Chapter 24
Arushi’s Room, 10:30 PM
I was lying on my bed, staring at the ceiling, still bothered by that damn dream.
It felt too real—the faceless girl, the whispers, the knock—pero hanggang ngayon, hindi ko pa rin mawari kung bakit parang may epekto pa rin siya sa akin.
I shook my head and grabbed my phone.
Maybe I just needed a distraction.
I opened Instagram and immediately went to Professor Haneul’s account.
Damn.
Lagi ko nalang ginagawa ‘to.
Her profile picture was still the same—a simple yet elegant shot of her wearing a white blouse, slightly smirking at the camera.
I scrolled down, looking at her recent posts.
A photo of her in a lecture hall.
A candid shot of her reading a book.
One picture where she was in a café, sipping coffee.
Shit.
Even in pictures, ang lakas ng dating niya.
I was about to stalk further when suddenly—
A message popped up.
Dalawa.
One from Mommy Auburn.
One from our group chat.
I clicked Mommy Auburn’s message first.
> Mommy Auburn:
"Arushi, how’s the both of you? Your Auntie Amber? Everything is alright there?
Mommy misses you. Take care, okay? When I get home, I have something for you."
I couldn’t help but smile.
Kahit nasa ibang bansa, hindi niya pa rin nakakalimutan kaming dalawa ni Citrine.
I quickly replied.
> Me:
"Everything’s okay here, Mom. Miss you too. I think Mama Primo is giving you a headache there—just joking! Haha. Keep safe, the both of you. Love you!"
After sending my reply, I switched to the group chat.
As expected—walang kwenta usapan.
Raegan, Min-Jae, and Forest were talking nonsense again about girls and their recent hook-ups.
> Raegan: "Bro, I swear, this girl last night? Grabe. Akala ko angel, yun pala demonyo sa kama."
Forest: "HAHAHAHA! Seryoso? Ikaw na talaga, Rae. Nasa Hall of Fame ka na."
Min-Jae: "Ano na naman ‘tong kalandian niyo? Teka, Arushi, bakit ang tahimik mo? Diba sabi mo dati gusto mong magka-girlfriend?"
Raegan: "Oo nga! Ano na, Arushi? Kailangan mo na talagang maghanap ng jowa."
Forest: "Or baka gusto mo lang talaga si Professor Haneul?"
Min-Jae: "OO NGA! HAHAHAHA!"
I rolled my eyes.
Putangina, eto nanaman sila.
> Me: "Mga gago kayo. Pwede ba akong manahimik nang walang kahulugan?"
Raegan: "Hindi, Arushi. Kasi kilala ka namin."
Forest: "Exactly. Alam naming may tinatago kang feelings dyan. Umamin ka na HAHAHA."
I groaned. Tangina, wala talaga akong kawala.
Before I could even reply, another notification popped up.
1 new message.
Unknown Number.
I froze.
Shit.
I hesitated for a second before opening the message.
> Unknown Number:
"You can’t ignore me, Arushi."
Biglang nawala ang init ng katawan ko.
My fingers tightened around my phone.
What. The. Fuck.
Sino ‘to?
I quickly checked the number—pero wala akong idea kung kanino ‘yon.
I stared at the screen, my heart pounding.
Dahan-dahan akong lumunok.
I wanted to just block the number and pretend I never saw the message...
But something in my gut told me—
This wasn’t just a random prank.
Something was wrong.
__
Nakatingin pa rin ako sa phone ko, staring at that unknown message.
> Unknown Number: "You can’t ignore me, Arushi."
Ano ‘to? Prank? Wrong send?
Pero kahit anong gawin kong rationalization, something inside me was telling me otherwise.
This wasn’t random.
Hindi ako mapakali. May pakiramdam akong hindi maganda.
But before I could think too much about it, another notification popped up.
This time—
It was from Professor Haneul.
> Professor Haneul:
"It's getting late, Miss Costa. We have training tomorrow, remember that."
I froze.
What the hell?!
Of all people, hindi ko in-expect na si Professor Haneul ang magme-message sa akin.
My heartbeat sped up.
Shit.
I stared at the message, rereading it over and over again as if baka may hidden meaning sa sinasabi niya.
Bakit siya nag-message? Strict siya sa professionalism, diba?
I could already hear Citrine’s voice in my head—
I shook my head and sighed deeply.
Pero tangina, bakit parang may butterflies sa sikmura ko?
I took a deep breath and slowly typed my reply.
> Me: "Yes, Professor. I remember. I'll be there on time."
Pero bago ko pa ma-send, bigla kong binura.
Shit. Ang stiff ng tunog.
I retyped it.
> Me: "Noted, Professor. I'll be there."
I stared at it again.
Putangina, mas stiff pa rin.
Bakit ang hirap mag-compose ng message kay Professor Haneul?!
Sa sobrang inis ko, I just sent a simple one.
> Me: "Got it, Prof."
SEND.
I sighed.
Okay. Done.
Wala nang bawian.
I tossed my phone on the bed and closed my eyes.
Pero tangina, hindi ako makatulog.
My mind was a mess.
Dalawang bagay lang ang iniisip ko ngayon—
Yung weird na message from that unknown number…
At yung biglaang message ni Professor Haneul.
What the hell is going on with my life?
__
Malamig ang hangin.
Hindi ko alam kung gising pa ako o nananaginip na.
Parang nasa ibang lugar ako. A garden full of grass.
Ang damo ay malago at berde, sumasayaw sa ihip ng malamig na hangin. Tila ba may musika sa bawat paggalaw nito.
Tumingin ako sa paligid.
Tahimik.
Masyadong tahimik.
Then, I saw her.
The faceless girl.
Nakatayo siya sa gitna ng hardin, nakatalikod sa akin.
Ang mahaba niyang buhok ay sumasayaw sa hangin, parang may sariling buhay.
I couldn’t move.
May kung anong hindi maipaliwanag na takot at curiosity ang bumalot sa akin.
Pero bago ko pa ma-analyze ang nararamdaman ko—
She moved.
Dahan-dahan siyang lumakad papalapit.
Each step she took, the wind got colder.
Shit.
I tried to back away, pero parang may invisible force na pumipigil sa akin.
She stopped right in front of me.
Her presence was overwhelming.
Kahit wala siyang mukha, I could feel her staring.
Then, she leaned in.
So close.
I felt her breath against my ear.
Then, she whispered.
Pero…
Walang tunog.
Alam kong may sinasabi siya.
Pero walang lumalabas na salita.
Parang… muted.
I tried to focus.
Ano yung sinasabi niya?!
Nagpumilit akong intindihin, pero—
"Arushi!"
Nagising ako bigla.
Hinihingal.
Pawis na pawis.
Shit.
Panaginip na naman.
Pero this time… bakit mas intense?
And what the hell was she whispering?!
I grabbed my phone.
3:26 AM.
Tangina.
I ran my hands through my hair and sighed deeply.
I needed to calm down.
Pero paano kung… may ibig sabihin yung panaginip na ‘yon?
I closed my eyes again.
Pero kahit anong pilit kong bumalik sa tulog, that faceless girl kept haunting me.
__
Monday, 5:30 AM
Shit.
Napatingin ako sa orasan.
5:30 AM.
Biglang sumiksik sa utak ko ang isang importanteng bagay—
I HAVE TRAINING WITH PROFESSOR HANEUL AT 6 AM!
Mabilis akong tumayo at tumakbo papunta sa banyo.
Habang binubuksan ko ang shower, ramdam ko ang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko.
This is bad.
Late na ‘ko!
Ang malamig na tubig ay bumagsak sa balat ko, pero hindi nito napawi ang kaba sa dibdib ko.
I NEED TO GET TO THE UNIVERSITY ASAP!
Mabilis akong nag-shampoo, sinabon ang katawan, at nagbanlaw na parang may humahabol sa akin.
Pagkatapos ng ilang minuto, tinapos ko ang shower at agad na nagpunas.
Damn, bakit ang bilis ng oras?!
Dali-dali akong nagbihis ng university uniform ko—white polo, black slacks, at blazer.
Habang nag-aayos ng buhok, napansin kong nag-vibrate ang phone ko.
Nag-light up ang screen.
I grabbed it from the table and checked the notification.
One new message.
From: Professor Haneul.
"I'm here outside. I'm picking you up. Make it faster, Miss Costa."
WHAT?!
Nagising bigla lahat ng diwa ko.
Pinupulot ko pa lang ang bag ko, pero ang utak ko ay nasa overdrive mode na.
Si Professor Haneul nandito na?!
Bakit siya pumunta dito?!
Does she always do this sa ibang students niya? Or am I just… different?
Shit.
Hindi ko alam kung ano ang mas dapat kong ikabahala—ang pagiging late sa training o ang biglaang pagsundo ni Professor Haneul sa akin.
Either way—I'm doomed.
I grabbed my things and bolted out of my room.
Pagdating ko sa sala, naabutan ko si Citrine na mukhang kagigising lang.
Naka-tank top lang siya at sweatpants, mukhang wala pang balak bumangon nang maayos.
Napakunot ang noo niya nang makita ako.
I ignored her and nagmadali akong lumabas ng pinto.
Pagdating ko sa driveway—
There she was.
Nakatayo si Professor Haneul, nakasandal sa itim niyang luxury car.
Her usual serious and intimidating aura was in full display.
She was wearing a black fitted blazer, matching trousers, and her signature cold expression.
Her sharp eyes landed on me the moment I stepped outside.