The red string

Today is the year 2021, the month of February. Three months passed since I last talked to Tycen. I’ve been so busy but made sure to have time to hate my life. “Ate, I got a message from Tito Lan; they’re going to visit us today!” Paris yelled. See? I’m such a busy person, but I make sure that I always have time to complain. 

I ran towards the living room and picked up the broom at the back of our front door when I suddenly saw my mom—looking at me as if I was about to be beheaded because of my sins. I relaxed my body and smiled at her. She was trying to look normal like before. She smiled back and put her left hand on the wall for support while walking limply, going back to her room. I still can’t get used to seeing mom looking like that, unable to spit out words she wanted to say. I always needed her when I feel troubled, her words are my medicine, and now I’m getting worst since I’ve been skipping my meds.

After I cleaned the living room, I immediately entered my room, grabbed all the crumpled papers scattered on the floor, and shot it into the trashcan beside my table. But I suddenly saw a man’s silhouette in my peripheral vision. Cold crawled up to my spine. I slowly turned to my side. 

Fuck, someone is standing still beside my bookshelves. I stand up and stroll backward to my table, trying to grab anything that I can use to defend myself. How did he end up here in my fucking room without us noticing? And how can he afford to look relaxed as hell as if I’m blind enough not to see him?

“You can see me?”, he asked narrowing his eyebrows. What the hell is he talking about? I’m not blind! 

“Of course, I see you. What are you, a ghost?” I said sarcastically. The fuck! I’ve been practicing this all the time in front of my mirror. I know how scary I look when I don’t smile. I look at him as if I was about to torture him. He must not see that I’m trembling. His mouth hangs open, suddenly seems so shocked. What the fuck is he trying to do, fool me? 

He suddenly nods and slowly walks toward me. No, no, no! I’m scared. I tightly squeezed the puncher I’m holding. He holds his right hand up and is about to touch me, and I’m ready to smash this puncher on his head when suddenly I felt cold. I look at his hands, and they infiltrate my body. I just found myself screaming my lungs out. I hear a loud bang coming from my door, and my little sister appears. 

“Why are you screaming?” she asked, looking concerned. She exactly looks like mom. Her concerned face made me feel like mom was in front of me, trying to calm me down. And that’s what I think right now, calm. I compose myself before speaking so that my voice won’t shake and Paris won’t panic.

“Do you see him?” I did it.

“Who?” she looks as confused now as I am.

“The man in front of me.”, I screech. I can show her how tough I am, but I don’t have enough patience to explain everything. She arches one of her brows and puts her hands on both sides of her hips. She can pass as mom’s carbon copy. How I wish she also inherited our mom’s persistence and diligence.

“Seriously, Sydney? Are you kidding me? It’s just you and me inside this small room.”, she said. I shake my head and pointed to the man in front of me. He looked dazed as me, and he pulls out his hand that was stuck inside me. And he walks toward my little sister. 

“Are you sisters?” he asked while walking and looking back at me. He seems more relaxed than before. I wonder if this happens to him regularly. What a psycho!

“Yeah.”, I answered. Why am I even answering his stupid question? This is bullshit. ‘What the hell?’ Paris mouthed. 

“But why does she looks prettier than you are?” he says while grinning. So childish of him to provoke me with that stupid remarks. I almost rolled my eyes 360 degrees. “Oh shut up, you pervert ghost.”, I shouted. 

“What the hell, Sydney? You’re paranoid! You’re making me and mom scared for nothing!” Paris shouted back. I know she’s just scared as I am, but mom’s not here, though.

“Does she really can’t see me?” he asked while scanning my sister. “But how do you can and she can’t?”, he stopped in front of my sister, trying to level with her height. 

“He’s in front of you, Ris.”, I warned. Her eyes got wider, and suddenly her face turned red. Why did her face turn red instead of pale? What’s wrong with her body?

“Stop it.”, her voice shakes. “It’s getting scarier. And why is it cold here all of a sudden?” He was about to touch my sister’s chin, and I automatically throw the puncher towards them, and he grabbed it. “Wow!” she exclaimed as if she was watching a live magic show. “Why the hell is this thing floating?” she murmurs, and I saw how her red face turned pale. Maybe the thoughts are now sinking in inside her, and she passed out. I can’t help but shake my head with my sister’s fainting.

“You can hold things?” I’m also shocked that he can catch that puncher, but he can’t hold us. He shakes his head and dropped the puncher. He sat beside my sister, checking if she was still alive. How kind of him.

“She just passed out. She’ll be going to wake up soon; just let her.”, I said. Paris doesn’t usually faint, only when she’s in shock, specifically with ghosts. The doctor said that we don’t have anything to worry about; it’s not deadly or what. “Who are you?”, his brows met as if he was disgusted by my question. 

“No memories?” I added. He didn’t answer me. “Why are you here?” I asked again, but then again, he ignored me. He keeps scanning the room as if he just walked in here.

“Was your third eye open? Aren’t you scared of ghosts? Why are you no longer panicking at this state?” he asked constantly, but I remained silent. Why would I answer your question when you’re not even answering mine. You sow what you reap. He suddenly looked at me while narrowing both of his eyebrows; I almost stumbled on both feet when our eyes met. 

“Fuck it!” I hissed. He suddenly grinned as if his plan worked out. “You’re still scared, just putting up a front.”, he laughed a little. Just imagine that you have to shit, but you’re in the middle of an important meeting. Would you show everyone that you have to shit? Of course not!

“Of course, I’m still scared. Look at that face; who would not fear that?” I teased. He glared at me. How he looks now somehow reminds me of a whistling kettle. Maybe I stepped on his ego, which serves him right. He’s been roasting me since a while ago.

“Aha! This face costs a lot!” he clapped back. 

“Ew, plastic. No doubt it is terrifying.”, I exclaimed, he was about to protest, but Paris suddenly gets up. 

“Wow, you didn’t even bother to put me on your bed.”, she crowed. I scratched the back of my head.

“I have scoliosis remember? I can’t carry heavy things.”, she lightly spanks her forehead, realizing it is a bit too late.

“Oh yeah, I forgot sorry.”, she gasped. She was about to leave the room but suddenly get back and walk towards me in a hurry. She looks in every corner of my room as if she’s about to tell me a secret that would end the world in a second. She leans her face on my ear with her hands covering her mouth and my ear.

“Is he still here?” she whispered while looking around. I looked at the ghost standing again beside my bookshelf while lifting both of his shoulders. Her voice was too quiet to be heard by him; maybe it’s just too obvious. “No, he’s gone.”, I lied. She breathed deeply. 

“What a relief. I got to go; I have to wash the dishes so that I can go outside and play,” she yelled and ran toward the door. Even if I say no, she’ll be doing whatever she wants. Her name suits her very well. Paris — the city of freedom and, of course, love. She knows what she wants, and she’ll do it without hesitations — without thinking about anyone, when I said anyone, we’re not exempted.

“Liar!” he murmured. I rolled my eyes and continued cleaning my room. I won’t get surprised if I see my eyes all-white one day due to rolling it so much. “Tell me more about yourself.”, he added. He settled on the top of my table and crossed his hands.

“Why would I do that?” I asked while sweeping the dirt on the floor.

“It won’t do any harm to you, though. I’m a ghost.”, he said. It made me stop sweeping and look at him intently. His face says nothing, but his voice is full of bitterness. I wonder if I sound like him. I shake my head and continue sweeping the floor.

“I can’t, and can’t you see how busy I am? I don’t have time to hang out or at least put myself first. So can you please get lost?” I pointed out. It’s easy to say to put yourself first, but when you’re already in the situation you have to choose, you don’t have time to think. Your instincts will decide without asking what you want.

“Then let’s add some fun to your boring busy life.”, he declared. My heart pounds a little faster and faster. I’m confused. Is it because I’m scared, or is it because I’m happy? I looked him in the eye; he reminds me of one person who put a lot of fun in my life but then leave. If you’re going to ask me why I don’t know the answer, I didn’t dare to ask why. I just let him leave me, making him think that I’m happy. “Help me,” he spoke again, breaking the silence between us. 

“Why would I help you?” I raised my left eyebrow. 

” It’s because you’re the only alive who can see me.”, he stated. 

” No, I can’t see you.”, I said and pretending to be blind. 

” Are you nuts?” he jerked. I glared at him. “Oh, now you can see me.”, he laughed. I tried to punch him, but I stick into the winds. 

” Perks of being a ghost, no pain.”, he giggled. Physical pain, yeah, but emotional pain? I highly doubt that. Why am I sad? Is it because of him?

” How envious is that.” I exclaimed, trying to shake all the sympathy I might build for him.

” Cut the crap. Please help me. Please.” he suddenly acts cute. Ew, okay. Not going to lie; he has a face. Of course, he has a face, but I mean, he doesn’t look that good or bad either.

” You look stupid.” I jeered and turned my back and picked up the dustpan. I was about to walk towards the door when he suddenly appeared in front of me. I dropped the dustpan, and the dirt was scattered all over the floor again. I won’t be able to finish this sweeping thing because of him. I leveled my fist in his face and screeched. He suddenly posed a smirk and pecked his left cheek with my fist.

” I would take that as a yes.”, he hypothesized. 

” No! I already told you that I couldn’t!” 

” Cause you’re a total broke?”

” I can’t, and even if I can, I won’t.”

” That’s too much!” 

” Yeah, and you’re too much for me to bear.” He was taken aback. He looks at me as if I told him to kill himself. He suddenly vanished. Did I say too much? Oh my god. My conscience is eating me up.