Commuting was the biggest issue going to school. I'm already late as it is, I should have just eaten my breakfast than having just an apple.
I was sitting in a very packed jeepney. Wasn't even able to take a bite off my little breakfast.
"Manong, para po."
The jeep stopped again. For like what? The nth time.
And every stoplight we hit, always hits red.
Time check? 9:16 AM.
And I'm just a quarter in my commute to school.
"I'm never gonna be able to attend my first class." I muttered to myself.
And I was on point.
When I arrived at my college university, I was still looking for my classroom, which building, which floor, and I've been running in circle.
"Anthony."
"Tang ina!" I cursed loudly.
I was startled.... that's what made me curse aloud.
Millien was on my shoulder. I didn't even noticed he was with me the whole time.
"You've been running in circle. And haven't you noticed how quiet the area was?"
"Now that you've said it, you're right. Not even a student can be seen."
I looked around and now was sure that something's not right.
I remembered Lola Aurora said something about "LAMAT".
It's when you've been running in circles at the same direction over and over again.
I went on the other path this time but always ends up in the hallway from the school's main entrance.
Then my gaze stopped at a shadow standing behind a pillar, looking my way.
No face whatsoever, but I'm sure it was looking at me.
"That's the culprit." Millien said, still sitting relaxed on my shoulder.
"Lola Aurora said, if I experience being *lamat* I better take off my shirt and wear it in reverse."
So I did it. Nothing's superstitious if everything's becoming true.
I wore my shirt inside out, and took the path I did.
Only this time, students were filing out from their classes.
They're already going to their third classes.
Great, I just missed two classes on my first day. I checked my student slip again for my third class.
Since, I'm a freshman in my first day, I'm totally lost.
"Ahmm excuse me, may I know where the engineering building's at?" I asked a student walking.
But she only looked at me, holding back a laugh.
"The....hihihi...next building." She looked away, and wasn't able to hild back her laughter. "Sorry... Your shirt. It's..."
The girl wasn't even able to finish her sentence. And I know what she meant.
My cheeks went red, but I managed to say thank you, before heading towards the next building looking so embarrassed.
"Wow, Anthony, first day of school and you're making a brand." Millien teased me also laughing.
"You know why I did it." I exclaimed.
"I know. I know. Stop talking to me, if you don't want them to start a rumor that your crazy."
Millien was right. I'm talking to the air in their perspective.
Nothing's going my way on my first day. And this is ridiculous.
I reached my class and sat on an empty chair. My classmates were looking at me, some where already laughing but one guy, my seatmate, leaned close and whispered.
"Your shirt's in reverse."
I looked at my shirt again, pretending I wore it by mistake.
"Oh, thank you. Can you keep this chair for me? I'll just go to the restroom."
He nodded that made me feel quite relieved.
I went to the restroom to fix my shirt. And then went back to class. When I sat back, the seat in my left that was once empty was now taken.
I sat and gave the guy on my right another thank you.
The class started not for long but I was completely distracted.
Not by choice.
The girl on my left kept looking my way. While I was also trying my hardest to ignore the shadow that's now in front of me.
Covering the board at that.
It was blocking my view of the notes I'm jutting down. But I couldn't even shoo it away, can I?
Just like Lola Aurora reminded me. Ignore them as much as I could. Pretend not to see them.
Because when they notice I'm fully aware of their existence, they won't leave unless they get what they want.
And that was too hard to do. Since I couldn't see the board, tilting my head would also make it obvious.
And I'm sure it already noticed how my notebook remained empty despite me looking back and forth on the board and on my desk.
"Leave him alone." Millien's voice broke the tension I'm feeling.
"He can see me." The shadow spoke. And clearly it was a man's voice
"No. Now leave." Millien was being firm.
"Then why was he trembling? He's scared isn't he? Because he can see me."
"I said no."
The temperature dropped. Not only did I felt it, but those with such sensitivity to such existence, felt it too.
And the first one to notice was the girl in my left.
When she stopped writing and rubbed her forearm from the sudden chill, the shadow man's attention shifted to her.
He was now, standing beside her, then crouching to meet her gaze.
I noticed how she blinked and looked away from it.
She can see entities too. Or maybe just sensitive to it.
Who knows.
I continued my little act of not seeing anything, and was now able to take some notes.
But the girl was starting to look pale. The shadow man was hovering around her like a predator looking at a prey.
"Anthony, if you interfere now, that entity will attach itself to you." Millien reminded me.
[TASK ACQUIRED: STOP THE SHADOW MAN FROM INFLICTING PAIN INDIRECTLY TO HUMANS.]
My eyes stared quite too long at the blue screen in front of me. Then slowly turned my head, towards my left.
"Putang ina!" I jumped away from my chair, startled.
Everyone looked at me, even the professor who was discussing something.
I was startled, because the shadow man was sucking up, the girl's energy.