SHE WHO SEE GHOSTS (TAGLISH)

GENRE: MYSTERY

A blinding white light greeted me as I slowly opened my eyes.

Nang maka-adjust na ako, dahan dahan kong inilibot ang aking paningin sa lugar.

May biglang pumasok mula sa pinto. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she saw me staring at her.

"Oh God! You're awake!" she exclaimed and ran out of the room, chanting the word, "Doc!"

My head is a bit dizzy.

Five people in the white robe went into the room and checked my condition. I wanted to speak, but my throat is dry and I can't open my mouth.

A nurse lends me a glass of water. I just stared at it and later on, she realized something, guiding me in drinking is the best thing she can do.

"Anak, naalala mo ba kami?" tanong ng ginang na lumapit sa akin.

I stared at her and at last, I said my first words.

"Who are you?"

With that, they cried.

It was night time when I decided to go to the restroom.

Using a wheelchair, I slowly get in the restroom.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror.

This face.

This face is a beauty.

No!

Beauty is an understatement. The woman in front of me is like a goddess.

Is this really me?

I can't remember anything.

Even my name. Neither a place.

I can only remember some, excluding people, events, and places.

I went out of the room for a stroll.

I know that I'm in a hospital.

The path was dim and the eerie wind from the windows gave me horror.

I went into the elevator and pressed the button towards the ground floor.

A sudden blackout occurred.

Napabuntong-hininga ako.

Ramdam ko ang pagtulo ng aking mga pawis mula sa aking noo.

The lights turned on.

I felt relief, but not until the lights were blinking, reminding me of some horror films.

Totoong nakakatakot. I am panting really fast.

"Get out of there," a cold eerie voice of a woman whispered behind my back.

The lights turned on and a woman was already in front of me. She is bloody. There is blood everywhere in her body.

I can't see her face because of the lights.

"Get out of there."

That's what I heard before I was unconscious.

~*~

Nagising ako dahil sa ingay ng mga nakapaligid sa akin.

"Gising na si Erica!"

Someone shouted.

Their attention is now at me.

"What happened?" I asked.

Nagkatinginan sila sa isa't isa.

Lumapit si mama sakin.

Wait, what?

Mama?

A vision in my mind flashed.

Yes, she's my mom. I already remember. Esmeralda Flores is the name of my mother.

"Anak, nakita ka ng mga nurses na nahimatay sa loob ng elevator kagabi," she said worriedly.

So, everything that happened last night was real?

'Get out of there?'

What did the woman mean by that?

Nakakakita na ba ako ng multo ngayon?

That's impossible, but I saw it myself.

"Anak, okay ka lang?" Dad asked.

I also remember him. He is my dad, Calixto Flores.

I'm sure they won't believe it if I tell them that I saw a ghost.

"I'm okay, mom, dad" I smiled with assurance.

Their eyes widened.

"Naalala mo na kami?" They asked in unison.

I chuckled.

"Yes."

***

A week passed by so fast and the bloody woman did not show up anymore, but it's already confirmed that I am a girl who can see ghosts.

Guess why?

Well, I am just strolling in the park in the hospital today.

Everywhere I set my eyes upon, I can see lost souls.

Right now, I am seeing a woman carrying a child.

She was smiling when she saw me. I smiled back.

In my week of spending my time here, I learned that not all spirits are bad. Huwag mo lang silang pakialaman.

So far, the bloody woman is the only EVIL GHOST I encountered.

I learned how to control myself from fear.

"Pwede ng I discharge ang patient ma'am. We can see that she is recovering very fast." Sabi ng doctor.

Ang saya ko! Makakaalis na ako sa lugar na ito. I would be able to see other places.

I was startled when someone hugged me from the back.

"Love."

That is my boyfriend, Dexter.

My brain also remembered some people in just a week.

I can feel that I'm enjoying, but I can also feel something like, conscience.

I don't know why.

Nakarating na kami sa bahay namin. It is a mansion actually.

My feet automatically walked upstairs and went into a room. I can feel someone staring at me from below.

Nilingon ko 'yun pero wala akong makitang tao.

I immediately went into my room and lie on my bed.

*~*

"Mom let me help you " I offered my help in cooking.

"huwag na Erika, baka masunog pa 'tong kusina natin" natatawang ani niya.

Napasimangot ako dahil sa pagkakaalam ko, magaling akong magluto.

Later that night, I went into the kitchen to bake a banana cake. After baking, I put it in a jar with a note, "Banana cake for my family, love Erika"

I'm sure they'll love this.

"Get out of there"

Napalingon ako sa likod ko nang may biglang bumulong sa akin.

Binalewala ko nalang iyon sa pagaakalang guni guni lamang.

It's already morning. My parents saw the cakes I baked.

"You baked these?" Dad asked in disbelief.

"Of course!" I proudly said.

Nagkatinginan sila sa isa't isa.

"Why? What's wrong mom, dad?"

"No, there's nothing wrong. We are just confused about how did you learn to bake"

I just smiled at them and ate some of the cake. They also ate one.

They said it was.delicious.

*~*

"Love aalis na ako" paalam sa akin ni Dexter.

I nodded and kissed his lips. Agad lumalim ang aming halikan nang hinawakan niya ang aking beywang.

Napatigil kami nang may tumikhim.

"Anak tama na iyan. Matulog ka na," mom said.

Dexter and I both chuckled and said our farewells.

Pumasok na ako sa kwarto ko at humiga.

I was startled when the lights suddenly turned off.

Dali-dali akong tumayo at tumakbo patungo sa pinto pero may biglang humila sa aking buhok.

"I told you to get out of there!" she shouted.

Napasigaw ako nang marahas niyang iniuntog ang aking ulo sa pader.

I felt my head being squeezed in pain.

My blood is slowly dripping down my forehead.

I want to stand up, but my head really hurts.

I heard the shattering of glass.

Ramdam ko ang hapdi mula sa aking pulsuhan nang hiwain niya ito.

"S-stop!" Nanghihinang sabi ko.

"I won't stop until you won't get out," she whispered in my ears.

Ramdam ko ang lamig ng kanyang kamay nang hinawakan niya ang aking leeg.

's-stop'

I'm out of breath.

Nandidilim ang aking paningin ngunit ramdam ko ang titig ng babaeng multo.

"W-why are you doing this to me?" I whispered, almost out of breath

"This is the only way for you to go away"

The lights turned on and there was her, standing before me.

My vision is blurry, but I managed to see her face, clearly.

I can feel my blood, abundantly flowing from my head and wrist.

"Impossible," I uttered.

Nakita kong ngumisi siya sa akin.

"Yes, Florica. You may think it's impossible, but I am here in front of you, claiming what's really mine!"

I can't believe this.

This is just a nightmare Erica. A nightmare. A nightmare. A nightmare Erica.

Erica?

Am I really Erica.

"I'm claiming what's mine, FLORICA!"

A strong force pulled me out of my body.

No, it's her body.

Nakikita ko nalang ang aking katawan na bumagsak sa sahig na namumutla.

"No! You can't do this to me Erica. Akin na ang katawan na iyan. Patay ka na!" I shouted.

She just looked at me coldly.

"It's not me who's dead Flor. It was you. Just accept it!" Dahan-dahan siyang pumasok sa katawan niya.

Memories flashed in my mind making me remember everything that happened.

It was a stormy night and we got into a fight.

Nag-agawan kami ng minabela na naging sanhi ng pagkahulog namin sa bangin.

We were both in the accident.

Inagaw ko sa kanya ang kanyang katawan at nakalimutan ang totoo na ako si FLORICA.

I can see ghosts not because I was gifted, but because I am a ghost myself.

END