THAT THING ON THE ROOF
Copyright © 2023 by Edison Dizon
All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the author at edisondizon@hotmail.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Published by Edison Dizon
Address: Stotsenberg, Clark, Freeport, Zone, Angeles City
Contact Number: 0961-088-7722
Printed and Distributed by Amikaso
Interior Design & Layout by Micaella & Lyka of Amikaso
Logo & Book Cover Design by Akim-Obed of Amikaso
Edited and Translated by Ysabelle Frost
ISBN: 978-621-8298-23-1 (Softbound/Paperback) 978-621-8298-22-4 (EPUB)
Please submit all reviews and comments or report errors to amikasolibrary2021@gmail.com
For the fearless souls like you, may this tale of supernatural creatures haunt your dreams as fiercely as they do mine.
There’s always something weird about my neighbors. We live on the outskirts of Iloilo, where everything and everyone seem to disappear when the sun already sets. It’s like an automatic ghost town. The people immediately go inside their homes and lock the doors. There’s not a single shadow of a living person you can spot wandering the streets when it’s dark. More so, during a full moon, it’s even worse. I feel everyone here in this town has been paranoid because of the superstitious beliefs and hearsay. A place that has lived and continuously relived old myths. However, my neighbor was always extra special.
They have this kind of look that sees through our soul all the time. They were the newest in our block, and in our case, we knew they’d be another neighbor we would never get along with. Every household here has their own world. It’s weird to say it, but we don’t show courtesy here. We walked past each other with no greetings, good mornings, or good afternoons at all. We don’t look each other in the eyes. I lived like that; I grew used to it. So I was wondering if the new neighbors also wonder what kind of town this is.
Mayroong kakaibang bagay tungkol sa aking mga kapitbahay.
Nakatira kami sa isang baryo sa Iloilo, kung saan ang lahat ay tila naglalaho kapag lumubog na ang araw. Tila awtomatiko itong nagiging bayan ng mga multo sa tuwing gabi. Agad na pumapasok ang mga tao sa kanilang mga bahay at ikinakandado ang mga pinto. Walang ni isang anino ng buhay na tao ang iyong makikita na naglalakad sa mga kalye kapag madilim na. Lalo na kapag bilog na bilog ang buwan, mas malala pa. Pakiramdam ko ay paranoid na ang lahat dito sa bayan na ito dahil sa mga pamahiin at tsismis. Isang lugar na nabuhay at patuloy na nabubuhay sa mga lumang alamat. Subalit, palagi na lang talagang may kakaiba sa aking mga kapitbahay.
Parang nakikita nila ang kaluluwa namin sa tuwing titingin sila. Sila ang pinakabago sa aming kalye, at sa aming kaso, alam naming sila ay isa pang kapitbahay na hindi namin makakasundo. Bawat sambahayan dito ay may sariling mundo. Nakakatuwang sabihin, pero hindi kami nagpapakita ng kagandahang-loob dito. Naglalakad kami nang hindi nagbabatian kahit magkasalubong man sa daan; walang mga magandang umaga, o magandang hapon man lang. Hindi kami nagtitinginan sa mga mata. Ganoon ang aking pamumuhay; nasanay na lang ako. Kaya nagtataka ako kung iniisip din ba ng mga bagong kapitbahay kung anong klaseng bayan ito.
One morning, I attempted to greet an old lady who was sweeping their front yard.
“Good morning,” I said with an awkward smile on my face. “My mother made Suman. It’s still warm here,” I said, extending my arms to give it to her. But instead of reaching for it, she stood frozen on the ground and just looked at me sharply. Her eyes were darting and unfriendly. They weren’t blinking. It was only then that I realized what she looked like. She was too old, right from her firm, bony face and body to her ultimate wrinkles. I even considered that maybe she’s in her 90’s already. And what’s even weirder is that she has so much strength for her age. She could walk straight, do hard chores, and carry heavy things. It was only her and her daughter who lived there. During the day, her daughter goes to work, so she’s the only one left there most of the time. Still, the old lady looked at me. I feel completely intimidated by the way she never blinks or moves. It was just her eyes trying to catch my eyes too.
“I am sorry I disturbed you,” I said that and backed out.
Isang umaga, sinubukan kong batiin ang isang matandang babae na nagwawalis sa kanilang bakuran.
“Magandang umaga po, ” sabi ko na may naiilang na ngiti sa aking mga labi. “Gumawa po ang nanay ko ng Suman. Mainitinit pa po ito,” sabi ko, inaabot ang aking mga kamay para ibigay ito sa kanya. Pero imbes na abutin ito, nanatili lang siyang nakatayo at tinitigan ako nang matalim. Ang kanyang mga mata ay matalas at hindi magiliw. Hindi siya kumukurap halos. Noon ko lang napagtanto kung ano ang itsura niya. Sobrang tanda na niya, mula sa kanyang matigas, mabutong mukha at katawan, hanggang sa kanyang malalalim na kulubot.
Napag-isip-isip ko na baka nasa 90's na siya. At ang mas kakaiba pa, sobrang lakas niya para sa kanyang edad.
Nakakalakad siya nang tuwid, nakakagawa ng mabibigat na gawain, at nakakabuhat ng mabibigat na bagay. Siya lang at ang kanyang anak na babae ang nakatira doon. Sa araw, pumapasok sa trabaho ang kanyang anak, kaya siya lang ang naiiwan doon kadalasan.
Patuloy pa rin akong tinitigan ng matandang babae. Pakiramdam ko ay lubos akong nanliliit sa paraan ng kanyang pagtitig na tila ba sinusubukan din niyang hulihin ang aking mga mata.
“Pasensya na at naabala po kita,” sabi ko at umatras na.
It was a weekend, and I decided to go out to buy some groceries.
“Why not try to work in a far-off city? Work in the city proper of Iloilo. It’s going to be a great experience. They said you’ll grow the moment you step out of your comfort zone,” my girlfriend Ria said.
“This place was never my comfort zone. It’s just another room for hell. But you know I can’t leave here. I feel like I’m stuck here forever. What am I going to do with my mother? I am all that she has.”
“She’s not that old.”
“But it’s not safe to leave her alone.”
“But I can check on her from time to time. Visit her and bring her something.”
“You know she doesn’t like you,” I said honestly, to which Ria was completely aware and always laughed at it.
“She’s just afraid I am going to steal away the only treasure she has. But I do pray one day that we’ll get along.”
Patapos na naman ang linggo, at nagpasya akong lumabas para bumili ng ilang groceries.
“Bakit hindi mo subukang magtrabaho sa malayong siyudad?
Magtrabaho sa mismong lungsod ng Iloilo. Magiging magandang karanasan ito. Sabi nila, mas magtatagumpay ka kapag lumabas ka sa iyong comfort zone,” sabi ng aking kasintahan na si Ria.
“Hindi kailanman naging comfort zone ang lugar na ito sa akin. Isa lang itong ibang kwarto para sa impyerno. Pero alam mo na hindi ako pwedeng umalis dito. Pakiramdam ko ay nakakulong ako dito habang buhay. Ano ang gagawin ko sa aking ina? Ako lang ang meron siya.”
“Hindi naman siya ganoon katanda.”
“Pero hindi ligtas na iwan siya mag-isa,”
“Pero maaari ko siyang dalawin paminsan-minsan. Bibisitahin ko siya at magdadala ng kung anuman. ”
“Alam mo namang ayaw niya sa iyo,” tapat na sabi ko, na alam naman ni Ria at palagi niyang tinatawanan.
“Natatakot lang siya na baka kunin ko ang tanging yaman niya. Ngunit umaasa ako na isang araw, magkakasundo rin kami.”
On that same night, while me and my mother were having dinner, I told her about the old lady next door.
“I told you several times, Jake. We don’t talk to anyone here, whether they are from new or old neighborhoods. Every family has its secrets, and we can’t trust the people here!”
“I just tried. I thought they’d be nicer compared to other neighbors.”
“I am going to warn you again, Jake. Stay away from everyone. Do exactly what I say. Avoid them. Don’t get close to them, okay?”
“Okay,” I mumbled.
Nang gabing iyon, habang kami ng aking ina ay kumakain ng hapunan, sinabi ko sa kanya ang tungkol sa matandang babae sa tabi ng aming bahay.
“Ilang beses ko nang sinabi sa iyo, Jake. Hindi tayo nakikipagusap sa kahit sino dito, kahit sila ay mula sa bago o lumang mga kapitbahay. Bawat pamilya ay may kanya-kanyang lihim, at hindi natin mapagkakatiwalaan ang mga tao rito!”
“Sinubukan ko lang naman, Mamang. Akala ko mas mabait sila kumpara sa ibang mga kapitbahay.”
“Babalaan kita ulit, Jake. Lumayo ka sa lahat. Sundin mo ang sinasabi ko. Iwasan mo sila. Huwag kang lumapit sa kanila, okay?”
“Okay po, ” bulong ko.
After a week, while I was sleeping, I felt a very cold breeze that shook my senses and woke me up. I feel like there was a heavy thing on my top. The good thing was that I managed to wake up. Although all lights were off, the moon was so full that it reflected on my window and gave off a ray of luminance in my room.
I just sat at my bed for a moment, contemplating what just happened, and when I was about to return to sleep, I got a quick sight of a silhouette standing in my doorway. A silhouette of a lady with long hair just stood and then walked out.
Out of fear, I grabbed my blanket and hid under it. I tried to shut my eyes so tight, but the silence of the house emphasized all the little movements. Then, I heard a loud bang on the roof; it was as if someone were walking on it with heavy feet, and then, a few moments later, I heard something I was sure of the flapping of wings.
Pagkatapos ng isang linggo, habang ako ay natutulog, naramdaman ko ang isang napakalamig na simoy ng hangin na nagpanginig sa aking mga pandama at gumising sa akin. Pakiramdam ko ay may mabigat na bagay sa aking ibabaw. Ang maganda lang ay nagising ako. Bagama't lahat ng ilaw ay nakapatay, ang buwan ay bilog na bilog. Kitang-kita ko iyon sa aking bintana at nagbibigay ng isang sinag ng liwanag sa aking kwarto.
Umupo lang ako sa aking kama sandali, pinag-iisipan kung ano ang nangyari, at nang ako ay malapit nang bumalik sa pagtulog, nakakita ako ng isang anino na nakatayo sa aking pintuan. Isang anino ng babae na may mahabang buhok. Nakatayo ito at pagkatapos ay lumakad palabas.
Sa takot, hinablot ko ang aking kumot at nagtago sa ilalim nito. Sinubukan kong ipikit ang aking mga mata nang mahigpit, ngunit ang katahimikan ng bahay ay nagpapalakas sa lahat ng maliliit na paggalaw. Pagkatapos, narinig ko ang isang malakas na kalabog sa bubong; para bang may taong naglalakad dito na may mabibigat na paa, at pagkatapos, ilang sandali lang, narinig ko ang isang bagay na sigurado ako—ang pagaspas ng mga pakpak.
Although I wanted to call Mamang because I was afraid, I felt frozen. My fright really stopped me from calling her. I spent the entire moment in the same position, eyes closed but with a pounding, fearful heart. My mother wasn’t there when I decided to get up.
“I can’t stay here,” I told myself, and I decided to go immediately to visit Ria.
“I guess the tale was right. Aswang might be true, and we have one in our place,” I said, still in disbelief from that experience.
“But you need to tell your mother. You both need to find a better place, somewhere safe, and you have nothing much to worry about.”
“You know that we don’t have the money, and you know, it was the only memory my Mamang has from her parents.”
We continued our arguments. Ria refused to understand our situation. On the other hand, I also understand her pity for me. Seeing how I struggle day after day just to pay the debt my grandparents left us I always wonder if life would be easier if my father never ran away. But he was already absent even before I got the chance to lay my eyes on him.
Bagama't gusto kong tawagin si Mamang dahil natatakot ako, pakiramdam ko ay nakapako ako. Talagang pinigilan ako ng aking takot na tawagin siya. Ginugol ko ang buong sandali sa parehong posisyon, ang aking mga mata ay sarado ngunit mabilis ang tibok ng aking puso sa labis na takot. Wala ang aking ina nang magpasya akong bumangon.
“Hindi na ako pwedeng manatili dito,” sabi ko sa aking sarili, at nagpasya akong agad na bumisita kay Ria.
“Siguro tama ang kwento. Totoo nga siguro ang Aswang, at mayroon tayo noon sa ating lugar,” sabi ko, hindi makapaniwala sa naranasan kong iyon.
“Pero kailangan mong sabihin ang tungkol diyan sa iyong ina. Kailangan ninyong maghanap ng mas ligtas na lugar, kung saan wala kayong masyadong iisipin.”
“Alam mo namang wala kaming pera, at isa pa, iyon lang ang alaala ng aking Mamang mula sa kanyang mga magulang.”
Nagpatuloy ang aming mga argumento. Tumanggi si Ria na unawain ang aming sitwasyon. Sa kabilang banda, naiintindihan ko rin ang kanyang awa sa akin. Nakikita niya kasi kung paano ako nahihirapan araw-araw na magbayad ng utang na iniwan sa amin ng aking mga lolo't lola. Lagi kong iniisip kung mas magiging madali ba ang buhay kung hindi umalis ang aking ama at nagpakalayo-layo. Ngunit sa totoo lang, wala na siya kahit bago pa man ako nagkaroon ng pagkakataong makita siya.
“Mamang,” I said over dinner. “I think we need to leave the lights on. I feel completely afraid at night. I think we have the Aswang roaming around. It’s a full moon, and maybe that’s why.”
“What do you mean? You believe in those passed-on stories? The only thing we fear here are robbery gang; they could break into someone’s house, steal, and kill people. Aswang are just man-made stories born of imagination. Stop overthinking and learn to touch some grass.”
On that same night, I somehow wanted to believe what Mamang said. Perhaps it was better to shut my thoughts away from that bad experience with that unidentified creature. But as I was brushing my teeth, I realized that I could have such a direct view of one of the neighbor’s rooms. And from that exact spot, I saw the old lady’s silhouette standing, facing maybe a mirror, and combing her hair.
It terrified me when I came to recall that the one I saw just this morning has the same hair length as her. I then immediately closed all the doors and locked all the windows. I made sure that every light in the house was on.
“Mamang,” sabi ko habang kumakain ng hapunan. “Sa tingin ko kailangan nating iwan ang mga ilaw nang nakabukas. Lubos akong natatakot sa gabi. Sa tingin ko mayroong Aswang na gumagala. Bilog ang buwang ngayon, at baka iyon ang dahilan.”
“Ano’ng ibig mong sabihin? Naniniwala ka ba sa mga kwentong ipinapasa lamang? Ang tanging kinatatakutan natin dito ay ang mga bandidong magnanakaw. Maaari silang pumasok sa bahay ng isang tao, magnakaw, at pumatay ng tao. Ang Aswang ay mga kwentong gawa-gawa lamang ng imahinasyon. Tumigil ka sa pag-iisip nang labis at matutong humawak ng damo.”
Nang gabing iyon, bahagya akong nagnais na maniwala sa sinabi ng aking Mamang. Marahil ay mas mabuti na ilayo na lang ang aking mga iniisip mula sa masamang karanasang iyon sa hindi kilalang nilalang. Ngunit habang nagsisipilyo ako, napagtanto kong maaari akong magkaroon ng direktang pagtanaw sa isa sa mga kwarto ng kapitbahay. At mula sa eksaktong lugar na iyon, nakita ko ang anino ng matandang babae na nakatayo, nakaharap marahil sa isang salamin, at sinusuklay ang kanyang buhok.
Natakot ako nang maalala ko na ang nakita ko lang kaninang umaga ay may parehong haba ng buhok sa kanya. Agad kong isinara ang lahat ng mga pinto at ikinandado ang lahat ng mga bintana. Sinigurado kong nakabukas ang bawat ilaw sa bahay.
The entire night, I was just here, wide awake. The moon is still full and glowing. It was exactly 3 in the morning when the dogs started howling. It was the kind of wail that gave me goosebumps. I was very attentive to the little sounds, and slowly, I felt like the knob was moving. It was like someone was trying to open the main door, wanting to enter the house.
The terrible part is that if ever that’s Aswang or someone who would steal here, it’s going to be me against that person, for we can’t seek help from our neighbors. Surely, nobody will ever try to get on our doorstep to help us. When the clanking of the door knob stopped, I then heard steps from the outside. They’re clear because they’re the sound of dry leaves that the person was stepping on. It was then heading back and forth, and when the footsteps finally stopped at my window, I felt like the entire world paused and my entire being was immobilized out of fear.
Buong gabi, gising lang ako. Bilog na bilog pa rin ang buwan at kumikinang. Eksaktong alas-tres ng madaling araw nang magsimulang umalulong ang mga aso. Iyon ang klase ng alulong na nagbigay sa akin ng kilabot. Napakaalerto ko sa maliliit na tunog, at dahan-dahan, naramdaman kong gumagalaw ang seradura ng pinto. Para bang may taong sinusubukang buksan ang pangunahing pinto, nais na pumasok sa bahay.
Ang masaklap, kung sakaling iyon ay Aswang o isang taong
magnanakaw dito, ako lang mag-isa laban sa taong iyon, dahil hindi kami makahingi ng tulong mula sa aming mga kapitbahay. Tiyak, walang sinuman ang susubok na tumapak sa aming pintuan para tulungan kami.
Nang tumigil ang pagtunog ng doorknob, narinig ko ang mga yabag mula sa labas. Malinaw ito dahil tunog ito ng mga tuyong dahon na tinatapakan ng taong iyon. Noon ay pabalikbalik ito, at nang sa wakas ay tumigil ang mga yabag sa aking bintana, pakiramdam ko ay huminto ang buong mundo at ang aking buong pagkatao ay binalot ng takot dahilan para hindi ako makagalaw sa kinaroroonan ko.
Someone might have been standing by the window, looking at me. I could feel it, although I was hiding under my blanket. It stood there for at least five minutes the longest five minutes I have had in my entire life.
Then slowly, it walked, heading east. I was completely terrified. The footsteps were no longer outside; they were already within the house. I remember my mother; surely, she might have heard it already and might have been fearing for her life.
I need to see who it was. I can’t let that thing step into my mother’s house. I can’t allow that creature to harm my mother.
I inhaled, afraid of what I was about to encounter. A part of me was sure it wasn’t a person. But rather something else. Aswang is the closest to my suspicions.
May taong maaaring nakatayo sa bintana, nakatingin sa akin. Nararamdaman ko ito, bagama't nagtatago ako sa ilalim ng aking kumot. Tumayo ito doon nang hindi bababa sa limang minuto ang pinakamahabang limang minuto na mayroon ako sa aking buong buhay.
Pagkatapos, dahan-dahan itong naglakad, patungo sa silangan. Lubos akong natakot. Ang mga yabag ay hindi na sa labas; nasa loob na iyon ng bahay. Naalala ko ang aking ina; tiyak na naririnig na niya ito at maaaring natatakot na rin siya para sa kanyang buhay.
Kailangan kong makita kung sino ito. Hindi ko maaaring hayaan ang bagay na iyon na makapasok sa bahay ng aking ina. Hindi ko maaaring hayaan ang nilalang na iyon na saktan ang aking ina.
Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga, takot sa aking maaaring maka-engkuwentro. Isang bahagi ng aking sarili ang sigurado na hindi ito tao. Kundi ibang bagay pa. Ang Aswang ang pinakamalapit sa aking mga hinala.
I got there, and gently, in my attempt to make no sounds, I opened the door. But nobody was there. I then tiptoed to check on my mother in her room and saw that she was there on her bed, covering her entire body with a blanket, just like I did. I stepped out, grabbed a knife from the kitchen, and was ready to summon whoever it was. I roamed within the house, checking every corner, but nothing was there.
Still, with my heart beating so fast, I once again heard the flapping wings landing on our roof. I ran to hide somewhere, too frightened to actually see it. But I knew it was the old lady. She might have been the Aswang in our town. Maybe she’s the reason why people considered staying within their house because, at times like this, she wanders around looking for victims, looking for blood that would quench her thirst. The landing sound faded, and I then ran to wake my mother up. To warn her to be careful and to lend her another knife that I have in case something bad happens. When I could no longer defend her, at least she had something to protect herself.
I rushed and woke her up.
Naroon ako, at dahan-dahan, sa aking pagsisikap na hindi makagawa ng tunog, binuksan ko ang pinto. Ngunit wala akong nakitang sinuman doon. Pagkatapos ay nagdahan-dahan akong tumingin sa kwarto ng aking ina at nakita na naroon siya sa kanyang kama, tinatakpan ang kanyang buong katawan ng isang kumot, tulad ng ginawa ko. Lumabas ako, kumuha ng kutsilyo mula sa kusina, at handa na akong harapin kung sino man iyon. Nilibot ko ang bahay, sinuri ang bawat sulok, ngunit walang naroon.
Gayunpaman, sa aking puso na mabilis na tumitibok, muli kong narinig ang pagaspas ng mga pakpak na lumapag sa aming bubong. Tumakbo ako upang magtago sa isang lugar, masyadong takot na aktuwal na makita ito. Ngunit alam kong ang matandang babae iyon. Siya marahil ang Aswang sa aming bayan. Marahil siya ang dahilan kung bakit pinili ng mga tao na manatili sa loob ng kanilang bahay dahil, sa mga oras na tulad nito, gumagala siya na naghahanap ng mga biktima, naghahanap ng dugo na mapapawi ang kanyang uhaw. Ang tunog ng paglapag ay humina, at pagkatapos ay tumakbo ako upang gisingin ang aking ina. Upang balaan siya na mag-ingat at ipahiram sa kanya ang isa pang kutsilyo na mayroon ako sakaling may mangyaring masama. Kapag hindi ko na siya kayang protektahan, mayroon man lang siyang bagay para protektahan ang kanyang sarili.
Nagmamadali akong pumunta at ginising siya.
“Mamang, wake up. Here, have this!” I said as I whispered, as her body was still hiding underneath the sheets. “Mamang! Maaang!” I then grabbed the blanket away, and to my surprise, it was just pillows forming vertically.
That thing must have been in this room and took my mother’s body. I then shouted, summoning that creature with courage.
“Bring back my mother! Confront me!” I shouted, but there was dead silence.
I walked and walked, with such grip and anger in my hand and knife. I reached the kitchen and realized there was a commotion.
“Mamang, gising. Eto, kunin mo ito!” sabi ko habang bumubulong, habang ang kanyang katawan ay nakatago pa rin sa ilalim ng mga kumot. “Mamang! Maaaang!” Hinablot ko ang kumot, at sa aking gulat, mga unan lang pala ang nandoon na nakapuwesto nang patayo.
Ang bagay na iyon ay tiyak na pumunta sa kwartong ito at kinuha ang katawan ng aking ina. Pagkatapos ay sumigaw ako, hinahamon ang nilalang na iyon nang may tapang.
“Ibalik mo ang aking ina! Harapin mo ako!!” Sumigaw ako, ngunit tanging katahimikan lamang ang namayani.
Naglakad ako nang naglakad, na may mahigpit na hawak ng kutsilyo at galit sa aking kamay. Nakarating ako sa kusina at napagtanto na may kaguluhan doon.
I looked and saw a woman gobbling on one whole, bloody, and lifeless cat. She looked at me, smiled, and went back and continued devouring the cat. I just stood there, like my entire life flashed before my eyes.
“Mamang,” I whispered.
It was then that I realized that the entire neighborhood knew something that I didn’t. It was then the reason why everyone was distant, avoidant, and treated us like we were invisible. I realized they weren’t like that to everyone, but only to us. They might have known it. They might have seen it. It was my mother that they were afraid of. It was Mamang.
THE END
Tumingin ako at nakita ang isang babae na nagpapakasasa sa isang buo, duguan, at walang buhay na pusa. Tumingin siya sa akin, ngumiti, at saka nagpatuloy sa pagkain ng pusa. Nakatayo lang ako roon, na para bang nag-flash ang buong buhay ko sa aking mga mata.
“Mamang,” bulong ko.
Doon ko napagtanto na alam ng mga kapitbahay namin ang isang bagay na hindi ko alam. Iyon marahil ang dahilan kung bakit lahat sila ay malayo, umiiwas, at itinuturing kaming parang hindi nakikita. Napagtanto ko na hindi sila ganito sa lahat, kundi sa amin lang. Marahil alam nila ito. Marahil nakita nila ito. Ang aking ina ang kinatatakutan nila. Si Mamang.
WAKAS
