We are known as the ones who never back down from an adventure. Kahit saan, bundok, dagat, lumang bayan, basta may bagong lugar na puwedeng puntahan, game kami agad. Traveling isn't just a hobby for us, it's like chasing pieces of life na hindi mo makikita sa loob ng classroom.
Pero lately, parang may kakaiba. Every destination feels like it's leading us somewhere darker, as if the stories we're collecting are not just about joy, but warnings. Hindi ko alam kung paranoid lang o kung may pattern na talagang sinusundan ang mga lakad namin. Weird!
"Hey, drinks?" Lex lifted his can of coke toward me, smirking like always.
"No, thanks," I muttered, too focused on the screen of my tablet.
I was editing some photos from our last trip, sunsets, stolen shots and mga magagandang views na nakuhaan ko.
Andrea broke the silence, her eyes locked on her laptop. "Guys, I think... I already know where we will go next."
Napatingin kami lahat sa kanya. Andrea wasn't the type of person to suggest things lightly.
When she spoke, usually may laman.
"Talaga? Ano meron dyan?" Bella asked. Half curious, half doubtful.
She was leaning back, arms crossed-the usual don't-mess-with-me expression painted on her face. In-short, nakataas ang kilay.
Andrea hesitated before answering.
"I don't know exactly... pero the place looks... creepy. May picture dito, tapos may mapa pa."
The moment she said creepy, tumayo agad ang balahibo ko.
"Creepy?" Clein's eyes lit up, clapping his hands like a kid on Christmas morning.
"Finally! Haunted house trip! Matagal ko nang gustong maranasan 'yon." He exclaimed.
Bella rolled her eyes "Mag-isa ka na lang dun. Hindi ako papatol sa kabaliwan mo."
And there they went again.
Typical.
Lagi silang nagbabangayan, parang aso't pusa.
Usually, it was entertaining, pero that time, their voices sounded muffled to me, drowned out by the low hum from Andrea's laptop.
I leaned closer.
The photo on her screen showed a large house, its windows like hollow eyes staring back. Kahit pixelated, ramdam mong may bigat yung aura ng lugar. Hindi siya mukhang tourist spot, parang... something else.
Something that shouldn't be touched.
"Sigurado ka ba d'yan?" I asked, my tone sharper than I intended.
Andrea bit her lip, scrolling a little. "The weird thing is... may naka-attach na map. As if... someone wants people to find it."
Tahimik kaming lahat sandali. Even Clein stopped grinning.
"Game ako," Kyle finally said, leaning back with his usual smug grin. "Kung haunted house, mas okay. Para may thrill."
"Ang hangin mo talaga," Yassie muttered, though I noticed her fingers nervously tracing the rim of her glass.
She looked away quickly, but her unease was obvious.
Habang nakatitig ako sa laptop, hindi ko maiwasang kabahan.
The house in the photo looked creepy Hindi siya basta lumang bahay.
The walls were faded, halos natuklap na ang pintura, exposing rotting wood beneath.
YOU ARE READING
HAUNTED APERTURE
Mystery / ThrillerA young photographer's tragic death leaves behind a mysterious camera filled with dark secrets. Years later, it finds its way into the hands of an unsuspecting girl. At first, it is just an old camera, but every photo she takes uncovers hidden truth...
