Yell Of Whispers

Staring at the stack of unfinished paperwork on my desk, I felt the weight of responsibility pressing down on me like a heavy blanket. Despite the looming deadlines, my mind wandered to thoughts of where to spend the upcoming semester break. Adventure beckoned afar, but nostalgia whispered from the corners of my memories, pulling me back to the comfort of my childhood home. With a sigh, I decided to return, hoping that amidst the familiar walls and creaky floorboards, I would find the peace and clarity that I desperately needed. As I made my way back to our old house, a shiver ran down my spine, accompanied by a chilling sensation as if an eerie presence lingered in the air. Despite this, the cool breeze seemed to embrace me, offering a strange sense of comfort. Only our housekeeper awaited my arrival, her face etched with wrinkles yet her smile unwaveringly warm. “You've grown into a beautiful lady,” she remarked, her voice carrying a hint of nostalgia. “It feels like just yesterday when you were still little.” I nodded in response, the eerie feeling still lingering as I entered the familiar threshold. I immediately headed to my old room. Nothing has changed since I left. It seems like our housekeeper also cleaned it recently. She knows exactly how I like it. I set aside the pending tasks and collapsed onto my soft bed, its scent remains the same. My eyes caught sight of a brown teddy bear on the side of my bed. I smiled as I picked it up. It shows signs of age, but the arrangement remains intact, and the yellow ribbon I placed on its clothes is still there. I remember a time when my sister and I used to argue over this toy. Back when she was the only one I argued with. I suddenly felt sad at the thought. Even I have become my own enemy. I hugged it tightly and closed my eyes until I drifted into unconsciousness. My senses awakened when I felt someone climb onto the bed. I didn't immediately open my eyes, assuming it was just Manang Ekang. It was just the two of us in the house, and I wasn't expecting anyone else from my family to arrive. Mom was abroad for work, Dad and my older brother were busy with their jobs, and my sister was on an OJT with Turkish Airlines. I waited for her to make a move, but it didn't happen. I just sensed her presence until I was startled by her jumping onto my bed, causing me to jolt upright. A chill ran through my entire body as I couldn't see anyone else inside my room. I tried to stand up despite my nerves. I peeked out the window, realizing it was already dusk. I saw Manang Ekang sweeping our yard, and I noticed a little girl watching her. She must have been around seven years old. She had a slender figure, straight waist-length hair, and was wearing a yellow knee-length dress. I couldn’t see her face because she was facing away from me. “Maybe she’s Manang Ekang’s granddaughter.” I mumbled. The child moved slightly and suddenly turned to look at me. “AAAAH!” I screamed when I saw that the child had no face. I fell to the floor, trembling at what I saw. Loud and consecutive knocks on the door echoed throughout my room. "Dear! What's happening to you?" Manang Ekang quickly entered because I didn't lock it from the inside. She approached me with concern. "What's wrong? Why did you suddenly scream?" she asked. I couldn't speak, tears welling up in my eyes as I looked at her. "I-I saw a child inside our yard. S-she had... no..." I stammered, trembling. "She had no f-face." My heart pounded louder. "Maybe you were just seeing things." I shook my head firmly at her suggestion. "N-no! I really saw her with my own two eyes. I can't be mistaken." "In all the time I've been here, I've never felt anything in this house," she said, puzzled and reassuring. "Just calm down and pray. Maybe something is bothering you, which is why you're seeing strange things." At that point, I slowly started to calm down. Manang Ekang helped me stand up. 'What is bothering me?' It's a question I didn't have an answer to. Maybe not now, but I'll figure it out eventually. Several hours passed, and I didn't dwell too much on the child I saw earlier. We were now at the dining table, and Manang Ekang was telling stories about the changes in the area. I just looked at her while eating, pretending to listen. Truth be told, I didn't understand much of what she was saying. I became a mirror to every smile and sadness in her words, so I wouldn't appear rude. There were also many things I wanted to tell her because it's been a long time since I last saw her. I was just being consumed by sadness, so I even withheld speaking. I didn't want Manang Ekang to worry about me because I knew she wouldn't understand me anyway. Even I didn't even know why I was feeling sad. She would suddenly appear and envelop me completely. Sometimes, I don't even recognize myself anymore. After dinner, I told Manang Ekang that I would rest and then headed straight to my room. All I could hear was the ticking of the clock. I was sure Manang Ekang was asleep by now. I didn't turn off the light, contrary to my usual habit when sleeping. The image of the child from earlier came back to my mind. I wanted to make sure. Of course, I accompanied it with a prayer. That's all I could do, and only He could calm my heart. For some unexpected reason, tears suddenly rolled down from my eyes. I realized that crying was also a source of comfort for me. I cry when I can’t handle a situation anymore. Occasionally, I have friends who listen to my life’s dramas, despite their own burdens. That’s why I choose to keep my feelings to myself rather than add to their problems. This is the time when I’ll drown in sadness. I’ll start thinking that I’m worthless. All sorts of thoughts come to mind until I can’t sleep at all. It's funny to think that when I’m at school, my mind is almost blank. But when I’m alone, I’m flooded with ideas, thoughts, and conclusions. If this were the grading criteria at school, I’d surely be a candidate for c*m Laude. It’s exhausting, to be honest. In the midst of my thoughts, I heard a loud thud outside my room. I quickly got up and went out. “Manang?” I called out into the darkness of the living room. I searched for the light switch, and as the room filled with light, I heard another thud. It was coming from the kitchen. “Manang Ekang?” I called out again. My voice was loud enough to be heard all the way to the kitchen, but there was no response. I grabbed the racket placed on the side of the shelf and slowly made my way there. My chest tightened again. When I finally arrived, the refrigerator was open, and some food was scattered on the floor. Apart from that, I didn’t see anything else. At that moment, the room suddenly became cold, and something caught my eye. Beside the fridge, a yellow fabric was sticking out. I swallowed hard and mustered the courage to approach, but still, I saw nothing. Even the yellow fabric disappeared, and it seemed like something passed in front of me. From the corner of my right eye, I saw someone running towards the living room. A child. A little girl.