Mortem 01

Life Against The Bet

Like the usual teenagers, I'm craving to explore life. Ayaw kong ikulong lang ako sa isang lugar at manatili doon. Hindi ako ang tipo kung saan kaya kong makisalamuha sa mga taong puro kabutihan ang alam. Lahat tayo, may kalokohan at kasamaan sa katawan. Nagkataon nga lang na sobrang activated ang akin kaya hindi ko mapigilan.

"Party at my house later at 8 pm." bulong sa akin ng nakasalubong ko.

I smirked at that. I don't want to spend my night with boring silence so why not go? I simply nodded and walks away.

Katulad ng karamihan, hindi din ako nakikinig sa magulang ko. O kahit sa kapatid ko. Ni hindi ko alam kung ano ang trabaho nila. All I know is I'm living my life liberately and luxurious.

Pumasok ako sa comfort room to retouch my make up. I pouted my red lipstick and smiled widely.

May pumasok na dalawang babae. Hindi nila ako napansin at nagdire-diretso sa loob ng cubicles.

"Have you heard about Mortem High?"

I creased my forehead when I heard them talking. I tilted my head at napagpasyahang huwag munang umalis.

"Yes, it's kinda scary. Sabi hindi daw nakakapasok doon kung hindi kayo mayaman at maimpluwensiya but sa dinami dami ng nakapasok, I haven't heard about someone graduated from there."

I heard a flush. Siguro sa isang babae iyon na mas malapit ang pinasukang cubicle sa akin.

"That's true. Ang daming kababalaghan ng school na 'yon but no one dared to talk about it. Kinatatakutan din pero hindi masabi kung anong dahilan."

"Some articles said that it has something to do with underground society but those articles are long gone."

Natigilan sila nang makita ako. I raised my eyebrows.

Kinuha ko na ang gamit ko at lumabas. Baka naman sabihin nila na nakikichismis ako sa pinag uusapan nila.

But that actually called my attention. Ngayon ko lang narinig ang school na iyon. Do I need to bring some spice in my boring life now?

This is actually the 5th school I transfered in. Hindi dahil naeexpel ako or nakikick out dahil sa mga gulong nangyayari na sangkot ako, but because I find every school boring. May hinahanap ako na something in which can really grab my attention and make me want to stay. But nah.

"Isabella!" I stopped mid-way when I heard someone called me.

"What?" I asked. Nasa gitna kami ng hallway pero wala akong pakialam.

"I'll expect you at the party later." I just nodded.

Why is everyone inviting me to that party? Buong school ba ang imbitado?

Tahimik lang ako habang nakaupo sa dulo ng classroom namin. I already know the lesson not because I read it advanced but because of my undeniably unique intelligence.

Kaya kong tandaan ang isang bagay kahit tingnan ko lang ito, I can even give the slightest information about the thing I've seen. Kaya kong ipaliwanag ang isang topic nang walang kahirap hirap, kahit ang math na inaayawan ng lahat ay sisiw lang sa akin.

Tumayo na ako pagkatapos ng klase. Wala na ako sa mood para pumasok sa susunod pa kaya uuwi na lang ako to get ready for the party.

Halos maggagabi na din naman so whatever..

Pagdating ko sa mansion namin ay nagkalat ang guards and maids. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit napakahigpit dito sa bahay namin.

Hindi ko din alam kung bakit kailangang may baril ang lahat ng nagbabantay. But once, my brother told me that it's for security purposes. Though I believed that it's about the wealth we have, na hindi ko din naman alam kung saan nanggagaling.

Sanay na akong mag isa dito, palaging wala ang magulang namin. Kuya is also busy with his schooling. Hindi ko alam kung saan siya nag aaral, at wala din naman akong pakialam.

As long as I am living my life to the fullest, I am fine. Or so do I.

Pero kahit alam ko naman na wala akong madadatnan sa mansion kada dadating ako, nakaugalian ko nang tingnan ang study room ni Kuya.

I've been close with my brother since then. We are inseperable. But everything changed when something happened. Something that made us like this.

Nang makita kong walang tao, hindi na dapat ako tutuloy sa pagpasok. But something caught my attention.

Alam ko ang pagkaadik ni Kuya sa mga cases na gusto niyang lutasin, isa na doon ang nangyari sa pamilya namin. He badly wants to be a detective someday. Iyon ang palagi niyang sinasabi.

Lumapit ako sa study table niya, his study room is separated in his actual bed room. Same as mine, Dad's office and Mom's library.

Hinawakan ko ang bagay na nakakuha ng atensyon ko. It's an old box. Medyo maalikabok pa iyon at halatang hindi pa nabubuksan.

I look at it intently. Ano ito?

I run my fingers through it when I touched something. Parang naka engrave iyon at sinadya.

Agad kong pinunasan ang nahawakan ko, and there I saw what's written. Mortem University.

Sa hindi malamang dahilan ay bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. That's the school I heard earlier in which madaming kababalaghan daw ang nangyayari.

But what is the connection of this box on that school? At bakit ito nandito sa table ni Kuya? Is he planning to go there? Is he planning to study there?

"Isabella," I was startled on my place.

Napalunok ako at napaatras.

"I-I'm sorry, I thought you're here." Kuya's eyes changed as well.

Dati, siya ang pinakasweet and caring brother. But what happened years ago changed him..

"Bumalik ka na sa kwarto mo and don't touch my things."

Napalunok ulit ako at tumakbo papalabas sa room. Akala ko wala siya dito, what is he doing here?

"Isabella, my dear!"

I wrinkled my nose when I heard her drunk voice. Pagkababa ko pa lang sa sasakyan ko ay rinig ko na kaagad ang napakaingay na music.

I've been bugged with the box earlier kaya medyo late na ako nakapunta dito.

I was greeted by a wild life when we get inside. Napangiwi ako, but I am used to this.

"Isabella, you came!"

Duh! You won't see me standing here I don't.

The night is still young but the people here are already drunk. This is the life I've been living for 3 years now. Night clubbing, drinking, hopping, hooking with some boys and getting into troubles for a couple of times. Nasali din ako noon sa racing na ang kinabagsakan ko ay sa kulungan.

Of course, my parents rescued me that night but hindi ako nakarinig ng kahit ano. Right after they got me, umalis din sila kaagad. You see? Katulad din ako ng iba kaya ako nandito. To have the attention I want from them.

But I learned to enjoy this life. Nabubuhay ang dugo ko kapag nakakaranas ako ng ganito.

"Have some drink, gorgeous."

Mabilis kong tinanggap ang iniabot ng isang lalaki na hindi ko kilala. Suddenly, someone come up to the stage and get the microphone. The music stopped and all tge people in the dancing area growled.

The happy time is suddenly stopped.

"Okay, guys. I know this is childish but let's play a game!"

Some cheered up for her but some rolled their eyes. This is a party, bakit pa nila lalagyan ng laro?

I sipped on my glass and just stared at them. Makikisali na lang ako kung sakali, pero mas okay nang umuwi ako kapag boring.

"Let's play truth or dare with a twist!"

Pinaupo niyang lahat ang mga nakatayo. I can't explain if it's just me or I'm just hallucinating but that girl's smile is devilish.

Hindi ako mahilig sa creepy stuffs at lalong hindi ako fan ng horror shits, but this girl's smile is sending me goosebumps..

"Ngayong nakaupo na kayong lahat, there's a paper below your chairs! You are lucky if you found the word 'TRUTH', but you'll be doomed if it's a dare. Specially, our own special dare!"

"Paano kapag hindi namin ginawa?" said the drunk guy infront of me..

But I was startled, no, we all are when that girl suddenly pulled out a gun.

Kailan pa siya nagkaroon ng ganoon?

The place is suddenly surrounded by armed men.

My breathing suddenly became uneven.

What the hell is happening?

"Now, move your ass out and look for the fucking paper." Her smile is long gone. Napalitan ng panlilisik ang kaniyang mga mata.

Nanginginig ang kamay na hinanap ko ang papel. It was rolled into tiny piece.

Nakarinig ako ng mga buntong hininga at malulutong na mura galing sa mga nakapaligid sa akin.

Okay, Isabella, you are brave enough to be a brat, now, panindigan mo.

I slowly opened the paper, at para akong natuklaw ng ahas sa nakita.

"Only one of these people is lucky enough to get the special dare. Hmmm.... who could that be?"

Namamawis akong napalingon sa babaeng iyon. Is this a trap? A prank?

Fuck...

Napansin kong nakatingin na siya sa akin at nakangisi. Everyone does.

They might be thinking what I got..

"Isabella, are you okay?"

"What the hell is this? A prank? Oh c'mon!"

I stand up to go away but stopped when I heard a gunshot. Nanlalaki ang mata ko nang makitang tumagos ang bala sa sandalan ng inuupuan ko.

"Walang aalis hanggat hindi ko nalalaman kung sino ang kasama kong babalik." At sinundan niya ng nakakarinding tawa.

Is this for real?

Am I being karma?

Naramdaman kong may humawak sa magkabilang braso ko. Naalarma din ang mga nandito pero wala silang nagawa dahil armado ang mga lalaking nakapaligid sa amin. One wrong move and they'll be dead, same goes as me.

"Ano ba?! Bitawan niyo ako!"

Lumapit sa akin ang babaeng iyon. Hindi ko siya kilala. Kaya ba parang lahat ay imbitado dito? Kaya ba parang may kung ano sa mga alak na pinainom sa amin?

"Wow, feisty!" she grinned as she cupped me by my jaw.

"Hindi ako sasama sayo!"

Humalakhak siya na parang isang malaking biro ang sinabi ko.

"Whether you like it or not, baby, you gotta come with me."

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin, lumapit siya sa akin hanggang sa nakatapat ang labi niya sa may punong tenga ko.

"Welcome to Mortem University, baby."

And I lost consciousness when I felt someone injected me with something.

*****

Marie Mendoza

@ThirdTeeYet