Hush, Kalea.

Prologue

"Breaking news! Earlier this morning a woman was discovered floating lifelessly in a lake. The victim is classified as Dianne Meja, a twenty-eight year old woman who had been missing for weeks."

"Three hundred fifty po lahat, miss." Sabi ko sa costumer na nasa harapan ko, when she handed the five hundred peso bill agad ko itong sinuklian at nilagay ang resibo sa loob ng brown paper bag kasama ng mga binili nito.

"Thank you po." I said politely before leaving the counter to head to the staff's room. Pasado ala-dos na at magsisira na ang convenience store na trinatrabahoan ko.

Mei, my coworker was also in the staff room, kinukuha niya ang gamit niya sa locker at handa ng umalis.

"Alis na 'ko, hinihintay pa ako ni mama sa bahay eh." Mei said before putting on her sling bag.

Kinuha ko rin ang kulay itim kong japanese-sling-bag at sinuot ito

"Samahan na kita sa labas, kapagod ng araw na 'to ang daming customers."

Mei nodded at my words, before we could leave Jericho, our co-worker spoke.

"Mag-ingat kayo sa pag-uwi ah? Madaming mga loko ang nagkakalat eh, dumadami pa yung missing cases." He said while scratching the back of his head while looking at us worriedly.

Tanging tango lang ang itinugon namin ni Mei bago lumabas sa staff room at sa convenience store rin.

Ipinara ko pa siya ng taxi at binuksan ang pintuan para sakanya before I could close the door she spoke

"Kalea, ingat ka ah? sigurado ka bang maglalakad ka lang papunta sa apartment building mo? Gabi na kase eh, narinig mo naman yung news kanina sa convenience store."

I clicked my tongue before smiling at her

"Lalakarin ko nalang, di naman kase malayo eh atsaka sayang yung pera kung ipangpa-pasahe ko and don't worry I can handle myself. Ingat ka." I said before slamming the taxi's car door shut.

Tinignan ko muna ang pag-alis ng taxi na sinasakyan ni Mei bago magsimulang maglakad papunta sa apartment building ko

I took a shortcut para madali akong makauwi, gabing-gabi na kase.

Habang naglalakad ay napadaan ako sa isang madilim na iskinita, patay sindi ang mga poste kaya't napakadilim ng lugar.

Hindi naman madilim dito kagabi ah? Ano meron? 

Kinapa ko ang celphone ko sa bulsa para gawing flashlight pero agad na napatigil nang makarinig ako ng tunog

Parang galing sa taong kinakapos ng hininga, aside from that I can also hear something weird.. like the sound of sipping and licking.

I swallowed a lump in my throat.

I grabbed my cellphone from my pocket at pipindutin ko na sana yung flashlight when i heard a man speak.

His voice was deep, raspy and dripping with seduction and mystery.

"Why are you here?"

Tila naestatwa ako sa kinatatayuan ko, hindi mapakali.

Hindi ko alam pero parang hindi tama. Parang may mali.

Unti unting nanindig ang balahibo ko sa di masabing dahilan.

His back was still facing me, that's when I realized he's holding on a woman in his arms. Putlang-putla na ito and her eyes are staring into nothing.

Naghihingalo.

"I asked you, why are you here?"

I tried to say anything but no words come out of my mouth. I wanted to run but I can't move.

Tangina.

Dahan-dahang dinaga ng kaba ang dibdib ko.

He dropped the woman to the floor creating a loud thud before facing me. The moon was no longer blocked by the clouds and so the moonlight revealed his face. 

"You know, It's improper to disturb someone who's eating their food." He said, nakatutok sa akin ang mga mata nito and hell, I can feel my knees trembling in fear when I saw smeared blood in the sides of his lips.

Tinignan ako nito na para bang sinusuri ang kabuuan kong pagkato bago ito lumapit para bumulong sa tenga ko.

I can feel his breath against my neck.

It was cold.

"You should be careful from now on, binibini."

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