Kwento Ni Nanay

Red Shirt

This story related to me by my uncle. Believe me, hindi ako nakauwi ng bahay namin sa sobrang takot. I hope macapture ko ang essence ng story para maramdaman nyo rin ang naramdaman ko nun.

Uncle (Lloyd)
Friend nya (Mark)

So one rainy afternoon, lloyd went to his friend's house dahil usapan nilang magkikita roon. Wala pa si Mark kasi nasa office pa but he said na pumasok na.sya sa loob using the spare key sa ilalim ng doormat.

When he got inside, he was confused to find out na super init sa loob considering ang lakas ng ulan sa labas. Thinking that it might be because the house is kulob, he ignored the feeling and sat on the sofa.

Inikot niya ang paningin sa kabahayan.

The place exudes this weird uncomfortable feeling. Like somebody is watching his every move.
He also noticed that the room's illumination is coming from a light bulb, giving the place a somewhat eeirie appearance.

" oh well, he said to himself, must be my wild imagination".

He was completely drenched from the rain so he decided to text mark if he could borrow a shirt.

*beep*
1 mgs received

" sige, help yourself there nalang, kuha ka nalang ng damit sa closet. Sorry mga 30 mins pa ko dito. I'll go straight there soon as I get out of here pare. Find something else to do there muna para hindi ka mabored. - Mark.

Lloyd heaved put in frustration. He got up to check the clothes inside the closet.

Upon opening the closet he saw a red camisa-de-chino. ( a plain cotton shirt worn inside a barong).

"Perfect". He said.

Soon as he put the shirt on, he felt weird but he ignored the feeling. He was about to go back to the sofa when he caught the glimpse of the computer laptop.

Lloyd smirked and said to himself, "looks like I wont be bored at all hehe"..

He paced the table where the laptop is and excitedly opened it para surf sa net.

He was busy browsing when he noticed tht sobrang init talaga. He fanned his neck using his hands when suddenly, the light from the bulb went off.

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...
...

Starled, he stood up to check maybe nagloloko lang yung bumbilya.

Pagkatayo the light came back.

Puzzled, he sat down again but the came this nagging feeling that something is wrong.
A weird feeling crept inside him.
He couldnt find logic for this suspicion so he decided against his better judgement na faulty wirings lang siguro.

He thought that getting spooked would be the last thing he ever needed since magbisa lang sya.

Exactly,
Mag isa lang sya.
All alone inside a house na ngaypn lang niya napuntahan.

He quickly dismissed the idea at pinagpatuloy nalang uli niya ang pagsurf sa net.

Then the light went off again.

...
...
...
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Then on again.

Ayaw man niya matakot, pero ang lakas bigla ng heartbeat niya.
His senses are now alive.

Hairs on his arms are standing out. Ang ulo niya, parang nanglalaki. Then came that nagging feeling again.

He is now sure that something's goin on that he can't quit put his finger to.

He felt restless now.

So he said to himself, " isa pa. Isang isa nalang. Mamatay pa ng minsan itong ilaw na to at lalabas na ako dito''.

Dalawang beses na nagflicker ang ilaw.
Alam niya na dapat na syang lumabas, but he needed that one last flicker of light.

Thinking that maybe , just maybe, he may be wrong at all.

Anxiety is now clouding his sanity. Soon as he reached for the laptop, the light went off again... for the third time.

...
...
...
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Lloyd froze in fear.

*lub-dub , lub-dub ,lub-dub"

He can now hear his heartbeat.

"That's it, Im leaving''.

Soon as he jolted out of his chair, Saktong pagkatayo niya sa chair.
Bumukas ang ilaw.

And he found himself face to face with someone.

At mula sa kinatatayuan niya,kitang kita niya mula sa liwanag ng bumbilya, ang isang bagay na naririnig lang niya sa kwento.

A transparent figure right in front of him.

He can see right thru it.

Isang matandang lalaki na sunug na sunog ang anyo.

With just a fraction of 3 inches away from him, he was able to see the intricate details embroidered on its barong.

Pag angat niya ng mukha niya, bumulaga sakanya ang isang mukha na alam niyang hinding hindi niya makakalimutan.

Agnas na mukha.
Nakikita ang ilang bahagi ng ngipin nito dahil sa bahaging balat na nasunog.

Nakaluwa ang kanang mata nito at mual doon, isang brown na likido ang umaagos. Its jaw dropped when it was about to speak.

Lloyd mustered his courage and sprinted his way towards the door. He ws fumbling his way out but he was glad to made it.

It's still raining outside but he couldnt be any happier.

With trembling hands, he shoved his hands inside his pocket and fished out his mobile phone.

He texted his mom for it was all too big for him.

Luckily, his friend came home 15 mins after.

He refused to come inside and narrated the whole story to mark.

Mark, while attentively listening to Lloyd,was busy eyeing the red shirt that Lloyd was wearing.

"Pare, lolo ko yung nakita mo".
Siguro natuwa lang sayo yun, dahil suot mo yan". Mark pointed Lloyd's shirt using his lips.

" saka pare, yan kasi yung suot suot ni lolo ng mamatay sya eh"..