Scintilla and Scent

V: Spatter

Chapter 5

Our professor was moving around as he discussed the report of my classmate, who didn't deliver it well. Halata ang inis sa tono ng boses nito habang nagsasalita.

"Kaya wala siyang girlfriend eh-- he's so maldito," pabulong na sabi ni Coreen.

I looked at her raising my eyebrow. Hindi ba siya takot marinig at bumagsak sa klase na 'to? This girl is so talkative talaga.

"May sinasabi ka Ms. Correen Cruz?" tanong ng professor namin.

I shook my head looking at her. Napakadaldal kasi. She didn't think before she spoke out.

"None sir!" she managed to smile. Napapailing na lang si sir habang nakakatitig sa kanya.

Our professor continued to discuss, but I cringed upon smelling something different. A scent of withered rose. Napakatapang ng amoy nito. I glanced on Correen and I confirmed that it was coming from her.

Biglang akong nanghina. She's so young to die. Kaya ayaw ko ma-attach sa kahit sino, kasi ayoko maranasan ang pakiramdam nang wala na namang magawa.

I stood and I just excused myself. I couldn't stay long, smelling that scent. My conscience wrecked me. I leaned on the wall breathing deeply. I freaking hate this stupid gift I have. If I could only throw this away, I already did.

Everyday, wala akong ibang ginawa kung hindi ang umasa na walang mamatay sa mga makakasalamuha ko. I struggled so badly.

"Kali? Ayos ka lang? May masakit ba sa'yo?" Bentley asked tapping me in my shoulder.

"Nahilo lang ako couz-- I'm good na," I sighed deeply. "Let's just go to the nearest cafeteria, I need a glass of cold iced tea."

Bentley nodded. Nang makarating kami sa cafeteria, he ordered a drink for me. How could I admit to him about this death sense I have. Hindi pa ako handa. Pero sobrang bigat na talaga nito, feeling ko sasabog na ako anytime.

"Couz? Ayos ka lang ba talaga? You look pale kasi?" he sat down glaring at me intently. "Kung may bumabagabag sa'yo, I'm here to listen couz."

I lowered down my eyes. Nagdadalawang-isip pa rin ako. Hindi ko alam kung paano sisimulan. It's hard to open up. Lalo na ang weirdness na pinagdadaanan ko.

"Couz... I—I don't know how to start this, it's so hard sobra," I gulped. "My life is a mess couz-- I don't know why I have these unwanted gifts, these are curse actually."

"Your hearing sense? Alam ko namang mahirap eh," his voice became so deep. "Pero we need to deal with this."

I closed my eyes, because for the second time, I smell a scent of withered rose. Sa sobrang tapang ng amoy nito, I couldn't smell anything other than it.

"Other than the gift of hearing, I have something deeper and scarier than it," I sighed and opened my eyes. I looked around and I saw Coreen seating a table away from us. Kaya pala nakaka-amoy na naman ako, nasa malapit lang siya.

"Meron pang iba?" nanlaki ang mga mata ni Bentley. "Ano 'yun?"

"I—I can...." I touched my throat. "I can smell death."

Bentley gaped looking at me. He was stuck for a moment. For sure, he's trying to digest what I just said.

"A-Ano? Paano? I can't believe this," his voice was shaking.

"Every death has scent, withered flowers, candle, blood, and so on," I covered my mouth. "I started experiencing this when I was nine, si Lolo... sa kanya ako unang naka-amoy nang ganito and then it continues."