Into the Night - a Macolet au

Chapter 3

Colet

I was about to take a spoonful of what looks to be the most tasty soup I've ever had when Maloi cursed silently and looked at me straight in the eye, color draining from her face.

"Why? Do I have something on my face?" my spoon was poised to my mouth.

"Wag," she urgently said while holding my jacket-covered wrist. I put the spoon down and asked, "What is it?"

Her eyes nervously danced around the room then settled towards the kitchen door where Nanay Pacing disappeared after serving our food. "Trust me. I'll explain later. But we have to go. Now." Maloi said, quietly enunciating every word, as if afraid I might miss something.

"Uhm, okay?" I wondered what this was all about.

Maloi took out her phone then started to pretend like she's talking to someone. "Ah malapit na po ako. Sige po diretso na po ako diyan. Okay po" she said loudly, still heavily nervous compared to a few moments prior.

"Uhm, wait bayaran ko lang si Nanay Pacing" I told her. Then in a louder voice I called out, "Nay? Babayad na po kami, may emergency lang po."

Nanay Pacing emerged from the kitchen, clearly surprise, and said "Ay sayang naman itong pagkain, gusto niyo bang iuwi?"

A look of horror crossed Maloi's face which she tried to quickly hide as she looked around avoiding eye contact.

"No need po Nay, may dadaanan po kasi kami bago umuwi," I said. "Ganun ba, osha sige, mauna na kayo. Mag ingat ha," Nanay Pacing said dejectedly.

We gathered our things, bid goodbye and started to walk back to the other side of the clearing.

We reached the paved road with the signage that says 'to San Roque' and walked silently into the night. Maloi was lightly shivering and looked haunted as we made our way home.

We walked in tensed silence. Gone was the talkative girl I was with earlier.

"Maloi? You okay? What happened?" I asked her when we were finally far from the hut.

Maloi looked at me and stuttered, seemingly unsure on how to start. "I-I think Nanay Pacing—I think she's killing people."

Bewildered, I asked, "What are you saying? Pano mo nalaman?" I don't think Maloi or anyone would joke around on something like this.

Maloi answered, hugging herself and closing off, "I just know, okay. Can't you please just trust me?"

She stopped in her tracks. Her eyes were pleading as she turned back and looked at me, tears brimming her beautiful hazel eyes.

It was still raining lightly and we were almost home, it was just another 30 mins.

"I can't explain," Maloi said defeatedly.

"Can you at least try?" I asked.

My eyes were immediately drawn to her delicate hands as she started fidgeting.

I wanted to reach out and reassure her. But I don't think she'll appreciate it, I've noticed she's actively avoiding touch in the short time that I've known her.

Well, except at the hut when she stopped me from eating.

Maloi looked at me, as if deliberating if she should tell me or not, then walked a few feet towards the line on trees along the road.

I followed and quickly caught up with her as she turned around and explained in a hushed voice "I have this...gift? Anyway," she started.

"I experience a person's happiest moment by merely touching their skin. I didn't realize it also worked with the deceased until I felt a rush of joy with vivid flashes of someone's past just as I bit into a burger," Maloi finished, eyes wide to emphasize on what she was implying.

Di ko maintindihan. Maloi patiently waited as I tried to piece together the puzzle. Si Nanay Pacing..? I couldn't wrap around my head around her 'gift,' tapos ngayon sasabihin niyang Nanay Pacing murders people and served it to us? As part of the menu? It doesn't make sense!

"The fuck?" was all I uttered. "Exactly!" Maloi said, exasperated. "Kaya kailangan na natin makarating sa bayan, pumunta sa pulis and tell them everything," Maloi added.

"And you think they'll believe us?" sagot ko naman sa kanya, both of us careful not to raise our voices. "What if you're mistaken, itong gift mo is something na di naman talaga nangyayari?" I told her, desperately clinging to reality.

"Well, thanks sa vote of confidence, Colet" she said sarcastically. "Its not like I wished for this! Why would I make an elaborate story in which I would gain nothing?"

We stared at each other for a minute. Both trying to make sense of what was happening. "I'm sorry," I told her. The rain was suddenly a minor inconvenience compared to the situation we are in right now.

"Okay, let's say this is all true," I told Maloi carefully. "Shouldn't we at least bring proof to the police that there was indeed a crime? Like yung food, we could've brought it and had it tested or something?"

"Well, shit. Sorry if I wasn't able to think straight kanina!" Maloi said, evidently frustrated with the whole situation.

"Okay, let's just chill for a bit" I replied, trying to cool down the situation. "What if bumalik tayo don, just snoop around. Take a picture or get a proof of anything. Then go to the police, give it to them and let them do the rest," I suggested.

"Diyan nagsisimula mamatay yung mga bida sa horror movies eh," Maloi said, as tears started brimming in her eyes.

"Okay, what if mauna ka na. Just follow the road then you'll be in San Roque. Ako, I'll go back quickly, in and out" I then suggested to her.

"You can't go alone! Pano if may mangyari sayo," Maloi said, still trying to hide her tears. "Well, we can't can't go kasi pano pag meron pa palang mga tao doon na kailangan ng tulong natin?" I challenged her.

Breathing deeply, Maloi tried to recompose herself. "Okay, sige tara na."