The Crimson Curse✔

Chapter 30 - Deserving Of Affection

"Ano, game?"

Nagkatinginan ang lahat sa gitna ng katahimikan bago sabay na sinigaw ang sagot na 'game' except Paris.

"Good." Malaking ngiti na sabi ni Daphne. "Prepare yourselves because the game starts in 10..."

Tumingin ako kay Calvin.

"9..."

He looked back smiling and mouthed 'good luck' bago biglang tumakbo papunta sa gubat.

"8..."

I looked at teacher Daphne na nakapikit habang nag count down.

"7..."

Mahina akong napamura nang ako nalang pala ang naiwan sa field. Napangiti akong umiling at naglakad sa kabilang gubat, 'yung nasa harapan ni ma'am.

I tried to walk silently as I could upang hindi marinig ni teacher D kung saan ako papunta. I can still hear her voice kaya naglakad pa ako palayo.

I look around to find a hiding spot. But since puno lang lahat ng nakikita ko napagdesisyunan ko nalang ang akyatin ito. Nang medyo malayo na ako sa open field at kay ma'am, dahil hindi ko na narinig pa ang boses niya, humanap ako ng madaling maakyatan na puno.

"Sweet." Napangiti ako nang nagsakto ang katawan ko sa sanga nito.

I fix my coat at tumingin ako sa ibaba at sa unahan pero wala akong mahagilap na tao este bampira. Naghintay ako kay ma'am pero dahil sa ayos ng aking pwesto dito sa itaas, samahan pa ng sariwang ihip ng hangin, hindi ko naiwasan ang antok. Kaya naisip ko nalang ang matulog muna. Total mahahahanap din naman ako ni ma'am sooner or later.

I stood in the middle of an unknown place, shivering, sobbing and confused. I'm probably inside the woods, since all I see are trees and more trees all around. Everything is dim and quiet. I don't know where I am but the thought of it didn't scare me.

Flinching, I looked back to what I thought a familiar voice calling my name. It was the kind of name where only one person knows about it. A nickname that only that one person had created and used.

I kept looking and searching to the source of the voice but all I see is nothing.

"NJ." There it is again. It's a boy's voice I reckon. His voice seems familiar to me. Like a song I knew but couldn't tell how it got into the back of my head or how I memorized its details.

"NJ!" He called once again. This time closer. Voice distorting into someone's voice I already heard. A voice I am not certain.

"NJ, you came back." I gasped as I pivoted to see my caller. The only one who knows this name – NJ.

"You're here." I blinked to see nothing but darkness. I can feel someone's presence but I saw no one.

"Hello?" I called into the vast empty woods.

"NJ, let's make a deal. But this time, we can't seal it like we used to, not now."

I looked around when the voice revolved all over the place. "Hello? Who are you? What are you talking about?"

I didn't receive an answer instead he kept on talking.

"Remember me. Remember my voice. I'll see you soon, NJ." I gasped when his voice started to drift away. Fading all together with the surroundings.