Amanda

Chapter 15

Isa lang ang masisigurado ko: hindi ako matutulungan ng mga pulis, lahat sila ay nahumaling kay Amanda. At dahil na rin sa aking kagaguhan kaya nakarating ako sa punto ng buhay ko na bilang na lang ang araw ko. Malakas ang ihip ng hangin sa labas, it rustled the trees surrounding this shed that I am in. Pag mamay-ari ng matandang ale, binigyan niya ako ng advise. It did sound so simple at first, to kill her, easy, yeah? If I was a fucking killer, it is easy. Tangina.

The drink she gave me earlier somehow made my mind clearer, but it didn't ease something else, the doom that I am feeling.. that this is all going to end up in vain. Am i capable of killing her? Is she really.. a .. Umiling ako, trying to subdue my doubt. Wala nang oras pa para magdalawang isip, ang katawan ni Rei na wala nang buhay ang tanging ebidensya; na nagpapatunay na papatayin niya ako pag hindi ko siya naunahan. I grab a rope hanging from a rustic nail in the wooden wall and reached for the hatchet with my other hand. The weight of the hatchet makes me acutely aware of what I am planning to do.

Calm down Miggy, if I did.. kill her, now what? what's going to happen next? Maniniwala ba talaga ako na babalik ang katawan ko sa dati? paano kung hindi? I looked around, as if in this shed full of gardening tools- i will have my answer. But I only got a deafening silence.

I am a shitty person, that's for sure. I cheated on my girlfriend, I let someone be killed. Now I am in desperation trying to save my life. Do I even deserved to live? Sumagi sa isipan ko si Paula.. ang aking parents.. I chuckled to myself, oh so now I'm reminiscing while I sneak my way on the backyard of Amanda's house. I don't have great dreams.. or ambitions.. Ang motto ko lang naman is fuck around and find out and guess how it served me. If I do somehow die, It wouldn't matter.. siguro.. but my hands sure do shake a lot. I tightened my grip in my hatchet. Kahit para na lang to kay Rei, she had a brighter future but she was put out quickly like a fly.. by this woman..

The kitchen door was locked, as expected. There was light inside though, I inched closer to the sliding window at sumilip ako. Walang katao tao.. The window slide back easily when I pry it open. I hurdled myself in. Made myself quiet as possible. May dalawang walang laman ng mug sa hapagkainan. Oh shit, baka may kasama siyang iba? This is going to turn into a shitfest if someone becomes a witness. I grit my teeth. I could hear my own heartbeat defeaning my ears. The wooden stairs creaked under my weight. Slowly and wearily I climbed up, as I go up I began to hear faint moaning sounds.. A slap. A groan. A shrill moan. Giggles. Familiar laughter..

"..?!" My feet dragged me to where the sound originated. I didn't have a chance to think this through as I forcefully thrashed the door open with a rough kick. I scanned the room. Frantically I tried to locate this person.. Her laugh.. Is she alive!? "Rei?!" But I blinked and the room full of people vanished and only left me with two person inclined together in a bed. Amanda. Hindi ko maaninag kung sino ang kayakap niya dahil nakaharang ang likuran niya. "Mukhang hinahabol ka na ng halusinasyon mo.. Miguel.." Malambing na himig ni Amanda. "Kung hinahanap mo ang dalagang sinambit mo.. nasa refrigerator ko siya." Kasunod ay ang isang nakakarinding halakhak. She turned around, her bra soaked in a dark shade of blood na nanggagaling sa lalakeng nakahiga.. he wasn't making any grunting sound anymore. Lifeless. His face.. the police I saw a couple of times.. isn't he an accomplice of hers?

The contents of my stomach regurgitated itself on the floor. Umiikot na ng konti ang paningin ko. The acidic taste stung my throat and tongue. I grimaced. "Ikaw lang ang lalakeng nagustuhan ang luto ko, haha.. ni hindi mo nga tinanong kung manok, baka ba or baboy yung karneng kinain mo noon.." Isang nakakalokong ngiti ang ipinakita niya. She got off from the bed. Her whole front was soaked in blood, it ran down to her knees and left bloody footprints on the floor. "This is the real me.. Miguel.. I see.. are you planning.. to kill me? who told you this?" She smirked, I took a step back. The fear crept up on my nape. "Is it my mother-in-law?" She laughed when she realized she was correct pagkatapos niyang mabasa ang itsura ko.

"She's lying.."

"Tumahimik ka!" Hindi na ako nag dalawang isip pa at sinugod siya. I raised my hatchet and swung it to her direction. It was sloppy. I was unsure despite rushing. And she quickly pick up on it and avoided me. In a blink of an eye I was slammed on the wall.. Making me winced in pain. "Nakakahiya siguro pag namatay ako sa katulad mong walang kwentang lalake.. I mean, come on!" She laughed histerically. Her throat exposed, as she laughed by throwing her head back.

I coughed. Sticky black blood.. not a human blood. "Anong.. anong ginawa mo sa akin?" I asked, my whole body has been sucked of energy. I couldn't even muster the strength to grip on my weapon. My arms went limp on both my sides. The hatchet fell beside me. Its weight began to be too much for me. I'm more or less a crippled person now.. "Sshh.. dont worry little boy.." She whispered sweetly on my ear. "Bat mo to ginagawa..?" I asked.. even speaking took a toll on me. My sides physically hurts as I try to breathe. "Kasi gusto ko lang.. I dont have any deep, grandeur reason.. and it would be a waste not to weaponized my beauty.. right?" Amanda looked at me. Her eyes turned all black. "This is different though.. I decided not to kill a precious toy like you.."

Unti unti na akong nawawalan ng malay. I tried to keep myself conscious. The throbbing pain on my whole body somehow help. I guess.. this is it for me.. "Scum like you need.. to be taught a lesson.." I think I tried to scream but I didn't hear myself. Only saw what she did. Her hand tore my stomach open. Long feline like fingers tearing my innards open while I could only writhe in numbning pain. "See you again.. Miguel."

Nagising akong naliligo sa sarili kong pawis. "Oh.. bat ang lamig mo? para kang nakakita ng multo.." saad ni Paula. Idinampi niya ang likod ng kamay niya sa noo ko. Nag aalala niya akong tinitigan. I looked away. Inikot ko sandali ang tingin ko sa paligid.. I swear.. was it a dream? I know I died.. Paula slid off the bed. I could see her putting her clothes back on in my peripheral view while I checked my body from under the blanket. No bruises.. I'm as healthy as any guy could be. "Hindi ka pa ba aalis?" tanong ni Paula. May himig ng lungkot sa boses niya. I checked my phone. The time and date.. this is my last day with her.. right.. I'll be going back to my parents for a part time job.

"Ah fuck, maybe it's all a weird dream."

"Ano yun, babe?" saad ni Paula. I chuckled. "Wala, uh hey.." I was going to tell the weird dream to her.. maybe for once, if i became honest to her.. She cut me off. "May tumatawag sayo. Who.. is this Amanda?" She asked, checking the name of the caller on my phone. Napamaang ako. The fuck?