Anathema

April 22, 2019

Earlier today, something weird happened.

Katatapos ko lang paliguan si Marty. After dressing him up, I decided to clean my room because I have nothing else to do. Iniwan ko 'yung little brother ko sa living room at hinayaan ko siyang manood ng cartoons.

Hindi ako pabayang kapatid. Kahit na naiinis ako dahil babysitter ako ngayon, hinding-hindi ako gagawa ng bagay na alam kong ikapapahamak ng kapatid ko. Bago ako umakyat sa kwarto ko, siniguro ko muna na safe si Marty.

I checked the wires and cables of our TV and sound system, to make sure that they're baby-proof. I had also put some pillows around Marty, who was sitting on the carpeted floor, to make sure that he won't hurt himself if he stands up and accidentally fall. Lastly, I made sure that our front and back doors were locked so that he won't be able to go out since I won't be near to check on him.

Limang taong gulang na ang kapatid ko. Kaya na niyang magsalita ng buong pangungusap, at katatapos lang din ng school year niya bilang isang kindergarten. Matalino siyang bata. He knows what's right or wrong, and to stay away from things that might put him in danger.

Kampante akong umakyat sa kwarto ko, knowing that I did my task as a big brother. Little did I know, something bad is about to happen.

Hindi ko alam kung paano. Pagkatapos ng sampung minuto pagkatapos kong iwan si Marty, minabuti ko na i-check kaagad ang kalagayan niya. Paglabas ko ng kwarto, naririnig ko pa rin 'yung music na nanggagaling sa kung ano mang children's show ang kasalukuyang pinapalabas sa TV. Pero doon pa lang ay alam ko nang may mali.

The current show on the TV was Barney. I can hear the "I Love You" song blasting through the speakers, but there's something wrong.

Because "I Love You" is Marty's favorite Barney song, and I don't hear his voice singing along with it.

Kaagad akong nanakbo pababa ng living room. Sure enough, Marty was not there. I went to the kitchen, thinking that he was just looking for something to eat, but he was not there. That's when I noticed that the kitchen door was wide open.

My heart sank as the realization hits me like a red bull in a stampede. I forgot to checking the fucking kitchen door.

I'm not an idiot. Hindi lang talaga namin masyadong ginagamit 'yung pinto sa kusina, kaya buong akala ko ay nakasara iyon. 

Kaagad akong nanakbo palabas. Tumingin ako sa paligid at sinusubukang ilagay ang sarili kong mga paa sa sapatos ng kapatid ko. Kung ako si Marty, saan ako unang pupunta?

Pero hindi ko na kailangang mag-isip pa nang matagal. In that moment, I heard my brother's loud wail. Sobrang lakas ng iyak ni Marty kaya hindi ko napigilan na magulat.

I followed my brother's wail. It seemed like it was coming from the house beside ours.

Mr. Nutjob's house.

Nanakbo ako papunta roon. Hindi pa man ako nakakapasok sa property, nakita ko na kaagad si Marty na nakaupo sa likod-bahay, habang nakatingin sa kung anong bagay na natatakpan ng malaking puno mula sa paningin ko.

Napansin kaagad ni Marty na papalapit na ako, kaya dahan-dahan siyang tumayo habang patuloy pa ring umiiyak. Lumuhod ako sa harapan niya nang tuluyan ko siyang malapitan. I was already drenched in sweat and my heart was still doing somersaults inside my chest, but my attention was focused on my little brother's horrified expression, and his loud wails.

Hinawakan ko ang magkabila niyang balikat.

"What happened?" I asked, still panting. "Bakit ka lumabas ng bahay?"

My brother was too scared to answer. Instead, he pointed towards something behind me. I realized that it was the one he was staring at earlier.

With my brother's horrified expression, I can only imagine what might be lurking at the tree behind me.

Slowly, I turned around, bracing myself for whatever scared my little brother to death.

I heard labored breaths, and at first I thought it was mine. Then I got chills when I realized that it was from that thing behind me.

When I finally turned around, the first thing I saw was a pair of hairy legs. Then I slowly lifted my gaze to a flaccid penis with a sagging pair of balls, then a round belly, hairy chest, and, finally, the smiling face of Mr. Nutjob.

He was looking directly at my face, but I have a hunch that he cannot really see me. It was as if he was currently trapped in a world that he created. Why else would he be standing naked outside, in front of two boys?

But I can't take my eyes off his face. There was something sinister in the way he smile, with his lips pulled tightly to reveal his yellowing teeth. It actually looks like he was snarling than smiling, if not for the mischievous glint in his eyes.

"K-Kuya, let's go na," Marty said while tugging the collar of my shirt. "I'm scared."

I snapped to reality. Kaagad akong tumayo at binuhat si Marty. Pagkatapos ay mabilis akong naglakad palayo.

When I looked back, I was horrified to see Mr. Nutjob, baring all of his glory, his eyes following us as we enter our house through the kitchen door, the sinister smile still plastered on his bearded face.