[5] True Filipino Horror Experiences (Tagalog)

JUNE

JUNE

Once upon a time, I was young and sexy! Sa maniwala kayo o hinde, basta!

I was blessed with good genes in terms of physique, but I still liked going to the gym and working out. ‘Though I’d made a lot of friends in the gym pero mas gusto ko pumupunta in the early mornings para concentrated talaga sa buhat, walang kaagaw sa mga makina, saka fresh na fresh pa ang paligid.. unlike sa hapon at gabi na amoy pawis na ang buong gym.
In 2001, I used to go a small-ish gym near my apartment. I’d go around 6:30 AM, finished before 8:30, then drove to work. Normally, ako talaga opening client, nagdadatingan ang mga “pang-umaga” mga 8:00 na. Hindi naman ako nakakaramdam ng takot dun sa loob kasi sobra-sobra sa ilaw ang gym na ‘to. Siguro mga 3-4 days na ako’ng nakapag-start ng routine na yun when I first saw a man na nasa loob din ng freeweights area, gwapo (imagine Troy Montero). He was looking out through the glass wall, matagal. Napansin nya na tinitingnan ko sya kaya siguro na-conscious at lumabas. He didn’t go back until he saw me go to the shower rooms.

I saw him again the following week. This time, I talked to him. June daw ang name nya, sabi pa nya “June as in the month, not Jun as in Jun-jun”. Nagkatawanan na lang kami. He said he’s the new instructor. Days went by, paminsan minsan nagi-spot sya sa kin or tinuturuan ako ng ibang exercises. I can’t say we became close, but by the end of my second week, we were already comfortable with each other. Madalas ko pa din sya makitang nakatingin sa malayo. At ang weird pa sa lalaking yun, madalas nagi-spot sya sa kin, pero mapapansin ko na lang sa gitna ng buhat na wala na sya. Parang multo, pero hindi sya multo ha. Malakas sya magbuhat eh.

Usually Fridays, I wouldn’t go in the morning, night na. Gym-mates would meet up after buhat then gimik na. That Friday night, kakabalik lang ni gym-owner after a few weeks and nun lang kami nagkita ulit.  We fistbumped, “huy Mara, sabi ni Henry (other instructor) enjoy mo daw ang morning routine mo ah.. hindi mo  na daw kelangan ng instructor or spotter sabi niya eh.” I said, “OK lang. Saka andyan naman si June. Sya madalas na spotter ko.” Pinapasok nya ako sa office nila at tinanong about June. Andun si misis nya and they looked concerned. I thought baka masamang tao yun kaya they asked me how exactly he looked like.. build nya.. paano kami nagkausap.. etc etc.. Kinwento ko naman, even the “June as in the month”.

Sabi ni owner, “kapatid ko si June. He was our instructor sa branch na ‘to when it first opened.” Sabi ko, “ah hindi naman nya nabanggit na kapatid ka nya.. pero ang bait nya (at gwapo, sa isip ko lang)”. Then sabi nya, “pero Mara sure ka ba’ng sya nakita mo?”, tinuro ang picture ni June sa isang group photo.  I said, “yeah, sya yan..”.. “Mara, he died of lung cancer a week ago.. we buried him some days ago pa lang.. hindi na ganyan itsura nya, payat na payat na sya!”

Nanlaki ang ulo ko and I nearly puked my heart out of my chest. Kaya pag nakikita ko yun mga scene sa movie na nagto-throw up pag may extreme experience sila, I relate. I know exactly how they feel.

Now, I believe it when mediums say when they see/feel dead people, it’s usually in their prime. Yun old people, nakikita ng mediums na nasa 20s or 30s nila. Or basta kung anu yun gusto nila ipakita na how they looked like. In my next stories, I’ll probably tell of almost same story.. of seeing a dead person in their good times.
Needless to say, I never went back to that gym ever.

📜Travel Horror Stories
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