Evil Celestina                                     by:Mayren Grace Bandoles

It had been more than a year ago when we moved here in province, it also happened that we had to leave the city because we could no longer pay our bill in the house we rented.

While walking on the side of the road, I couldn’t stop looking back.

Here in my mom’s hometown, I know very few people so I’m not used to of walking here  alone.

Celestina, she’s the  first person I met here. Well, her behavior is okay, but my mom always told me to ‘be careful with that girl’. Every time I remember what my mom used to say, I couldn’t stop such a jerky smile.

“Jia!” I turned around and saw Celestina! “Uhm, hi. Where had you been?”

I asked and looked at the katana she was carrying. I ignored it, as we walked together. Something seems wrong—

People are looking at us, it’s giving me a hard time to ignore this situation.

” Jia, hey. People here are really gossipy.”

I swallowed, I didn’t know that she can notice it too. I really doubt about you……

” Jia, where are you from?! Come with me, let’s go shopping!” I was shocked by Aunt Emelyn’s cry.

“I’m sorry,” I said and brought the bag. I looked at Celestina, her gaze was sharp, I just looked away.

“I’m nervous about you kid,” Aunt Emelyn said and pinch my ears.

“Ouch, it hurts aunty.”

“Listen. Don’t be complacent with what Celestina is showing you. It’s hard to divert that conversation,” she whispered to me.

I was stunned.

” Is that so? Uhmmm, when people looked at us?”

“You better be careful, Jia. This is a province, not Manila.”

******

“Waahh!!” I was shocked by that cry. What’s happening? I got up from my bed.

I was stunned when I saw the blood drops, going to the living room. I want to scream but I can’t! My mom and Aunt Emelyn were lying down on the floor, I immediately approached them. I was shaking.

” Aunt?” I cried, I was so scared.

“Jia, go away, please. Ta—ke care of yourself—”

“But! Aunt, mom…” I cried and heard the sound of steel being pulled—

“Uh—mm, leave. Yu—o sho—uld go Ji-a”.

“Celestina?” I ran out of the house when I saw him coming from the kitchen and pulling an ax.

I feel so hurt, I don’t know of how I can help my family. I began to cry, mom! Auntie! I can’t lose you…. I was crying as I ran to the jeep parking lot, but what I saw made my knees tremble. A pile of dead people, is this the issue of Celestina? Did she do it all? But how can a girl my age do that?!

“Jia.”

” Wahh! ” I screamed when I heard his scary voice.

” Jia, I’ll finish you! Jia, I will kill you!” I ran into nothingness.

“Jia!”
“Jia!”
“Jia!”

“Celestina! Stop it!” I shouted even though I couldn’t see him.
“Stop? Why, did you feel sorry for us? For my brother?!”

I jumped….
Mom? Yes, you’re the one I should be asking, not Celestina. Do you really have anything to do with this?

Sleep well, Jia,” he said with a smile and patted me on the head.

But before I lost consciousness, I saw another person. Who is he—

I woke up because of the dazzling light, the white ceiling immediately appeared in my eyes. I immediately got up from the shock. The last thing I remembered was that Celestina was going to kill me. Why am I here?

I left the room and realized I was in another house, I thought I was in the hospital.

“She’s awake,” said an old woman behind me. I gasped in surprise.

She told me everything that had happened.

“You have to leave this province, don’t wait for your relatives. You can’t go back to that place. You will be in chaos because of the restless soul of the young lady Celestina.”

“But—”

“They are all with Celestina, hija.”
I just followed the old man’s instructions and stayed away from that place. I lived a peaceful life alone in the city with other normal and trouble-free residents. But even though I was far away from the disaster, the strange memories of the past still remained.

150 compilation by: Mayren Grace Bandoles

“Where are you?” I asked my boyfriend on the cellphone.
“I’m already in the US, why?” silly, I wish everyone could be in US.

I was about to hang up when I saw someone joking to each other. Ohhh, it’s good to throw a bomb over them, let’s go. When I got close, just —wait the man seemed familiar….

I intended to pass in front of them, and I was very surprised to see that it was my boyfriend! You sh*t!
“Lester?!” I’m really in d*vil mode, damn.
“B-babe?” he stammered.
“Yes, it’s me!” I looked at his partner, he’s gay?!

“Oh, Lhester? You already had a girl—,” asked the gay man who I immediately slapped.
“Lhester, she slapped my—,” another one for you!

“Shut up, get lost!”

“Babe—”
“You’re another one, Lhester, shut up!”

The gay guy was about to leave when I remembered something,” Huy, wait, the 150!”
“But I already gave—”
“No, you must give to the owner too!” Damn, don’t take it easy, gay.

“That 1k,” I said when I saw that he had a lot of money.

“But—”
“Yeah that one, give that to me!”

“Here,” and the gay immediately ran.

I turned to my boyfriend. “Why did you do that, Lexi?”
“Well you know that I love money, right?”

“Come on,” I said and pinched his ear.
“A-oh well, Lexi. Aren’t you going to give me a share?”

I hit him,” What’s wrong, let’s go to Jollibee,” I said and pulled my poor boyfriend.