Underworld War

1- Mysterious Visitor

Today couldn't be more special than any holiday. Buong taon ko itong hinihintay at isang beses lamang dumadating. I'm excited not because it's my birthday, but our birthday.

"Ma." Salubong ko sa kanya ng alas dose ng madaling araw.

I have always been this excited every time na magb-birthday kaming dalawa. Ang coincidence naman kasi na pinanganak ako ng birthday nya kaya sobrang special. Sabay kaming tumatanda.

But today must have been different. She doesn't seem as excited as I am. Usually kapag ganitong oras ay tulog na sya but when I came in, she's awake like she hasn't slept.

Lumapit ako at umupo sa dulo ng kama dala ang cake. She smiled at me that warmed my insides. She's always so calm and composed.

My mom is at her late forties but she doesn't seem to age. Wala rin naman syang nilalagay na kung ano sa mukha nya dahil sadyang maganda sya. Makes me wonder why my dad left us because mom is an amazing woman. She's the most understanding and humble person I know. Bonus na yung sobrang kinis at sobrang puti ni mama na parang di sa tropical country pinanganak.

Nang ilang sandali kaming matahimik ay nagtaka ako. She must have sensed that I noticed something is off so she offered the space beside her. Lumapit ako sa kan'ya.

"What's wrong?" I hugged her.

"Nothing..." Her voice was low.

Something is wrong.

Must be because of that guy she talked to yesterday.

I saw them talking outside the house about something serious. Their discussion was tensed and almost heated. I would've calmed them but when mom noticed me, she quickly pushed the guy away.

And I realized, something is off but familiar about that man. Have I seen him somewhere? His aura is so familiar.

"It's our birthday." I stated obviously.

"How old are you already?"

"I'm 20, Ma."

Normal lang ba na nakakalimutan ng ibang nanay ang edad ng anak nila? Kahit sa mga kaibigan ko, naiinis sila dahil parati parin silang tinatanong.

Mas lalong naging klaro ang kalungkutan sa mukha nya.

"That's it. Tell me what's wrong?"

I don't want to spoil our day but I have to ask. It's bothering me.

"Do you know this myth about The Good, The Bad and In Between?"

Kumunot ang noo ko, "What?"

"Like yinyang."

Tumango ako.

"They're said to bring balance and stop whatever chaos is happening." Tumingin sya sakin.

"You're so weird today, Ma."

Ngumiti lang sya. This conversation is throwing me off.

Tinapik ko ang braso nya at tumayo, "Let's get some sleep. Marami tayong pupuntahan bukas." Kindat ko sa kanya.

"Don't wink at me I'm not your boyfriend."

Tumawa lang ako.

"Opo."

I closed the door before me and got hit to something hard. Tumingala ako at biglang kinabahan. This guy! He was the same guy who was outside our house yesterday! Bakit sya nandito sa ganitong oras?

Oh my god.

This is so creepy. My knees started trembling as fear crept in my system. I couldn't even utter a single word and make him leave. This is trespassing!

I continued staring at him with my fear-stricken face while he was calm. Like this was nothing to him, trespassing into someone's house at midnight.

Kung magnanakaw man sya, he can take whatever he wants as long as he won't hurt us.

"Time to leave." He said in a low tone.

Kumunot ang noo ko.

"W-wha--"

Bago ko pa matapos ang sasabihin ay hinigit nya ang braso ko at hinila ako pababa ng hagdanan. Panic washed over me. Sinubukan kong kunin pabalik ang braso ko pero to no avail, his grip is so strong!

I dragged my feet to the ground but still. Nothing. How is this guy so strong?

"Ma!" I screamed. I hope the neighbors can hear me. I'n so freaking scared right now!

"Ma! Tulungan mo ako!" Sigaw ako ng sigaw hanggang makalabas kami ng bahay.

Why are the neighbors not waking up?! Sobrang sensitive nila sa asong tumatahol.

I started crying and wailing. He wouldn't budge.

"Please don't kill me! Just take anything, wag mo lang kaming patayin." Pagmamakaawa ko sa kanya.

I tried prying his fingers and kicked his leg but still! Nothing!

We stopped in front of our house. Sisigaw sana ako para humingi ng tulong nang mapatingin ako sa bintana ng kwarto ni mama. She was there smiling calmly at me.

How can she be this calm while I was dragged by someone I don't know!

But wait.

She's also crying.

Mas lalo akong nagtaka. She's looking at me like she's saying... goodbye. The hell? Why would she bid goodbye? Lumipat ang tingin nya sa lalaking may hawak sa akin. Naramdaman kong humigpit ang hawak nya.

Horror filled my system when I saw a hand sneak up behind my mom. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sunod na nangyari. I couldn't move from my spot and I could hear my heart in my ears.

I stared at the window for seconds before I screamed, "Ma!"

Her head was snapped.

In front of my eyes.

I wailed to get his hands off me and ran to my house. I couldn't even breathe while running through the stairs. I was so helpless. I didn't like what I saw.

When I opened her door, my body became cold. I found her lifeless body on the ground staring at nothing. She was not bleeding but her head was twisted, disaligned.

I didn't notice that tears were already trailing down my face as I stared at her not moving.

I sobbed.

How could this happen? Right at his moment? Na birthday naming dalawa? Matagal ko tong hinintay because finally, a change is going to happen for the both of us.

I have prepared for us for so long dahil sya lang naman ang nakakasama ko palagi. The bond that we have is strong, stronger than any other mother-daughter relationship.

One step of my foot and I got knocked out of air. Napahawak ako sa dibdib dahil sa kakapusang huminga. Napaatras ako at sinubukan muli pero wala parin. I clawed on my night dress, thinking that it was suffocating me.

My head started to pound. Napahawak ako sa pader para bumalanse pero unti unti parin akong tumumba. Before I could hit the floor, a strong arm caught me.