Stone

Chapter XXX: The Curse of Mystic Eyes

Kahel

THE CURSE OF MYSTIC EYES— simply gazing at someone can turn them into stone.

I just found myself outside of my darn high school. 10:30 PM na ng gabi, dumiretso na ako rito nang magsarado ang mall kanina.

Hinihingal pa ako. My hair was a mess. Tumatagaktak ang pawis sa aking noo patungo sa aking mga mata. My glasses were smudging like crazy. But I keep my eyes fixed on our school logo na nasa harapan ko. Malalim ang aking mga hininga, mouth wide open, my eyebrows are like shaking each other's hands habang hindi ko maproseso ang mga nasaksihan ko sa balita kanina.

Bakit ngayon ko lang napansin?

His smile, his build, his clothes the first day I met him...No!

Tao si Matthew. I know that by heart.

He was there for me when I needed someone the most.

Wala nang bantay sa labas ng paaralan kaya madali kong natawid ang bakod sa gilid nito. May isang maliit na siwang sa gilid na pader na palagi naming dinadaanan noong nasa swimming team pa ako.

I am now inside the school.

My heart was pounding like crazy as I surveyed my surroundings.

The bleachers are still there. Hindi pa rin napipinturahan ng bago ang basketball ring sa quadrangle.

It was dark but there were still some lights on each corner of the school. Sapat lamang para mamkuhaan ko ang impyernong pinanggalingan ko.

Sapat lamang para maalala ko ang mga pangungutya ng mga taong homophobic noong araw na iyon.

"No!" bulalas ko sa aking sarili. I shook my head. "Focus, Kahel. Focus!"

Nakayuko akong naglakad patungo sa pinakamalapit na hagdan.

I can see the security guard patrolling the other building with his flashlight shining towards me.

Nagtago ako sa likod ng poste.

I saw the spotlight from his device move away and it gave me a chance to dash up the stairs.

Pero magaan ang mga hakbang ko. My feet were running but were tiptoeing like under water.

Then I found myself on the second floor. I am now in front of the only safe haven I know of in this place—the library.

Then I saw the banner above the door in front of me.

"In memory of Mattias Rodriguez, the school founder."

I bit my lips. This is crazy!

The library door was unlocked. I went inside like the wings of an owl— not making any noise above the snow.

Then I heard some footsteps. Mabilis akong nagtago. The security guard flashed his light inside. It was fast but slow enough for me to see where he was beaming at—the statue of our school founder.

"Taenang istatwa iyan," saad ng security guard. "Minumulto na talaga itong school na ito."

He shut the door, and then I heard him run away like crazy. Naiwan na naman akong mag-isa.

In situations like this, I should be shitting my pants. I'm like ghost hunting dahil sa ginagawa ko.

But I was feeling different; they have a word for this thing in my chest.

Mailiw, a word in Ilocano. Isang bagay na laging bukang bibig ng nanay ko tuwing nangungulila ito sa Tatay ko.

I slowly approached him. Mabagal ang mga hakbang ko. Each step I took made that screeching noise on that floor made of old mahogany wood.