Ang Multo ng Fire Exit

Dahil sa mga bagyong nagdaan, kinailangan ko ring lumikas mula sa bayan ng Obando. Masyado nang mataas ang baha roon at imposible nang magbyahe araw-araw papuntang opisina. Tumuloy ako sa unit ng aking nakababatang kapatid sa Mandaluyong City. Hindi ko akalain na dahil sa lugar na ito ay magkakaroon ako ng bagong istorya.

Sa ilang buwan na paninirahan ng aking kapatid dito ay normal naman ang lahat. Normal hanggang dumating ang aking…

Unang gabi. Graveyard shift ang aking kapatid kaya ako lamang mag-isa sa bahay noon. Matapos kong ayusin ang mga gamit ko, ay nakatulog na ako. Napanaginipan ko na nagkwe-kwentuhan daw kami ng aking mga kaibigan tungkol sa “The Grudge” movie. Hindi ko na matandaang mabuti pero sa aking panaginip ay tinanong ko daw sila nang “Anong date?” at may sumagot na “April 29!”.

Pagkarinig na pagkarinig ko ng petsa na ‘yun ay bigla akong sumigaw - sa panaginip at sa bigla kong paggising. Nagising ako nang tuluyan at parang may babaeng sali’t-salit na bumubulong sa aking dalawang tenga. Tumayo ako at binuksan ko na lang ang pinto ng kwarto at ang mga ilaw. Sa awa naman ng diyos ay nakatulog akong muli matapos magdasal at maglagay ng rosary sa aking bulsa. Hindi ko muna ito ikinwento sa kapatid ko dahil baka matakot din siya.

Sumunod na araw, dumating ang mom ko para magdala ng iba pang gamit. Nasa opisina ako nun at natutulog naman ang aking kapatid. Habang naglilinis ang nanay ko sa kusina, naramdaman niya na parang may dumaan sa likuran niya. Wala naman daw siya nakita paglingon niya.

Nalaman ko lang ito nang magkwentuhan kami noong sumunod na araw. Ikinwento ko rin sa kanila ang nangyari sa’kin nung unang gabi.

Biglang umamin ang aking kapatid. “Sige sasabihin ko na.” Sabi niya. “Dati daw kasi, may nahulog at namatay dyan sa fire exit (habang itunuturo ang bintana). Lagi daw nagpapakita ‘yun sa elevator o kaya sa lobby.”

Kinilabutan na lang kami sa aming narinig.

Habang isinusulat ko ‘to ay mayrong namuong katanungan sa aking isipan: Naganap kaya ang kanyang pagkahulog sa fire exit noong April 29, ang petsa sa aking panaginip?

Stairway Ghost

I've had a dry spell on ghosts the past few months (thank God!) that's why I haven't shared anything, also seems that past experiences are slowly leaving my memory. Anyway, I'm in Mindanao right now and got really freaked out last night.

I was with a friend. We visited her office early in the evening and then went out to have dinner at the night market. We had to go back to her office because we left my bags there. She told me after the incident we experienced that the building has a "past". When it was built a carpenter fell in the foundation hole. His body wasn't retrieved and he was buried in cement (sounds like what happened at the Film Center in Manila). A girl also committed suicide in a stock room. Now I can just imagine how fun it is working in the building.

So back to my story. When we came back to retrieve my bags we were surprised that the lobby and stairs didn't have any lights on. The guard said that the fuse was busted. So we went up with just the light from my friend's mobile phone guiding us up the stairs. I told her not to tell me ghost stories as we were going up. It was very, very dark and to "scare" off the spirits I started singing "Tomorrow" and my friend did her rendition of a Sound of Music song. We ran up the last few steps of the stairs in a panic and banged on the office door since it was locked. We were both laughing and panting from running up the stairs and had to change clothes because it was so hot on the way up.

After a few minutes we decided to proceed with our plans, but dreaded going down the stairs. We walked down slowly since it was dark. It was a good thing that one of her male colleagues came with us (he had to carry my bag). As we were turning on the landing we were greeted by a sudden gust of really cold wind. After experiencing it I asked my friend if she felt it. She kept ignoring my question and only answered when we got in her car. She and her colleague felt it as well. She said she did not want to acknowledge it then because it was the first time she experienced it.

The building did not have any windows on the stairway and the ceiling was low. It was also a very warm night.

I want my Mommeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!