The Seer: Vindicata

Chapter 7 : A Lethal Game

DOROTHY

Walang araw. Natatakluban ng mga ulap ang buong langit, senyales na magiging matamlay ang buong umaga.

Dala-dala ko ang mga colored cartolinas at school supplies na binili ko sa bookstore papasok sa school. Mabigat. Ngunit makulay. Parang buhay, sa isip-isip ko. Binilisan ko ang paglalakad upang marating ang main gate ng campus.

6:29am.

I am freaking late, and I don’t know why the hell I woke up late today. Hindi naman ako pagod or anything, pero nakakapagtaka. Napaka-wrong timing, kung kailan kailangan kong umalis nang maaga e saka naman ako tinanghali ng gising.

I approached the gate and entered the campus. But as I head to the main building, I saw a large group of people gathered in front of its façade. Teachers, students, and even the school staff were there. They all have their heads lifted up, as if they were stargazing or watching the clouds as they hung in the sky.

But there were no stars. The clouds weren’t a cool view to stare at, either.

I looked at the faces of the people standing right in front of the building. Some of them are worried, some are talking—saying things which I don’t understand. Basta ang alam ko lang, they look like they’re begging. They are watching someone above the building, and it looks like they are asking that person about something.

My mouth slightly opened when I saw a young girl in her school uniform, seemingly unconsciously approaching the edge of the rooftop. Para siyang walang pinakikinggan. Tuluy-tuloy lamang ang mga tao sa pagsigaw sa ibaba, ngunit siya ay wala ring tigil sa dahan-dahang paglalakad, tila hindi alam ang kanyang ginagawa. Ibinaba ko pa ang mga dala kong cartolina at supplies dahil sa gulat nang makita ko siya. This girl is attempting to commit suicide by jumping off of the rooftop!

“Gwen! ‘Wag kang tatalon!”

“Omg, Gwen! Don’t do this, please!”

“Gwen ano bang nangyayari sa’yo?”

“Where the fuck are the authorities? Call them!”

“I can't take this anymore!”

Screams filled the whole field as everyone was begging the girl not to kill herself. Then I realized something off, the girl on the rooftop is actually my classmate, Gwen Balmaceda.

Gusto ko siyang lapitan. Sabihin sa kanya na huwag niyang gawin kung ano ang iniisip niya. Alamin kung ano ang dahilan ng pagpapakamatay niya. I-comfort siya hanggang sa makababa siya sa 5-storey building ng paaralang ito. But I can’t. My eyes went blurry and I slowly felt dizzy. Parang umiikot ang mundo ko, nahihilo ako. Napahipo na lang ako sa aking noo na ngayo’y tagaktak ang pawis. Then little by little, I lost my energy.

And I fell on the ground.

Almost immediately after that, I slightly heard the louder screams from the crowd and drops of blood spattered over the field.

The girl on the rooftop jumped off.

***

Mabilis akong napatayo sa kama—pawis na pawis. Mistula kong hinahabol ang aking hininga habang dumadagundong ang tibok ng aking dibdib. I knew it. This is the second death the mail was talking about. I’ve seen it again—I’ve peeked at the future, again. I’ve had a glimpse of hell. AGAIN.

My phone rang. Leonor Romana, the leader of my assigned committee, was calling. Still in tremble and unaware of what is happening, I pressed answer.

“Hello? Dorothy! Good morning! Sorry ‘di na ako nakatawag kagabi. I was busy finalizing the plan for the decorations. Pero thanks to God, tapos na. All we have to do is to craft the decors. Nga pala, have you bought the supplies I told you to buy?...”