The Witch and the Playboy (Filipino) (Published under Lifebooks)

Chapter 11- The Curse Begins

JACE

Parang pinako ako sa kinatatayuan ko when I saw how the fire glazed through Pepsi's eyes

Humihingal siya. Her delicious lips were slightly parted, and her hands were shaking, one leaning on the wall for support.

"Ano ba'ng problema mo?" mahinahong tanong ko sabay himas sa pisngi kong animo'y sinampal ni The Rock.

Mas lalong lumukot ang mukha niya.

Bigla siyang tumalikod at tumakbo pabalik sa school, crossing that field which connects the small and isolated forest to our school's premises.

"Pepsi, sandali!" sigaw ko habang sinusundan ko siya. Damn, pinaglihi siguro 'to sa isang itim na kabayo na emo, kasi ang bilis tumakbo.

"Nagustuhan mo naman 'yon 'di ba?" sigaw ko ulit. We were in the middle of the field nang lumingon siya, finally.

"Do you have any idea on what you have done!?" asik niya sa'kin. Kulang nalang ay kutsilyo sa mga kamay niya at mukha na siyang serial killer.

"Ugh, we kissed?" humihingal na sagot ko, my hands on my knees.

"Pagbabayaran mo itong ginawa mo sa'kin, Jason Snyder. You'll see..."

And as if the universe is in favor of her, biglang kumulog, just in time when she finished talked. It reminded me of those scary effects and moments in horror movies...

"At ano'ng gagawin mo sa'kin? You're gonna turn me into a dog?" I nervously chuckled.

The expression in her face shifted from mad to mischievous before a devilish smile emerged from her lips.

Natigilan ako ulit.

Should I be worried now?

Pero bakit kahit ano'ng warning and reminders ng mga friends ko at ng iba sa'kin na talagang mangkukulam ang babaeng ito ay hindi ko talaga maipilit sa sarili ko na maniwala sa kanila?

I can really feel that she's not...

Especially when we kissed.

It seems like I can still feel her lips on mine.

"Makikita mo..." pamisteryosong sagot nito sabay ng pagdilim ng kapaligiran.

Ilang segundo pa ang nakalipas at tuluyan nang umulan. We looked up at the sky at the same time. Mahina lang ang entrance nito, pero biglang bumundak after just a few seconds.

Walang sabi-sabing kinuha ko ang kamay niya at hinila siya. Sabay kaming tumakbo papunta sa pinakamalapit na silungan. I wrapped my arm around her and covered her head with my hand habang tumatakbo. Hindi niya ako pinigilan.

Madilim ang kapaligiran sa ngayon kahit mga around 3 p.m. pa lang.

"Okay ka lang ba?" tanong ko nang makasilong na kami sa gilid ng isang saradong garahe.

She was visibly shaking. Bigla akong naawa. Yumuko ako at sinilip ang mukha niya. She looked like a total mess. Her mascara and eyeliner were ruined, messing her face even more. Naging straight na rin ang magulong buhok nito.