The campus could really use more lighting, it is 11:40 pm and the only thing lighting the road are these lamps emitting orange shallow light with a few cars and jeepneys blinking their light but they went by so fast, they might as well not be there. Beyond the light are faded images of darkness and the once so large campus feels small right now. Noises of crickets are the only companion I have now and the further I lead myself to darkness, the more the cold wind embraces and my shoulders get heavier. Everything feels within and outside my reach. I see a few groups of people walking by who do not share my feelings since they are accompanied by friends, to which I am lacking as of the moment. Every step on the gravel is heard and the beating of my heart is intense. Cold sweat circling my forehead and I do not dare myself to look behind.
Walking forward to the night I can see in my peripheral vision that I have less and less people with me. The faint lights of closed convenience stores, restaurants and the moon at least keeps me company. I could not find a single jeepney that I could ride directly at home. There is one that offered me a ride but it only goes halfway and I would not risk going halfway at this hour. The houses around me are not helping as rather than being comforted by the lights of their front porch, the screeches, conversation and laughter sends shivers down my spine and raises the hair on my back. Progressively walking, my backpack is getting heavier as I lose hope on getting a ride home.
I took a deep breath from the nose and a big exhale from my mouth, hoping to calm my racing heart. I looked around and with twitch of my eye is another beat added to my heartbeat. Fingers of mine are shaking as I gasp for air looking for something or someone.
Looking around I could find no jeepneys around a source of lighting that would alleviate my beating heart.
It skipped a beat.
A lamp post a few paces away is emitting great white light by the Emily’s cafeteria, which also conveniently is a jeepney stop since jeepneys around here don’t stop at random spots. It is understandably bright as it is an intersection of two subdivisions, where accidents can occur and according to rumors they do occur.
I said a few paces but it is again, quite far but it is the best shot I have rather than walking blindly. I skipped and hopped a bit hoping to calm myself when a lady passes over me and was walking at a pace faster than mine.
My first issue was “Is that a ghost or white lady?” but upon seeing her hair was short with curly tips I figured out she’s a real person as there are no ghost curlers, dunno I’m not sure either. Another thing is that no one is walking in my direction and all the people are going the opposite of mine to go home so I thought this lady might have heard a jeepney and is rushing to it, smart.
My heart calmed down a bit but I raced again when I tried to walk the pace of the lady before me. The strides I make are larger but deliberate while hers are small strides but quick, meaning I have to catch up.
Holding on my backpack, I was struggling to keep up the pace with her despite the wind smashing my direction. It was really dark but her neon keychain is what I’m looking after. Another thing, I get the sense that she is looking over her shoulder, possibly she’s afraid of ghosts as well. I feel like she can’t see me, it is a bad day to wear all black. Andre told me it was slimming but why did I do that today?
Her pace was faster and as I closed the gap between us I could hear faint panting and her body being disoriented as she walked. I could also get a sense of losing breath as her pace is getting faster by the second.
“Tsk”
I heard that faintly from her as she clutched her bag and made a full fledged run. She grabbed her backpack front , making me lose sight of her neon keychain, and ran as fast as she could.
“maybe the jeepney is closing in faster” I thought to myself in which I felt like a mistake at that point
As I dash and grab my backpack in front of me I get an epiphany as if my ancestors talked to me or something.
“Oh, she’s running away from me”
I said while I made a full stop. Only that I didn’t make a full stop and just made a greater chase. I walked larger strides hoping to catch up with her and screamed
“Wait, I’m not a criminal!” I said with my long hair down, deep and heavy panting voice and my right hand reaching out to her.
“Eeeek!” as she grabbed the light post, placed keys between her fingers and prepared to attack me.
The first thing I did when I closed the gap between us is I got down on my knees and covered my head with my backpack. A strong sharp blow was felt and due to my exhaustion, I tripped down a bit. This girl is not messing around. Another consecutive blow stronger than the first followed and I heard a rip on my backpack since her keys managed to claw them.
“Calm down!” I screamed and then it occurred to me that when is the time where someone said calm down and the person actually calmed down. Well if there is one, then this is not one of those moments.
By the time she delivered her 3rd blow, I exposed my face and asked her to stop. She did, but not after she scratched my arm.
I got a look at her, her eyes are dilated, hair is messy and her arms are trembling. Her backpack was to serve as her shield but she is prepared to strike at a moment's notice. So I had to pick my word wisely:
“Hi, you okay?”
Those are poor choices of words. Elevating her backpack to cover her face, she grabbed her phone and was prepared to dial emergency services. I had to make my move.
I raised my hand, dropping my backpack to show her that I am not a threat. Peeking through the handle, she let her guard down as I do with mine but my sweat is cold and rushing as she could stab me when she wants to.
Finally, she wore her backpack and kept her phone inside her pocket but held, albeit shaking, tightly to her keys.
“Ben” I said reaching out my hand, visibly shaking
She just nodded and hid her face from me.
The silence was deafening, but luckily it did not last long as a jeepney came and we rode it together. There were a few passengers as well so the ride was not awkward in any sense. We avoided locking eyes and she got down before I did.
“I hope I never meet her again” I said to myself
And boy, I was wrong.
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