Sampu silang umalis, sampu rin silang bumalik. Ang hindi nila alam, isa sa kanila ang naiwan. Sino ang nagbabalatkayo? Sino ang hunyango? (Watty Awards Winner 2019 under Horror category)
Note: Sa mga nagba-backread, I still hope na mapabibigyan ninyo ako sa hiling kong huwag mag-iiwan ng spoilers. Every reader deserves a spoiler-free reading experience.
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I woke up in a strange-looking room, one that I haven't seen before. The walls were white and from the side of my eyes, I could make out what looked like curtains waving in the wind as a little glimmer peeked from above.
I tried to lift myself up from where I was lying but a throbbing sore assaulted my back, preventing me from moving. All I could do was whimper from the pain and confusion. I felt dizzy, like my head was spinning heavy. I wanted to speak but I could only mumble words.
For a while I heard indistinct voices. I couldn't make out what they were saying.
I shifted to my side, trying to adjust from the pain. But before I could even close my eyes, I saw a woman in a white lab gown with a stethoscope around her neck. Her lips were moving but her voice was so unclear that I just stared at her as I breathed heavily.
All of a sudden, I noticed a small pink umbrella on her hand that was inside a transparent zip-lock bag. She was pointing and holding it up as she spoke slowly, as if she wanted me to understand every word, as if she wanted me to look at the umbrella. I looked at it alright, and the first thing I noticed was the dirt all over it. And then the words written at the bottom — Lucky Savi.
•••••
"Oh Duck..." Nanlumo ako nang makitang nasa pinaka-mataas na shelf ang Cheetos na gusto kong bilhin. Sinubukan ko itong abutin ngunit kahit tumalon pa ako, sadyang hindi ko ito makuha.
"Tulungan na kita." Biglang sumulpot ang isang babaeng medyo matangkad. Base sa suot niyang kuylay green na vest at ID, sigurado akong sa grocery shop siya nagtatrabaho.
Kinuha niya ang Cheetos at inabot ito sa akin nang may ngiti sa mukha.
"Thank you po!" buong galak akong nagpasalamat at ngumiti sa kanya.
"Dami nating bibilhin ah?" tanong niya at pinasadahan ng tingin ang push cart na nasa likuran ko na puno ng pagkain at inumin.
"Ah, oo nga po." Natawa ako at tumango. "We're going on a camping trip. Medyo malayo-layo po kasi ang byahe kaya mahirap na."
"Camping trip?" Napakunot-noo siya.
"Yeah, it's a team-building activity for our nature club. We'll camp outdoors, hike a bit, and plant some trees. A little recreational pero objective in a sense." Natawa ako sa sarili kong paliwanag.
Naalala ko bigla ang oras kaya nagpasalamat ulit ako at nagpatuloy sa pamimili ng kailangan. Nang magbabayad na, kinabahan ako nang makita ang mahabang pila sa nag-iisang nakabukas na counter. Dalawa naman sana ang counter sa grocery shop ngunit ang isa ay hindi available.
