Episode 3: Storage Room
Carmelia kept pushing me to tell her where Ivan is.
I couldn't help but raise my voice.
Asandra
I TOLD YOU ALREADY, I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING!
Because of my loud voice, people in tge nearby houses stared glaring at us from their windows, telling us to go away.
Carmelia
Tch... Let's talk somewhere else.
Carmelia dragged me out of the neighborhood.
Karina and Tedd were already there. Carmelia had contacted them along the way here.
Karina
What the hell's going on?🤨 Good thing. Tedd and I were at the cafe when you called us.
Carmelia threw me on the ground in front of them.
Tedd
Hey, what's this all about?😦
Carmelia
How can you say you don't know anything?😡
Carmelia
YOU ASK IVAN OUT RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY EYES, YOU BASTARD!
Ah i tried to stand up. Ah my shoulder hurts....
Asandra
Stop making things up!
Asandra
You all remember I was called by Mr. Linton, right?!
Asandra
I went straight home after that!
Carmelia glared at me. I had never seen her eyes like that before.
Carmelia
Are you saying that i'm making things up?!
Carmelia and I glared each other, our foreheads nearly touching each other.
The tense atmosphere was interrupted by Karina's ringtone. From the corner of my eyes, I could see Karina walking towards us.
Karina
....H-hey it's from Ivan.🙁
Carmelia immediately grabbed Karina's phone and took the call.
Carmelia
Ivan?! Where are you? Are you okay?!
Carmelia fell silent listening to Ivan's answer. After that, he immediately ran, leaving us behind.
We followed Carmelia to the school gate.
But Mr. Madahh came out and tried to hold us back.
Mr. Madahh
Hey! What are you guys doing here at night?!
Carmelia didn't stop at all. She kept running to the school's storage room.
Karina, Tedd and I, stucked..
We need to plan how to get out from Mr. Madahh...
Asandra
Tedd you take care of Mr. Madahh.
Asandra
Let him chase you, while me and Karina will go after Carmelia.
That guard managed to catch tedd. Meanwhile, we kept running after Carmelia.
We saw Carmelia trying to bust through the storage room's door. Realizing something was off, we helped Carmelia.
When we managed to get in, we were welcomed with an unsightly view.
Ivan was tied up and has bruises all over his body.
Behind him, there were words written in blood.
The word written is "THIS IS HOW YOU HAVE FUN, RIGHT?!
Karina
This... this incident with ivan is the same as...😨
Karina stepped back in fear.
I stared Karina. Anger bubbled up inside of me as I figured out something.
Asandra
😡So you all really...
Karina was flustered. She kept on glancing at Carmelia, asking for help.
I continued pushing Karina to answer me until Mr. Madahh barged into the room, followed by Tedd.
Mr. Madahh
Hey! What's goin-
Mr. Madahh
What happened???
For a moment, he was bewildered with Ivan's condition.
Mr. Madahh
I-I will report to the school!
(Morning at School)
(Teacher's Lounge)
Mr. Linton
Alright... What's going on?😕
Mr. Linton
What happened to Ivan?
Mr. Linton
Why were you all breaking into the school at night?😕
Carmelia
This is all her fault.
Carmelia pointed her finger at me in front of Mr. Linton.
Carmelia
You were the one who asked Ivan to go home with you. Look at him now!
Mr. Linton stared at me. His face looked sad and dissapointed.
Mr. Linton
Is this true, Asandra?🙁
Asandra
I didn't meet him at all.
Carmelia
Are you still saying that?🤨
Carmelia
Then who was the girl I saw that took Ivan away, huh?!
Mr. Linton
Hey! Calm down.
Mr. Madahh
If i think about it again...
Mr. Madahh
Last night, this kid asked for permission to enter the school.
Mr. Madahh
Asandra said she left her cellphone. But afterwards, she left without saying anything.
Tch, with Mr. Madahh's testimony, anything I say would sound suspicious.
Should i tell them what really happened to Maya?
No, they will only think I'm trying to change the topic...
Moreover, there's no way I could tell them the real reason I sneaked into school last night.
All of us heard a knocks from the door.
Ivan entered the room with Eilis.
Mr. Linton
Oh Ivan are you feeling better now? You don't look like you're ready to tell us what happened to you.
Ivan didn't immediately answer. Her eyes looked empty and she kept on fidgeting.
Ivan flinched when Eilis tapped his shoulder. We were all concerned for him.
Mr. Linton
Ivan? You don't need to tell us anything if you're not ready yet.
Ivan
Yesterday, after Asandra asked me out...
He rubbed his head as if trying to remember.
Ivan
I felt as if I was being hypnotized.😞
Ivan
😞I remember her taking me to many places. After that, I was thrown into the storage room by...
Ivan
By dozen of arms that appeared from the shadows😞.
Ivan
At that time, Asandra's face turned into...
Carmelia
Mr. Linton, seems like Ivan isn't ready to talk yet...
Carmelia
Ssshhh, it's okay. Tell us another time.
Carmelia
What? You want to take advantage of Ivan's hallucinations? To get out of trouble?!
Carmelia tried to punch me, but Mr. Linton managed to hold him back.
Mr. Linton
Eilis, please take Ivan back to the infirmary.
Mr. Linton
We'll postpone solving this problem until your heads cool off.
Mr. Linton
Please go back to your class.
Carmelia stood up. Karina and Tedd who had also been interrogerated were peeking through the door.
I stood up as well. But, Mr. Linton tapped my shoulder and asked me to follow him.
Mr. Linton took me to the school garden.
I stood still, confused. Mr. Linton started rolling his sleeves before starting to take care of the flowers.
Asandra
So, why did you take me here?
Asandra
Is this punishment?
Mr. Linton
Hm? Punishment?
Mr. Linton
What punishment you talking about?
Mr. Linton
Hnmm...Well, if you want to think of it as punishment, go ahead.😄
Mr. Linton
Please take that shovel behind you and sit here.
Mr. Linton patted at the grass beside him. I let out a sigh.
I took the shovel and sat next to him.
Mr. Linton
Take out the flower inside the pot and plant them in the ground over there, okay?
Mr. Linton
Ah, don't forget to water them when you're finished.
Mr. Linton
Sshh, just do it. Enjoy the process.
I gave up on asking questions.
Seems like Mr. Linton is doing this for a reason, but what?
Asandra
(What was I supposed to do again?)
I reached out for the flower pots in front of me.
Asandra
(these are...flower seedlings?)
Asandra
I just need to plant it?
Mr. Linton gave me thumbs up.
I started putting the flower seedlings into the holes Mr. Linton prepared. Then, I covered them with soil.
Mr. Linton
The flowers are so beautiful, aren't they?😊
Asandra
What flowers are these?
Mr. Linton
Hm? These flowers? They're called RED SPIDER LILY.
Mr. Linton
Be careful with the bulbs. They're poisonous.
Asandra
And you're only telling me this now?
Mr. Linton
I forgot. Ahahahah😄
Mr. Linton
In Japan, these flowers are planted next to rice fields to drive away rats.
Mr. Linton
But later, they're also planted near graves.
Mr. Linton
That's why, in Japan, these flowers are considered as the flower of death. "Higanbana Flower".
His face expressions become scary.
Asandra
Scary! Your face is scary!
Mr. Linton
Is it? Ahahah!😄
Why is my homeroom teacher like this? -_-'
Mr. Linton stood up and walked away. Not long after that, he came back with cold bottles of water.
Mr. Linton
Okay, let's take a break first. You've worked hard.😄
Without hesitation, I accepted the water bottle and drink it immediately.
Mr. Linton
Hahaha, you must be really thirsty.😄
Asandra
What, are you hitting on me?
Mr. Linton held back his laugh. Dmn it.
Asandra
Why would you even take care of flowers at noon like this? -_-'
Mr. Linton
Why not? I think enjoying the fresh air while planting flowers in an open space like this isn't bad.
Mr. Linton
What do you think? About these flowers?😊
Asandra
These flowers give me a sense of... Familiarity somehow.😊
Mr. Linton
You're really philosophical kid, aren't you?😄
Mr. Linton
I just wanted to know whether you think they look good here. 😄
Asandra
Hahahah, well. I like them.😊
Asandra
Thankyou for turning this empty place into a beautiful garden...😊
Both of us stopped talking after that.
I somehow felt warm and serene, feelings that I haven't felt in a long time.
Mr. Linton
Well, seems like you need to go back to your classroom now.😊
Mr. Linton stood up. I nodded, but doubts suddenly started welling up inside me.
Asandra
What's going to happen next?
Mr. Linton
About that.... I guess it will depend on what Ivan says.
Mr. Linton
But, I believed in you.
Mr. Linton
Don't dissapoint me.
Mr. Linton walked towards me to help me up.
Suddenly, he tripped and fell down.
Asandra
Are you okay, Sir?
Mr. Linton
Ahahaha, seems like I tripped.😄
We looked at Mr. Linton's feet. Vines were wrapped around his feet.
I sighed and help Mr. Linton to stand up.
That night, I could only cower in the corner of my room again. I couldn't sleep. I even turned off my phone.
I stared at the photo of Maya and me in the corner of the room. The glass shards were still scattered around.
Asandra
Your problem won't solve itself, Asandra.😞
Asandra
Those are our memories together.
I walked over and started cleaning up the glass shards.
A glass shard cut my hand. Blood started dripping down.
As i sucked the cut, I reached for the photo. Ah, my blood fell on it.
Without thinking, I tried wiping off the blood on the photo.
For a second, it felt like my heart stopped.
The blood stain made it look like Maya's face was rotting.
My knee felt weak. I kneeled on the floor, hugging on the photo.
Asandra
Sorry....I'm sorry...
I flinched when I heard the sound of knocking on my window. My room was on the second floor.
Slowly, I turned my head. I was preparing myself in case something would come out and suprise me.
Asandra
There's nothing...😨
I would hear the knocks from my window again. It was clearer this time.
Asandra
Is someone throwing rocks at my window?
I stepped towards the window and peeked outside. Karina was standing in front of the house by herself.
Asandra
Karina? What is she doing here at latenight?
I walked around the area with Karina, taking in the fresh air.
Asandra
Karina why are you here? Late at night?
Karina
Hey, were you crying?
Is she trying to change the topic? -_-
I wiped my cheeks. It's wet. Seems like tears fell down as I was hugging Maya's photo earlier.
Asandra
I-ignored it. What're you doing here late at night?
Karina looked unwell. She seemed like she wanted to say something but was hesitating.
Karina
Do you think... Maya's mad at us?🙁
Asandra
Are you being haunted too?
Karina
No. But, I think it's matter of time. Seeing what happened to Ivan.😕
Asandra
Actually, how far did you go when you guys were bullying Maya?
Karina looked away. Seems like she didn't want to talk about what she and her friend's had done.
We kept walking on silence.
Suddenly, I heard Karina screaming.
Karina suddenly fell down, her body dragged backwards.
A strong gust of wind came out nowhere and surrounded us, dropping the temperature a few degrees.
Karina
I'M SORRY, MAYA! FORGIVE ME!
Karina was dragged even further, her scream getting louder.
Asandra
What should I do?😨
But, everytime I took step towards her, she seemed to get father away from me.
My fear, worries, and anger welled up. I stopped.
Asandra
I know you're disappointed in me...
Asandra
BUT ARE YOU GOING TO LET ME REPEAT THE SAME MISTAKE AGAIN?
I didn't know where I got my courage from, but I confronted my best friend's ghost.
Asandra
Let me save Karina...
Asandra
Until when will you be like this?
Asandra
This is not the Maya I know!😕
Asandra
I know you're not a cruel girl...
Asandra
I know you're disappointed, but this is not your world anymore.
Asandra
Let us...Let me finish your problem.
Maya turned toward me. Her face looked sad.
In an instant, Maya disappeared without a trace.
The sounds and strong gust of wind disappeared along with her.
I approached Karina who was slumped down in the middle of the street.
Part of her clothes were ripped, her hair had been haphazardly cut.
Asandra
(This is... Maya's way of getting back at Karina.)
I helped Karina to stand up and took her back into my house to treat her wounds.
A cup of hot milk managed to calm Karina down.
Asandra
Are you better now?
Karina
.....Ivan, Caremila, Tedd, and I did bully Maya.🙁
Karina
We did go too far....
Karina
We even cut her hair and skin the night before she went missing.
Asandra
Did you kill her?!
Karina
I swear, no one did that.
Karina
We even started regretting it the moment Maya started bleeding.
I slammed the table, making Karina flinch.
Asandra
Bleeding? YOU CUT HER FINGER!
Karina
No one went that far!
It took all my self-control to not vent out my anger at Karina.
After all....She had confessed.
After I finished treating her wounds, I didn't have anymore questions. I took her home.
This morning, I arrived at school feeling sluggish.
Asandra
Why am I still going to school in this kind of situation?😞
I stopped when I realized Carmelia and Tedd waiting in front of me.
From their face, I knew they were going to do something.
Asandra
H-how's Ivan? Is he better now?
They didn't answer me. Instead, Carmelia covered my mouth and dragged me to the storage room.
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