Chapter 1

Lilly’s POV

 “Oo na gets ko na Christine!” Iritable kong sinagot ang tawag sa cellphone ko. “Can you stop calling me already? Paulit-ulit ka nalang.”

Pumasok ako sa loob ng kotse ko at pabalibag na sinara ang pinto. I bet Christine heard that.

“I was just reminding you,” she replied . I can sense that she’s annoyed. “It’s not that I really want to call you every single time Lilly. Do you even know how annoying you are?” Hindi ko mapigilan na ngumisi dahil sa sinabi niya.

“You’re annoying too!” Hindi kona inantay ang sasabihin niya at ibinaba kona ang tawag. 

Kakalabas ko lang sa isang high-end bar na nirentahan ko for tonight for my employees. It’s a thank you gift for them for working hard. I’m really excited for the event tomorrow. Tomorrow will be my big day. My company will be collaborating with Chonel. I guess my hard work is paying off now.  Tapos ngayon sira na ang araw ko dahil sa pangungulit nitong pinsan kong si Christine. She’s convincing me to attend to our family gathering scheduled for tomorrow. 

Sumandal ako sa backseat ng kotse habang minamasahe ang sintido ko. I had a few drinks there kaya medyo nahihilo na din ako hindi naman kasi ako heavy drinker. Nasaan naba kasi itong driver ko? Gusto ko nang umuwi at mag-pahinga.

 Muntik na akong mapatalon sa gulat nang biglang sumulpot at kumahol itong husky dog sa labas ng kotse ko.

“Shoo!” I shooed him away but he just kept on barking at me.  Naririndi na ako sa tahol ng aso. Asan ba ang amo nito?

“Lucky!” Napatingin ako sa lalaking tumatakbo papunta sa kinaroroonan namin nitong maingay na aso. Ikinabit niya kaagad yung tali na hawak niya sa collar ng aso.

“You should always watch your pet, ” I told him.

“Pasensya na Miss, ” he  replied before he left with his dog.  How can he be irresponsible? Paano na lang kung nakakagat yung aso niya?

 Lumipat ang tingin ko sa maliit na heart shaped picture frame na nakasabit sa harapan ko. It was a photo of me and my late parents. Kasama ng picture ang susi sa luma naming bahay.

“I know you two are very proud of me up there.” Ngumiti ako ng tipid. Now that I’m tipsy I’m being emotional again.

The three of us were brightly smiling in this picture. This was taken outside the mansion as it was seen in our background. It’s almost eleven years since I visited our old home. It’s not that I don’t want to it’s just that I’m scared. What if I can’t handle it? There are hundreds of questions running through my head when looking at that house. My dark past keep coming back to haunt me.

My phone kept on vibrating so I checked it out. There are many congratulatory messages from my acquaintances and family relatives. My lips slightly formed a smirk. They are always there when you achieved something but when you needed them the most you can’t find them.

I don’t know how did I end up driving my car even if driving while drunk is not right. Parang kusang gumalaw ang katawan ko after posting a story on my I*******m account. I captioned, “Going far away”.

Ipinasok ko sa bag ko yung cellphone ko bago ako lumabas sa kotse. Hindi naman ako magtatagal dito sa lumang bahay namin kaya iniwan ko na lang ang bag ko sa loob ng kotse. Natagalan pa bago ko binuksan ang main door ng bahay. 

Napa-ubo ako nang malanghap ko ang alikabok pagkapasok ko sa bahay. I expected this to happen naman na, wala na kasing nakatira dito for almost eleven years. Kinapa-kapa ko ang dingding sa gawing kanan ko to find the switch for some light at hindi naman ako nabigo. Sa pagkakatanda ko kasi ay malapit lang sa maindoor ang switch ng malaking crystal chandelier sa kisame. Some of the bulb was flickering already dahil na rin sa tagal na di nabuksan na-amaze pa nga ako dahil gumagana pa rin ito.

Huminga ako ng malalim bago ko tinungo ang hagdan paakyat sa second floor ng bahay. Good thing wala akong asthma dahil kung meron baka hindi na ako makakalabas ng buhay dito sa sobrang kapal ng mga alikabok.

Pinunasan ko ang pawis sa noo ko gamit ang palad ko dahil wala naman akong dalang handkerchief. Yeah I know it’s gross but what can I do? Alangang hayaan kong tumagaktak pawis ko duh, mas nakakadiri yun! I held my chest when I reached the door of my old room.

I suddenly felt nervous and scared just like how I felt eleven years ago.

I’m hesitating to open the door, I really am. I shook my head and tried to calm myself. It’s been a long time, “ why am I still scared?’. Should I just go home? No, andito na ako so I should keep going. I just want to see if I can face my past now.

I almost jumped out of fear when I opened the door. Sumabay pa yung malakas na kulog at kidlat, I think It’ll rain tonight.

I tried opening the light but I think sira na, nagsisisi tuloy ako na diko dinala cellphone ko, damn!. Kumulog ulit ng malakas at kasunod ‘nun ay kidlat na naging dahilan para lumiwanag sandali ang paligid.

Naaninag ko kaagad ang basag na bintana sa tapat ko. I felt shivers down my spine, nanlamig ako kaagad. I just saw my parents lying on the floor covered with blood, they’re lifeless. Beside them was a man in a raincoat holding a gun.

It felt so real, I managed to get out of the room crying for help. Nadapa pa ako pero tumayo din ako kaagad I was about to run again when I saw my reflection on the mirror. I’m not the 9 year old Lilly anymore. It was all my imaginations. It’s not really happening again. Hinabol ko ang paghinga ko, I just had my panick attack again it’s been five years simula noong huli akong nag-hallucinate. 

Nagmadali akong bumaba ng hagdan pero napatigil din ako kaagad nang mapansin kong basa ang hagdan at may mga foot marks na naiwan. Nakita ko mula sa bintana na malakas ang ulan.

Nagha-hallucinate parin ba ako? I shook my head many times and give myself a slap para magising ako. Is it just alcohol? Hindi pa naman umuulan nang dumating ako rito so how come na may mga basang footmarks dito?

I was about to shrugged my thoughts when I heard footsteps behind me. I slightly turned my back to see what’s in there and to my surprise I saw a man in a raincoat. 

“You…..” Parang umurong ‘yung dila ko, I shoudn’t have stop drinking my meds. Napaatras ako nang humakbang siya palapit saakin.

“Huwag kang lalapit! Hindi ka totoo, nasa isip lang kita, so please get away from me!”Sigaw ko, I’m about to lose my mind right now, I’m out of breath.

Napasigaw ako when the flickering light from the chandelier turns off at napasigaw akong muli nang makadinig ako ng putok ng baril. 

I just found myself running outside the house, agad akong pumasok sa loob ng kotse ko at ini-start yun but it won’t move. Binuksan ko ng bahagya yung pinto at sinilip ang gulong nito just to see a flat tire. 

Tumingin ako sa main door ng bahay at kakalabas lang nung lalaki. Huminga ako ng malalim trying to calm myself. Hindi ‘to hallucinations, It felt so real. Bumaba ako sa kotse at tumakbo ng mabilis papunta sa kung saan. 

I covered my ears when I heard three consecutive gunshots that were meant for me.  Lalo pa akong nahihirapan sa pagtakbo dahil maputik. Nanginginig ako hindi lang dahil sa lamig kundi dahil sa takot. A very strange guy is targeting me. I mean his trying to kill me! I’m not even sure if I’m still hallucinating. It’s too hard for me to figure out.

 I just bumped my face into the mud, but it’s not what’s important right now. I need to live for pete’s sake.

Tumayo ako agad at kahit paika-ika na ako tumakbo ay hindi pa rin ako tumigil. I didn’t know I can run this fast, If only I knew naging atleta  nalang sana ako.

My heart almost dropped when I nearly fell. Hindi ko akalain na bangin pala ang dead end ng forest dito sa likod ng mansion. I saw the bad guy’s shadow. 

“Who are you? Why are you doing this hideous thing to me?” I stepped back when he pointed the gun at me. I can’t see his face, bukod sa madilim dito sa forest he was wearing a black raincoat. Just like the man who killed my parents. Is he the same person?

“What did I ever do to you? Have I done you wrong?” Sobrang natatakot na ako. Hindi ko nga alam kung saan ako kumukuha ng lakas ng loob to speak. 

“Please let me go, I’m begging you! If you need money I can give it to you just name your price.“ I felt something burning in my chest. I just got shot in my left chest and it hurts like hell! Humakbang palapit saakin yung lalaki.

“Wala kang rason para mabuhay,” he said, still pointing his gun at me.

Am I going to die this way? Hindi ito ang pinangarap kong way para mamatay. I was not living my miserable life just to die this way! This damn dream hurts! Manhid na ang katawan ko when the second bullet struck my right chest.

When I plummeted off the cliff It was just like in a movie, it was a slow motion scene. I don’t have any family left I mean love ones, I have relatives but I don’t really like them, all they care about was my money. I was a successful business woman. They said that I have it all: beauty, fortune and intelligence. Why am I even attempting to live when I don’t have any reason to? Why would he spare my life? 

Oh right, In movies it was this scene when they close their eyes as they surrender their lives to God. I’m not a religious type but I think he was all I need right at this moment.  But nah, never mind just let me live as a Dog in my next life, kidding. Hate dogs, so much.  I’m too young to meet my parents up there. 

The killer was wrong. I do still have a reason to live. My life was like a puzzle, I’m missing this one damn piece of my life. There’s still one thing that I haven’t got, “It’s love”.  I want to be loved, to be love unconditionally.

Please let me live……………………….

What kind of feeling is this? Napakalagkit ng katawan ko, at teka! Ano ‘tong mainit-init at basang dumadampi sa buo kong katawan? At bakit, bakit wala akong makita? Nabulag ba ako? 

Nagpalinga-linga ako sa paligid nang makadinig ako ng iyak ng mga tuta. Tuta as in aso? Oh my gosh I’m allergic to dogs! But wait bakit hindi ako humahatsing? 

Patay ba ang ilaw? I think it’s not! I just can’t open my eyes. Did someone sew it while I’m sleeping?

Wait! Why the hell am I crawling? Ouch! I can’t even crawl properly, did my limbs got cut? What’s wrong with my voice? Did I just sound like a puppy? 

“Ma nanganak na si Apple!” I heard a girl screamed. Who’s Apple?What’s wrong with my voice? Bakit iyak ng tuta ang lumabas sa bibig ko? Bakit di ako makapagsalita?

Did I just turn into a dog?