Shall we begin?

It is my first summer break as a college student. My mom decided to send me to my uncle's hacienda to help him out. It is said that for a few months now, my uncle had been feeling ill. He never had a child nor was he married, which simply means that he doesn't have anyone to look after him. As a thoughtful and caring niece, I should be the one to come to his aid. At least that's what mom told me. I've always questioned at the back of my mind Mom's reason in sending me to help uncle. I can't help myself from thinking that she just wants to have a good impression on Uncle, well, because he is rich. But, I sure do hope that what I'm thinking is not true...

-DON'T 4GET 2 GIV D FRUITS 2 UR UNCLE D MOMENT U SEE HIM-, Mom sent me a text message when I was about to board the boat.

-DON'T WORRY MOM. I WON'T 4GETD FRUITS-, I replied to her with a thought why she'd send him gifts. The guy has a whole hacienda; he owns tons of fruit trees. But, I guess it's the thought that my mom wants to send to uncle.

-UNCLE, I'M ALMOST AT UR PLACE- I send a text message to uncle to inform him of my arrival. I waited for about five minutes before I receive a text message.

-WER R U NOW? - It was a text message from mom.

-I'M AT D BOAT MOM. DON'T WORRY, I WON'T 4GET D GIFTS- I replied, wishing that she won't nag me anymore about what I'm doing and will do.

Not even a second after I hit the send button, I received a reply message.

What now? Mom really "loves" me to keep this kind of contact.

-HU IS DIS? - It was a reply from uncle.

-UNCLE BOB. DIS IS LEIA, UR NIECE. I'M SUPPOSED 2 B STAYING @ UR PLACE, REMEMBER? - I replied. I wonder what kind of mind my uncle has. I'm his only niece yet he still forgets me. Maybe he doesn't like me. But, I still remember playing with him when I was still a little bean sprout. I just can't believe that he'd forget me like that!

-NIECE? I'M NOT EVN HALFWAY THRU COLLEGE YET. & BSYDS, MY NAME IS LIAN,.. NOT BOB...- I'm shocked by the message that I just received.

-WAT?! BUT DIS IS MY UNCLE'S #...- I replied while trying to sort out in my mind what really is happening.

-W8. WEN U SAID BOB, DID U MEAN SIR BOB? D MAN HU OWNS D HACIENDA IN DAT PRIV8 ISLAND? - Well, uncle does own the island where his hacienda is.

-UHM... YES, I THINK DAT'S HIM. HOW DID U KNOW? – I asked, the moment my curiosity kicked in.

-I USED TO WORK PART TIME IN HIS HACIENDA. JUZ LAST YEAR... OH! I REMEMBER! DIS PHONE WAS GIVEN BY HIM. HE SAID THAT TECHNOLOGY IS 2 COMPLEX 4 HIM...- Well, that cleared the situation. Uncle does despise technology up to a certain extent.

-TNX ^-^ DAT CLEARS A LOT. SO, DAT'S Y NO 1 ANSWERS OUR CALLS =_= ...-

-CALLS? o_O .. I DIDN'T RECV ANY CALLS...-

That's weird, I'm sure mom called uncle's phone. Maybe, she dialed the wrong number. That also clears the reason why uncle only replied to us when we sent him a telegram about me staying at his place.

Not long, I finally reached uncle's island. He looked so pale and thin. I won't be shocked if any moment now he'll be blown away by a mere breeze. He looked worst than what I've imagined.

I greeted uncle with a hug and a kiss on a cheek. I asked him how he is as if the answer is not obvious already. He just answered me with a sober smile. I didn't ask any questions afterward. Instead, I sent a text message to mom saying that I've given the fruits to uncle. Looking back at the short text message that I've sent her, I'm quite amazed by the length of the replied message sent to me, which only contains the do's and don't's in my stay at uncle's place.

When we arrived at Uncle's "jaw-dropping" house, he started his obviously prepared 10-minute long house rules (which show that he and mom are really siblings). Is it just me or did he put tons of emphasis on the "staying away from the courtyard pond" rule. Not just that, almost half of the rules is concerned about the pond. Didn't he know that the more you forbid someone from doing anything, the more they'll be challenged to do it?

Uncle showed me to my room and left me there (he said that he has some business to take care of). As I look around, I noticed that there are no electrical sockets. I went out of my room to see if my room is the only one without it. After a few minutes of searching, I discovered that there aren't any electrical sockets in the entire house.

I returned to my room and then I threw myself to bed. I turned off my phone to conserve its energy. After all, I don't know when my phone's battery will be charged next.

I opened my eyes to a room that's being kissed by the morning sunshine. It seems that I've slept the night away. I grabbed my phone to check the time.

"Hmm... this is odd. I'm pretty sure that I turned my phone off before I dozed..." I said while staring at my phone with a "new message received" sign was written on the screen. I brushed off my thoughts and opened the text message.

-R U OK? U DIDN'T REPLY 2 MY TXT YESTERDAY... DID ANYTHING HAPPEN? - It was from Lian. Looking back, I remembered that we're talking about my mom's calls to uncle.

-I'M FINE ^_^ NOTHING HAPPENED. JUZ FEL ASLEEP BCOZ I WAS REALLY TIRED – I was really touched to see how much he is concerned about me, even though we barely know each other. So the least I can do is reply to his message.

After taking a bath, I strolled around the house. At the foyer by the courtyard, I saw a photograph of a group of people. The man in the middle seems to be my uncle. The guy standing next to him caught my attention. He seems to be the same age as me, he's wearing a black and white striped long sleeve, and his hair is blonde.

I opened my phone and started writing a text message...

-I THINK I'M LOOKING AT A PHOTO OF U AT THE FOYER- then I hit send to Lian's number.

-HAHAHA! I WAS HOPING DAT U WON'T SEE DAT. I LOOKD REALLY WEIRD THERE...- Lian replied a couple of seconds after I sent him the text message.

-U LOOK FINE, THOUGH THE LONG SLEEVES LOOK A LITTLE TACKY...- Why would he say he looks weird? He looks fine to me.

-OUCH! DAT'S MY FAVE SHIRT AND I'M WEARING IT NOW TOO :'(- I do hope he didn't took my comment by heart.

-WAT'S WITH D BLONDE HAIR? ϖ_ϖ I'M PRETTY SURE DAT DAT'S NOT NATURAL...- I find his last reaction quite amusing, let's see what he'll say when I criticize his hair.

-IS IT DAT OBVIOUS? O_o I TRIED TO MAKE IT LOOK NATURAL... WELL, I DON'T BLAME U IF U REACTED LYK DAT. UR REACTION'S NOTHING COMPARED TO MY MOM'S. SHE FLIPPED WEN SHE SAW ME WITH DIS HAIR. - I was expecting a defensive statement for the hair, but it's alright, it's glad to know that I'm not the only one bothered by the blondness of his hair.

I was distracted by Uncle's voice calling my name. I hurriedly hid away my phone and ran towards Uncle's direction.

Earlier, Uncle asked me to buy some things for him at the town, which is NOT in the island.

I was on the ferryboat when I received a text message.

- HOW'S UR 1ST DAY? - It was from Lian.

-IT'S OK. THOUGH UNCLE ASKD ME TO GET SUM MATERIALS @ D TOWN 4 D BIRD HOUSE DAT HE'S BUILDING. I GOT 2 ADMIT DAT IT'S SUCH A HASSEL SINCE D TOWN IS OFF D ISLAND- I replied, it's nice to be able to tell things to someone.

-I KNOW, I USED 2 DO THOSE ERRANDS 4 HIM. U'LL GET USED 2 IT. I KNOW, Y DON'T U VISIT MY SISTER'S CAFÉ AT THE TOWN? I'M SURE DAT U WON'T REGRET IT!-

-SURE. I'LL VISIT IT ONCE I FINISHD SHOPPING-

The afternoon went on smoothly. When I can't find the materials that I need to buy, all I have to do is send a message to Lian then he'll give me the directions on where to go.

I completed the shopping list in no time and it seems that I still have some spare time to drop by the café that Lian was bragging about.

-LIAN. I'M DONE SHOPPING NOW. SO, WER'S D CAFÉ UR TALKING ABOUT? - I send a text message to Lian, hoping to get some directions on how to get to the café.

It's almost an hour and Lian hadn't replied yet. I decided to search for the café myself.

It's already dusk and I can't find the café that I'm looking for. I tried to send a text message to Lian but it keeps on saying "message sending failed". I'm starting to freak out. I'm wandering around the town, what's worse is it seems that I'm lost. I hasten through the walkways, out of the blue; I heard footsteps approaching me. But that's not what I'm afraid of, what I'm afraid of is the sound of metals clashing on each other that seems to be with the pair of footsteps that are closing unto me.

After a few more seconds someone grabbed my arm...

~WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?! STAYING OUT LATE AND YOU EVEN HAVE THE GUTS TO SCREAM AT YOUR UNCLE WHEN HE CAME ALL THE WAY TO TOWN JUST TO LOOK FOR YOU!~ Mom's shrieking voice spouted through the earpiece of the phone.

~I'M REALLY SORRY MOM, I REALLY THOUGHT THAT HE WAS A BAD GUY...~

~YOU THOUGHT THAT HE WAS A BAD GUY, THAT'S WHY YOU SCREAMED AND EVEN HIT HIM IN THE FACE WITH THE MATERIALS THAT YOU BOUGHT~ Mom continued my unfinished statement with sarcasm in her voice.

~I KNOW, THAT'S WHY I'M SORRY~ I apologized again.

~YOU SHOULDN'T SAY YOU'RE SORRY TO ME, TELL THAT TO YOUR UNCLE!~

~YES, YES, I WILL, I WILL, BYE MOM~ I ended the phone call without waiting for my mom's answer.

I apologized to uncle as soon as I finished talking to mom. He said it was fine and then he said that he needs to go to town for some urgent matter. I waved as I watched him leave. A few minutes after he left, I decided to stroll around the house and take some pictures as souvenirs for my mom. I first went up a man-made hill (with stairs). The view was amazing! I can see the entire island from where I was. I shot a couple of photos and then took another look at the view while standing behind the safety railings. After savoring the view for a few minutes, I went down the hill, I then happen to take an accidental glimpse of the pond that uncle said was dangerous for me to go to. I remember him saying that there are tons of mosses growing around it and that I can slip down it anytime. Well, that's what he said was the main reason why he wanted me to stay away from it.

As much as I want to listen to what uncle said to me, I just can't help myself from approaching the pond. It was glimmering because of the moonlight that dances with the cold summer night breeze. "All I have to do is be careful approaching it, right?" that's what I thought. I was completely enchanted by the view that is right in front of me. I approached the pond slowly and stood from a safe distance. I took out my cellphone and took a shot of the pond. "I'm sure mom will like this picture!" I smiled as I think of the things that mom will say about the picture. I decided to look at the photo of the pond that I just took. Horror caught me off guard when I look at the photo; there was a blurry image of a pale face that fills the screen of my phone though you can still see the pond at the background because the face was translucent. Out of reflex, I closed the phone and took a quick breath. "What the heck was that?" I was breathing heavily. I just can't believe what I just saw. There was no one with me at that time, that's why I'm sure that that's not just a reflection of someone creeping around me. "Oh crap! I have to delete it!" what if that picture is cursed? I have to delete it. I can't show mom a picture like this, she'll freak out! I nervously took my phone out again and slowly opened the picture. "Wha-?" the photo was there, but the image of a pale face was gone. "M-maybe I just imagined it. He-he-he" I laughed it off dryly and hastily walked away from the pond.

The night became deeper and I was still not able to get over the picture that I took at the pond. I was getting tired just thinking about it so I decided to sleep my anxiousness away. I don't know what, but I was suddenly woken up by a terrible feeling. I took my phone out and looked at the time, it's barely midnight. I took a couple of deep breaths to calm the unexplainable pounding of my heart. I don't know why, but my heart won't stop from pounding and my anxiousness starts to get worse. I stood up and walked outside my room. I started strolling around to relax myself. It's quite strange how I ended up by the pond again. I was frozen at where I'm standing. I was enthralled by the mere view of it. It is truly beautiful. I feel really relaxed even though my heart is pounding. I feel like I'm frozen in time. The crickets seem to be louder and the summer air is colder than normal. The more you look at it, the hazier your head gets and you slowly drown into it.

I was staring at it when my phone rang. It was a text message from Lian...

-PLEASE LOOK AT ME AGAIN...- It was a very strange message from Lian. Look at him? I haven't even seen him yet. Maybe he sent it to me by mistake.

"Ugh... I can't deal with this kind of stuff right now. There is got to be something wrong with my head." I shook my head to make it clearer, and then I turned off my phone.

I turned around to go back to my room when my phone rang again...

"What the-? I thought I turned my phone off, didn't I?" I stared at my phone with a "1 message received" sign written on its blue lighted screen. My hand started quivering when I saw that the message was from Lian, again.

-WAT R U DOING?!! STOP IGNORING ME!!! I WAS SO HAPPY WEN U VISITED ME EARLIER... Y DON'T U LOOK AT ME AGAIN? TURN AROUND AND LOOK AT ME!! – I'm stunned by the message that I just read.

"Wait, when I visited him? Oh my god..." I remembered the pale face that was caught by my phone's camera when I took a picture of the pond.

I know that I'm going to regret this...

I turned around and looked at the pond harder. I can see a familiar black and white striped long sleeves and a hint of something blonde.

-WAT HAPPEND TO U? - I decided to go with the flow for a while. While I'm still clueless as to what is his reason for calling me here.

-I WAS CLEANING D POND WEN I SUDDENLY FEEL HIGH & WOOZY. I LOST MY FOOTING AND HIT MY HEAD ON A ROCK...-

-DAT'S HOW U DIED?-

-NO, I MAY BE BLEEDING, BUT I WAS NOT DEAD YET. I WAS ONLY UNCONCIOUS. UR UNCLE SAW ME. HE PANICKED; HE TIED ME UP AND THREW MY LIMP BODY INTO THE POND... I DROWND-

-WAT UNCLE?! HE CAN'T DO DAT! HE WONT! & IF HE DID DO IT I CANT SEE ENOUGH REASON Y HE'D DO IT! Y DIDN'T HE CALL FOR AN AMBULANCE?!- The information that I received was something that I did not expect.

-I KNOW... BUT D REASON WUD BE CLEAR WEN U SEE DIS... ↑ - An arrow? I looked in front of me to where the arrow is pointing... All I can see is a big boulder meant for decorating the pond.

My phone rang again...

-BEHIND IT...-

I took a deep breath. I made my way to the back of the 8 ft. tall boulder, then through the thick bush that surrounds its back. I can't believe what I saw; the back of the boulder has a cave-like structure. The thick bushes there surround another plant; it was a marijuana plant. Within the back of the boulder, there are marijuana leaves that emit smoke, they look like incense.

"So, uncle was afraid that someone will discover this, that's why he didn't call for help... This is also the reason why I feel light headed. The same reason why Lian slipped..." I whispered these to myself. I can't believe what I just discovered about uncle.

-LEIA, COME 2 ME... I FEEL SO LONELY, UR D 1ST 1 2 LISTEN TO WAT I'V GOT 2 SAY, U UNDERSTAND ME...-

Out of the blue, I heard a rustle behind me. It was uncle. He looked at me, then to the marijuana plant. Just from that, I can sense what he is thinking. I backed up a little and then I started running. I ran up the hill, I was really stupid to go there, now I'm trapped at the top. I was leaning at the railings when someone grabbed my wrist. Uncle already caught up to me. I started struggling and screaming, I don't know who, but someone pulled me away from him and uncle lost his balance and fell over the railing. I looked around and saw no one. I looked at the direction that uncle fell into, there's no sign of him.

"I'm sorry, uncle..." I started sobbing. I can't help it; we did have some precious memories together.

A cold chill pass by me, I turned around and saw a glint of something hazy white. My phone started ringing again...

Lian was calling...

"NO! I DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING WITH THIS!!! "

The phone continued ringing; it started getting louder and louder.

"STOP!!!"

I threw my phone as hard as I can; it flew into the night sky to somewhere that I can't see anymore.

"It's...i-it's gone..." I took a deep breath and tried to listen for any hint of my phone's ringing.

I opened my eyes to a room that's being kissed by the morning sunshine. Where am I again? Oh, that's right, I'm staying at uncle's place to help him this summer and this is my first day here too...

I heard my phone's ringtone, it seems that someone's calling. I searched for my phone.

"That's odd, I'm pretty sure that I put it just beside my bed..."

I continued searching, the ringing continued too...

I can't find my phone. The ringing seems to be getting louder...

...Wait, is the ringing coming from my head?...

It's ringing...

... Still ringing...