Shorts and Poems by Ingridaaahh

Knock

It was already half past one, early in the morning. I was supposed to be asleep by now, but my eyes and brain would not agree to each other. My eyes were wide awake, they showed no signs of sleepiness. But I'm sure I would be asleep sooner or later.

I was shivering because of the air conditioner. But I got confused when it showed that I've only set it into 22, which is the highest temperature it could ever go. I stared at the ceiling as I tried to hide my skin by wriggling myself underneath my not so thick blanket.

My hands were fidgeting as I anticipated the sounds around me. Which only made me shiver more when I heard a knock, not from my door, but the window. The sounds were vivid, as if it was tapped by an object. I was thinking maybe it is not an object.

My heart started to beat fast when another knock came in. This time, it sounded urgent, but I didn't budge.

I closed my eyes as I felt a drop of sweat trickle down my forehead. It was absurd because I was freezing just a while ago.

Panibagong katok ang narinig ko muli sa bintana kaya mabilis kong hinagilap ang aking cellphone para magpatugtog ng kung anong pupwedeng pampatanggal ng takot. Nanginginig ang kamay ko and at the same time ay naninigas ang daliri ko na halos hindi ko na maramdaman. Habang tumatagal ang bawat sandali ay mas kinakabahan ako dahil walang awat ang katok sa aking bintana.

I successfully played a random playlist from my phone. I pressed the volume up rapidly that I could even break it. The song filled up the whole room, making me less frightened.

"Sikretong malupet, puwedeng pabulong?"

I covered my mouth as soon as I heard what song was playing. Hindi ko man lang napansin kanina noong nagsisimula. I am really torn between laughing and being frightened right now.

"Makinis, maputi siya pero ba't ganon?"

Wala sa sarili kong hinawi ang kurtina at nakita ang isang pusa na malapit lang sa bintana. I jumped a little but it didn't even move a muscle. It just stared at me as if I'm some kind of annoying person.

I was about to let go of the curtains but its eyes caught my whole attention. It just started to glow into bright blue eyes, and then followed by a blinding light.

Wala na akong oras para mag-react kaya ang tanging nagawa ko ay ang hintaying humupa ang ilaw bago ko siya muling balingan.

And to my surprise, it wasn't even a cat anymore!

The windows remained closed as I proceed to have a staring contest with a guy from the other side. Gulat na gulat ako na hindi ko na alam kung paano huminga. Basta ang alam ko pusa lang siya kanina pero ngayon lalaki na siya na walang saplot.

I unconsciously tapped the flashlight from my phone just so I could get a better view of the stranger in front of me. Again, to my surprise he wasn't even there anymore!

I tried to look around but there was no signs of him. But only a faint handwriting from my dusty window from the outside, that says:

Nice song choice, Casey.