Bakasyon

Prologue I'm the type of person who dislikes many things. I do not like people who are liars and deceivers. I also dislike ghosts because they are always terrifying and intimidating. And of course I dislike evil spirits, fairies or any other gnomes because apart from their scary appearance, they can also hurt you. And most of all, I don't want to have a third eye. But destiny seems to be playing tricks on me. Those things I don't want to happen is what I experienced. "Mangatarem na!" the conductor shouted as the bus stopped at the terminal. Darkness and light were already looming when we arrived in the town of Mangatarem, Pangasinan. I quickly picked up my luggage which was quite large and then slung my shoulder bag. As I got off the bus, my attention was focused on the surroundings. The air is clean, the place are cozy and quiet. I can definitely relax here from my stressful work "Ate, bili na kayo ng tupig. Mura lang 'to!" I was about to jump in panic when a young man suddenly appeared in front of me and offered me the bags he was carrying. Nakita ko na may laman itong mga tupig. "Pasensya ka na, hindi ako bibili," I refused him but the young man still followed me. "Sige na ate, masarap 'to at bagong luto pa." I looked at the young man and inevitably noticed his face. May itsura sana ito kaya lang gusgusin ang suot nitong damit. "Saka na lang ako bibili ng tupig kapag babalik na 'ko sa Manila." "Gano'n po ba? Sige po, ingat na lang kayo," the young man replied then turned his back on me. I was about to leave when I heard the two women talking while looking in my direction. I remember those two women, I was with them earlier on the bus. "Tignan mo 'yong babae nagsasalita mag-isa." "Oo nga, kanina ko pa 'yon napapansin. Maganda pa naman sana kaya lang mukhang may saltik." I looked at them sharply and they quickly averted their eyes. I turned my head in the direction where the young man was standing earlier. But for some inexplicable reason it suddenly disappeared and I could no longer find him. "Bilis naman niyang maglakad," I whispered to myself. I just shrugged it off and then got on the tricycle and I told the driver the address of my sister's house. I asked our manager for a week-long vacation. I can no longer handle stress. I feel like I'm being choked and I can't seem to breathe because of the stress at work. I feel like I will explode anytime if I cannot rest my body and mind. Fortunately, our manager allowed me and my colleague also agreed to finish the other paper works left behind. I quickly arrived at the house of Ate Annie, my only sister. Nothing has changed in their place, still simple and quiet. Ate Annie and I were born and raised in Manila but she moved here in this province when she got married. May taniman kasi ng palay ang kanyang napangasawa at hindi naman pwedeng pabayaan ang lupain nila rito dahil nag-iisang anak lang din ang lalaki. So the couple decided to live here and they were also blessed with four healthy children. "Oh, Ann! Nandito ka na pala," my sister greeted me when I entered their house. "Bilis mo nakarating, ah." "Oo nga, hindi kasi masyadong trapik sa EDSA." The size of their home is just enough for them. The first floor was made of cement while the second was made of wood. There was three bedrooms upstairs. "Magpahinga ka na muna at pupunta lang ako saglit sa bayan. Umakyat ka na lang sa taas. Sa pangatlong pinto sa kanan ang magiging kwarto mo." "Sige ate." "Iwanan muna kita mag-isa rito, ah," she added. "Nasa galaan ang mga pamangkin mo, mamaya pa ata uuwi ang mga 'yon." "Okay, ako nang bahala rito," I replied and my sister finally left. I went up to the room she was referring to while carrying my luggage. I suddenly sighed loudly when I opened the bedroom because someone was sitting on the bed. Isang batang babae. I was surprised because Ate Annie said the children were not here. I stared at her for a few seconds before I recognized her face, and a smile immediately flashed on my lips. "Jolly!" Humakbang ako palapit sa kanya upang yakapin sana siya ngunit nanatiling nakayuko lang ang kanyang ulo. She didn't seem to notice that I was getting closer to her. When I finally got close to her, I noticed my niece was crying and she looked at me. "Tita, may mumu sa ilalim ng kama." "Naku, huwag kang matakot sa mumu," I comforted her but she just kept crying. I just knelt in front of the bed and peeked under it to prove to my niece that there is no ghost here so she should not be afraid. But I was the one who felt scared. I was terrified. I had goosebumps . As I peeked under the bed I saw Jolly again trembling with fear and she whispered to me, "Tita may nakaupo sa ibabaw ng kama." I was stunned for a moment. Hindi ko alam kung totoo ba itong nakikita ko. Am I having nightmares? And because I was so scared of what I saw now, I quickly got up and ran out of the room. I just left my belongings scattered on the floor. Bahala na muna ang mga 'yon! The important thing is I need to get out of here! I could barely see the path I was taking because I was in a hurry to get down the stairs thats why I did not notice that someone was blocking my way, I bumped into it then I fell down. I catch my breath as I slowly looked at who I had bumped into. I thought the fear I was feeling would be reduced but it only increased! I feel like my whole body got chills because of what I saw. The person I bumped into was none other than Jolly. *** "Anong nangyari sa kapatid mo? Bakit sa sahig siya natulog?" "Aba'y malay ko. Sinabi ko naman sa kanyang magpahinga muna siya pero hindi ko sinabing sa sahig siya matulog." "Mabuti pa gisingin mo na siya at palipatin mo na sa kwarto." I heard people talking around. "Ann, bumangon ka d'yan." I felt a tap on my shoulder. "Sobrang napagod ka ba sa byahe kaya di ka na umabot sa kwarto at d'yan ka na sa sahig nakatulog?" ate asked while laughing at me. I did not realize that I fell asleep on the floor. I got up immediately and walked to the sofa then sat here. Then, I looked around the house. "Ate, si Jolly?" "Huh?" Ate's forehead suddenly wrinkled. "Si Jolly? Nakita ko siya kanina at-" I couldn't continue what I was about to say because my sister suddenly started crying. Her husband immediately approached her and comforted her, while I was in a hurry to go to their kitchen to get water for my sister to drink. I'm confused, did I say something wrong? Why my sister reacted like that? I looked around the kitchen and saw on the table a pitcher full of water and a glass with a strange design. Nagsalin agad ako ng tubig sa baso at hinatid ito kay ate. After she drank it she asked me, "saan mo siya nakita?" And I told them all the wonders I had experienced earlier from the bedroom until I fell asleep on the floor. "Tatlong beses ko nakita si Jolly." "Diyos ko!" the only thing my sister answered after I told her what happened while her husband was just listening to us and frowned. "Nakalimutan mo na ba? Matagal nang wala si Jolly." It was as if my breath literally stopped when I heard what she said. Why didn't I think of that? Or maybe, I just don't want to think about it because I can't accept what happened to her. Nag-uunahang pumatak ang mga luha ko. Jolly died just a year ago due to an accident and so she showed up to me earlier because her death anniversary is tomorrow. She probably wanted me to visit her at her grave. Honestly, she is my favorite niece, and even though she has been dead for a year, I still think Jolly is still alive. I was so hurt when I found out that she had died from drowning in the river. I did not go to her last funeral and burial because I could not accept that she was gone. My favorite niece is gone. Sandali kaming natahimik at tanging mga hikbi lang namin ni ate ang maririnig sa paligid. "Saan mo pala nakuha ang basong 'to?" my brother-in-law broke the silence. "Sa kusina," I answered. "Bakit?" He and his wife looked at each other first and then he replied, "wala kaming ganitong baso." And my eyes widened in shock. So, where did the glass come from? ***