Akasya

PART ONE

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P A R T    O N E
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"Akala ko kami na para sa isa't-isa, pero hindi pala."

"Akala ko wala ng mawawala, pero meron pala."

"Akala ko tapos na ang lahat ng sakit at pighati, pero nagsisimula lang pala."

"Akala ko pag-ibig lang ang isusugal, pero buhay din pala."

THE COLD prickling rain drops so fast and heavy, together with my warm endless tears avalanche down my cheeks. Walang katapusang kulob at kidlat ang yumanig sa lugar. Sinalihan din ito ng malakas na hangin na kumaripas sa mahaba kong buhok. It's chillingly cold. All my clothes and body were drenched wet.

"I'm commanding you Onnah, not to take any investigation on the Akasya Curse. This is a warning. If you do, you might be the next one."

"You know what... I'll just go and leave you here."

"I'm telling you. And YOU, you'll be wasting your sweat, blood and life--"

I slowly tilted my head upwardly towards the mystified Akasya Tree on top of the hill. The darkness of the night voided the whimsical gleaming stars and moon, blackened all over the sky above. Gazing upon it, injected me a frightful feeling which I can't quell off.

"Cursed Akasya Tree... A bloody, gory and number one mystery of all time in our school. Have you ever thought something twisted when you looked at the Akasya Tree?"

"What are you trying to say?"

"What if--"

I wiped my dreadful tears, composed myself and started to walk to the tree. Only the continuous blow of lightning shone the place, shedding me the direction. Habang ako'y lumalakad at tinatanaw papalapit ang Akasya, naaalala ko na naman ang lahat ng lagim ng nakaraan.

"Haven't you forgot? Your the reason why almost everyone died in Akasya, including my brother and now, it's--"

"No! That's not true!"

Pighati, sakim, lungkot at sakit, lahat ng iyon nadarama ko. And for a very long time, I'm starting feel numb. I feel so useless. Regret is also drowning me down. Pakiramdam ko kasalanan ko talaga ang lahat ng nangyari. Am I also cursed?

"No. This can't be happening?! I won't believe it!"

Halting my steps, I clenched the thin thorned branches of six white roses. Mixed of hatred and sad is boiling within me. This is too much for me to handle my fragile heart. I wish I could turn back time. Bakit ba nangyari ang lahat ng ito sa akin, sa kanila?

"Hahaha! The time of Akasya Curse came again. Pag-ibig nga naman... Nang dahil lang muli sa isang akala, buhay na ang nawala. Diba?"

Nagsimula muling tumulo ang nagbabatis kong mga luha, habang nakaluhod sa harapan ng puno ng Akasya. Habang hawak ang mga puting rosas, nanginging kong kinuha ang cutter sa bulsa ko. Then without any hesitations, I quickly cut my right wrist and let my viscous blood to flow down the roses. As a result, I flinched out from the burning sensation of pain. After I did it, ipinatong ko kaagad ito sa ilalim ng puno.

The time has come...

"Akala ko siya na...,
pero..."