CHRISTMAS HAUNTINGS

ENTRY 1: When Christmas Is Over

Title: When Christmas Is Over

Pen Name: yanazij

Word Count: 987

A SOFT melody wailing from the cassette lingered in the kitchen air. Sumasabay sa himig ng pamaskong musika ang babae na mag-isang nakaupo sa stool. She was wearing a loosen ruddy dress while flicking her delicate fingers to the beat of the song. In front of her was the untouched foods that she had served a long time ago. Hindi niya mabilang ang tinagal ng kaniyang pag-aantay sa taong hindi naman tumupad sa pangako.

This was not the Christmas Aries had anticipated. Was she disappointed? Malamang, ito ang pangalawang pagkakataong hindi siya sinipot ng kaniyang nobyo sa importanteng okasyon. Inintindi niya ito noong kaniyang kaarawan dahil sa trabaho nito. Pero pasko? May nagtatrabaho ba sa pasko? Marami siyang katanungan, ngunit wala man lang dito ang taong makasasagot ng mga ito.

"His not coming home," napagtanto niya sa sarili. Pinahid niya ang mga luhang sumira sa make-up na matagal niyang pinaghandaan, all that, for nothing.

She forced her eyes to keep open and herself to stand up and give up. Pinatay niya ang musika sa cassette at ilaw sa kusina. Tumungo na siya sa kwarto at nahiga sa nanlalamig na kama.

She is tired, but she can't help thinking about Darren. Marami siyang kinatatakutang mangyari, pero may isang bagay ang talagang ayaw siyang patulugin. Hindi niya paghinalaan ang nobyo lalo't magpapakasal na sila, but she can't help but think about the obvious sign that showed in his constant absence. Ano pa ba ang ibang dahilan bukod sa kaniyang hinala?

She stared blankly at the ceiling. Masyado nang masakit na ang kaniyang mga pinag-iisip. She can't believe any of it unless with solid proof. Tama. May tiwala siya kay Darren, hindi siya nito bibiguin.

A distance ringtone resonated, tearing Aries from her thoughts. Ito ay ang telepono sa kalapit na mesa. Mabilis niya itong nilapitan na may namumuong pag-asa na sinagot. "Hello?"

She expected to hear Darren's voice on the other end of the line, but instead a woman's voice spoke up, "Is this Aries Lilani?"

Kumunot ang kaniyang noo. Ilang segundo bago siya nakasagot, "y-yes? Who's this?"

No answer. Guminhawa siya nang malalim at unulit ang tanong, ngunit hindi parin ito kumihol. Kinakain na siya nang antok, pero hindi niya parin binababa ang tawag. She waited for a long time before a hissing sound was heard from the call.

"Hello? Sino ito?" matigas ang kaniyang boses sa kabila ng antok.

"He's not who you think he is..." the caller mentioned. Aries can't make out the next thing the woman said.

"Who's he?" May isang tao na siya sa isipan.

"Darren." The mere mention of his name confirmed her worst fear. "I'm Darren's wife." Tama ba ang narinig niya?

Napagitla siya sa nakababasag na tunog ng cuckoo bird clock, dahilan iyon sa pagbilis nang tibok sa kaniyang puso. Pisteng ibon na 'yon!

It's already twelve, and Christmas is over. She should sleep. Inisip niyang prank call lang ito, o di kaya'y pinaglalaruan na naman siya ng kaniyang mga halusinasyon. Tuluyan na niyang binaba ang tawag. What the woman had said doesn't make sense, hindi niya iyon paniniwalaan.

ARIES heard the lights flickered on from outside. Napabalikwasa siya at agad iginala ang tingin sa paligid. Tumigil ang tingin niya sa puting telepno sa mesa, nilapitan niya ito at pinakiramdaman. The handle was cold as if she hadn't used it just a moment ago.

Narinig niya ang ingay sa labas nang kwarto. Darren is home, perhaps he is in the kitchen, eating the food she had cooked earlier.

Tumayo siya at inyos ang sarili. She slid into a pair of slippers and walked out of the room into the wide and dark corridor. Mabilis ngunit maingat ang lakad siya palapit sa kusina.

Hinanda niya ang sarili na lumabas sa kadiliman. "Darren—" she paused, scanning the room. He's gone. Nasaan na siya?

Nanlamig na lamang si Aries sa pwesto nang maramdaman ang presensya sa kaniyang likod.

"Hey—" The person hugged her from behind but she abruptly backed off. Hinarap niya ang tao, her chest raises and falls and her breaths are rugged and heavy. She gazed into the man's forest green eyes now staring directly at her. Inside those marble eyes was a hint of something deeper, like a void.

She stood silent and patient. Hinihintay niyang magsalita ang lalake at ipaliwanag ang sarili, o kahit batiin na lamang siya nito ay kaniyang tatanggapin, upang matapos lang ang gabi na ito.

"Aries..." his voice was brisk and serious, he inched closer to her. Darren rarely calls her by her name, 'Babe' palagi ang tawag nito sa kaniya. Something is wrong, she can feel it.

His lips parted as if about to kiss her, but she stopped him. Siguro pagod lang ito, o di kaya'y lasing lang.

She heaved a heavy sigh, "...Happy Christmas." Tears started to fall from her tumid eyes, but he never said a word and just stared blankly at her.

EVERYTHING came rushing like a wavery of the unexpected. She had been staring at the ceiling for a long time. Malalim at mabibilis ang kaniyang mga paghinga. Just then, another telephone call was heard.

Her eyes darted to the white telephone. Dahan-dahan niya itong nilapitan, maingat sa pag-iwas na matamaan ang katabing natutulog. Nangangatod ang kamay niya na lumapit dito at sinagot ang kung sino mang tumawag.

"H-Hello?"

"Hey babe." Natigilan siya nang marinig ang boses ng nobyo. "Sorry I didn't make it, I'm busy at work."

Nanindig ang balahibo niya at nanlamig ang katauhan niya. She gasped silently at the realization.

"Have you taken your meds?"

Dahan-dahan siyang umiling. A lot of peculiar things happened that night, pero sigurado siyang buhay na nilalang ang katabi niya sa higaan. She just didn't know who it was, or what it was

"Merry Christmas babe," nang matapos niyang sabihin iyon, the cuckoo bird from outside the room chirped, signifying that Christmas had finally come to an end.