The mysterious girl, Lily, and the intimidating pretender, Heather, found themselves in a near-death situation when they face an incident far from reality.
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Lily has always been the curious type especially when she came to a village that speciali...
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CHAPTER 3: The Mystery of Las Dolores
LILY
NANATILI akong nakatingin sa bintana ng bus. Mabuti nalang talaga at napaniwala ko ang nagbabantay sa buong village.
Si lola kasi, bigla-bigla nalang akong pina-uuwi kahit alam naman nya na hindi ako basta-bastang makakalabas sa village. My family has always been addicted to following our ancestors traditions and superstitions. Wala namang masama kung maniniwala dahil wala rin namang mawawala but sometimes, it could so bothersome.
I arrived at the first station and spent another thirty minutes waiting for a taxi. They hardly come here so sometimes I have to walk on the way to our town.
It's not a poor town and to be honest, many rich and well-known people came from here, It's just that people here are weird and they are eager to follow their traditions correctly.
My grandmother even told me to not talk to anyone after dark or better yet don't go out after dark especially when 6:33 pm comes.
I'm not into this superstitions but because the hours that are forbidden according to my grandmother are somehow connected to the case, I decided to ask her about it.
When I arrived at the family mansion, no one dared to greet me, as always. They said that it's because the color of my eyes. They believed that having green eyes are a sign of badluck. That's the reason why they avoid me as much as they can.
Although, sanay na sanay na ako sa pagiging wirdo nila.
"Lily, I told you not to be late, it's already 6:05!" My grandmother slammed the table when I sat down.
"I'm sorry grandma, the taxi broke halfway so I needed to walk."
"What! You walked on your way here?! I have always told you not to—"
"Ma, calm down, it's bad for your health," awat samin ni Papa. "Ikaw naman Lily, matuto kang sumunod."
"Sorry Pa," nakayukong sabi ko. Ayoko ng makipag talo sakanila lalo na't andito rin ang iba kung pinsan at kamag-anak.
"Alam mo Nestor, you should give your daughter a lecture. Masyadong nagmamagaling, mana sa nanay nya."
"Meryll!" Mahina akong napa buntong hininga nang marinig ko ang sigaw ni Lolo.
Si Ate Meryll ang panganay na anak nila Lolo at Lola. Hindi ko alam kung anong dahilan pero lagi nyang pinag-iinitan si Mama. "Napag-usapan na na'tin na hindi na babanggitin ang pangalan o kahit ano man ang tungkol sa babaeng 'yun." Sabat ni Ate Jafell, siya ang pinaka bunsong kapatid.
Sa totoo lang, hindi lang si Ate Meryll, lahat sila. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang ginawa ni Mama para magalit sila ng ganito. Hindi ko naman kasi siya naabutan.
"Alam naman na'tin na nalalapit na ang piyesta ng Las Dolores. Isa ito sa mga pinaka importante na ritual sa buong taon kaya dapat lang na alam nyo ang mga bawal and ang mga dapat gawin sa araw na 'yun. Wala ni isa sa inyo ang maaring lumabag. Nagkakaintindihan ba tayo o kailangan ko nanamang isa-isahin ang mga patakaran?"
