Ripley's POV

"Nandito na 'ko!" sigaw ko.

Mabilis kong sinipa paalis ng paa ko ang sapatos ko at nagkarera na papunta sa kusina.

Nakabukas ang gasol at pumipitik sa mantika ang pinipirito. May lumulutang na sandok na para bang may nakahawak rito at bumabaliktad sa niluluto. Meron ring lumulutang na cook book sa ere at nagpapalit ng pahina mag-isa.

Inalis ko ang salamin ko at nang mahawi na ito paalis ng mata ko ay nakikita ko na sila.

Alfred is right there wearing his pink apron, cooking.

And Amanda is there, too. Flipping through the dusty cook book leaning over the kitchen shelves.

Napunta kaagad ang tingin nilang dalawa sa'kin.

"Welcome back young lady!" bati ni Alfred gamit ang brusko niyang boses.

"Oh, you're here," naboboring na sagot naman ni Amanda na hindi inalis ang paningin sa libro na binabasa niya.

"Guys hindi kayo maniniwala sa sasabihin ko!"

They looked at me, expecting something.

"I made a new friend today!"

"Really? Then let's hear about it," sagot ni Alfred. Inalis niya ang apron niya sa ibabaw ng magara niyang suit.

Ipinaghila ako ng upuan ni Amanda.

"Let's take a seat, shall we?"

Umupo na ako rito. Inilapag na rin ni Alfred ang niluto niya sa tapat ko.

Yey pancakes!

"So tell us about this new friend of yours," he asked as both of them sat with me side by side.

They wear a soft smile as they look at me. The kind of smile that your parents give you when you tell them your smallest achievements as a child.

"Hear this: kanina sa room namin, may naglalaro ng Ouija board.."

These people are my family. They may not be alive and we may not be related in blood but family is what you make them.

Ang lahi ko ay may kakayahang makakita at makipagkontrata sa mga multo. Amanda and Alfred is some of my Grandmothers contracts. They didn't have the best of life.

Amanda was the daughter of a businessman. Itinakda na siyang ipakasal sa lalakeng hindi man lang niya kilala simula pa ng bata siya. At nang dumating na ang panahon ng kasalan ay tinakbuhan niya ito. On her wedding dress she tried to run. But, wearing that same dress she died because of a car crash.

Alfred was a high rank mafia. He looks ruthless with all his muscles and sunglasses and suits but underneath it all; he's a very nice man. Malambot ang puso niya sa mga bata. He lived his life torturing men then one day when his boss wanted him to kill a child; he didn't. He saved him. But it cost him his life.

I was left with them because I'm a failure. Of all my family, I'm the only one who can't form a contract with the dead. It's a blessing in disgiuse though.
They've entrusted me with Amanda and Alfred thinking that they're gonna screw up.

Well shame on them! 'Cause we ended up happy together. They loved me more than anyone and I won't trade that for anything in this world.

It's funny how the dead with no pulse can love a person better than the living with a beating heart.

"So let me get this straight," Napahawak sa noo si Alfred. "Nakipagkaibigan ka sa isang ligaw na pusa kahit hindi ka sure na pusa talaga ito?!" Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay.

"What if it's a dog? Or an alligator?!"

"What are you talking about you idiot!" Lumagapak ang tapik ni Amanda sa noo ni Alfred.

Napahawak naman siya sa sarili niyang noo na namumula na.

"OUCH! Don't test me hercules woman!"

"Oh try me Mr. Muscle!"

Haaayyy. At a time like this I just put on my glasses then wait a few minutes 'til they're done arguing.

Iaangat ko na sana ang salamin ko nang biglang napansin ito ni Amanda.

"Wait," inilayo niya ito sa mukha ko. "Aren't you suppose to 'not see' things when you're wearing your glasses?" tanong niya habang ineexamine ang salamin ko.

"Yes," sagot ko.

"Are you sure you're not wearing your glasses while your playing around with that cat? 'Cause it doesn't make sense that you can't see it," dagdag naman ni Alfred na nakapaekes pa ang braso.

"Guys, sure ako na hindi ko suot ang salamin ko. Hindi ko lang talaga siya makita sa sobrang hina niya, nararamdaman ko lang siya. Kaya inassume ko na lang na pusa siya kasi naka-encounter na ako nang ganun noong bata pa ako," paliwanag ko habang mahigpit na hinahawakan ang tinidor ko.

Pinagtaasan na lang nila ako ng kilay.

"Are you sure it's not an alligator though? 'Cause I don't want any of those crawling aroun--"

"ALFRED!" sabay na sigaw namin ni Amanda.

"Okay,okay." Itinaas niya ang kamay niya at sumorrender. "I'll just give you some cat food tomorrow so that you can give it to your little friend."

"Really?!" Nangintab ang mata ko sa tuwa. "Thanks Alfred!" I ran up to him and hugged him.

"Anything for you kid," he smiled fondly as he ruffle my already ruffly hair.

"Tss. Show off."

"Get lost you red-lipped wench!"

Here we go again

------------------------------------------------
Tumingin ako sa bawat direksyon upang matiyak na wala na ngang tao.

Kaliwa.

Kanan.

Likod .

Harap.

Yup. The room is clean. There's only me, just like yesterday.

Inalis ko na ang salamin ko at nagdasal na sana ay walang masaktohang nakakatakot na multo na nakatapat sa mukha ko sa mga oras na ito.

When I opened my eyes there are no scary spirits, thankfully. All I can see are will 'o wisp which are flying balls of light and some one eyed creatures; nothing major.

Hindi ko pa rin ito nakikita pero ramdam na ramdam ko ang presensya nito.

"Here kitty," tawag ko.

"I brought you some snacks."

Nagbuhos ako ng catfood na mukhang cereal sa palad ko at inilapag ito sa sulok.

"I bestow these upon you, you unearthly creation. Take it now, you have my permission."

Inirecite ko ang mga salita na itinuro sa akin ng lola ko tuwing nag-aalay kami sa mga patay. Kung ginawa mo raw ito ay diretso itong matatanggap ng espiritu.

"Is it taking it?" tanong ko sa sarili ko. "Maybe not," dagdag ko sabay ulit uli ng mga salita.

Inulit ko ito nang inulit hanggang makontento na ako. Pero hindi talaga ako napapakali kung hindi ko nakikitang masaya ang espiritu na nakakatanggap.

When they're happy, I'm happy. But how am I suppose to see that now?

That's when it hits me.

I can't see it because it's too weak so maybe I could lend it some of my strength.

Mangyayari lang 'yun kung makakabuo ako ng bond sa aming dalawa. Isa na dun ang pakikipagkontrata pero hindi ko pa yun kaya.

'But there's one thing I could do.' I thought as I smiled menacingly.

I've always been great at making a leash. Halos kaparehas ito ng contract pero ang kaibahan lang ay hindi ka obligadong sundin ng espiritu. All the spirit needs to do is to be there with you. And you can summon them all the time!

So leash it is.

Tumindig ako nang maayos at itinuro ang hinlalaki at hintuturo ko sa sulok.

"As a descendant of Solomon, I hereby bind you on a leash and to stay by my side as long as I wish."

A white light spreads through the room overpowering the yellow sunshine. It drove all the other spirits away leaving only the said cat. Nang ibukas kong muli ang mga mata ko ay wala pa rin akong nakikita.

"Okay, I'm gonna give you some of my strength now," paalam ko.

"Here. You. Go." Itinapat ko rito ang kanang kamay ko at ibinuhos ang lakas ko. May lumabas na liwanag sa kamay ko na para bang holy light ng mga anghel.

After that; still nothing.

"Come on, I just wanna pet you."

Nagconcentrate ulit ako at ginamit na ang dalawang kamay ko.

Come on

Come on!

Pinakawalan ko na ang lahat ng lakas ko at nabalot na pala ng liwanag ang buong room nang hindi ko namamalayan.

When the light disperse there's no cat there.

A figure wearing an all black just stood there, slouching like it's been pooped by the universe.

"Wha--"

It looked at me.

"Hey, still wanna pet me?"