Scintilla and Scent

IX: Petrified

Chapter 9

PAGTATAKA, 'yun lang ang tanging naramdaman ko sa mga pinagsasabi ni Coreen.

She seemed a different person now. I couldn't see the Coreen that I first met. 'Yung goofy and bubbly na si Coreen.

"Hmmm...you sure magaling ka na?I think you need more pahinga pa," Ansley pace back and forth.

Coreen stood a little straighter with her chin held high. She even grinned.

"Of course! Now if you'll excuse me, I have a lot of things to do," she turned away.

Naiwan kaming tatlo na walang kibo. I didn't know why it seemed that I couldn't even move. Para kaming naging statue sa kinatatayuan namin for about a minute.

"Hey Ben! Are you three fine?" tanong ng isang hindi ko kilalang lalaki. "Send ko na lang sa'yo 'yung file para sa group project natin mamaya ha."

When the guy tapped Ben's shoulder, tsaka lang kami nakakilos. Para akong hiningal. How could it possibly happen?

"Thanks Mark," Ben took a deep breath tapping his chest.

"Thanks for?"

"I mean--- thanks in advance for sending the file," nasapo ni Ben ang ulo n'ya. "Oo nga pala, this is Ansley our friend, and this Kalliah my cousin."

"Oww! Hi! I'm Mark, classmate ni Ben," he extended his hand to me and I accepted it. Ayaw ko rin maging bastos, after all, without him I didn't know how we could even move.

When he released my hand, nakipag-shake hands din siya kay Ansley.

"Nice to meet you Mark," Ansley tried to smile.

"Nice to meet you too, but I have to go na ha, may meeting pa kasi kami sa theater club," he waved his hand. "Bro! Mamaya ha!"

Ben nodded as we all watched Mark moved away. The three of us let out a deep breath together.

"What just happened?" my eyes narrowed.

"I think I need to drink something hot muna, like I feel so nilalamig talaga," Ansley pressed her throat.

"Mabuti pa nga-- cafeteria na muna tayo," Ben rubbed the nape of his neck. Ako naman, napahigpit ang hawak ko sa strap ng shoulder bag ko. Even though we were walking already, nanlalamig pa rin ang buong katawan ko. 

"Here Kali, I think you need this too," Ansley handed to me a hot chocolate she bought in a vendo machine. "Like my head still ache pa kaya, and I felt so nanlalamig pa rin."

I drunk it and massage the back of my neck. I still felt a little numb. The feeling is so unexplainable.

"I still feel dizzy," I closed my eyes just then I remembered Coreen's neck, that's why I quickly opened my eyes with my mouth opened.

"Kali? What's wrong?" Ben tapped my shoulder.

I covered my mouth, "naalala ko lang, 'yung ano— 'yung neck ni Coreen, 'di ba dapat may cover pa 'yun? It's been a week, how could it possibly heal easily? Without even a scar?"

"Oh my God!" Ansley's hands were shaking a bit. "I saw it, but it didn't register in my mind, like I was so lutang din kasi earlier."

"There's something strange in Coreen now, hindi ko lang alam kung ano," Ben shrugged his shoulders. "Dahil ba 'to sa nangyari sa hospital?"

We were stuck for a moment.

"I don't know what's happening anymore, this is so frightening na kaya," Ansley pouted holding her head.