06: Hanako-san of the Toilet
(Japanese Urban Legend)

⋆༺𓆩☠︎︎𓆪༻⋆

"FIRST OF ALL, congratulations on the international movie adaptation of your bestselling novel, Keena," the host from a lifestyle morning talk show congratulated Ate Keena, who was all smiles to the crowd and cameras.

Kasalukuyan akong nakahiga sa rattan sofa namin at pinapanood ang interview niya. I was in charge of the Library these past few days because Papa was out to seal two reported Urban Legends, and he successfully did it alone.

Ngayong araw na nandito siya sa bahay ay siya na raw muna ang magbabantay ng Library, so I just spent my day watching TV shows and scrolling through my socmed account.

"Was it true that you were offered the female lead role daw?" pang-iintriga pa ng host. "And you turned it down?"

Pinong-pino namang humalakhak si Ate Keena. "I guess acting's not just for me."

Sa bagay, sino ba namang hindi pipili sa isang Keena Sagrado? She was the most beautiful, smartest, and most successful daughter of Levi and Nova Sagrado.

Unlike her, ayoko ng maraming atensyon sa akin. I want to achieve success without compromising my privacy.

Pagkatapos ng interview ni Ate Keena ay in-off ko na ang telebisyon. Siya lang naman talaga ang hinihintay ko. Kumbaga moral support ko na ito bilang kapatid niya. Binuksan ko na ang phone ko upang mag-social media ulit.

Before any job or title, you're a person. You deserve kindness, love, and respect. It's okay to prioritize yourself, seek support, and ask for understanding. Your value isn't just in what you do but in who you are. Remember to give yourself the same care and patience you'd offer to others.

- R.M. Drake

Tumpak! Pinindot ko ang heart react sa post na ito na dumaan sa news feed ko.

A co-worker died 2 days ago. HR is busy cleaning out her office & a talk of posting her position. Meanwhile, a family is grieving the loss of a beloved wife and mom. This is a reminder that you are replaceable to your work, but you're invaluable at home. Don't make work your life.

Nalungkot ako bigla nang maalala ko ang marketing head namin at kung paano niya isinakripisyo ang natitirang mga araw na buhay pa ang nanay niya para lang sa deadlines. At the end, both of us were replaced by the company. We had offered not only our services but had also sacrificed precious moments outside of work.

Nanggigigil pa rin ako hanggang ngayon. Hindi ko na talaga uulitin pa ang pagkakamaling iyon.

Isang viral video naman ang sunod na dumaan sa feed ko. May caption 'yon na: Huwag kayong magbabanyo sa 3rd floor!

I hovered my finger over the intriguing post. I was really curious, so I clicked on it, and the sound of giggling girls filled my ears.

They chanted in hushed tones as they tapped on the cubicle door, their knocks resonated like an ominous countdown. "Hanako-san, Hanako-san, Hanako-san."

The room plunged into darkness. Then, a faint light pierced through it as the students frantically switched on their phones' flashlights. The video jolted and swayed as it mirrored their frantic movements while scrambling away from the cubicle. The door creaked eerily, and it inched open as if beckoned by an otherworldly force.

The video then revealed a glimpse of a pair of ghastly, milky-white eyes peering out from within the darkness. It was both unblinking and haunting. It sent the girls into a frenzy of panicked screams as they stormed out of there.

The video ended, and I immediately replayed it to make sure that it was not edited or anything of that sort. Sunod ko namang ginawa ay hinanap kung saang school iyon. Nagulat ako sa nalaman.

"Alohi, get this," tawag sa akin ni Ate Keena na nakauwi na pala.

Suot niya pa rin iyong damit niya sa interview kanina. She was also carrying her beige Hermès Birkin handbag and a paper bag from a fashion brand.

Bumangon ako mula sa sofa at kinuha iyong inaabot niyang paper bag sa akin. "What's this?"

"A replacement for your torn utility jumpsuit during the Beijing Ghost Bus case."

Napangiti ako sa tuwa at kaagad na sinilip ang laman no'n. The utility jumpsuit had the same style and color, only that it came from a fashion brand this time. Iyong nasira ko namang jumpsuit ay tinabasan ko iyong nabutas na manggas at ginawang short sleeves kasi sayang naman kung itatapon. May sentimental value rin kasi iyon sa akin dahil iyon ang unang-una kong binili para sa sarili mula sa severance pay ko.

Dinambahan ko nang yakap si Ate Keena sabay sabing, "Thank you so much! Ikaw talaga ang paborito kong Ate!"

"Silly. I'm you're only eldest sister."

Pagbuwag ko sa yakapan namin ay pinigilan ko muna siyang pumasok sa kwarto niya. "Ate, huwag ka munang magbihis. Samahan mo muna ako."

"Where and why?"

"We're going to catch an Urban Legend in Tavleen's school."

WE TOLD THE security that we would be visiting our younger sister. Pinaiwan lang sa amin ang mga ID namin at pinapasok na kami ni Ate Keena sa loob ng private high school nina Tavleen.

Iti-text pa sana namin si Tavleen kung nasaan siya. Mabuti na lang at namataan agad namin siya sa may bukana ng canteen nila kaya agad namin siyang nilapitan. We did not tell her in advance that we would be coming.

"Tavleen!" tawag ko sa kapatid.

Hindi niya kami narinig kaya minaigi na lang namin siyang lapitan ni Ate Keena. "Tav!"

Nagulat si Tavleen nang makita kami sa tabi niya. "Bakit po kayo nan-Oh my God!"

Napasinghap at sigaw sa gulat ang lahat ng mga nakasaksi nang tumama sa mismong ulo ko ang nalaglag na babasaging bote ng soft drinks mula sa second floor. Tiningala ko ang pinagmulan no'n at maging ang babaeng estudyante na nakatayo roon ay kaagad na umalis sa takot at kaba.

Napapikit ako at tahimik na napainda habang isa-isang kinukuha mula sa ulo ko ang malalaking bubog na bumaon.

"Oh my gosh, Alohi..." pabulong ngunit natatarantang wika ni Ate Keena. "Let's get you to the clinic."

"Ate Alohi, malapit lang dito 'yong clinic. Halika na!"

"Girls, ayos lang ako. Parang hindi niyo naman ako kilala," pagpapakalma ko sa kanila. Binalingan ko si Tavleen at nakangiting sinabi, "Dalhin mo na lang ako sa banyo ng mga babae sa third floor."

Doon nga kami dinala ni Tavleen. I finished removing the debris of glass-bottled soft drinks stuck on my head. Hinugasan ko na lang din ang buhok ko upang matanggal iyong mga dugo.

The girl's bathroom on the third floor seemed isolated. Marahil ay marami na sa mga estudyante ang nakapanood no'ng viral na video ni Hanako-san.

Hanako-san, or Toire no Hanako-san, also known as Hanako-san of the Toilet in English, is a Japanese urban legend about the spirit of a young girl named Hanako-san who haunts school bathrooms, specifically in the third or last stall of the girl's bathroom on the third floor of the building.

To summon her, you must knock on the door three times and call her name. When you open the stall door, you might find a little girl in a red skirt waiting for you.

This bob-haired little girl is Hanako-san herself. She could be lonely and just want a friend to play with, or she might have more sinister intentions, like pulling you into hell through the toilet. Ew!

In different parts of Japan, the Hanako-san legend takes on various forms. Some say she might have a scary, bloody hand that reaches out and grabs you, while others believe she could transform into a lizard that devours unlucky souls.

And just like many urban legends, its origins have different versions depending on who was telling the story. Some versions claim that Hanako-san was a girl who tragically perished during an air raid in World War II while playing hide-and-seek. Others suggest she was a victim of a terrible crime, either at the hands of an abusive parent or a stranger, or that she took her own life in a school bathroom due to bullying.

These eerie stories about Hanako-san have become quite popular in Japanese primary schools, where kids might dare each other to summon her for what they call Kimodameshi, or the "Test of Courage," which is a Japanese activity where people venture into scary and possibly risky locations to challenge their own bravery and conquer their fears.

Mula sa repleksyon sa salamin ay pinanood ko si Ate Keena na kinatok ng tatlong beses ang huling cubicle at tatlong beses na inusal ang, "Hanako-san."

Unti-unting bumukas ang pinto ng cubicle. Ang panganay naman naming kakarampot lang ang pasensyang dala ay tuluyan nang sinipa iyon pabukas.

On the toilet bowl lid sat a little girl with bob-cut hair and bangs, wearing a bright red skirt that accentuated her pale skin and ghostly white eyes.

"Laro tayo?" alok niya sa amin.

"I have no time to play, little bitch."

"Ate, anong ginagawa mo?" tanong ni Tavleen kay Ate Keena na inilabas na at binuksan ang Monsters Playbook na dala niya.

"I'm sealing her back to the book," Ate replied. "I hereby return this en-What the hell is wrong with you, Tavleen?!"

Pumihit ako paharap sa kanilang dalawa nang malakas na binalibag ni Tavleen ang libro paalis sa kamay ni Ate Keena.

Pinulot ko ang libro sa sahig at muling ibinigay iyon kay Ate Keena. Nag-aalalang nilapitan ko naman ang bunsong kapatid na hindi ko maintindihan ang binibigay sa amin ngayong reaksyon. Her lips were quivering, as if she were on the verge of tears.

"May problema ka ba?" kalmadong tanong ko sa kanya.

"Ate... hayaan niyo na siya," pakiusap niya. "Wala naman po siyang mga sinaktan."

"Bakit? She's an Urban Legend. Kailangan natin silang ibalik sa Monsters Playbook."

"Hindi naman kasi ang Book Thief ang nagpalabas sa kanya sa libro." Napayuko siya bago nagpatuloy, "Ako po."

Si Ate Keena na hindi makapaniwala sa narinig ay agad siyang pinangaralan. "Why would you do that? You knew Papa would not approve of this. Hindi laruan ang Monsters Playbook and you were not given that kind of ability to bring out monsters irresponsibly! Bakit ginawa mo pa rin, Tavleen?!"

Nag-angat ng tingin si Tavleen at matapang na sinagot si Ate Keena,"Gusto ko lang naman ng kaibigan, Ate! Masama ba 'yon?!"

Natigilan kaming pareho ni Ate Keena. I took the chance to calmly ask, "Bakit si Hanako-san? Wala ka bang ibang kaibigan dito?"

"Bakit sa tingin mo lagi akong umuuwi nang maaga, Ate? Kung ako lang papipiliin, gusto ko rin namang gabihin sa pag-uwi at magpaalam kay Papa na mamamasyal muna kami ng mga kabarkada ko. Kaso, Ate, wala naman akong mga kaibigan, eh..." Sa pagkakataong iyon ay tuluyan na ring umiyak si Tavleen. "Si Hanako-san, siya lang iyong nag-iisang kumaibigan sa akin at nakinig sa buong school na 'to."

Sinubukang punasan ni Tavleen ang mga luha niya gamit iyong palad at braso niya. Subalit hindi pa rin magkamayaw ang mga iyon sa pagbuhos.

"Alam niyo, Ate, ang laki ng school na 'to, eh. Pero nakakatawa lang kasi iyong lugar kung saan pakiramdam ko welcome ako ay diyan lang," aniya sabay turo sa cubicle kung nasaan si Hanako-san. "Diyan lang sa maliit na espasyo na 'yan. Diyan, sinasamahan ako ni Hanako-san na mananghalian at pinapakinggan."

"Why are these things happening to you?" seryosong tanong ni Ate Keena sa bunso namin na lalo namang umiyak.

"Sinubukan ko namang makipagkaibigan, Ate. Pero walang may gusto sa akin dito simula no'ng mag-transfer ako."

"Bakit nga?" pamimilit ulit ni Ate Keena rito.

"Ate, tama na," kalmadong saway ko sa kanya.

Hinawi lang ni Ate Keena ang kamay ko. "Hindi, Alohi, eh. I can sense that there's a bigger issue here. Ayaw niya lang umamin. Paanong hindi ka magkakaroon ni isang kaibigan dito, Tavleen? Matataas naman ang mga grado mo at mabait kang bata. Paanong ilag sila sa 'yo?"

"Kasi nga po transferee ako!"

Tavleen and I were startled as Ate Keena angrily slammed the door of the other cubicle with her expensive handbag. "Bullshit!" she exclaimed furiously. "Don't take me for a fool, Tavleen. That bottled soft drink that fell on Alohi's head was meant for you, wasn't it?"

Gulat na napatitig naman ako kay Ate Keena. "Anong ibig mong sabihin, Ate?"

"Hindi lang 'yon nagkataon. Sinadya 'yon!"

Napayuko si Tavleen at tinakpan ang mukha ng mga palad niya saka humagulgol. Si Hanako-san ay biglang nakalutang na lumitaw sa likuran ng bunso naming kapatid at niyakap ito mula sa likuran na animo ay pinapatahan.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Ate Keena, parehong tahimik na naiintindihan na kung bakit mahirap para kay Tavleen na ibalik sa Monsters Playbook ang nag-iisang kaibigan. Lumapit na rin kaming dalawa at niyakap ang umiiyak naming kapatid.

Tavleen revealed that she had been bullied by someone with a very influential parent since Grade 11.

IPINATONG KO ANG kanang paa ko sa bench na inuupuan ng isang sosyaling esudyanteng babae na katatapos lang mag-retouch ng lipstick niya. Itinuko ko rin ang kanang palad sa lamesa niya. Nasa may park kami ng pribadong eskuwelahan nila.

Sa paraan ng pagkakatikwas ng kaliwang kilay niya at titig na mapagmataas ay alam mo na agad na may sa-impakta ang batang 'to.

"I was told na rito ko raw matatagpuan ang nagtapon ng boteng 'yon sa ulo ko kanina," nakangiting sabi ko sa kanya.

Her scrutinizing gaze traveled up and down my body, her raised eyebrow not budging. "You look perfectly fine. If not, just head to the clinic and get yourself treated. Hindi ako 'yong nurse."

I couldn't help but scoff in disbelief and out of my growing annoyance. "Pero ikaw may kasalanan nito. Hindi ka man lang ba marunong mag-sorry?"

Tumayo siya saka kinuha ang mamahalin niyang handbag at sinukbit iyon sa braso niya.

"Why? Did you die? Hindi naman, 'di ba? So why would I apologize?"

Nakuyom ko ang kanang kamao ko sa inis at pagpipigil na masungalngal ang demonyitang 'to. She was worse than Ate Keena in terms of attitude!

Aalis na sana siya nang biglang padabog na inilapag ni Ate Keena sa lamesa ang mamahalin niya ring handbag upang kornerin ang babae. "And where do you think you're going?"

Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin ng babae sa amin, matapang pa rin kahit na pansin na niyang mas matanda kami sa kanya at dalawa pa na halatang pagtutulungan siya.

"What do you want? Money? I can giv-"

"Marami ako no'n. Gusto mo bilhin pa kita?" was Ate Keena's snarky comeback.

"Don't you know me?! I'm the governor's precious daughter!" pananakot pa ng spoiled brat sa amin.

I slammed my fist onto the table with a calculated force to intentionally leave a huge crack in its center, much to the kid's surprise. "Saka mo na kami yabangan kung ikaw na mismo 'yong governor."

"You see that girl over there," pag-agaw ni Ate Keena sa atensyon niya sabay turo kay Tavleen na nag-aalalang nanonood sa amin mula sa may puno sa 'di kalayuan. "She's also someone else's precious daughter and our precious little sister."

"Kapag nalaman naming sinaktan at binully mo ulit siya, sisiguraduhin kong hindi lang ang lamesang 'to ang mamabasag," nakangiting saad ko habang hinihimas ang malaking crack sa lamesa.

"Are you ordering me?" Ang tapang sa boses niya ay hindi na umabot pa sa takot na niyang mga mata.

"Don't be ridiculous, sweetie. We're not ordering you. We're warning you," Ate Keena said firmly. She leaned in close to the girl's ear and whispered words that were loud enough for me to catch. "I don't fucking care if it's the governor or the president of the country. If you touch our little sister again, I'm ready to get my hands dirty to get fucking even. And I always fucking win."

Natulala ang bully ni Tavleen nang lumayo sa kanya ang matamis na ngayong nakangiti na si Ate Keena. "Let's go home, Alohi. Our business is done here."

Kinuha niya ang handbag niya sa lamesa at nagsimula nang maglakad. Tumayo na rin ako at hinabol siya. Nilapitan namin ang bunsong kapatid na kanina pa nag-aalala habang naghihintay sa amin.

"Ano pong sinabi niyo sa kanya?"

Inakbayan ko si Tavleen at dinala na siya kasama namin ni Ate Keena pauwi. "Ate Keena's magic words exorcised the demons out her."

"Hindi na raw po ba siya uulit?"

"If she did it again, tell us immediately," sagot naman ni Ate Keena. "Huwag mong solohin o tiisin, Tavleen. God blessed you with beautiful and strong elder sisters to share your pain and precious moments with. Anong silbi ng lakas ng Ate Alohi mo kung hindi niya masusupalpal ang mukha ng impaktang 'yon?!"

Nagtawanan kaming tatlo habang naglalakad palabas ng school at pauwi sa amin. Kasama rin pala naming umuwi si Hanako-san. We shared the whole story with Papa and joined Tavleen in pleading for his consent to keep her friend from being banished back into the Monsters Playbook. We also asked him if she could stay with us in the Library.

Pinangaralan muna kaming tatlo ni Papa sa mga tungkulin namin bilang Book Keepers ng Sagrado Library at pagharap sa mga problema sa labas ng tahanan namin. He gently reminded us that we always had each other to share our troubles with, protect, and support. He emphasized that facing challenges alone wouldn't make the pain any easier or solve the issue at hand. Ohana means family, and family means nobody is left behind or forgotten.

"Okay, pumapayag na ako sa dalawang kondisyon. Ang unang kondisyon ay kapalit nang hindi ko pagbabalik sa kanya sa Monsters Playbook. Ang pangalawa naman ay para sa pananatili niya rito sa Library," ani Papa na maagap naman naming tinanguan na tatlo. Kahit na si Hanako-san ay tahimik na tumango rin bilang tugon.

"First, you must accompany Tavleen whenever she is out of the Library. As you can see, my youngest daughter has only mastered the abilities of a Reader. She has yet to learn how to defend herself, so I will count on you to protect her. Second," Papa told Hanako-san. He then smiled before saying, "Please treat this Library as your home and our family as your own."

Tuwang-tuwa namang binalingan ni Tavleen ang kaibigan. "Hanako-san, narinig mo 'yon? Welcome to the family!" aniya at niyakap nang mahigpit ang kaibigang Urban Legend na sa kabila nang nakakatakot na kaanyuan ay naggawang ngumiti nang taos-puso.

"Okay!" I stood up and gently ruffled the little girl's hair. "Anong paborito mong pagkain nang maluto ko sa hapunan?"

Ate Keena scoffed. "Why are you asking her? Ask me. She doesn't even eat."

"Go ahead, Hanako-san," Papa encouraged. "Sa pamilyang 'to, walang nagugutom."

"P-Pizza..." nahihiyang sagot naman ni Hanako-san. "Saka ice cream, cookies and cream. Gusto ko rin po ng cake at 'yong crispylicious, juicylicious Chicken Joy."

"Wow ha..." Ate Keena mumbled in disbelief. "Anong mga kalokohan ba tinuturo mo rito, Tavleen?"

We all laughed, enjoying the bond and warmth that enveloped us that day.

「 ✦ 𝓛𝓸𝔀𝓵𝓪 𝓟𝓲𝓷𝓴𝓸 ✦ 」

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