Decay In Her Bones

CHAPTER 7

An unbearable coldness was felt by Bobby inside the bus that Monday morning as he and Mylene were on their way to school. It was an intense sensation that made Bobby feel like the expanse of his skin was covered in ice. He was sitting beside the window but he could not see anything from the outside world: it was still very dark at six in the morning. Beside him, Mylene shivered with her arms forming an X in front of her chest. Her head rested on Bobby's right shoulder.

The bus was full to the extent where willing passengers had to stand in the middle. For more than three years, this had been Bobby and Mylene's mode of transportation when going to school. In times like that, Bobby knew that the group of people filling up the bus was composed of students attending college in Manila, people who were going to Divisoria to buy wholesale merchandises, and those whose work was in the Metro.

A blur of lights dashed through the window covered with moisture as if the world outside was being pulled backwards. As Bobby was staring at his opaque reflection through the window, he recalled the series of unexplainable events yesterday. A slow flashback suddenly began playing in his mind starting with his unfortunate but successful attempt to mock the Bloody Mary, to the mass at Santo Sepulcro, to the second apparition of the Bloody Mary beside him on their way home, to the driver's doppelganger he saw, unto the moment when they heard that the jeepney was boarded by snatchers. They had no idea what had happened after that, for they fled, running with bated breath as hard as they could to get away from the scene in an adrenaline rush to avoid danger.

Last night, they both went to Mylene's house. While they were on the tricycle, Mylene asked about Bobby's weird actions in the jeepney, so he was forced to tell her. He told her that he saw the Bloody Mary that Sunday morning when he uttered the recitation in front of the mirror, that the myth was actually true, and that he saw her again in the jeepney. After that, he told her about what he saw: probably a premonition of how the driver would die. Is he dead? Did he die? Did the holdapers kill him?

To his relief, Mylene immediately believed everything he said.

When they had arrived at Mylene's house last night, Mr. and Mrs. Elvinda greeted them with a smile, but it suddenly turned into confused looks when they noticed the two's faces. They explained that they had just escaped an actual hold-up. Luckily.

As they were retelling the story, Bobby realized that their fateful escape was made possible because of his fear after seeing the premonition. He was not even sure if it was a premonition, but he had nothing to explain what he had seen.

After having a glass of water, Bobby said goodbye to Mylene's parents. To ensure his safety and considering the late hour last night, her father took the liberty of bringing him home through a motorcycle ride. It was a ride with neither of the two speaking.

When they reached their destination and were now in front of Bobby's house, he thanked Mylene's father.

He replied with a soft tone, "No, thank you for my daughter, anak. It really was a good thing that you were able to get off at the right time."

Bobby's parents, upon receiving an advance notification from Mrs. Elvinda, came outside to meet the two men. Mr. and Mrs. Vitug, in return, thanked Mylene's father for giving their son a ride home. To Bobby's amazement, it seemed like they already knew what happened. Mylene's mother probably called them up while they were on their way to their house.

"Thank God you're safe, anak!" Susan exclaimed.

That was all that happened last night.

Back in the bus, Mylene awoke with a start. Was she sleeping, Bobby wasn't really sure. The memories of yesterday kept his thoughts busy.