'The Domino Effect of Choices'
Tiffany Suzanne Holland
I went back to that mansion with Joen. Though it went against my will, I needed to confront that Aizenberg. Isa syang sumpa, clinging onto my very being, haunting me for the rest of my life. I no longer find any amusement in that Killer. Para syang octopus with its countless tentacles, capable of wreaking havoc in so many ways.
As we were in the car, I couldn't help but sigh heavily. I reached for the water and my medication for my panic attack that I brought with me. I needed to gather my courage and not let my fear overpower me, otherwise, I wouldn't be able to protect my friends.
"Tiff, bakit ganon yung Mama mo? She speaks to you so harshly." Joen said.
"That's just how she is... I guess you're not used to it yet."
"No, it's not right. She's really harsh towards you. Is it even fair for a mother to tell her child that they should give up your life just to bring back the job of your sister Aira? Tama ba yun? Mas importante pa sa kanya yung trabaho ng Ate Aira mo kaysa sa buhay mo?"
"Well, she's putting all her hopes on Ate Aira to lift us out of poverty... it's like you don't understand that."
"Kahit na, your mom is really harsh. The way she speaks, it's as if you're not her own child." Naiismid na saad nya muli.
Napatikhim nalang ako at hindi na nagsalita. I glanced at the rearview mirror and noticed Attorney Montemayor looking at me. Nakasakay kasi kami si car ni Attorney Montemayor. Habang nakasunod kami sa police car na nauuna saamin.
Nang makarating kami sa mansion, nagulat ako dahil may mga sasakyan na nakapark sa labas. I suddenly felt a wave of anxiety for the safety of my friends. Just as we were about to enter the mansion, three men emerged, carrying a body bag. 'What the heck!' Has she killed someone again?
Hinawakan ko ang kamay ni Joen saka ko sya hinila papasok sa loob ng mansion. Agad kong nakita si Aizenberg na nakaupo sa couch habang may hawak itong wine glass at baril.
"I'm waiting for you.."Saad nya saka sya ngumisi.
My hands tightened into fists as I swiftly closed the distance between us, intended to deliver a resounding slap on her face. However, before I could reach her. The sound of laughter reverberated through the mansion, momentarily, I diverting my attention towards the kitchen. As I hesitated and contemplating my next move, a gentle yet firm grip seized my arm, causing me to halt in my tracks and return my gaze intently at the person who had stopped me.
"Go ahead, dare to escape from me again, and you'll regret the consequences of my next move." She said, gripping my arm tightly. She sounds like a threat.
I pulled my hand away, causing her to release her grip on me. I quickly turned my focus to my friend, saka ko ni'istruct si Joen na samahan ako sa kitchen. Pagtingin namin sa kitchen, ganon nalang ang saya ko nang makita ko ang mga kaibigan ko na kompleto pa, walang galos at walang dugo. Thank goodness! I'm relief na makita ko silang lahat na nasa maayos na kalagayan at humihinga pa.
"Guys, umuwi na tayo. Tara na!" Pagyaya ko sa kanila.
"Mamaya na kami uuwi, mag v'vlog pa kami mamayang gabi. Pumayag kasi si Doc Aizenberg na mag-vlog kami dito."
"Rina, gaga kaba? Alam mo ba yang sinasabi mo? Hindi mo ba alam na―"
"Tama si Ate Rina, pumayag si Doc Aizenberg na mag vlog kami dito. Kaya mamaya na kaming gabi uuwi." Pagputol ni Knox sa sinasabi ko.
"But Knox, you know what happened last night..."
Knox approached me and pulled me out into the backyard. She looked at me with a serious expression and started speaking to me.
"Tiffany, if anyone finds out what happened last night...." Napabuntong hininga sya.
"What?"
She didn't say a word, but instead, she traced a straight line across her neck, conveying the message to me without uttering a single word. Naintindihan ko naman ang ibig nyang sabihin kaya mas lalong nag-alab ang puso ko galit at pagsisi kung bakit pa kami nagpunta sa lugar na ito.
"Yun ang deal ko.. kaya nya ako hinayaan na makauwi. Kaya please, wag kana lang maingay."
Knox's eyes betrayed a sense of fear. I let out a heavy sigh and took a seat beneath the alatiris tree, my heart pounding with unease. Knox sat beside me, and the silence enveloped us both, blowhorn the weight of our apprehension inside me.
"I know, it's really frustrating. Ang hirap diba? Pero kelangan nating tangapin na ito ang consequences sa mga actions na ginawa natin. This morning, we received a call from overseas, and Mama said that it's possible for them and Papa to come back to the Philippines. Then, I was surprised when Doc Aizenberg called me and said that I need to come back to this mansion in exchange for the safety and work of my parents. So, I suggested that the three of us return to this mansion, dahil silang tatlo naman talaga ang may idea na pumunta dito kagabi kaya dapat lang na kasama natin sila sa situation na to. It just so happened that Joen went home to their house, kaya di sya nakasama saamin."
"You did that? Why did you involve them instead of just us?" I exclaimed in disbelief. My tears started welling up in my eyes out of worries for them.
Knox's silence cut through me like a knife, naiinis ako sa kanya dahil pati yung iba dinamay pa nya na imbis kami nalang dalawa ang nasa situation na ito. I couldn't understand why she had brought Rina and Rose into this dreadful situation. Now, dahil sa ginawa nya, we're all entangled in this nightmare. What are we going to do now? It seems like we're condemned to a lifetime of being held captive by that merciless killer, with no hope of escape.
Umalis na si Knox para balikan ang mga kaibigan namin, while I still here, naiiyak parin ako dahil sa stress tears. I blinked my eyes rapidly, hoping that the single tear on the edge of my eye would fall. But before it could, Aizenberg suddenly came in.
"I'm hungry, hindi pa ako kumakain. Simula umalis ka." Saad nya.
I angrily slapped my hand against my face. "Seriously? Are you kidding me?" I uttered in tinged with annoyance.
Nandun na ako sa state ng deep of emotions ko, and this killer has the audacity to complain about being hungry? How am I supposed to cook a meal for her when she's been nothing but a constant giving me a stress throughout my entire day? It's beyond irritating.
Padabog akong tumayo at nagtungo sa kitchen. Iniwan ko sya sa ilalim ng alatiris tree. Labag man sa kalooban ko ay nagluto ako ng nilangang Peste. nilanga baka!
Lumapit saakin si Rina para tulungan akong buksan ang stove. Nasa harap kasi ako ng stove habang umiiyak while struggling to turn on the fire. Lumapit na din si Rose, Joen and Knox to assist me. Unable to contain my emotions, tears streamed down my face as I continued cooking, waiting for the Nilagang baka to simmer. In the midst of my tears, I noticed Aizenberg standing at the doorway, watching me. I chose to ignore her presence and carried on with my cooking, wiping away my tears as I did so.
Naramdaman ko na lumapit sya saakin at tinignan nya yung niluluto ko.
"Hmmn.. looks delicious." Saad nya na animo'y bata na sabik kumain ng lutong bahay.
Nanatili akong tahimik, habang nakatitig sa niluluto ko. Hindi ko sya pinapansin.
"Matagal pa ba yan Ms. Holland? Gutom na kami."
Napatingin ako sa taong nagsasalita. Si Attorney Montemayor at kasama nya yung hot na policewoman, Police captain, Lèandre nga ba yun?
"Ah,.. pinapalambot ko nalang po yung karne." Sagot ko, saka ako lumayo kay Aizenberg at naglakad ako palapit kay Attorney Montemayor.
"Kawawa ka naman talaganag bata ka, hindi mo din alam ang pinasok mong sitwasyon no? Ngayon wala ka nang kawala." Naiiling na saad ni Attorney Montemayor.
"Po? Ano pong ibig nyong sabihin?"
"Kaibigan kasi namin yang si Doc Patrice Aizenberg. Tigang kasi yan kaya desperadang makahanap ng jowa. Pagbigyan mo na kaya, para wala ka nang problemahin. Loverdog yan." Natatawang sabi ni Attorney Montemayor. I don't know if she's serious or just joking.
"Willow! Are you nuts? What are you even talking about?! They absolutely deserve to be punished for their actions. Furthermore, they possess knowledge about my life that could be detrimental. Do you honestly believe that I can simply let them off the hook?" Aizenberg said with an authoritative tone, firmly gripping onto me, causing my muscles to tremble.
"Gago Patrice! Tigang ka lang talaga! Aminin mo na!" Sagot ni Attorney Montemayor.
Gusto kong matawa pero hindi ko magawa dahil baka gilitan ako ng leeg ni Aizenberg. Kaso, hindi talaga ako maka get over sa word na tigang.
Napatingin ako kay Pogandang policewoman. Nakatingin sya saakin saka napangisi at napailing. Napakagat naman ako sa loob ng labi ko. Ang hot talaga nya! Bakit ba ganyan sya makatingin. Haist.. ayoko mag assume pero nahihiya talaga ako sa titig ni police capt. Lèandre.
Maya-maya lang, tumunog ang phone nya. Agad naman nya tinignan yun saka nya sinagot.
["Yes Hunnie?"]
Nahintuan ako, agad na nawala ang ngiti ko sa labi. Oh no, that totally caught me off guard! May Hunnie na pala sya. Okay, thank goodness I found out early, or else my stupid crush on her would have intensified.
I turned back to check my nilagang baka. And there it was, my eyes locked again with Aizenberg. Her gray eyes... they're unbelievably gorgeous, and she's undeniably stunning with her model-type features. But holy crap! She's a real killer! That's why there's absolutely nothing good about her.
I averted my eyes from her and made my way to the stove. It seems like the simmering beef nilaga is coming along nicely. With that in mind, I called Rina and Rose to help me to prepare the dining area, kaya agad silang lumapit para tulungan ako.
Once we had finished preparing the food, I called Aizenberg, Montemayor, and Lèandre, or whatever their names was... lumapit naman sila. Excitedly, nagsimula na agad silang kumain. Kaya iniwan muna namin sila para puntahan sina knox at Joen na ngayon ay nagseset-up ng lights and camera para sa vlog mamaya.
"Buti nalang mabait si Doc Aizenberg, at pumayag sya na mag vlog tayo dito." Saad ni Rina, as if she were completely oblivious to reality.
"Oo nga, sa susunod balik tayo dito, linisin natin itong mansion. Sayang naman to, ang ganda pa naman lalo na dito sa labas." Suggestion pa ni Rose
"Bet ko yan, bibili ako bukas ng mga buto ng bulaklak." Si Joen naman.
Knox and I exchanged subtle glances. If it weren't for Knox, I wouldn't have kept last night's incidents as a secret from my friends. At buti nalang pala hindi ako nagsalita kaninang umaga nang kinausap nila ako, or else things would have gotten messy.
Napabuntong hininga ako na umalis, naglakad-lakad sa paligid nitong mansion. I think this place was enchanting before. It's such a pity that it has fallen into disrepair, Sayang!. As I ventured to the rear of the mansion, my eyes caught sight of a cluster of weathered gravestones. Intrigued, I urge to take a closer look.
"Albrert Aizenberg and Emma Aizenberg?"
"Those are my grandparents gravestone."
I jumped up and immediately stood up. My hand instinctively went to my chest, feeling the rapid beating of my heart due to the sudden shock.
"A-are they your grandparents?" I asked again, pointing at the gravestone.
"Yeah, they were the owners of this mansion."
Napatango ako, napansin ko lang na parang ang bilis nyang kumain? Kaya tinanong ko sya.
"Tapos ka na kumain?"
"Huh? Not yet, Willow just asked me to get the headache medicine from her car," she replied.
She glanced at Attorney Montemayor's car and walked towards it. Ako naman tumakbo na din ako palayo. Ayoko nga sya makausap ng matagal, wala naman kaming pag-uusapan. Bumalik nalang ako sa mga kaibigan ko at nakisali sa ginagawa nila.
Nang mag-gabi na, nagsimula na ang vlog. Nanonood lang saamin sina Police Captain Lèandre, Attorney Montemayor at Aizenberg. Pinatay na namin ang ilaw sa mansion para kunwari walang power source at magmukang totoong abandoned talaga ang lugar na ito.
"Hi guys, welcome to my vlog, ngayon nandito ako sa living room ng haunted abandoned mansion. Ang sabi nila, itong piano na ito ay paboritong gamit ng mag-asawang mangkukulam." Introduction ni Rina habang nakatapat sa kanya ang camera.
I turned my gaze towards Aizenberg, who was standing at the side, clearly taken aback by Rina's words. Rina proceeded to walk towards the grand staircase, where a massive portrait of the married couple, Emma and Albert Aizenberg, hung proudly. Joen and I aimed our cameras at the portrait, eagerly waiting for Rina's next words to fill the air.
"Ito daw ang larawan ng mag-asawang mangkukulam." Sabi ni Rina.
Nahintuan kaming lahat nang umagalpak ng tawa si Attorney Montemayor.
"Tang ina, mangkukulam pala Lola at Lolo mong panot., Patrice." Halos hindi makahingang tawa nya.
Bigla kong naalala yung gravestone. Nahintuan ako at napaisip. Kung ganon ang tinutukoy na mangkukulam sa tsismis ay wlaang iba kundi ang grandparents ni Aizenberg. Tinawag ko si Rina, at pinagsabihan ko sya na wag nya masyadong galingan at wag na nya bangitin yung mga tsismis about sa witches. Baka mapaaga pa ang buhay naming lahat dito.
Sinimulan na namin ang ghost hunting, puro sigaw lang ang ginawa namin, para kunwari takot na takot kami. Kaso natapos nalang ang vlog na wala naman kaming na capture na multo.
Kaya nag suggest si Attorney Montemayor na magpapanggap syang multo at dinamay pa nya sina Aizenberg at Police captain Lèandre. Ayaw sana nang dalawa, pero pinilit sila ni Attorney Montemayor kaya sa huli wala na silang nagawa at pumayag nalang.
Kinuha namin ni Rose ang make-up kit. Pinaupo namin sila sa couch para simulan na ang pag-me'make-up. Palapit na sana ako kay Police captain Lèandre para lagyan sya ng make-up nang bigla akong inutusan ni Aizenberg na sya ang lagyan ko ng make-up. I closed my eyes in frustration and reluctantly walked towards her, letting out an exasperated sigh.
I gently held her chin and lifted her face. She looked at me, and our gazes met once again. I couldn't help but admire her eyes. Her eyes, with captivating shade of ash-gray. Ang ganda talaga ng kulay ng mga mata nya. Actually, bagay nya talaga yung mata nya tapos nakakadagdag pa sa datingan nya yung intimading allure nya.
"Better make sure my makeup looks stunning and flawless." she warned me, halatang wala syang tiwala sa pag-mamake-up ko.
"H-huh? Oo.." nauutal na sagot ko sabay ang iwas ng tingin sa kanya.
"I don't like being too pale, like Sadako in the movie." she continued.
I rolled my eyes and looked at her again.
"Where have you ever seen a ghost that looks like a Yves Saint Laurent model?" I retorted, with a playful smirked.
Hindi sya nagsalita pa, kaya sineryoso ko nalang din na gawin ang make-up nya at pagmukain syang multo. Pero habang nasa kalagitnaan kami ng pagmamake-up bigla kaming nahintuan nang may marinig kaming bagay na nabasag from the kitchen. Kaya hinawakan ni Aizenberg ang kamay ko at inutusan nya kami na pumasok sa isang room at wag gagawa ng ingay.
Mabilis kaming kumilos ng mga kaibigan ko at pumunta kami sa isang room dito sa first floor. Pabulong na nagtatanong saamin sina Joen at Rose kung ano bang ganap, but I had no clue about what was going on either, kaya wala din akong maisagot.
"Obvious pa ba? Ang akala ng mga magnanakaw abandoned ang lugar na ito, kaya iniisip nila na malaya silang makakapag-nakaw dito." Naiismid na saad ni Knox na ngayon ay nakaupo sa gilid.
As we sat in silence, my eyes wandered around the room, taking in the details. The walls were hanged by aged picture frames.
One frame caught my attention, showcasing a weathered photograph of an elderly individual dressed in military attire. They lookEd so authoritative emitted a distinct aura. It reminds me of historical figures like Hitler.
Intrigued, I continued to explore the other pictures, and my eyes landed in the wodeen picture frame with bears. The photograph captured the innocence and playfulness of a young boy and girl. Ang cute.
I cautiously took a seat on the bed side. A chill feeling run down my spine. The room had an unsettling aura, para syang haunting scenes na napapanood ko sa mga exorcism movies, as if the walls whispered stories of paranormal encounters.
Gosh! Kung ano-anong iniimagine ko. Paano ba naman kasi may reputation din kasi ang mansion na haunted at tinitiraan ng mag-asawang mangkukulam. Tapos nasaksihan ko pang may pinatay dito kaya for sure meron talagang mumu dito.
Lost in thought, I was interrupted when there was a knock on the door. I stood up to open the door and it was Police Captain Lèandre, calling out to both Knox and me.
Nervously, I stepped out of the room, and as we made our way to the kitchen, I noticed Aizenberg sitting on a chair. Inutusan nya kami ni Knox na linisin yung blood stain na nagkalat sa sahig.
Dumating si Attorney Montemayor na may dalang panlinis. She handed us the cleaning supplies, and as we were about to begin the cleaning when I noticed Aizenberg arm. She seemed in pain as she clutching her right arm. Timayo sya at niyaya na nya ang mga kaibigan nya na pumunta sa labas ng mansion kaya naiwan kami ni know doto para maglinis.
"Is this our job? Cleaning up the of their victim's blood?" I complained, habang nagsusuot ako ng gloves.
"Sumunod nalang tayo kaysa―"
Knox fell silent as she cut her words. She glanced behind me, causing me to wonder what had caught her attention.
Curiously, I followed her gaze, pero palingon na sana ako ay may naramdaman akong kamay na humawak saakin at tinutukan ako ng kutsilyo sa leeg.
"Tayo!" Utos ng boses ng isang lalake.
Napatayo ako, at inutusan nya akong maglakad papunta sa living room. Habang si Knox ay mabilis na tumakbo para tawagin sina Aizenberg.
I swallowed hard as I become acutely aware of a cold, sharp blade pressed against my neck. My thoughts freeze, leaving my mind in a state of utter blankness. The overwhelming feeling of impending doom engulfs me, as if this moment marks the definitive conclusion of my existence.