I Told You So

Nana and I, together with my relatives went to Baguio for two weeks vacation. We arrived there at 4 am; the place is so cold that makes our breath like a smoke coming out from our mouth and nose.

We rented a house. It’s fully furnished, and you can see the entire place of Baguio when you look outside the terrace of the master’s bedroom and every room is a blast! The living room is so lighted because it has a huge glass window, and from this room, you can see the garden that is full of flowers - particularly orchids. The kitchen is great it’s wide and very well ventilated because of larger windows; it has also lot of utensils. In short, what ever you need, just turn around and you will have it.

During our stay, we met Jin who was seventeen years old at that time. She’s the daughter of the caretaker of the said house that we rented; their house is nearby, so whenever the ‘elders’ need someone to accompany us, they call her. She’s in charge of us whenever the elders are gone for shopping or night out. Nana and I were both eight years old that time.

If ever the elders are gone, Jin, Nana and I usually just hang around in the living room and talk. If we’re bored, we’ll rush to the kitchen to find something to eat. If we’re done preparing the food, we’ll go to master’s bedroom to have a good view of the entire city of Baguio, while munching our made snacks.

Suddenly, while having a cool time at the terrace, Jin warned us about the house that we are staying.
“H’wag kayong gagala-gala sa buong bahay lalo na ‘pag alas-onse na ng gabi.” She said.
I throw a puzzled look to Jin.
“Bakit, may nagmumulto ba?” Nana curiously asked.
Jin just nodded. On the other hand, I didn’t pay much attention to what Jin said a while ago, and Jin knew it. In nine days of staying there, I didn’t feel any paranormal experiences. Perhaps, I usually go to bed early.
“H’wag ka naman ganyan.” Nana joked.
“Totoo,” Jin testified. “Basta, ‘wag n’yo akong sisihin kapag may na-encounter kayo.”
Being the eldest, Jin can make Nana get scared easier.
I changed the topic, because I no longer have interest on it. “Sino gusto gumawa ng strawberry jam?” I said. We went down and didn’t bother to open up about Jin’s warning.

The digital clock showed 10:56 pm; I was able to see what time is it, because I was awakened by this call – call of nature. I get up from my bed and went out of the room. I was so sleepy that time, but I have to get up and find the CR that is next to my room that I’m staying, all alone. I reached the CR and step inside. I did my business and washed my hands. While doing it, I purposely looked around. I don’t know why I did that, but I just did. It’s like I am waiting for something, though there’s no reason to stay there. Then suddenly, the room felt chilly.
Cold sweat begun to form on my forehead as I look myself on the mirror; tingling feeling went down to my spine. Temperature went lower than the usual. I knew to myself that there is ‘something’ inside that room. I find the door and turn the knob, and luckily, I managed to get out.
I knew to myself that I’m scared that time, but there is something on me that made me stick my ears to the comfort room door. I listened very carefully to think that I might hear a heavy breathing or mourns, but I didn’t. What I heard made my heart skipped for two seconds – I heard a voice. It’s a voice of a lady. She’s singing some kind of an Asian song, must be a Japanese one. I even noticed the way she delivers the melody, it was so fascinating and I was amazed, but she’s singing an old one – very old one, it might be 1900’s age. I knew all about this, because my dad and mom have this collection of old Japanese songs. They got this when they work abroad, particularly in Japan.
As I listened to the voice, it’s getting louder and louder. I have this feeling that it’s getting nearer to the door. I stepped back and ran to my room. I never did look back; I might see someone come out there.

Morning came. Nana noticed my mood swings that morning; she knows that I’m disturbed.
“Ano’ng nangyari sa’yo?” Nana asked me, as she put a mouthful of rice in her mouth.
I looked straight to her eyes, frightened. “You know”, I finally spoke up. “Something happen last night.” I said.
Nana put down her spoon and listened intently.
“You see, I woke up last night. Four minutes before eleven, may narinig ako sa banyo.”
“Ano narinig mo? Pa’no ka napunta sa banyo? Ano ginawa mo dun?” She asked like I’m driving her crazy.
“Nag-CR ako, then nung natapos na ako sa ginawa ko du’n, lumabas ako. Lumabas ako, kasi may pakiramdam ako na hindi ako nag-iisa that time. Tapos, nung nakalabas na ako, may narinig akong kumakanta. Japanese old song s’ya, alam kong luma na ‘yun, kasi ibang iba yung kanta n’ya.” I narrated.
“Loka! Baka naman may nagpapatugtog lang sa katabing bahay.” She defended.
“May katabi ba tayong bahay?!” I annoyingly asked. “Tsaka, pa’no mo i-eexplain ang palakas na palakas na boses n’ya, like she was getting near to that door!”
Nana kept her mouth shut. She knew that I’m disturbed and annoyed.

Jin came with a smile on her face, but when she saw my face that was obviously drained with blood, that smile faded away.
“Ano’ng nangyari d’yan?” She curiously asked Nana.
“May narinig daw s’ya kagabi, nakanta” Nana replied.
“Yan, pasaway ka. Sabi ko sa inyo wag kayong gagala-gala sa buong bahay ‘pag gabi.” She reminded again her warnings.
“Naiihi na kasi ako no’n” I replied.

“Hindi n’yo ba alam na ang unang tumira dito ay isang pamilya na hapon?” She said, “Lolo ko ang naging katu-katulong nila, at ayon sa kwento n’ya, may nag-iisang anak silang babae. Madalas din daw n’yang marinig na nakanta yung anak tuwing gabi, lalo na pag-alas onse. Kasi sa mga oras na yun, dun lang s’ya nagiging malaya. Yan ang kwento sa akin ng lolo ko.”
She paused for a while and told us more of the story. “Madalas daw pagbuntungan ng galit yung anak nila, dahil yung babae, hiniwalayan yung lalake, umalis na lang bigla. Dahil dun, nagpakamatay yung anak sa kwarto n’ya.” She narrated.
“Eh bakit sa banyo s’ya nagparamdam?” I asked.
“Ang alam ko, yung kwarto mo at yung banyo na yan, magkadugtong dati, tapos hinati lang.” She said, remembering all the memories that her late Lolo told her. “Yan yung banyo na sana kadugtong ng kwarto mo.”
Due to Jin’s revelation, it gave me goosebumps, and again the tingling sensation freak out my spine. I was thinking that I’m not safe on the room that I’m staying.

That night, I stayed on Nana’s room. I slept with her and hugged her while I’m sleeping. I covered my face with the blanket and left a little hole where I can breathe.