Return of The Deceased Wife

Prologue “Elora mahal ko, it’s a great opportunity to meet you but it’s time for me to say goodbye.” Maluha luhang sambit ni Castriel. Castriel's wife just died and he was devastated for what happened because everyone know how much she loves her. It’s only been three years since they are married and now his wife is dead. “Riel, papaano niyan si Jena?” tanong ng kaniyang kaibigan sa kanya. Jena is their 2 years old daughter. Sinulyapan naman ni Castriel ang kaniyang anak na natutulog sa stroller. His daughter resembles her mother so much, kaya naman sa tuwing nakikita ito ni Riel ay naalala niya ang namayapang asawa. “Maybe I'll search a maid for her. I can’t take care her alone sa dami ng kailangan kong asikasuhin.” ~~ Sa mga lumipas na buwan ay sobrang hirap maghanap ng trabaho. Mabuti at may nakita akong announcement sa social media. I’m desperate to take any job kahit pagkakatulong pa yan. Kaya heto ako ngayon sa tapat ng malaking gate. “Hello Good morning ako po yung nag-apply na katulong,” sambit ko noong makaharap ko ang may-ari ng bahay. “Okay. You can start by looking after my daughter,” sagot nito sa akin at umalis na siya sa harapan ko. Napalingon naman ako sa bata na nakahiga sa sofa habang natutulog. She look so pretty and peaceful right now. May pinagmanahan naman pala ang pagiging maganda niya dahil sobrang gwapo ng kanyang ama. While looking at the child I can feel my tears falling from my eyes. It’s weird na bigla na lang ako naluha. Ngayon ko lang naman siya nakita, baka naman dahil sa ganda nito. My work here is not that hard. I’m just here to take care for Jena, mayroon naman silang ibang katulong sa mga gawaing bahay. Sa ilang buwan ko dito ay may nararamdaman akong mga bagay na hindi ko mawari. There are some heavy feelings every night before I sleep and while sleeping. I can feel like someone is watching me while I was sleeping. “Help me, Hecate.” “You are the only one who can help me right now.” There’s always a voice at night whispering on my ears. The voice keep on saying to help her, but I don’t know her. I choose to ignore all the whispers because of the thought that It was just a cause of being tired for work. Months have passed and I’m still working here. The whispers are gone now or just maybe because I wear earphones while sleeping. My relationship to Sir Riel also improve. At night I would always bring him coffee, and we would talk for half an hour. I can feel my heart beating so fast whenever I see him smile softly to me. “Nako Hecate yung alaga mo mukhang nagdumi na na naman,” ani ni Manang at itinuturo si Jena na kumakain ng chocolate. Nagkalat sa mukha nito ang cholate. Tumayo naman ako sa aking kinauupuan at kinuha ko ang bimpo nito sa banyo. Habang naglalakad ako ay hindi ko mapigilan mapangiti. Nalala ko kasi ang pinagusapan namin ni Sir Riel kagabi. He said that it feels like I’m Jena’s mother and he feel relived na ako nakuha niyang mag-aalaga sa kanyang anak. Sobrang kilig ko noong sinabi niya yun sa akin, but I need to composed myself right now. Pagdating ko sa banyo ay hinawakan ko ang switch ngunit may naramdaman ako na humawak sa kamay. Mabilis ko naman binawi ang kamay ko at tinignan ang loob ng banyo kung mayroong tao. Halos atakihin ako sa puso noong may makita ako na isang pigura ng babae. I can see her tears flowing from her eyes, her tears are not normal tears kulay pula ito na parang dugo. Mabilis naman akong tumakbo palayo sa banyo at bumalik sa sala. I told manang about what I saw but she didn’t believe me. She even check the bathroom but she said wala naman tao doon. “Nako Hecate baka pagod lang yan. Magpahinga ka muna ako na muna bahala kay Jena,” ani ni Manang sa akin. Kahit sobrang lakas ng kabog ng dibdib ko ay umakyat ako papunta sa aking silid. Humiga ako sa bed at pagpikit na pagpikit ko ay may naramdaman akong humawak sa binti ko. Mabilis ko binuksan ang mata ko ngunit wala akong nakitang kung ano. This weird encounter didn’t stop. As my relationship to Sir Riel is improving parang mas lumalala ang mga nakikita ko. Sobrang natatakot na ako sa nangyari kaya isang gabi ay sa kwarto ni Jena ako natulog. Sa aking paghahanap ng comforter ay mayroon akong picture frame na nakita. At nanlambot ang binti ko noong nakita ko ang larawan, It’s the ghost that I always see. “Yan ang asawa ni Sir Riel at mama ni Jena. She died a year ago, walang nakakalam sa pagkanatay nito bukod sa pamilya nina Si Riel. Pero ang balibalita namatay daw dahil lukemia,” kwento naman ni Gina sa akin habang naglilinis kami sa mga picture frames sa bahay. “Lukemia? Grabe kawawa naman. Kamukhang kamukha niya si Jena, I bet Sir Riel really loves her.” I can feel a slight tug on my chest after saying that. Hindi ko naman tinatanggi na may nararamdaman ako kay Sir but after seeing his deceased wife na-realize ko na I won’t stand a chance. “They said both of them are so inlove. And mumultohin ni Miss Elora ang sino man mangaagaw sa kanyang asawa." I felt a chill on my spine when I heard that. Is that the reason why I always see her. Nararamdaman niya ba na gusto ko ang kanyang asawa. ~~ That night, “Don’t believe everything. People only see the outer but not the inside. No one really knows what happened to me. Please, help me Hecate. Reveal what really happened to me.” “What do you want me to do Miss Elora?” “Find all the clues. Do not trust anyone in this household, they turn blind eyes on what happened to me. Be me Hecate, to know what really happened.” And with that Elora is back. She’s back to reveal on what happened to her. “The deceased wife is back,” nakangiting sambit ni Hecate sa harap ng salamin, but all she can see is Elora’s face. ~~