I never know that it feels nice to love and be loved. Wow, I’m so corny. Since when did I become corny? In the beginning, I would hate it but now, I might be the corniest person in the whole world. I feel like I’m super inspired, that even in my studies; I can answer and finish all my exams so fast. It’s so great to study!
Just kidding.
It’s not great to study.
I stared at Sir Michael as he teach but I can’t understand anything he says anymore that’s why I’m now just counting how many pimple he has so I won’t get drowsy. I was in my ten when I yawned and my eyes were beginning to get heavy.
***
Our section, III-Obedience [1] was tasked to stay in the gym to fix the Halloween party in school. We can’t say no as our grades for T.L.E (Technology and Livelihood Education) would be this.
I was with Nate because he can’t be split away from me. Super clingy boyfriend. I can’t do anything with it because his sick was can’t-resist-the-cuteness-of-Ianne sick.
We were ordered by our class president, Francis to buy some paste. Eh, since Nate and I were both dupe, we agreed.
When we arrived at a shop that was like a bookstore, I noticed something immediately: a woman was guarding, standing, and she was chewing and smiling when she saw Nate.
What kind of seducing is this I’m seeing?
She went to us –err, it was only Nate that she came forward, “Hi. What do you need, Handsome?”
“Ate [2], 10 glues po [3], I and my boyfriend will buy it.” I answered with a smile as I grasps Nate’s arm.
Ate gave me a grimaced but gave Nate a big smile, “You need glue, Handsome?” She ignored me. How dare her.
Nate nodded.
“Just wait, ah.”
My eyes were still slanted as we follow Ate to the counter. I raised my brow at her. It was so high that it had already reached the rooftop of their store.
She took a box that was filled with glue bottles, “How much?” Nate asked.
“It’s 35 each but since you’re handsome, I’ll sell this box for 350. It has 10 glues.”
35? Times (multiply by) 10? I’m not great at math but isn’t it still 350 ah?
Nate chuckled at what Ate said and took out 351 Pesos [4], “Here, Ate. 351 Pesos. Keep the change.”
Ate laughed. It was so hard that she even slap Nate in the arm, multiple times. Wow, are they close? Since when? “You’re so funny.”
Eh, if I make her face funny, ha?
“Bye, Handsome.”
“Wa-” I was about to talk rudely at her when Nate covered my mouth. He pulled me outside the shop. Irritated, I removed his hands, “Why did you cover my mouth?”
“What are you doing?” He half-hugged me as he messages my forehead, “Just chill.”
I frowned and would have complained more but we were suddenly in the gym. Wait, how did that happen? We were so fast?
“Ianne, you came right in time.” I glanced at Ate [5] Alie, a senior student that was guiding our class, “Is it okay if you and Nate will get the paints in the T.L.E. room?”
“Ha? Why are you tasking us again? Isn’t it su-” I was about to talk when she walk away already.
“Thank you!”
I didn’t even still agree!
“Let’s go?” Nate pulled me outside the gym. I stared at every each corner of the field, its dark already? Why is it so fast?
Last time, wasn’t it still afternoon?
“Ianne, I’m scared.”
I glanced at Nate. I can’t see his face clearly because it was so dark.
“I’m scared that you’ll suddenly disappear. And you can’t even stay still in one place. Give me your hand.”
I smiled when he hold my hand as we walk. It was already night and all, yet this guy is still cheesy.
After how many years, we were finally in the T.L.E room. It was so dark hence Nate turned on the lights when we entered.
“Ahhhh!”
I turned my back and look outside when I heard a loud shout of a guy. I felt the coldness inside me and started to get nervous. I began to press Nate’s hand.
“Our classmate might have fall,” he said, “let’s do this faster.”
I nodded and grab the paint cans. There was a lot of art stuff that wasn’t being used. They were mostly trash but it was still in the room. While I was getting the supplies, I heard Nate’s loud and deep breath.
“Why are you breathing deeply?” I asked Nate. When he looked at me, he gave me a weird look.
“Breathing deeply? I didn’t, ah.”
I trembled when I heard that deep breath still behind me. When I looked back, there wasn’t any human.
“W-who is it?”
I hastily run out. Nate had also begun to panic. When he closed the lights of the room, I shivered at what I heard.
TOINK TOINK TOINK
It was a ball bouncing.
Before Nate can closed the door, all my hairs in my body stood up because there was a ball that was rolling outside the T.L.E. room.
“N-Nate, w-whe-re did that-that–”
“Where?”
I pointed towards the apple green ball beside the door, “That, t-that ball.”
“What ball?”
My hair stiffened a lot more at his question. What kind of prank is this? He’s looking at what I’m pointing but he can’t see it?
“You-you can’t s-see it?” I questioned him. He just raised his brow at me. When I gazed back at the ball, my heart might have jumped far away from me. The ball was missing.
I quickly run away from the building. I felt like I would die especially when the air flowing around me became stronger. I didn’t know why I look back again at the building –but aaahhhh! The ball was bouncing again!
“N-Nate, ca-can you see it?” I grip his arm and pointed at the ball.
“Where?”
What is this, is he blind? Why can’t he see it?
“The ball, there, that ball, it’s bouncing alone!”
He messed up my hair and smiled, “It’s just your imagination. Stop watching horror films already. You’re starting to believe them, eh.”
I was still nervous. He put his arm around me and I glanced at our hands. Wait? Where are the paint cans that we were holding? When I glanced back at the T.L.E room, my hair began to stand up again.
I saw a boy. Waving his hand.... While holding that ball.
I got so scared that I screamed! When I look back in front of me, I look at all our surrounding. We were inside the gym. Sitting in a circle and we were eating?
“Did you know...”
Almost instantly, we all looked at Sara, our classmate.
“We have someone else who’s here?”
I shivered because she’s looking at me.
“Ianne, he’s behind you.”
I tightly grip Nate’s arm as I closed my eyes. I don’t want this. I’m getting scared!
“Hey, don’t get scared,” I heard Nate scolding me, “There isn’t anyone behind.”
“He’s not a human. He’s now just a spirit that has been roaming around.”
“Hey, be-”
“John Michael Cruz Jr.” I opened my eyes and look at Sara. Michael? Cruz? Sir Mike? “He’s not our teacher; he’s the child of Sir.”
“Child? Isn’t Sir a student-teacher? He doesn’t have a spouse.” Francis said.
“He’s the child of Sir Michael. Five years old, died exactly in this school. At the T.L.E. room.”
I trembled at what she said. Aaahhh, I don’t want this! Stop this!
“Last year, eleven of the night, Sir Mike was still working at the faculty.”
Stop it po [6], please!
“Wait, wasn’t it just this year–”
“He was with his son but John roamed around the T.L.E room. The guard didn’t know, a robber got in. And they only saw John’s bloody body with a lot of stabs at his body.”
Please, stop it po [7]! This would be the death of mine!
“It was said in the news that John was playing with a ball but it wasn’t found when they investigated.”
“Ball?”
“A green ball.” Sara said.
My heart stops pounding.
“And Ianne, he needs you.”
The wind blew strongly and coldly behind me. When I turned back, I wasn’t thinking properly anymore.
“Please help.”
***
Help? Why me? Why am I in front of Sir Mike’s house just to help John? This is so messed up.
Even though I was scared, I knocked at the door of Sir’s house while I was still wondering how I got here.
“Who is it?”
I shivered when I heard Sir’s voice. When the door opened, I know there was something wrong.
“Oh, Ianne –get in.”
Every step I take, I can feel nervousness getting in me. He let me sit and gave me a juice.
“What is it you need to ask that you’re here early in the morning?”
Wait, he knows that I have something to ask?
“Uhm, Sir, do you have a spouse?”
He looked at me intently that I got more scared.
“Ah, you don’t need to answer it, I’ll be leaving.” I was about to stand up to leave but I stopped when I heard what he said.
“I have. She died. Last year.” Sir’s face saddened.
“I’m sorry, Sir.” I said bending my head down.
He gave me a smile and he let me sit again at the sofa.
“D-do... Do you have a child po [8]?”
I noticed that he sneered, “I have, and he was my junior. I was the senior. But he died, last year too.”
So what Sara said is true?
“S-sorry, Sir, tw–”
“Don’t be sorry, I also wanted it.”
I shivered immediately when I heard that, “What are-”
“I killed him.” He said deeply.
My beautiful eyes widened in fear.
“He’s the reason why my beloved wife died. If it wasn’t because of his stupid ball that my wife tried to reach...”
I stood up when he shouted.
“...The one I loved the most wouldn’t have died!”
“S-sir...”
“An exchange of a life is also life that’s why I took his life in exchange for the life of my wife that he took!”
Every hair in my body that could stand up had already stood up when Sir laughed.
He looked at me and I was already confused because his tears were falling, “There wasn’t any robbery that night, I was the only one who said it was a robbery so I can get my hands clean. I was really the one who killed that child; I burned it along with his stupid ball. That ball.” Sir must have gone mad because he was grabbing his own hair.
I walk away step by step until I felt that it was only the wall behind me, “Uhm, Thanks po [9] for the info!” I nervously said.
“What info are you saying?” Sir stared intently at me. The hole in his nose also gotten bigger, so scary! “Now that you know everything, you can’t leave my house still able to move, right?”
“I won’t move then, Sir.” I pleaded.
My mouth was wide open when he took out a knife behind him. Wow. His a magician! Okay, just kidding. You’re going to die, Ianne. Yet you can still joke around.
“S-sir, please don’t! I won’t say it! Promise po [10], this will be just a secret between us!”
“What are you, getting lucky?”
“Am I not po [11]?” I asked but he just laughed. I was about to run when he grasp my arm.
“You’ll die!” Sir charged at me as he stabs me in my knee.
“Ahhh!”
I stared at my knee that was bleeding so much. I lay down because of the lots of pain I’m feeling. I tried to get far away even if it was getting hard for me.
Is this my end? Am I going to die? Am I going to be a ghost? Not now! I’m still young! Can’t it be tomorrow!
I kick and kick anywhere as I try to hit Sir, even if I felt so much pain in my knee. I was getting away but he always comes near. I’m getting weak, I can’t take it....
***
I woke up standing in front of a grave. I was holding an apple green ball. When I look at the grave, I shivered at what I read. John Michael Cruz Jr. I didn’t know how I got here but I put down the ball.
When the wind had gotten stronger, I heard a voice of a kid that whispered in my ears, “Thank you po [12].”
I smiled but I stood frozen when someone put their arm around my shoulder. When I looked back, I would want to get a heart attack right at this moment.
“S-sir.”
He smiled crazily at me as he gripped my arm tightly. I felt the sharp thing that he stabs in my neck.
“Goodbye, Ms. Santos.”
“aaahhhh!” I shouted.
“Don’t forget your assignment.” He softly whispered.
You’ll already kill me, Sir, yet you’ll still remind me of my assignment?
[1] Philippines’ educational system started k-12 just this 2016 and this story was made before that, in other words this story follows the old system where: nursery (1 year not needed) -> kindergarten (2 years) -> grade school (6) -> high school (4) -> college. This is an important note as you’ll realize that they have four years in high school and after that they’ll graduate and are somewhat REQUIRED to go to college, so the III in the section sign signifies they’re third year in high school.
Another thing about the system is that most school divides their students by their grades –in other words by how smart they are. They don’t have each student having different schedules but instead have them group into a class by their grades then have different schedule for each class/section. In this case, their class/section name is Obedience. Is this the first/pilot class with all the smart kids, you ask? No, this is not the first class.
[2] [5] Ate – older sister.
[3] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] Po – sign of politeness.
[4] Pesos – currency used in The Philippines; as of 2017, 100 Pesos is like 2 US Dollar; take not that each country has different value and although this may look nothing for you but for some this is a lot already.
I never know that it feels nice to love and be loved. Wow, I’m so corny. Since when did I become corny? In the beginning, I would hate it but now, I might be the corniest person in the whole world. I feel like I’m super inspired, that even in my studies; I can answer and finish all my exams so fast. It’s so great to study!
Just kidding.
It’s not great to study.
I stared at Sir Michael as he teach but I can’t understand anything he says anymore that’s why I’m now just counting how many pimple he has so I won’t get drowsy. I was in my ten when I yawned and my eyes were beginning to get heavy.
***
Our section, III-Obedience [1] was tasked to stay in the gym to fix the Halloween party in school. We can’t say no as our grades for T.L.E (Technology and Livelihood Education) would be this.
I was with Nate because he can’t be split away from me. Super clingy boyfriend. I can’t do anything with it because his sick was can’t-resist-the-cuteness-of-Ianne sick.
We were ordered by our class president, Francis to buy some paste. Eh, since Nate and I were both dupe, we agreed.
When we arrived at a shop that was like a bookstore, I noticed something immediately: a woman was guarding, standing, and she was chewing and smiling when she saw Nate.
What kind of seducing is this I’m seeing?
She went to us –err, it was only Nate that she came forward, “Hi. What do you need, Handsome?”
“Ate [2], 10 glues po [3], I and my boyfriend will buy it.” I answered with a smile as I grasps Nate’s arm.
Ate gave me a grimaced but gave Nate a big smile, “You need glue, Handsome?” She ignored me. How dare her.
Nate nodded.
“Just wait, ah.”
My eyes were still slanted as we follow Ate to the counter. I raised my brow at her. It was so high that it had already reached the rooftop of their store.
She took a box that was filled with glue bottles, “How much?” Nate asked.
“It’s 35 each but since you’re handsome, I’ll sell this box for 350. It has 10 glues.”
35? Times (multiply by) 10? I’m not great at math but isn’t it still 350 ah?
Nate chuckled at what Ate said and took out 351 Pesos [4], “Here, Ate. 351 Pesos. Keep the change.”
Ate laughed. It was so hard that she even slap Nate in the arm, multiple times. Wow, are they close? Since when? “You’re so funny.”
Eh, if I make her face funny, ha?
“Bye, Handsome.”
“Wa-” I was about to talk rudely at her when Nate covered my mouth. He pulled me outside the shop. Irritated, I removed his hands, “Why did you cover my mouth?”
“What are you doing?” He half-hugged me as he messages my forehead, “Just chill.”
I frowned and would have complained more but we were suddenly in the gym. Wait, how did that happen? We were so fast?
“Ianne, you came right in time.” I glanced at Ate [5] Alie, a senior student that was guiding our class, “Is it okay if you and Nate will get the paints in the T.L.E. room?”
“Ha? Why are you tasking us again? Isn’t it su-” I was about to talk when she walk away already.
“Thank you!”
I didn’t even still agree!
“Let’s go?” Nate pulled me outside the gym. I stared at every each corner of the field, its dark already? Why is it so fast?
Last time, wasn’t it still afternoon?
“Ianne, I’m scared.”
I glanced at Nate. I can’t see his face clearly because it was so dark.
“I’m scared that you’ll suddenly disappear. And you can’t even stay still in one place. Give me your hand.”
I smiled when he hold my hand as we walk. It was already night and all, yet this guy is still cheesy.
After how many years, we were finally in the T.L.E room. It was so dark hence Nate turned on the lights when we entered.
“Ahhhh!”
I turned my back and look outside when I heard a loud shout of a guy. I felt the coldness inside me and started to get nervous. I began to press Nate’s hand.
“Our classmate might have fall,” he said, “let’s do this faster.”
I nodded and grab the paint cans. There was a lot of art stuff that wasn’t being used. They were mostly trash but it was still in the room. While I was getting the supplies, I heard Nate’s loud and deep breath.
“Why are you breathing deeply?” I asked Nate. When he looked at me, he gave me a weird look.
“Breathing deeply? I didn’t, ah.”
I trembled when I heard that deep breath still behind me. When I looked back, there wasn’t any human.
“W-who is it?”
I hastily run out. Nate had also begun to panic. When he closed the lights of the room, I shivered at what I heard.
TOINK TOINK TOINK
It was a ball bouncing.
Before Nate can closed the door, all my hairs in my body stood up because there was a ball that was rolling outside the T.L.E. room.
“N-Nate, w-whe-re did that-that–”
“Where?”
I pointed towards the apple green ball beside the door, “That, t-that ball.”
“What ball?”
My hair stiffened a lot more at his question. What kind of prank is this? He’s looking at what I’m pointing but he can’t see it?
“You-you can’t s-see it?” I questioned him. He just raised his brow at me. When I gazed back at the ball, my heart might have jumped far away from me. The ball was missing.
I quickly run away from the building. I felt like I would die especially when the air flowing around me became stronger. I didn’t know why I look back again at the building –but aaahhhh! The ball was bouncing again!
“N-Nate, ca-can you see it?” I grip his arm and pointed at the ball.
“Where?”
What is this, is he blind? Why can’t he see it?
“The ball, there, that ball, it’s bouncing alone!”
He messed up my hair and smiled, “It’s just your imagination. Stop watching horror films already. You’re starting to believe them, eh.”
I was still nervous. He put his arm around me and I glanced at our hands. Wait? Where are the paint cans that we were holding? When I glanced back at the T.L.E room, my hair began to stand up again.
I saw a boy. Waving his hand.... While holding that ball.
I got so scared that I screamed! When I look back in front of me, I look at all our surrounding. We were inside the gym. Sitting in a circle and we were eating?
“Did you know...”
Almost instantly, we all looked at Sara, our classmate.
“We have someone else who’s here?”
I shivered because she’s looking at me.
“Ianne, he’s behind you.”
I tightly grip Nate’s arm as I closed my eyes. I don’t want this. I’m getting scared!
“Hey, don’t get scared,” I heard Nate scolding me, “There isn’t anyone behind.”
“He’s not a human. He’s now just a spirit that has been roaming around.”
“Hey, be-”
“John Michael Cruz Jr.” I opened my eyes and look at Sara. Michael? Cruz? Sir Mike? “He’s not our teacher; he’s the child of Sir.”
“Child? Isn’t Sir a student-teacher? He doesn’t have a spouse.” Francis said.
“He’s the child of Sir Michael. Five years old, died exactly in this school. At the T.L.E. room.”
I trembled at what she said. Aaahhh, I don’t want this! Stop this!
“Last year, eleven of the night, Sir Mike was still working at the faculty.”
Stop it po [6], please!
“Wait, wasn’t it just this year–”
“He was with his son but John roamed around the T.L.E room. The guard didn’t know, a robber got in. And they only saw John’s bloody body with a lot of stabs at his body.”
Please, stop it po [7]! This would be the death of mine!
“It was said in the news that John was playing with a ball but it wasn’t found when they investigated.”
“Ball?”
“A green ball.” Sara said.
My heart stops pounding.
“And Ianne, he needs you.”
The wind blew strongly and coldly behind me. When I turned back, I wasn’t thinking properly anymore.
“Please help.”
***
Help? Why me? Why am I in front of Sir Mike’s house just to help John? This is so messed up.
Even though I was scared, I knocked at the door of Sir’s house while I was still wondering how I got here.
“Who is it?”
I shivered when I heard Sir’s voice. When the door opened, I know there was something wrong.
“Oh, Ianne –get in.”
Every step I take, I can feel nervousness getting in me. He let me sit and gave me a juice.
“What is it you need to ask that you’re here early in the morning?”
Wait, he knows that I have something to ask?
“Uhm, Sir, do you have a spouse?”
He looked at me intently that I got more scared.
“Ah, you don’t need to answer it, I’ll be leaving.” I was about to stand up to leave but I stopped when I heard what he said.
“I have. She died. Last year.” Sir’s face saddened.
“I’m sorry, Sir.” I said bending my head down.
He gave me a smile and he let me sit again at the sofa.
“D-do... Do you have a child po [8]?”
I noticed that he sneered, “I have, and he was my junior. I was the senior. But he died, last year too.”
So what Sara said is true?
“S-sorry, Sir, tw–”
“Don’t be sorry, I also wanted it.”
I shivered immediately when I heard that, “What are-”
“I killed him.” He said deeply.
My beautiful eyes widened in fear.
“He’s the reason why my beloved wife died. If it wasn’t because of his stupid ball that my wife tried to reach...”
I stood up when he shouted.
“...The one I loved the most wouldn’t have died!”
“S-sir...”
“An exchange of a life is also life that’s why I took his life in exchange for the life of my wife that he took!”
Every hair in my body that could stand up had already stood up when Sir laughed.
He looked at me and I was already confused because his tears were falling, “There wasn’t any robbery that night, I was the only one who said it was a robbery so I can get my hands clean. I was really the one who killed that child; I burned it along with his stupid ball. That ball.” Sir must have gone mad because he was grabbing his own hair.
I walk away step by step until I felt that it was only the wall behind me, “Uhm, Thanks po [9] for the info!” I nervously said.
“What info are you saying?” Sir stared intently at me. The hole in his nose also gotten bigger, so scary! “Now that you know everything, you can’t leave my house still able to move, right?”
“I won’t move then, Sir.” I pleaded.
My mouth was wide open when he took out a knife behind him. Wow. His a magician! Okay, just kidding. You’re going to die, Ianne. Yet you can still joke around.
“S-sir, please don’t! I won’t say it! Promise po [10], this will be just a secret between us!”
“What are you, getting lucky?”
“Am I not po [11]?” I asked but he just laughed. I was about to run when he grasp my arm.
“You’ll die!” Sir charged at me as he stabs me in my knee.
“Ahhh!”
I stared at my knee that was bleeding so much. I lay down because of the lots of pain I’m feeling. I tried to get far away even if it was getting hard for me.
Is this my end? Am I going to die? Am I going to be a ghost? Not now! I’m still young! Can’t it be tomorrow!
I kick and kick anywhere as I try to hit Sir, even if I felt so much pain in my knee. I was getting away but he always comes near. I’m getting weak, I can’t take it....
***
I woke up standing in front of a grave. I was holding an apple green ball. When I look at the grave, I shivered at what I read. John Michael Cruz Jr. I didn’t know how I got here but I put down the ball.
When the wind had gotten stronger, I heard a voice of a kid that whispered in my ears, “Thank you po [12].”
I smiled but I stood frozen when someone put their arm around my shoulder. When I looked back, I would want to get a heart attack right at this moment.
“S-sir.”
He smiled crazily at me as he gripped my arm tightly. I felt the sharp thing that he stabs in my neck.
“Goodbye, Ms. Santos.”
“aaahhhh!” I shouted.
“Don’t forget your assignment.” He softly whispered.
You’ll already kill me, Sir, yet you’ll still remind me of my assignment?
[1] Philippines’ educational system started k-12 just this 2016 and this story was made before that, in other words this story follows the old system where: nursery (1 year not needed) -> kindergarten (2 years) -> grade school (6) -> high school (4) -> college. This is an important note as you’ll realize that they have four years in high school and after that they’ll graduate and are somewhat REQUIRED to go to college, so the III in the section sign signifies they’re third year in high school.
Another thing about the system is that most school divides their students by their grades –in other words by how smart they are. They don’t have each student having different schedules but instead have them group into a class by their grades then have different schedule for each class/section. In this case, their class/section name is Obedience. Is this the first/pilot class with all the smart kids, you ask? No, this is not the first class.
[2] [5] Ate – older sister.
[3] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] Po – sign of politeness.
[4] Pesos – currency used in The Philippines; as of 2017, 100 Pesos is like 2 US Dollar; take not that each country has different value and although this may look nothing for you but for some this is a lot already.
