hell would dare to take my headphones off? My question was answered when I saw Liana Carter— The miss university campus of the year— smirking at me with those red lips.

I raised my brow at her. Did she overuse her red lipstick? God! Her lips look like swollen because of those. Her minions gathered around her and they start taking about guess who? Of course me. Everyone in this campus talks about me. yeah, I'm kinda popular like that. Not in a good way though. I bet my reputation was already lying six feet below the ground when they are talking about me.

I didn't mind though. As long as they are not harassing me physically. I'm deaf to whatever crap they're talking about me.

Ibinalik ko ang attention ko sa libro na nasa kamay ko when an unfamiliar face walks inside our classroom. She's not wearing jeans, shirt, or any slutty dresses. She's wearing a formal office wear. So, she must be our new teacher this second semester.

Our new teacher was young if I'll be the one to judge. I bet she's a fresh graduate form some universities I can name of but well, not that I care enough.

Tinangal ko ang isang headphones ko sa kabila kong tenga para mapakingan ang sinasabi ng bagong teacher na nasa harapan.

"My Name is Cyril Lawrence; you can call me Ms. Cy or Ms. Lawrence. I'll be your new teacher in this second semester hope we could get along." I heard the voices of the guys in the classroom. They are talking about our new teacher this semester and seems like they like our new teacher a lot. Not in a teacher and student relationship that I can name but I can see clearly in their eyes that they desire our new teacher a lot.

Well, despite of her strict look and attitude, she's pretty.

In my peripheral vision, Archelaus who was supposed to be sleeping woke up. He places his right hand on his table, his point finger making a "tap" sound on the table and his left hand are on his left thigh.

I swift my gaze at him. Slowly his lips formed a smirk and he tilted his head as if he's thinking something amusing right now while he's looking at our new teacher, Ms. Lawrence.

Napatingin ako sa labas ng bintana. "Boys would always be boys no matter how weird they are." I mumble to myself as focus my gaze on the birds staying at the classroom's window.

Sometimes I thought that if I'll have a second life I want to become a bird. Why? Simple, because they don't worry nor think about anything. Food are always everywhere for them and the best thing was they can fly. They can feel the air below their wings as they flap those feathers. They can go anywhere without someone hindering them. They can sense the weather if there will be a storm. They can ready their selves for the worst that might come.

Ms. Lawrence started lecturing about the world's history yet all I could hear was the sound coming out of my earphones. I am inside my little world bubble again. Slowly, my classmates are disappearing one by one and I can't even hear Ms. Lawrence anymore.

I heaved my breath. In this world full of unfamiliar faces, unfamiliar emotions, and unfamiliar places I want to be alone. I want to be free. I want to be myself.

I closed my eyes and let the music drift me away. Napasubsob ako sa table ko at unti-unti akong nakatulog. This day is so relaxing for me. I wish time would stop and for the first time after twelve years, let me enjoy myself. Let me be myself.

--

"W-What are you doing Mr. Van Scott?"

"Nothing, really Ma'am I'm just what do you call that again, ah! Curious. Your soul is not fit with your body."

Those words are not what I'm expecting when I woke up. I slowly open my eyes only to see that the classroom was empty and I'm here on my table sleeping like a corpse. Damn! I should probably fix this habit of mine. Hindi dapat ako natutulog sa kung saan-saan. What if there were some people who will make fun of me while I'm sleeping? We can never really tell.

Dapat laging handa.

"Strip Ma'am." I c**k a brow. Who's that asshole asking someone to strip? Really? In a school like this. I'm not a judger, really, my only point is that they should consider the place and time they want to do "that-Stuff-I-can't-name-because-it's-gross" kind of thing. Besides, People I'm sleeping here! Have some decency!

Unti-unti akong nag-angat ng ulo at agad na hinanap ang boses ng lalaki't babae na nagsalita kanina.

Napasinghap ako at nanlaki ang mata ko nang Makita ko si Archelaus sa harapan kasama ang bago naming teacher na si Ms. Lawrence.

Ms. Lawrence is trapped between Archelaus hands. There was no distance between them and even I, it's making me uncomfortable. I looked at Ms. Lawrence expression. She looks afraid. Parang may gagawing masama si Archelaus sa kanya and she can't lift any finger.

Bakit hindi siya lumaban? Why can't she scream?

"What the hell are you doing Archelaus? That's inappropriate for a professional teacher like her." I growled at him. He needs to learn that not all people are going to bow in his feet.

Nilingon ako ni Archelaus and really, I want to wipe that smirked in his face. I don't like him from the very start.

"Oh, you're not saying that Serene. I'm not doing something that is bad." He looked at Ms. Lawrence again. "I'm just properly doing my job."

"Job? Really Arc? So your job now is to harass an innocent teacher who can't even lay a finger?"

"Innocent?" He spats, "She's not. She's already dead."

"Dead?" Is he insane?

"yes, and just like what the rule states, a dead should remain dead." Hindi ko maintindihan ang sinasabi niya. Dead? Sino? Si Ms. Lawrence? How can she be dead when she's there looking so beautiful despite of being afraid?

"Yung totoo, Arc, nauntog ka ba? May lagnat? What nonsense are you talking about? Freak."

Biglang binitawan ni Archelaus si Ms. Lawrence at napatingin sa'kin. His playful gaze was now gone. He's throwing daggers at me.

"Serene Snow Pascua." He stated my name as if he's singing a lullaby with a twist of horror and I felt that my body froze. Unti-unting nawala ang tapang ko. What did he do? He's taking control of my body again!

"I only have a little patient my dear, and you're not helping. And just a piece of advice stop calling me with names or Archelaus. Really, your making me think how old I am. Arc is the proper name you should use when you're talking to me, understand?"

Natatakot ako yun ang totoo pero ayaw koi yon ipakita. I held my ground firm. "Archelaus is your real name Mr. Van Scott. Besides I have a freedom to express myself."

"Freedom? You?" He smiled but his smiles were mocking me. "You don't have that kind of luxury. Have you ever counted the days Serene? Only three days. You only have three days, live a little while it last." His eyes captured mine and my knees starts shaking. My hands were sweating. I can't find my voice.

Why?

He's taking me deeper with his gaze.

Why?

May narinig akong ingay. Tinignan ko ang pinangalingan noon. Biglang tumakbo si Ms. Lawrence palabas tila gusto niyang tumakas. I heard Arc chuckling.

"Ah, sometimes I like my work." He mumbles as he turns his back on me and starts walking.

"W-Where are you going?" I somehow found my voice. He didn't answer me and he just left.

Nang makalabas siya ay walang pagaalinlangan kong sinuntok ang lamesa ko. Why can't I fight him?

At ano bang ibig sabihin niya sa mga salitang binangit niya?

He's a mystery. A kind of mystery that I don't want to involve myself with. Why can't he just leave me alone? At bakit ba ako sumingit kanina? I should have just left and not interfere. I should just have ignored it!

Huminga ako ng malalim at saka kinuha na ang bag ko. I can't continue my class if I'm like this. Mag-ka-cutting nalang ako.

Cheers! Para sa isang masipag na estudyante na kagaya ko.

Where to go? Ah, roof top.

Paalis na sana ako nang biglang bumukas ulit ang pinto at pumasok si Arc kasama si Ms. Lawrence. Arc was holding Ms. Lawrence neck and the way Arc looks? I know that Ms. Lawrence is doomed.

Bigla kong nabitawan ang bag ko at walang pagaalinlangan na lumapit sa kanila. Pilit kong inalis ang kamay ni Arc na nakahawak sa leeg ni Ms. Lawrence.

"Arc! What are you doing? You're killing her." I panic he's not listening to me at all. Nakita ko ang mata ni Ms. Lawrence na nagiging puti na. Mas lalo akong kinabahan.

I need to get some help. Akamang aalis na ako para kumuha ng tulong nang biglang may bangitin si Arc na mga salita. I can't hear any words he's saying but I felt the room inside the classroom stand still. Biglang nawala ang ingay sa paligid and a bright light suddenly appeared.

What is happening!?

Sobrang bilis ng pangyayari. Biglang nawala ang liwanag at bumalik lahat sa normal the only un-normal thing was Ms. Lawrence is lying on the floor lifeless.

Bigla akong bumagsak at napasalampak sa sahig. Nakaramdam ako ng matinding takot at lahat ng parte ng katawan ko ang nanginginig. Tinignan ko si Archelaus na may hawak-hawak na ngayong isang makalumang orasan.

"Time of second death, 10:50 AM destination, Afterlife."

"What did you do?!" Takot na takot na saad ko sa kanya. His gaze slowly met mine. Hindi ako nakahanap ng takot sa kanyang mata. His eyes were void of emotions. Why?!

"Nothing much, I'm just doing my job."

Job? What kind of Job? What kind of Job does require you to kill someone?!

With fear clouding my eyes I looked at Archelaus. I met him few days ago and now this?

Who is Archelauss Van Scott?

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