Captured by darkness ( Dark series #1 ) UNDER-EDITING

Chapter 36

Who's there?

After what happened between me and Aviana, I've decided to let go all the the pain and accepted that there were times that you can never change your fate. That everything's inevitable to happen.

"Av, mauna ka na, pupunta lang ako ng library."

I picked up my things in the table, and putt it in the bag. Kailangan ko ng tapusin ang mga homeworks, malapit na ang bakasyon. Mas maayos ng walang problema bago pa dumating ang buwan na iyon.

"You sure? Samahan na kaya kita?" She said while typing something on her phone.

"Nope, I'm fine. Hintayin mo na lang ako sa condo mamaya."

She gave me a confused looked. "Sa library kaba talaga pupunta?"

I nodded. "Yup,"

Tinaas ko ang mga notebook na hawak ko. Eventually she nodded, but her face still looks skeptical. Wala naman akong ibang pupuntahan, maybe she's just being concerned about me.

I kissed her cheeks. "Gotta go."

She nods still looking at her phone, she's been busy lately, probably some family matters. I shrugged the thoughts away and continue walking on the hallway. For quite sometime, I feel like I wasn't alone, every steps I made was equivalent to a heavy steps behind my back.

Minsan iniisip ko na ilusyon lang 'yon. O hindi kaya, isang guni-guni. But, It's not the first time it happened. It also happened at the bar.

"Are you ready?"

The manager of the bar asked me while smiling at me, I just gave him a thumbs up and a nod. humihinga pa ako ng malalim at pinagkikiskis ang dalawang palad, dahil sa sobrang kaba. Hinatak ko ang isang bangko sa hindi kalayuan.

I was counting and do some inhale and exhale. I close my eyes and crossed my arms and legs. I need to act normal, I need to be calm. Kailangan kong gawin ng maayos ito. Malilintikan ako kay Aviana kung nagkataon na umatras ako dito.

Besides, there's an exchange after this. Kung tututuusin napakaliit lang na pabor ito, pero nakakahiya parin humarap sa mga tao, especially if you're the center of attention.

My exhale turned into gasp when I heard a small sound, behind the curtain. What was that? Ang alam ko ako lang mag isa dito, everyone's busy and doing their things. Oh! Probably it's just the Manager of the bar. Nag kibit balikat na lang ako at tinuloy ang pag focus sa ginagawang pang pa kalma.

That's normal, probably? Isang beses lang naman nangyari iy-- no two times. It's actually happened two times. After at the bar, after what happened between me and Aviana. I cried that night and was about to sleep in my room. But I heard something, I've seen something.

"I miss you Malcolm," bulong ko sa hangin.

I pulled my knees to my chest and bent down my head in between my legs. I cried and cried. Pakiramdam ko hindi na matatapos ang mga luhang pumapatak na ito. Kailan ma 'to mauubos? Kailan 'to matatapos? Nakakasawa na rin kasi na ganito na lang palagi.

Natigil ang pagluha ko ng may narinig akong kaunting kaluskos na nanggagaling sa labas ng bintana. I gasped when I see a shadow. My breathing became rigid. Could it be a thief? Dahan-dahan akong naglakad papalapit doon.

Nang buksan ko ang bintana wala naman. Agaran akong tumakbo papasok sa switch ng ilaw at binukasan ito, dahil sa sobrang kaba. Until then, I always sleep, with the lights turned on.

Those things that unexpectedly happened, always made me believe that somethings seems off. Bawat galaw ko, pakiramdam ko may nakasunod at may nakamasid. Am I just being paranoid? Probably why Aviana keep asking me earlier. Because she knew that' something seems off.

Nang mapasok ko ang Library, iniabot ko ang library card sa may librarian. I registered my name on the paper first and put my bag on my left shoulder. The library was too spacious and filled a lot of books, It's not impossible not to find what I'm looking.

Hindi rin nagtagal nahanap ko ang hinahanap kong libro. Pumunta ako sa may pinaka dulo kung saan hindi masyadong kita ng mga tao. Hindi naman na masyadong napapansin ang mga libro dito. People tend to find something through social media.

Cannot blame them, it's the easy and fastest way. Pero, iba parin kapag sa libro kumukuha ng mga references. I turned the pages and copy the important details. Oras na rin akong nandito at nararamdaman kong babagsak na ang mga mata ko. Binitiwan ko ang hawak na ball pen at nag-unat. Iidlip lang na muna siguro ako. I yawned and put my head on the table. 

Naalimpungatan ako nang may marinig ako na kaluskos mula sa kung saan.  Kinusot ko ang mata ko at kumurap-kurap para luminaw ang paningin ko kahit papa-ano. I yawned and looked at my watch. I gasped. 6:38 ilang oras na ba akong nakatulog? Baka hinihintay na ako ni Aviana. 

Tumayo ako at niligpit ang mga gamit sa lamesa, at binalik ang libro sa may bookshelves na pinagkuhaan. When I was about to turned my back I heard a footstep on the other side of the shelves. Pakiramdam ko may tao sa kabilang side ng shelves. Hindi ko makita ang nasa kabila dahil puno ito ng mga libro.

Binilisan ko ang paghakbang ko dahil kung saan akong direksyon papunta, ganoon din ang bigat ng hakbang ang naririnig ko. Sweats started to formed in my forehead, down to my neck. My breathing became unstable.

Nang marating ko ang dulo ng bookshelves, may nakita akong anino sa hindi kalayuan. Shit! what was that?

"W-who's there?" I said with my trembling voice.

Nang walang sumasagot mas binilisan ko pa ang paglakad ko, I was shocked when I came across by the librarian. 

"Oh! Sorry po..."

Napabuntong- hininga ako nang malalim, akala ko kung sino na. Siya siguro yung naroon kanina sa may kabilang side ng bookshelve. Nawala ang kaba ko pagkakita sa kanya. Atleast hindi ako nag iisa.

" I sasara ko na ang library," Adjusting her glasses. 

"Ay, sige po."

Pumunta kami sa may lamesa niya at binalik sa akin ang library card ko. I said my thanks and finally went home. Something's really off lately. Masyado na yata akong nakakain ng panunood ko nang mga horror stories. I chuckled and fix my books inside the bag. 

KEYMEMOIRS