Kasalanan uli ni Lila.

Sa totoo lang, lagi naming si Lila ang sanhi ng anumang kaguluhan sa klase. Minsan, nakikipagtalo sa guro, o nangongontra ng kung sinumang awtoridad. Kaya noong huminto ang klase sa hangganan ng gubat at pinagsabihang naikansela ang camp, walang nabigla nang marinig ang boses ni Lila. Nagpapanggap na magalang ang tinig niya, pero walang nalinlang. Kahit ang mga nasa likod ng pila ay napansin ang kanyang natatanging tono; ang tanda ng panibagong laban, ang simula ng kumukulong digmaan.

“Sir, ano po ang ibig niyong sabihin na ‘ikinansela’ ang camp? Maganda naman po ang panahon at hindi umuulan. Bakit biglang nagbago ang ating agenda?”

Nagsimula ang bulungan at pustahan. Sino kaya ang mananalo sa raun na ito? Mapaparusahan na ba si Lila? O makakalusot na naman dahil sa kanyang pagkadalubhasa sa sining ng pangangaway? Napahimutok na lang ang iba, lalo na si Amihan, ang tanging kaibigan ni Lila na siguradong madadamay. Katulad na ng unang libong pagkakataon na hindi mapigilan ni Lilang ipaglaban ang kanyang matitinding paniniwala.

“Binibining Albao,” ang ’di natutuwang tugon ni Sir Pinto kay Lila. “Hindi na lang tayo magbi-bivouac. Utos ng Principal. Masyado raw mapeligroso rito.”

Pabalik sana ang guro sa bus nila, ngunit hindi pinaraan ng mag-aaral. Nakahalukipkip si Lila at tinaasan niya ang kanyang boses. “Hindi ba po iyan ang dahilan ng ROTC? Para maranasan ang peligro at maging handa sa panganib?”

Binilisan ni Amihan ang kanyang paglakad papunta kay Lila, dala ang kanyang mabibigat na bag. Isang babala na papasok na si Lila ng beastmode: diretso ang kanyang Filipino. Wala nang pa-Ingles-Ingles.

“Respectfully,” ani Amihan nang malapit-lapit na siya sa eksena, “this part of the forest is close enough to human establishments for any animals to be scared off. And the whole class is here along with you. I’m pretty sure we can take care of any snakes, if that’s the problem.”

Nabuo ang isang simangot na lalong kumulubot sa mukha ng kanilang guro. Halatang hindi lang mga hayop ang kanyang inaalala. Nagpalitan ng tingin ang mga nakatatanda na gagabay sana sa kanilang pag-bivouac. Kanina pa silang palihim na nag-uusap. Nagpalitan din ng mga tingin ang magkaibigan. Ang tingin ni Lila ay nangungusap na ‘H’wag kang mangialam. Kaya ko ‘tong mag-isa!’ At ang tingin naman ni Amihan ay nangangahulugang ‘Uwing-uwi na ako. Huminahon ka, parang awa mo na!’

“Kung nasabi ito sa akin kanina, hindi na sana tayo mapaparito,” ang napapailing na sabi ng kanilang adviser, si Mrs. Cruz, na sanay na at tila nasasawa sa pangangatwiran ng bata. “May mga masamang espirito raw sa gubat. Nasisiraan daw ng ulo ang lahat na napaparito. Apat na ang namatay, kaya mas mabuti kung bumalik na lang tayo bago mangyari ang kung ano.”

Kumulimlim ang kapaligiran. Tumahimik ang mga kaklase nila, tila kinilabutan. Unti-unting lumayo sila sa matatangkad na puno na natatambakan ng mga ubas. Tumango ang mga guro, seryosong-seryoso ang mga mukha.

“‘Namatay’?” nautal na ulti ni Amihan.

“‘Masamang espirito’?” nangungutyang ulit ni Lila.

Sa isang saglit, kasi sa kanyang mga mata na nanlaki dahil sa ’di makapaniwala, pati na sa kanyang kulot na buhok na hindi maaayos ni mapapaamo ninuman, nag-anyong mabangis na halimaw si Lila na nanggaling sa mismong gubat na iyon.

“Ihihinto niyo ang aming edukasyon dahil sa isang sabisabi? Kaya pala walang usad ang ating ekonomiya!”

“Lila?” nag-aalalang tawag ni Amihan, subalit patungo na ang kanyang kaibigan paloob ng gubat. Sumulyap siya sa mga guro. Mukha silang naiskandalo. “Excuse me,” ang kanyang tanging paalam bago habulin si Lila.

“Lila. Why?” kanyang bagot na hingin.

“Emansipasyon,” ang nakuhang tugon. “Papalayain ko ang Pilipinas mula sa kadena ng takot. Ng mga pamahiing walang pinagbasehan. At iba pang kalokohang nilikha ng mga taong walang magawa sa buhay!”

Umakyat siya sa isang malaking bato at itinaas ang kamay na walang hawak na bag. “Hoy mga masamang espirito!” singhap ni Lila. “Sugurin niyo na ako!”

Natakot si Amihan, pero ito’y panandalian lamang dahil naalala niya na handa nang mamatay ang kanyang loob.

“Miss Albao! Bumalik ka rito!” sigaw ni Mrs. Cruz.

Binitawan ni Lila ang mga bag. Hindi maaakala sa maliit niyang katawan, pero malakas ang mga bisig niya at mabilis siyang nakaakyat ng isang punongkahoy. Tinitigan na lang siya ni Amihan, walang balak na magpakahirap.

“Hangga’t matapos ang gabi at sumapit ang bukangliwayway, hindi ako aalis dito!” sigaw ni Lila na napaka-dramatiko.

Tumingala si Mrs. Cruz mula sa paanan ng puno. Halos tatagpo ang kanyang mga kilay sa pagkayamot. Wala pang balak bumaba si Lila.

“Ikaw? Zelsos?” nangangalit na tanong ng guro kay Amihan.

“Ah, I’ll stay too.”

“May pera kayong pang-commute?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Minasahe niya ang mga ugat sa kanyang noo. Parang ayaw na niya maging guro. “Bahala kayo!” At umalis na siya, halos sinasabunutan ang sarili sa poot.

Mula sa taas ng puno, pinanood ni Lila ang kanilang nababalisang mga kaklase. Pumasok sila sa bus at, hindi nagtagal, nilisan nila ang gubat.

“Lila?” narinig niya sa ilalim ng kanyang sanga. Paakyat na si Amihan, halatang nahihirapan sa kapal ng mga ubas. Hinawakan ni Lila ang palapulsuhan niya at hinila sa kanyang tabi.

“Thanks,” hinga ng lalaki. Mahigpit ang kanyang hawak sa sanga. “They really left us behind.”

“Mabuti nga.”

Tahimik lang si Amihan. Maaaring naghahabol ng hininga. Maaaring naghihintay. Alam niyang aamin din si Lila hinggil sa kanyang pagbubulalas.

Naghimutok si Lila, unti-unting lumalaho ang galit sa kanyang dibdib. “Talagang inaasahan ko na matutuloy tayo ngayon,” ani niyang parang nangungumpisal. “Puro kasi kotse at gusali rito sa Maynila…”

“You’re homesick?” Binuod ni Amihan.

Tinitigan ni Lila ang parating sa takipsilim. Nanatiling tikom ang mga labi niya. Sapat na iyon bilang sagot.

“It’s a good thing we bought camping materials, then.”

Lumingon siya para tignan ang kanyang kaibigan. “Sorry. Alam kong gusto mo nang umuwi.”

“It’s chill.” Ngumiti si Amihan, kasama ng pagkibit ng balikat. “I’m always down to die,” biro niya.

Sabay silang bumaba ng puno at binuhat ang kanilang mga bag. Kahit palubog na ang araw, wala silang takot sa malawak na gubat at naglakad sila paloob nito. Ginamit nila ang kumpas sa cellphone ni Amihan para hindi maligaw.

“You think people really lost their minds here?” tanong ni Amihan habang kinukuha ang dalang ukulele galing sa bag.

“Hmph,” ani Lila. “Yung mga mahina lang ang loob.”

Alam ng kanilang mga magulang na dapat magbi-bivouac sila ngayon, at hindi pa sila nasasabihan na hindi natuloy. Sigurado si Lila na hindi sila mag-aalala.

Habang tumatagal, mas kumakapal ang mga halaman, at abot-hita na ang damo. Narinig ni Lila ang pag-‘excuse me’ at pag-‘tabi-tabi po’ ni Amihan at pinagsabihan siya.

“H’wag ka ngang magtabi-tabi! Lumabas na kayo mga dwende, engkanto, tikbalang!” sigaw niya sa dumidilim na kapaligiran.

“Kapre,” dagdag ni Amihan.

“Kapre, aswang…” Nag-isip pa si Lila. “Tiyanak!”

Napangiwi si Amihan. “Not tiyanak. I don’t like tiyanak.”

“Labas na! Hinahamon namin kayo!”

Umalingawngaw ang kanyang tinig sa buong gubat, subalit walang sumagot liban sa lawiswis ng mga dahon at kanta ng mga kuliglig.

*

“Do you know how to build a fire?”

“Oo naman,” sagot ni Lila pagkatapos ilatag ang kanyang dalang sleeping bag.

“Thank God.” Nakita niya ang malaking ngiti ng kanyang kaibigan kahit ito’y natatabunan ng lilim. “Perks of living in the province.”

“Hindi. Natutunan ko lang sa Wikihow.”

“Ah…”

Nagtipon si Amihan ng mga putol na sanga, gaya ng nakikita nilang ginagawa ng mga artista sa telebisyon tuwing gagawa sila ng apoy. Sinubukan naman ni Lilang pagningasin ang mga ito. Hindi pa niya ito naranasang gawin, pero walang tao para manghusga sa kanya doon, kaya wala siyang pakialam kung magkamali siya. Dahil sa kanyang lunggati, kinabukasan nag-usok ang mga sanga.

Nang lumaki na ang apoy, nagtabi ang dalawa sa harap nito, kumakain ng Stick-O at kung anumang baon nilang meryenda na hindi angkop na hapunan. Wala ang kanilang mga magulang upang ipagbawal sila.

“Sa tingin mo, makaka-deliver ba ng Jollibee dito?” tanong ni Lila. Nagugutom pa kasi siya.

Natawa si Amihan. “You never know. Maybe the aswang get cravings.”

“Para sa Chickenjoy?” ngiti niya.

“’Nde,” and ngumunguyang sagot ni Amihan sa Filipino. “Para sa delivery boy.”

Nawala ang huling sikat ng araw at nagsilabasan ang mga bituin. Tinaas ni Lila ang kanyang mga kamay para maramdaman ang masarap na init ng apoy, tulad lang ng ginagawa niya noong maliit pa siya.

“This is actually really nice,” bulong ni Amihan.

“Oo nga,” sang-ayon ni Lila habang pinapanood ang mga bagang lumilipad papunta sa buwan. “I-vlog kaya natin.”

Nilabas ni Amihan ang kanyang cellphone at nagsimula ng video. Wala siyang selfie stick kaya pinatong niya na lang ito sa kanilang mga bag.

“The date is October 15, and Ms. Cruz left us behind in a haunted forest. We’re on a mission to save the Philippines from…” Huminto siya. “Um…”

“Mula sa ilusyon ng takot at ‘masasamang elemento’,” tinapos ni Lila. Halatang nayayamot na siya sa paksa.

“We’re also gonna make a cover of Huling El Bimbo,” ani Amihan sabay labas ng ukulele.

At dahil wala na silang magawa, nagkantahan sila ng malakas para marinig ng mga pinaghihinalaang ‘halimaw’. Pagkatapos ng Huling El Bimbo ang Torete. Tapos Mang Jose at Sirena. Tinuloy nila ito nang parang konsyerto hangga’t mawalan sila ng kanta at bumigat na ang kanilang mga pilik-mata.

*

Pagdilat ni Lila, wala siyang makita. Patay na ang kanilang apoy, at tinabunan ng mga alapaap ang kislap ng mga bituin.

“Mm. ’Nong oras na?” tanong niya, pero walang sumagot. Kinapa niya ang latag sa kanyang tabi.

Nawala ang katawan sa loob nito.

“’Mihan?” tawag niya. Wala, ni isang kuliglig, ang sumagot.

Tumayo siya at pinagpag ang kanyang kusot na uniporme. Paglipas ng ilang segundo, luminaw ang paningin niya. May gumalaw! Sinundan niya ang silweta, at ayun nga si Amihan papunta sa mga puno. Hindi siya lumilingon o tumitigil. Patuloy ang kanyang paglakad.

“Ano, nasiraan ka na ba ng ulo?”tawag ni Lila sa kaibigan niya, pero hindi ito kumikibo. Narinig niya ang tunog ng mga bagting ng instrument, ngunit wala itong himig at magulo ang pagtugtog.

“Hindi ’yun retorikal. Kailangan ko talagang malaman para mapatunayan o hindi ang teorya ko.”

Sa wakas, huminto ang silweta. Huminga si Lila nang malalim. Natakot siya. At dahil natakot siya, may kapangyarihan sa kanya ang kanyang kinatatakutan. Kaya nainis na lang siya.

Umikot si Amihan para harapin siya. Masyadong matangkad ang silweta. At masyadong mahaba ang buhok.

Bumalik sa kanyang isip ang sinabi ni Mrs. Cruz. ‘Apat na ang namatay.’ Yumapak siyang pabalik.

“Amihan!”

May kumalabit sa kanyang balikat at tumanglaw sa kanyang mga mata. Napatalon siya sa nakabubulag na ilaw. Hindi siya makasigaw. Hindi siya maka—

“I told you to bring a cellphone. Or at least a flashlight.”

Tinitigan niya ang tao na humahawak ng ilaw. Si Amihan. Umikot siya para tignan uli ang silweta, pero bigla itong nawala.

“S’an ka pumunta?” tanong ni Lila na parang demanda.

“I…uh…” nagkibit-balikat si Amihan, “needed to go.”

Napakurap si Lila. “Umihi ka?”

Kumunot ang noo ni Amihan at tinitigan niya ang kanyang mga sapatos.

Tumawa si Lila, kahit nangangatal. “Haha, yuck!”

“Oh shut up.” Nag-inat siya kasama ang isang malaking hikab. “Come on, we gotta go now. I would like very much to take a bath. Or maybe sleep on a real bed if we have any time left.”

Binalikan ng mga mata ni Lila ang lugar kung saan nakatayo ang silweta kanina. Hindi niya ito mahanap.

“Lila? You okay?”

“Wala. Nag-iisip lang.”

*

Sinundan niya si Amihan at ang ilaw ng kanyang cellphone pabalik sa kanilang kampo. Tahimik nilang niligpit ang kanilang gamit. Pinindot ni Amihan ang kamera ng kanyang cellphone at itinapat ito kay Lila.

“2:36 ng umaga, at hindi pa kami namamatay o nasisiraan ng ulo,” inulat niya. “Walang sumapi sa amin, nanukso, o pumalakpak sa aming concert. Wala kaming nasalubong na kahit anong nilalang liban sa paniki, langaw, at tipaklong.”

“Palaka rin,” dagdag ni Amihan. “In this instance, the rumours are proven to be void.”

“On the other hand, natutunan naming na masakit sa likod ang matulog sa lupa, at hindi nagde-deliver ang Jollibee sa kalagitnaan ng gubat.”

“We also experienced making a campfire and peeing in trees.”

“Siya lang umihi.”

“I don’t recommend it.”

“Ngayon kailangan naming umuwi kasi may pasok pa rin kami ng ala-sais! Ang ganda ng umaga, noh?” biro ng nag-iinat na Lila.

“And that’s it, folks. I’m on eighteen percent, so. Bye!”

At pagkatapos ng isang gabi kung saan marami ang naganap, nagsimula silang maglakad pabalik sa sibilasyon. Kailangan nilang mag-ingat. Kasi nga, hindi iyon parang gubat na mga halaman at nagmumuni-muning palaka lang ang nakatira. Isa iyong kabihasnan na punong-puno ng mga nilalang na mababagsik at walang awa: ang Tao.

Sa tingin ni Lila, ang Tao lang ang masamang espirito na dapat katakutan.

Getting to school that day wasn’t any more difficult than every other day. One only had to accept that Capitalism was terrible, acknowledge that one’s life is not one’s own, and be thankful that one will, eventually, be given the opportunity to die.

It wasn’t the best outlook, but it got people out of bed. ‘People’ being Amihan.

He arrived at school the same time as he always did and found Lila on her chair, head down. He patted her back gently. “You didn’t do the homework,” he said.

“Nagawa ko na,” she tells him, the quickest way to make him back off.

“Not AP. The Math one. They gave it yesterday after our exile.”

Lila jolted up, looking around for any proof. Sure enough, the questions were written on the board. She turned to him accusingly. “E paano mo nalaman?”

Amihan raised an eyebrow. “I checked my Messenger.”

She dug angrily through her bag for some paper. “Kailan ang Math?” she all but demands, looking almost feral. Amihan thinks about letting her copy from him to give her time to sleep, but knew she would refuse. Copying meant the system won, and succumbing to sleep meant Mrs. Cruz did.

“First subject,” he informs.

Lila exclaimed something inappropriate and started solving. Amihan grabbed his bag from the floor. “If you wanna compare answers, I’ve got mine right—”

His fingers touch something cold and wet. He looked into his bag and found his water jug overturned, his homework reduced to an indiscernible rag.

It was his turn to exclaim inappropriately.

Lila handed him a piece of paper. Together, they did their homework in a thoroughly disgruntled manner.

“Ah, buhay pa kayo?” one of their classmates, Vic, asked upon approaching. “So. Totoo ba ang sabisabi?”

“Oo. Nasiraan kami ng ulo at namatay. Ang kinakausap mo ngayon ang aming mga bangkay na sinasapian ng mga demonyo,” Lila replied without lifting her head.

“Wow, sungit,” Vic laughs, turning to Amihan. “What happened?”

“Um… we walked. We ate. We sang. We slept. I have it on video.”

“Pa-send,” she requested, hitting his shoulder good-naturedly before walking away.

“Sure…” He watched her go while Lila chuckled at him.

Despite the distraction, they managed to finish the homework before flag ceremony. The teacher had just walked in when they simultaneously lifted their pens. The teacher, being Mrs. Cruz, eyed them suspiciously. “Narito pa kayo?”

“Magandang umaga po! Magagalak kayong malaman na walang nagparamdam na ‘masamang espirito’ at hindi kami hinoldap pauwi nang 2 AM.”

Lila grinned wide and tantalizing, causing Amihan to stifle a laugh. On one hand, Mrs. Cruz could get them in trouble for disobedience and truancy. On the other hand, Mrs. Cruz could get in trouble herself for leaving kids stranded in the woods, unsupervised. Checkmate.

Mrs. Cruz glowered venomously then ripped her stare away. “Good Morning, Class…”

*

He was really lucky to be Lila’s friend. She was probably the coolest person he’s ever met for various reasons. However, this meant that she’d outshine him in almost every aspect. It didn’t bother him most of the time.

“Wrong,” Mr. Guerro said flatly, waving him back down to his seat. Amihan grumbled. It was the third time he tried to recite today. It was also the third time he made a mistake.

“Lila raised her hand. “Oxygen,” she said confidently. Predictably, she was correct.

Amihan reached into his bag for a book he bought, so he could keep his mind off the jealousy. He frowned. It was soaking wet.

*

The second bell rang, and lunch had officially ended. Amihan stared at the door nervously. Lila wasn’t there yet. They weren’t together at lunch because she had a club meeting. Maybe that could excuse her.

Twenty minutes in and still no sign. Amihan was about to het the comfort room pass when a small blurry figure barreled into the room.

“Good afternoon po, Sir Basil!” Lila’s voice greeted breathlessly.

Chuckles bounced about the room. Mr. Basil raised an eyebrow, amused enough to perhaps save Lila’s conduct grade.

“Miss Albao,” he huffs. “And what is your excuse for being so tardy?”

“Akala ko po… ’yung kabilang music room…”

Their classmates start laughing, and Amihan isn’t entirely immune himself.

“You have to go to the Office then.”

“Pero, Sir—”

“Either speak straight English or straight Filipino.”

“Subalit, Ginoo! Hindi niyo ginawang tiyak ang particular na silid ng musika na nararapat puntahan! Makatwiran naming isipin na magkaklase tayo sa silid na lagi nating pinuntahan sa mga nakaraang klase. Hindi ko po sinasadya ang pagkakamaling ito!”

Amihan couldn’t hold the giggles in, at that point. “Sir, as politely as possible, wouldn’t it be punishment enough for her to walk across the school twice and have to catch up to the lessons she missed?” he interjected a little too quickly.

Mr. Basil considered this. Lila tried her best to look twice as exhausted.

“The rest of your classmates knew to go here,” he points out.

“Iba ang aking kaisipan sa karaniwan, Ginoo,” was Lila’s terse reply.

Their teacher looked pleased by this. Or perhaps by being called ‘Ginoo’. “Alright, Miss Albao. Only this once.”

*

“I told you it was this music room right before you left for your meeting!”

“Nakalimutan ko, okey?” Lila gulped down all the remaining water in Amihan’s jug and wiped her face. “Nagmamadali na kasi ako.”

They were at the rear end of the crowd of students headed back to their classrooms. “There’s been a lot of bad luck today, don’t you think?” Amihan mused quietly. Unfortunately, it wasn’t quiet enough.

“Hindi totoo ang ‘luck’, Amihan. H’wag kang maging pesimista,” Lila scolded. “Kung totoo ang luck, edi marami na rin tayong swerte dahil natapos natin ang homework bago mag-time. Nakalusot ako kay Basil. Hindi tayo kinidnap pauwi.”

Amihan rolled his eyes and decided to let that pass. Upon rolling his eyes, he caught sight of a figure beside their path. “Good morning…” he tried, but trailed away.

The janitress’ face was as pale as an equatorial sheet, and her unblinking eyes were wide in terror. She was frozen in place, staring at them. At him and Lila.

“Hi, Ate Tessa,” Lila greeted nonchalantly and walked straight by her.

“She didn’t seem okay,” Amihan told her as he caught up. He glanced back at Ate Tessa’s paralyzed figure. Her gaze followed their every step.

“Heheh. Nag-‘good morning’ ka. Alas dos ng hapon.”

He glared at her. “She looked terrified,” he pointedly continued.

“H’wag mong pansinin,” she waved him off. “Nananakot lang ’yon. Palagi niyang sinasabi na may third eye siya. Naniniwala naman sila.”

Third eye… A theory brewed in Amihan’s mind that he dare not say out loud. It wasn’t until the middle of their last class that he put all the pieces together. He leaned forward to whisper to his friend. She turned at the call of her name, raising her eyebrows.

“I’ve been having a bad day,” Amihan starts.

Lila nodded attentively. “Same. Kung nalaman mo yung nangyari sa banyo…”

“What happened in the bathroom?”

She sliced her hands around dismissively and gestured for him to continue.

“So we saw Ate Tess staring at us weird a while ago.”

“Mm.”

“And you said she had a third eye.”

“’Mihan.”

“And a lot of bad… stuff has been going on.”

“Mihan.”

“And it started when we got back from the—”

“’Mihan, hindi totoo ang malas o ang masamang espirito.”

“But—”

“Ms. Albao and Mr. Zelsos!” Ms. Mata called with the snap of a ruler. Amihan blanched. “Ano’ng pinag-uusapan ninyo?”

“Ang aralin po,” Lila answered without missing a beat. “Iniisip po namin kung ang maikli na ‘ng’ ang dapat gamitin sa pangalawang halimbawa.”

Ms. Mata looked down at her book. “Ay, oo nga noh! Dapat sa akin n’yo na lang sinabi…”

Lila spared him a milisecond’s glance radiating smugness. Amihan could only frown at his book in contemplation.

Any bad thing, left unchecked, got worse. Time would prove which one of them was right.

*

Wednesday and Thursday passed. Along came more accidents and unfortunate incidents than they had ever experienced in the past few years.

The wifi in Lila’s house was cut off, and Amihan’s shoe fell into the swimming pool. Lila had the hiccups the entirety of a group reporting. Amihan’s group had a problem with the projector, causing them to desert the powerpoint presentation he worked all night on. Lila forgot their locker key inside their locker, and somehow, they managed to simultaneously forget their packed lunches.

“Hindi totoo ang malas,” Lila said persistently as she tripped over the boundary of a ‘keep off the grass’ area.

That was how she found herself inside the Coordinator’s office, arguing for her academic reputation while Amihan waited outside. She came out eventually, plopping down beside him. Her mouth was pressed in a grim line.

“Verbal warning,” she informed. It wasn’t a bad punishment. It wouldn’t even turn up in her report card. It was just her first time losing a battle to teachers. Over a ‘keep off the grass’ sign, no less.

“Maybe if you hadn’t rolled over, you could’ve gotten away with it,” said Amihan. Lila didn’t deign to reply.

“A lot of bad luck…”

“Tahimik.”

*

There was a lot of proof, the problem was that none of them was conclusive. He needed evidence so cliché and obvious that Lila could not deny the urban mythological level of involvement of supernatural beings.

That was exactly what he got.

Victoria: WHAT IS THAT BEHIND U???

Amihan looked at Vic’s message, puzzled. She must be talking about the video he just sent.

Amihan: It’s just Lila. She woke up like that.

His attempt at humor was brushed aside by a screenshot from the video. Amihan stared at it. Then he stared at it some more. Then he checked the video in his phone. Sure enough, it was there too: a face with inhuman pallor hovering above their shoulders, blood red eyes staring directly at the camera.

Amihan’s mouth curled into a grin. He forwarded it to Lila.

*

“Lumabas ka na masamang espirito! O taong gumagamit ng masyadong maraming pulbos!” Lila shouted somewhat wearily.

It was Thursday, after school. The next day was the last before semestral break, so they wanted to get this over with as soon as possible. Especially Lila; her birthday was on its way. However, that meant conforming to silly superstition.

“Exorcizamus te omnis immundi…” Amihan read from his notebook. It was an exorcism prayer he got online.

Lila sprayed the plants using her mother’s laundry atomizer which was filled with Agua Bendita. “Baka tao lang ’yon” she tried grouchily.

“Doesn’t explain the bad luck,” Amihan hissed before continuing the prayer.

Lila threw him a suspicious glower. “Nasisiyahan ka bang minumulto tayo?”

He walks on, ignoring her. They weren’t sure if this was the same path they had taken through the forest last time. The foliage looked identical, all aesthetically disorganized. Darkness fell, and they brought out their flashlights. The beams swept about, leaving them disappointed with all the typical figures it illuminated. An hour passes with no revelation.

“Maybe we’re doing something wrong.” Amihan clicks his light off and flops down on a mound of earth. Lila follows suit and lands beside him. They were both silent, under the veil of shadows and nature.

“Magagalit si Nay kung hindi pa ako umuwi,” Lila announced.

Amihan slumped backwards. “I know. Could we please stay a little longer? Maybe it’ll come if we sit and wait. If we don’t do this, the bad luck might persist. Please?” he begged.

Lila’s eyes shone in the dark, seeing right through him. It wasn’t about the bad luck.

She stood, cupped her hands to her mouth and shouted. “Hoy! Alam naming sinusundan mo kami! Kung hindi ka lumabas, magagalit na ako! Isa!” She started counting like an angry mom.

Amihan shook his head, chuckling. Sure, counting might work to pressure neurotic kids. But monsters? It was worth a shot. A very sad, short-lived shot.

“Dalawa,” she drawled loudly, the promise of retribution upon her tongue.

One more number and either the monster come out, or they go home. Then, they would have to live with unexplained bad luck and the realization that life is as bad as it is. Monsters and magic don’t exist, only Capitalism and corruption. They would be doomed to a life without spontaneity, with only lifeless toil or squalor as options. Privilege was not a choice, and so neither was leisure. Heaven forbid anyone to have a job that made them happy and financially secure at the same time. Heaven forbid anyone less than a genius, a prodigy, or a patrician to thrive. Anyone who wasn’t productive. Who made mistakes.

Amihan long expected that magic wasn’t as real to the world as it used to be for him. Perhaps it was time for him to be part of the world.

Lila drew in a breath. “Tat—”

“Narito ako.”

Amihan jumped to his feet, whipping out his flashlight. Of course. If anyone was going to summon a mythical being from another dimension through sheer anger and counting, of course it would be Lila.

The two stood together, before a pallid creature with hair that fell to the ground and eyes that glistened like flames.