Episode 1: Missing
Maya? Did she get bullied again?
I walked into the classroom and approached Maya who was sitting and crying.
Asandra
Maya? What did they do to you?
Asandra
Don't be jealous of our relationship with Carmelia and the others. They are my friends and you too Maya my bestfriend.
Asandra
And i i feel comfortable there. They aren't using me like you said.
She's still not responding. She still won't talk to, she began to tremble and her sob got even more louder.
Asandra
Come on Maya, let's go home.
I pulled maya's arm and help her to stand up. She turned her head....
I tried to scream as hard as i could.
But, nothing came out of my throat.
It feels like i'm paralyze i can't move, i could only feel the cold air.
Her head was tilted unnaturally, as if her neck was broken.
Maya
WHY DIDN'T YOU HELP ME?!
I was startled awake, my breathing heavy
My head hurt. It seemed like i feel from my bed
As i tried to get up, my feet touched something on the floor.
I stared at the photo for a while and then put it back on the table.
Asandra
New message? Who could it be
Mom
Be good at home okay~?♡
Asandra
You and Dad left again?
Asandra
When will you come back home?
Mom
Maybe in a week or two.
Mom
We have to finish something in US
Mom
Just tell me if u or ur friend's want anything
I threw my phone on the bed
Asandra
You just got home yesterday...😔
I forced my self through the cold morning to go to school.
A Police car was parked at the school courtyard.
Near it, a group of girls were gossiping.
Gossip Girl 1
Hey, Asandra!
Gossip Girl 1
Hey, why are in such a hurry?
Gossip Girl 2
We just want to ask
Gossip Girl 2
You're Maya's bestfriend, right? How are the investigations going?
Gossip Girl 3
Comeeeee oooonnn, is she still missing?
Gossip Girl 3
You gotta tell us!
Asandra
I told you i don't know!
Gossip Girl 1
Ugh, you din't have to be so rude.
Eilis
Hey, stop it you guys!
Gossip Girl 1
Ah... Eilis is here. There goes the fun haha..
Eilis
Don't you have feelings? Don't bother Asandra!
Eilis, my class president, stomped her feet in annoyance. She then looked at me.
Asandra
I'm okay, thankyou.
Eilis
You must be fed up getting all these questions about Maya...
I walked away and left Eilis alone.
Eilis
Hey! Don't forget that you're on the cleaning duty afterschool!
Maya this, Maya that... When will this end?
I don't know anything damn!
When i arrived at the class, the atmosphere wasn't any better.
Everyone would start gossiping. Sometimes, they would glance at me.
Female Student
Eh? What info did find out?
Male Student
They said the finger that the police found yesterday was confirmed to be Maya's finger.
Female Student
How did you find out? Did you eavesdrop?
Female Student
Oh my, don't tell me Maya's really dead.
Male Student
Shhhh! not so loud!... Asandra could hear us!
I slumped over the table. The dream from lastnight flashed through my mind again.
I stopped daydreaming when someone hit my back.
Ivan
Stop day dreaming, it's still morning, y'know... Wake up😉
I turned and saw my friend's behind me.
Tedd
Why? Did you play games all night? Did you do something all night?
Ivan
Hey. Quit teasing Asandra
I looked up and stared at him
Ivan's word were simple, but it felt like a breath of fresh air in the middle of this gloomy atmosphere.
Karina
By the way... Asandra, why din't you tell us that your parents were home?
Karina
You din't forget to ask for souvenirs, right?... tell your mom i want dresses..
Asandra
Oh, Sorry my parents left again, just this morning.
Asandra
They din't give me anything.
Tedd
Aww come on, i thought we were friends.
Ivan
It's not like she wants her parents to leave her like that all the time.
Carmelia
So, where are they going this time?
Ivan
There are alot of clothes i want to buy there.😁
Asandra
Maybe my mom could look for it.😏
Ivan
Your mom bought me too many things already.
Carmelia put her arms around me.
Carmelia
You're being too nice to my boyfriend.
Carmelia
What are you trying to do? 🙃
Well its kind of true thought.
Does it bad for being too nice?
But atleast i'm happy with them.
Mr. Linton
Hello! Good morning, everyone!
Karina
Ah! Morning, Mr. Handsome!
Carmelia
Hey, Stop flirting!
Mr. Linton, our homeroom teacher, started laughing with us.
Finally the bell started to rang. Our lessons are over.
I yawned and stretched...
Ivan
To the cafe as usual?
I stood up to leave the classroom with Ivan and the others.
But, Eilis was standing infront of the door with a stern face.
Eilis
Asandra, where are you going?🤨
Eilis
I won't let you run away from cleaning duty!
Asandra
Cleaning duty....😑
Tedd
Hahaha! Asandra gave up just like that!
Tedd
Come on, let's just go Asandra... You can clean up next week.
Asandra
No, i will clean, you all go first and I'll go to the cafe next.
Carmelia
Just follow after us later.
I sigh and nod to Carmelia
After Carmelia and the others left, i started cleaning lazily.
I glanced towards the door and found that brown-haired girl was still watching me.
Eilis
What? You want to run away?🤨
Eilis
You better still be here when i come back from my infirmary duty.
I wasn't sure when that girl left the class, since i wasn't paying her any attention.
Asandra
I should finish cleaning quickly... Ughhhhhh
But, as i erased the blackboard the memories of maya and me filled my mind.
Asandra
When was the last time i did chores together with maya? 😔
Us having fun together...
The times i would listen to Maya humming her song...
Those memories kept flowing around in my mind.
It feels as if... I can still hear you humming, even now... 😕😊
Asandra
No, it can't be... This is real i can hear her humming!😨
I threw away the blackboard eraser i was holding.
Asandra
It must be her... Maya!
Asandra
Only she knows this song!
Asandra
I need to check first
I ran through the hallway looking for the source of voice.
There wasn't any reply.. But the humming could still be heard.
I saw the back of a girl who resembled Maya walking through the infirmary door.
I immediately follwed her.
As i grabbed the door handle, i remembered what my classmates said
Male Student
... They said the finger that the police found yesterday was confirmed to be Maya's finger.
Female Student
Oh my, don't tell me Maya's really dead.
My hands started to trembling, as if it refused to open the door.
Asandra
....Last night was just a dream... Right?
Asandra
What is happening....😟
Asandra
But, maya clearly wen't inside...
Asandra
Calm down asandra, calm down...
Asandra
Why.... Is.... Eilis-
Eilis
oh, uh, Asandra, what's wrong?
Eilis
Why are you here? Do you need something? Are you injured?
Eilis
Are you finish cleaning?🤨
I did not respond and started to look around the infirmary.
Eilis
Are you looking for something?
Asandra
...No one else is here...
Asandra
I saw someone enter here
Eilis
There's only two of us here, no one else
I sat on the bed, busy with my thoughts.
...That was maya, wasn't it?....
Eilis voice snapped me out from my thoughts
Asandra
Y-yes, it was just nothing...
Eilis
Seems like you are in a deep thoughts
Asandra
N-no, i'm just tired
Eilis
By the way, sorry because i yelled you and make you stay because of the cleaning, i will do chores with you next day okay?
Asandra
It's fine Eilis, Thankyou
Eilis
You know, when Maya was still here...
Eilis
She would always say that it's alright for her to do cleaning duty alone.
Eilis
'Let Asandra chase after her happiness first', she said.
Eilis
She would then do the cleaning duty all by herself.
I fell silent. I thought Maya hated it when i hang out with Carmelia and the others.
Eilis
Oh, sorry for making the mood all somber.
Asandra
Were you close to Maya?
Eilis
Well, we were quiet close ever since she started coming here to ask for disinfectant.
Eilis
Yes. She didn't tell me why. But a few days before she went missing...😔
Eilis
She looked really messed up.🙁
Eilis stood up and looked for something in the book shelf.
Eilis
The last time i patched up her wound, it looked strange.
Eilis
It looked more like.... Cuts?
Eilis
How did she even get those kinds of wounds?😕
I know Ivan and the others liked to tease Maya. But....cuts? Seriously?😦
Asandra
What did you find?
Eilis
The infirmary's visitor record.
That brown-haired girl took a notebook and gave it to me.
Eilis
This was from her last visit.
I didn't understand why Eilis showed me that book, but i took it anyway.
When i opened the book, a piece of paper was slipped between the pages.
The paper had brown smudges and smelled a bit like mud. Vaguely, i could read Maya's writing.
Maya
September 27th, today, Karina suddenly dragged me behind the school.
Ivan, Tedd and Carmelia were already there. They cut my hair. I got cuts on my fingers when i tried to fight back.
Should i report this to the teacher? I think Asandra will be dissapointed in me if i do.
I stared at Eilis, did she do this letter?
When she noticed my stare, she looked back at me with confused face.
Seems like she doesn't know anything.
Without realizing it, i stood up and crushed the note. And left the infirmary
I heard Eilis calling for me. I couldn't hear what she said, but i didn't care.
I left the school passing through people who were busy with their activities.
Theres only one thing in my head
Am i being haunted by Maya?
Comments
Uttam Kumar
uum
2023-04-29
0