Encountering The Normy

Uh Oh

Ako lang ba talaga nakakakita ng ganito. I tried to contact mediums pero parang walang makasagot ng tanong ko. Ayoko namang pumunta sa mga probinsiya para magpatawas. Mamaya maduran pa ko kagaya nung mga napapanood ko sa TV. 

I am browsing online when I stumble on a page called Manila Encounters. Out of curiousity nagsign in ako dahil sa mga online 'paranormal experts'

KickButowski22 is now a member

Parang reddit lang pala. Nagbrowse ako ng mga threads until I got bored. Naisipan kong magsulat ng public warning. Para kung sakaling higupin ni Normy lahat ng lakas ko sa future at mawalan man ako ng hininga, I will be the last victim, dahil naisiwalat ko na lahat ng description ng isang 'Normy' 

When you see a 'Normy' you don't stay, you don't play dead, you don't pretend 'The Normy' is invisible. You RUN. I repeat you RUN coz 'The Normy' is crazy and the craziness is infectious.

10 things to know if you are facing 'The Normy' base on personal experience. Apparently no one warned me so here I am giving you the chance.

1. The Normy rummage through bins for letters

2. The Normy wears uncoordinated pieces of clothing

3. The Normy punches you without second thought

4. The Normy can hypnotise you to express yourself

5. The Normy will call you names. Out of this world names

6. The Normy drinks coffee like nobody's business

7. The Normy sings like an ogre

8. The Normy has an alienated diction

9. The Normy is a perv

10.

I'm about to finish noong biglang may nambatok sa'kin. I don't even need to turn around to know who it is. 

"Libel yan a! bat dinedefame mo ko? Sinasabi mo bang buraot ako? Gusto mo bang multuhin talaga kita at hindi ko patahimikin ang buhay mo? Gusto mong ilabas ko sa fans mo na may spongebob kang boxers at di ka makatulog hanggat di ka naglolotion at hindi mo sinusuot yung medyas mong happy three friends ang print?"

Napalunok ako. I still subtly hit press bago ko isara yung laptop. To all of you who will read this in the future, you are warned.

oOo

We're facing each other right now. Para siyang sabog na nagkukuyakoy samantalang naghihintay ako sa taping.

"Hindi ka talaga bibili ng kape?" pansampung tanong niya na

"Like I said, hindi. I cannot leave right now magtetaping ako."

"Hindi talaga pwede?" Para siyang tutang umungot -ungot sa gilid.

"You look like a pug"

"Excuse me?" tanong ng isa sa mga stage manager. Muntik ko ng makalimutan na nasa labas kami. "Ahm.. mug? do we have a mug parang gusto ko po kaseng magkape.

"Ah oo. Do you want coffee? tea?" tanong ng staff

"Or me? to namang si ateng. Kape nga daw." bulong ni Normy ng may halong nakakalokong ngisi. Out of nowhere she's beside me. Nag umpisa na naman siya "Dali na Tonio, coffee coffeeee, coffee pleaaaase"

"Coffee" I accidentally said what Normy wants.

"Sige, ipapabili nalang kita Anthony ha, 3 in 1 coffee lang kase meron tayo."

"Ice coffee Tonio, Sabihin mo ice coffee yung maraming maraming whip cream saka ice cream"

"ah ganon ba, baka abala pa wag na ate"

"No I insist. Siyempre kailangan alaga ka namin. What coffee do you want?" simple kong tumingin kay Normy na namimilog ang mata. "Ahm Ice coffee? extra shots of whip cream saka ice cream?"

"Aight gotcha Anthony. I'll be back"

"Ahhhhyyyeeeeeaaaah" she did her very own victory dance. Natawa na lang ako. Parang bata talaga.

Bago dumating yung kape, kinailangan ko ng sumalang. Walang bago kinakabahan ako. I tried to work out the nerve.

"Anthony in 5 minutes we will roll. Get ready" paalala ng Program Director. Damn anxiety, ngayon pa umepekto. Parang may bara sa lalamunan ko. Medyo nanginginig ako until I heard a particular voice shout.

"Go Anthony!" may gana siyang magcheer ngayon dahil nasunod yung gusto niya. Kakaiba talaga tong si Normy. Hindi ko mapigilang ngumiti noong pumorma siya na akala mo magbabato ng baseball sakin. "Saluhin mo" I lick my lips, looked around a bit tapos pasimpling kunyare sumalo. I watch her salute me. "You got this!" kumindat nalang ako. I always want to give my best with all my songs and definitely , this one will be one of my best performances.

The moment I entered, the crowd went wild. For some reason my eyes get fixated on that one familiar figure. Nasa gitna talaga siya sa aisle. She mouthed.

"Just enjoy it" I subtly nod. I breathe deeply and sing.

"I've never been good with words
Well at least not the sweet kind
Somehow when she's around
It's like I just lose my mind"

oOo

When I finish the performance I just found her cozily sipping coffee with my name written on it. Parang batang nakadukdok yung bibig niya sa straw habang nakapatong yung cup sa table. Umupo ako sa tapat niya. I cleared my throat.

"What do you think?" Instead of answering, she raises her thumb. Still sipping on the straw, she has a goofy smile. Napalumbaba nalang ako as I watch her finish it.

"Anthony let's go, it's time to go home", I heard my mum. Tumango nalang ako. Hinablot ko yung kape kay Normy. Not because I want to annoy her, but I don't want the staff to think I am rude. A part of me knows even Normy is sipping on it, wala namang talagang nababawas. In fact, it just melted.

"Naman!kainis" She protested. I never said a thing, but her reactions make me really want to act like a kid. I purposely sip the sugary and extra sweet drink. Halos umusok yung ilong niya sa inis.

"When did you start drinking sweet coffee?" seryosong tanong ni mummy. "I just started. I thought it will help me be more energetic" I gave my mum a coy smile.

"Don't do it too often. That might cause you skin breakout"

"I'll be careful"

"Ansungit naman ng mama mo" I just look at Normy. She quietly follows us inside the car.

Nagkunwari akong nagtetext sa kahabaan ng byahe. "Did you find what you are looking for?"

"Hindi e"

"Anthony, you better sleep early tonight. Maaga tayo bukas" I look at my mum.

"Sure" saglit lang akong nalingat pag balik ko ng tingin kay Normy wala na siya. I look around but I cannot find her.

I do not want to act restless, but somehow I can't help it.