Meeting the Peculiars

PANIMULA

I rose from my bed when I saw my 5-year old kid from the door. Her hello kitty blanket was wrapped in her whole body as she cries out loud.

"M-mommy. I-I'm scared," she said with a cracked voice and snuggled close to me.

Looking worried about what happened to my daughter, I pressed her head to my chest and  caressed her back hoping that she would feel better.

"Ssh. What happened sweetheart? You can tell it to mommy. "

With her tears still rolling to her cheeks, she stared straight to my eyes. "I-I saw a guy with f-four eyes mommy. Two of his eyes were r-red. I-It's scary m-mommy."

I felt how she tightened her little arms to my waist and continue her loud cries.

"Baby. Shhh. It's okay. Alam mo ba dati ring nakakita si mommy ng mga unique creatures."

Because of what I said, she slowly loosend her grip from me and gave me an inquisitive look.

My lips curved slightly upward as I remember those memories.

Their images were still vivid as if seeing them was just happened yesterday.

"Gusto mo ba ikwento ko sayo?"

My daughter's sobs quieted into whimpers.She stayed silent for a while until she answered me with her slight nods.

"I was once like you sweetheart. Bata pa lang ako nakakakita na rin ako ng kakaibang tao but I just kept on ignoring those not until they talked to me."
---

It was a typical Friday night when I decided to  go out from our house and buy some snacks for my midnight movie marathon later.

Hindi na ako nagpaalam kila mama dahil tulog naman na sila at kung sakaling gising pa hindi naman nila ako papayagan.

As I stepped outside the door wearing an oversized sweater, black dolphin shorts and slippers on my feet, the cold wind easily touched my whole body giving me an eerie feeling. I crossed my arms to my chest to make myself warm and started to walk from the gloomy street.

Mga ilang hakbang pa lang ako sa bahay namin nang maramdaman ko ang mga yabag sa likod ko.

Someone's following me but I didn't bother to look from my back and just continue my steps going to the convenient store.

I tried to walk faster but the footsteps from behind grew heavier as well. My cold sweats started to dripped on my forehead and the beating of my heart became unusual. It seems like it was ready to escape from my chest because of this nervousness.

This won't work.

I took a deep breath and courageously faced whoever who's behind me.

And as soon as I saw who's following, I felt how goosebumps formed in me. "W-who are y-you?" I asked with a trembling voice.

I was about to run but my feet was glued from the ground unabling myself to move.

She advanced her steps towards me and gave me a smile.

Who is she?

Though I already see lots of ghosts since I was a kid, her presence and appearance was quite strange.

She has a sunken cheeks and pale lips. Even her eyes was creepy. Para bang sa mga titig niya ay inaalam niya ang buong pagkatao ko.  

She's indeed scaring me.

"You clearly delineated my appearance eh?"

I covered my mouth with both of my hands because of what she uttered. Did she just talked to me?

D-did she just read my mind?

"Yes," she blurted which made my knees trembled and collapsed to the ground.

I- I can't believe this.

Agad niya namang iniabot ang kanyang kamay para tulungan akong tumayo. "You don't have to be scared. I just want to have a f-friend." Her voice was now filled with sadness as if she's really longing for a friend.

Though I'm still quite hesitant, I grabbed her hand that she offered and stood up. "Y-You're afraid of me. I'm sorry."

I placed my hands from my back to hid how it quiver. "S-sorry. You should just approach me i-in a friendly way. N-not like this," I replied.

She placed her right hand on her nape and forced a smile. "A-Are you still scared? Kung hindi na, pwede bang maging kaibigan mo na ako?" She asked excitedly.

I observed her outward appearance once more.

A girl who looks like has the same age as mine, her brownish curly hair that lenghts up to her waist, old-fashioned brown dress that looks like from past generation, and has an ability to read minds.

Okay?

Now please tell me that I'm still in my sanity to have a friend like her.

"So siguro ayaw mo. Y-You find me weird aren't you?"

Guilt carved unto my heart. Her genuine face a while ago turned into a disappointed one.

This time, I placed my left hand above her shoulder and give her an assuring smile. "No. You can be my friend starting from now. I'm Shana," I uttered and raise my right hand in front of her offering a hand shake.

Her eyes shimmered like a bright star from the night sky. "Really? Thank you! I'm Mandy,"  She exhilarately said and enclosed me to her arms and didn't noticed the hand shake.

And now she's hugging me.

She suddenly loosened her hug. "S-sorry," she apologized.

Oh yes. I forgot.

This Mandy is a mind reader.

"Do you want to come with me Shana? Sigurado matutuwa sila 'pag nakita ka."

My eyebrows knitted.

Sila?

So it means that there are more ghosts like her?

She let out a giggle. "We're not ghosts Shana," she answered while shaking her head in disbelief.

Why does she keeps on reading my mind?

"Because basically I'm a mind reader. So I guess you wanna come with me."

I was just about to open my mouth when she quickly grabbed my wrist tightly.

And the next thing I knew was we're outside an old mansion made from stones already.

I roamed my eyes on the surroundings but except from varieties of trees and vines that were hanging everywhere which covers the skies above, only this spooky house is in here.

I carefully moved my feet away from her.

Who wouldn't be frightened meeting this unknown creature who can read your thoughts and bringing you to this kind of place in just a blink of an eye?

"I-Ibalik mo ako sa amin M-Mandy," I commanded as I kept on backing away from her not until a rough trunk of one of the hundred trees blocked me.

Lovely! What a great timing.

"D-Don't be scared," she said while both of her hands were in front of her gesturing me to calm down.

She made her steps closer towards me which made my heart pounds abruptly. "W-Wag kang lalapit. Please. P-Pauwiin mo na lang ako," I pleaded with my eyes closed.

I still felt her presence advancing to my place until a loud bang coming from an opening door engulfed the whole place.

As I opened my eyes, my knees automatically fell on the ground.

The nervousness that I was feeling awhile ago was doubled. Cold sweats flowed from my body like a broken faucet.

Am I seeing things right?

I shook my head and tapped my cheeks hoping that this was just a dream.

"Shana. Please Wake Up."