The Unsolved Case of Mara Dela Cuesta

Chapter 3

Alam mo 'yong pakiramdam ng nasusunog? Ganun ang pakiramdam ko.

Hindi ko maimulat ang aking mga mata ngunit nararamdaman kong basang basa ako sa pawis.

Nahihirapan akong huminga. It feels like something blocked my nose and my lips tastes like blood.

"Kuya! Gising po!" I heard a voice.

She was shaking me pero hindi ko magalaw ang aking katawan. My hand feels heavy.

"Tulong!" she screamed and that's when I slowly tried to open my eyes.

She noticed that I was already conscious. "Kuya okay lang po ba kayo?" tanong niya pero ang kaya ko lamang sabihin sa ngayon ay, "tubig,"

My vision was blurry. Hindi ko maaninag ang kanyang itsura but I was able to notice her movements. May kinukuha siya sa kanyang bag.

She started lifting my head, placed it on her lap and slowly dripped water in my mouth. I gulped and gulped until naubos ko ang laman ng bote.

I whispered, "Salamat."

The water helped me kahit papaano na makabangon sa aking kinahihigaan.

My vision is slowly going back and the first thing I've noticed is: I'm in an unfamiliar place.

It was already day time. Nakatulog ba ako rito? What the fuck happened?!

"Miss asan ako?" I asked, nakatingin parin ako sa paligid ko. I'm very confused right now.

"Asa Maynila po kayo." Sagot niya

Alam kong nasa Manila ako pero papaanong nangyari na wala na ako sa sementeryo?! Imposible namang nailipad ako ng hangin.

"Saan pong ban-" pagkatingin ko sakanya, bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko.

I know that pretty face! She has a very long straight black hair. She was wearing a white long sleeves and a very long skirt. She also has this handkerchief tied around her neck.

I was just looking at that face yesterday sa office ni dad.

IT CAN'T BE!

"Am I DEAD?!" I asked.

"Sir, you are not dead, mukhang naaksidente po kayo." she answered and that made me shiver.

Then am I dreaming?! Why is Mara Dela Cuesta in front of me?!

"Please I'm really sorry! Stop haunting me Mara Dela Cuesta. Hindi ko sinasdyang bulabugin ka." I said while shaking.

"Nais ko lamang bumisita sa puntod mo. Wala akong ibang intensyon." I continued. I'm running out of breath and my heart is beating so fast.

Now she looks startled. Kumunot ang kanyang nuo. "Kilala mo ako? At ano sabi mo? Puntod?" napakunot nuo siya sa aking sinabi.

I touched her face and it was solid. It felt warm and soft. She feels real!

Pumalikod siya. She was really shocked for what I did so she slapped me in the face and shouted, "bastos!"

It turned her face red like a tomato. She clenched her fists.

Sumakit lalo ulo ko sa sampal niya. Mukha ko ba tuloy ang pumula. Only on one side though. And I'm guessing bumakat ang kanyang kamay sa pisngi ko sa sobrang lakas. Mukhang totoong totoo na nga. Pero paano?!

Inayos na niya sarili niya tsaka tumayo. "Sir, bago ka mambastos, punasan mo muna iyang dugo sa ilong mo! Mukha kang tanga! MANYAK!" Sigaw niya bago umalis.