A week has passed, and every day feels just the same.
I sleep. I eat. Sometimes I play with Doni or help out a little with the house chores. Then I go back to curling up in the room.
As much as I want to stay around Hosana, I can't even understand the words coming out of her mouth—and it only gives me a headache.
So I stay in the room most of the time. Curtains always drawn. Darkness swallowing the tiny space.
I just lie there, staring into the void. Sometimes imagining shapes—figures—I don't even recognize.
I can't keep my eyes shut for long. Because every time I do, the memory of that night creeps into my sleep. Tightening around my throat. Squeezing the air from my lungs until I wake up gasping.
It's haunting me. Like a curse that refuses to let me forget.
And there's something else.
That vision with Erica—it's been gnawing at the edges of my mind. I'm a seer of the past, that much I know. But what I saw… I don't think it's happened yet.
I'm confused.
Never—not once in all the years I've lived—have I seen something from the future.
And then the thought started creeping into my mind again—What if that vision awakened sooner? Would I have seen our future? What if...
I let out a sigh and turned to the other side of the bed—Only to come face to face with a pair of bloodshot eyes, staring straight into mine.
So deep… like it could see into the very depths of my soul.
"It's her. Kill her." A voice—eerie, cold—whispered from the figure.
I jolted back in instinct, falling off the bed with a loud thud.
My heart pounded violently.
Fear struck through me like lightning.
My head slammed against the floor, the pain shooting down my neck. My body ached from the sudden impact against the wooden ground.
A ring started in my ears, then I began hearing voices—whispers of words I couldn't understand. An image came, but it was too dark to see anything. Just pure pitch black.
I let out a moan and held my head. The ringing wouldn't stop. It felt like it would crack my skull open.
"Hmmn..." I moaned, unable to speak.
Then suddenly, a hand touched me on the side. It was cold, wet, and calloused. My body started trembling. It was a familiar feeling—like the hand that had touched me before.
I'm scared.
"...ha... okay ka lang?" (Are you okay?) a voice said.
Slowly, the ringing began to fade, and the darkness in my vision started to lift. My sight slowly returned, and the first thing I saw was Hosana.
Almost immediately, I sat up and wrapped my arms around her while catching my breath, trying to find warmth and comfort. I felt exhausted.
I could feel Hosana freeze for a moment, but then her shoulders relaxed, and she gently caressed my back. For some reason, that calmed my messy being. It quieted my thoughts, and I let my mind go still.
A tear escaped from my eye.
A foreign warmth embraced me.
A mother's warmth—a warmth that had been stolen from me... from us... ever since.
It was already past noon when I woke up. The window was open, and the curtains were drawn apart, revealing the beautiful view of the blue sky.
I slowly sat up, holding my slightly aching head.
I must've fallen asleep embracing Hosana.
Fixing the crumpled, patterned duster I was wearing, I stepped out of the room and headed downstairs. There, I saw Doni in Hosana's arms—with a bag hanging on her other shoulder. I tilted my head. Were they going somewhere?
I looked her over. She wore a fitted yellow shirt and a pair of faded blue jeans. Just slippers on her feet. Doni was dressed in soft cream-colored clothes.
"Ay, gising ka na pala. Ano, uhm... outside. Market. Ulam. Ay, anuba 'yan,"(Oh, you're awake already. Uh, outside. Market. Viand. Oh, what am I even saying.) she said with an awkward smile, scratching her head.
Looks like they're heading to the market.
"Ano, do you... ano nga ulit 'yung English no'n? Ano... do you—do you like to come? Ayun! Do you like to come?" (Uh, do you know... What's the English of that again?) she repeated, her eyes lighting up like she'd just cracked a puzzle.
I swallowed. Should I go?
Honestly, I haven't stepped outside ever since I came here. I'm worried my skin won't handle too much heat. And worse, I'm scared people might find me strange.
Because I am different.
Not just because I'm not from this world—but even in appearance, I'm far from what they're used to. My skin is paper-white, while theirs have warmer tones. I'm just... colorless. My eyes are almost white too—more like a pale, greyish hue. My lashes, brows, and even my hair are white, making me stand out even more.
I might scare people if I go out.
Just like I did in my world.
Hosana gave me a soft smile as she walked toward me, gently held my hand, and caressed it.
"Huwag kang mag-alala. Hindi ka huhusgahan dito kung iyon ang iniisip mo. Kung gusto mo ay takpan natin iyang buhok mo. Teka," (Don't worry. No one will judge you here if that's what you're thinking. If you want, we can cover your hair. Wait a second.) she said. I didn't understand her words, but her voice was gentle—she must've meant something kind.
She let go of my hand and disappeared into the room next to the living area. A few seconds later, she came out holding a cap and a red jacket, then handed them to me.
"Eto, suotin mo ito." (Here, wesr this.)
I didn't catch what she said, but I figured she was asking me to wear them. So I did.
The jacket was a little loose, and the cap was slightly too big, but she adjusted it until it fit properly. Then she tucked my hair under the hoodie, pulled it up over my head, and zipped the jacket all the way.
"Ayan, ayos na. Hindi na halata iyang buhok mo," (There, all good. Your hair isn't noticeable anymore.) she said with a smile.
"Let's go," she said cheerfully, already stepping outside.
But I hesitated.
Am I really allowed to go out? Will they not be scared?
When I looked at Hosana, she was smiling. A reassuring kind of smile. Like she was silently telling me—it's okay.
So I let out a small sigh and slowly followed her out.
The rays of the sun immediately hit my eyes, blinding me for a moment. The heat seeped through the fabric of my clothes, but it was bearable.
Once my eyes adjusted to the light, I saw everything more clearly—and it was… beautiful.
There was a small garden off to the side, and a line of potted plants stood beside the house's old, white-painted gate. It wasn't wide, but it was enough to be called a garden.
I was still quietly admiring it when Hosana tapped my shoulder again and urged me to keep walking.
So I did—slowly stepping toward the gate.
I reached for the rusty handle, pushed it open, and heard the familiar screech of metal.
Then I froze.
I swallowed hard.
Can I really go out?
"Huwag kang mag-alala. Mababait ang tao dito. Hindi naman lahat pero, hindi ka nila sasaktan dahil lang iba ang itsura mo sa kanila," (Don't worry. The people here are kind. Not all of them, but they won't hurt you just because you look different.) she said softly beside me.
I turned to look at her.
She met my eyes for a second, then quickly looked away, scratching her head awkwardly.
"Oo nga pala… hindi mo naintindihan ang Tagalog." (Oh, right... You don't understand Tagalog.) She paused, then tried again. "Ganito na lang. You… scared no more. They—" (Let's put it this way. You... scared no more. They—) she pointed at the people passing by on the sidewalk, and those scattered around outside—"good sila. Not all, pero… all good. Scared no more, okay?" (...they're good. Not all, but...all good. Scared no more, okay?)
With the little understanding I had, she must be saying they're good and that I shouldn't be scared.
But the truth is—it's not me I'm scared for.
I'm scared I might scare them.
Still, I pushed the thought aside. It wouldn't hurt to try… right?
When I finally stepped outside, I found myself walking awkwardly. Trying so hard not to make eye contact whenever someone passed by. I kept my head down, my hands curled deep in the jacket's pockets.
I could feel their eyes. That kind of stare that burns—like they're trying to figure out who I am. What I am.
My fists clenched tighter until I couldn't feel them anymore. I was nervous. I bit my lower lip. Tears began to gather in my eyes.
What if Hosana was wrong? What if they're just like my people? What if they get scared of me… and hurt me, just to push me away?
What if they're disgusted by me?
Please don't look. Please don't look.
I chanted silently in my head, again and again. Hoping no one would look.
But I could still feel their burning stares.
My legs were softening. I was trembling.
I can't do this anymore.
I shouldn't have gone out.