July 24, 2022 SUNDAY (6:40 am)
It was raining tremendously when Ivanna woke up suddenly because of a loud noise coming from her phone. Her body is quite exhausted after working yesterday at her side job non-stop. She doesn't need to work, but the issue is whether she wants to. Both of her parents were wealthy, but even so, she still wanted to be independent in her life. For her, spending money that comes from her hard work is priceless rather than spending her parents' money. And so she persevered. She changed her identity into a prugal girl instead of her usual lifestyle. She now lives in the apartment instead of her parents' mansion. She became a working student and paid for her tuition fees instead of relying on her parents' money. All so she can prove to herself and to her family that she can live independently. She looked into her phone and her brows immediately furrowed. Someone sent her a text message. It is from an unknown number and she doesn't remember anyone she gave her number to except her parents and her best friend.
From: 09383558244
GOOD MORNING
At least it is not a scam message. But who would text her just to say a greeting? Either it's one of her friends who buys a new simcard or a random prankster that somehow got her number. But ignoring a message is not her forte and that's why, even though her system is screaming danger, she decided to call the unknown number. It rang for 5 seconds and then it stopped. That means someone answered the call, right? But why the sudden quietness? "Hello?" she asked softly, voiced hoarse because of her sleepiness.
"Y.u...c.ll.d...m.?...Sh..i.ah" immediately, she moved her phone far away from her ears after the voice finished talking. It's voice is static and glitchy so that it irritates her ears. What is happening? Is this because of signal interference? She can't understand anything it's saying. The voice is from a man? She is not entirely sure, as the static noises are far stronger than the voice. So, without any choices, she chose to end the call. That's weird... She was about to shut down her phone and go back to sleep when her phone vibrated again. Notifying another text on her phone. She reluctantly looks at it and sighs. The text is from the unknown number she just called a minute ago. How come he can send a message faster when his signal is bad?
From: 09383558244137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCk3ousDKER
DON'T CALL ME. I AM IN A BAD PLACE. SIGNAL WON'T WORK. TEXT IS ENOUGH
Well... At least he acknowledged that he was in a bad place. Why did he text like an alien? This was the first time she encountered someone who texted in capital letters and in fewer words. Curious as she was about this unknown man, she started to send a question to him.
To: 09383558244
Where are you exactly for your signal to be THAT bad? How come you can send a message that fast then?
It takes a few second before another reply comes from him.
From: 09383558244
DON'T KNOW
Two words. He only sent her two words, but somehow these words unsettled her more. How come he doesn't know where he is? Is he perhaps... Kidnapped?! Maybe that's why his signal is bad and he doesn't know where he is! At this conclusion, her sleepiness completely changed into worry about this unknown man. She tried to ask him but she abruptly stopped when she thought about his possible situation. Maybe the kidnapper is monitoring him and if they knew their plans then it could be bad for the man. They could hurt him or worse... Kill him without remorse. She shuddered at these thoughts and imagined the man's possible situation. Shit! What to do? She was starting to plan something when another reply was sent from the unknown number.
From: 09383558244
DON'T WORRY. I AM SAFE. JUST WANT TO TALK TO YOU.
Safe? So... Is he not kidnapped? She sighed in relief and looked at her phone with anger in her eyes. Well, it is her fault for assuming he is in danger, but you can't fault her when he is texting her like that. If the man was not in any immediate danger, then she had no need to further entertain him, right? With that, Ivanna shuts down her phone and goes back to her sleep, thinking a little bit about the strange man who texted her.
AFTER 5 MONTHS...
4 months have passed but Ivanna and the strange man are still in touch with each other. In those months, Ivanna kept asking for the strange man's name and yet all she received was none, but this didn't make her give up a way to make the man tell his name. Slowly but surely, the man had no choice but to reveal his name. Even though he only replied to her with a letter 'C', Ivanna knew she would someday break off his guard around her. This month was no different.
DECEMBER 24, 2022 SATURDAY Christmas Eve (11:30 pm)
Ivanna is inside the kitchen preparing for Christmas when her phone once again vibrates, signaling that someone has messaged her. With haste, she wiped her hands on the hand towel and quickly reached for her phone from her short pocket. A smile formed on her lips as soon as she read who the message came from.137Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWxGiIHHUG
From: 09383558244
ONE HOUR BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
This man she doesn't know the real name but C somehow made his way to her heart, especially when he knew what her favourites were and what she enjoyed very much. C made her happy again, which some other men couldn't do. 4 months had passed and yet C still didn't change. Its message is still uncompleted and every letter is cap locked, like the button for cap locking is somehow stuck on his keyboard. She once makes a joke out of it and, hilariously as it is, C makes no comment about it. She guessed that humor was of no importance or he didn't know what a joke was. She told her close friends about C but all they said was that the man was creepy and should be avoided at all cost.
To: 09383558244
Yes, advance Merry Christmas! I wished I could see you though! We have been messaging for 4 months and I didn't even have your complete name yet. I want to meet you.
Like the first month they messaged, it only takes a second for C to sent a reply.
From: 09383558244
WANT TO SEE ME? COME TO HEDIOSA CEMETERY. Under BIG CHERRY BLOSSOM TREE. I WILL COME.
Ivanna is shocked when C for the first time offered to see her. She have been texting him before for them to meet but C was so adamant to say no. What changed then? And why the cemetery? She knew the cemetery because she have visited it before but she didn't knew there was a cherry blossom there before. All thinking aside, she didn't mind meeting with him. This is a blessing especially that she wanted this to happen and tell C her feelings.
To: 09383558244
Alright. Wait for me okay? I will come in the cemetery.
She didn't wait for C to message her anymore. She tidy-up all the things she used in preparing foods and head to the bathroom. She washed her body quickly and excitedly. A smile never leaving her beautiful face. It took her a minute to finish her shower and heads to her bedroom to change her clothes. She chose to wear a red turtleneck blouse and a plain black pleated skirt. She matched it with white sandals and styled her hair in a messy bun. Once she made sure she is ready, she pocketed her phone in her small black shoulder bag and get out of her apartment. Before she can leave though, she didn't notice the approaching steps behind her.
"Ivanna, you look fabulous! Do you have a date for today?!" a familiar voice made her look who it is and there she found her neighbor Mrs. Green; an old widow. She blushed at the sudden question and flusteredly shakes her head. A date?! She never thought of that while dolling herself but this could be their first date if C even wanted it to. "oh! You are blushing hehe! I was only joking but I guess base on your reaction, you wanted it to be a date. If that is the case, then I'm not going to take your time any further. Good luck young un." the old woman only smiled teasingly and bid her farewell. Ivanna take a deep breath and continued her journey to the cemetery. She doesn't need to ride a taxi or any vehicles as the cemetery is only a few walks away from her apartment. This is true as it only take 30 minutes before she reached the gate of the cemetery. The cemetery is littered with some people but still quiet as usual. It looks like they will spend their Christmas in here with their dead love ones. That's very understandable as she's also doing it before when her lovely aunt died. It took years for her to get over to her aunt's death as they were inseparable when she was still a child. Ivanna surveyed the place, searching for the big cherry blossom tree. It didn't took her seconds though as she found it the moment she look to her right. The cherry blossom tree is big. Really big and the leaves is bright and blooming even if the sky is without any light. The gardeners took care of the tree and they did a very good job for that even if some of the bermuda grass is dying. With a smile, she immediately walked to the path under the big cherry blossom tree and waited. Before that though, she looked into her phone for any messages. The only message she receive though was from C.
From: 09383558244
I'M HERE. ALRIGHT. I'LL WAIT.
The message was sent 30 minutes ago and yet there was no one here yet. Her eyebrow frowns and checked the time on her phone. It's already 12:49. If C was here, then maybe he couldn't wait so he left? Disappointment slowly crept in her chest and her excited smile warps into nervousness. What if the stranger really is a prankster? What if this man who she only known as C is a wanted mad man and decided to kill her? Geez... She's really waiting for him without knowing his real identity. Irritation is visible in her frown eyebrows but Ivanna has no choice but to closed her eyes and wished this would be a good meeting for this unexpected stranger. How can she not, when she feels so strangely attached to the man immediately?
*ehem*
A sudden cough startles her and she decided to open her eyes. A woman in her 50's is now looking at her with a curious glint in their eyes. Huh? How long is this strange woman staring at her? The woman steps back a little bit and look into some people enjoying themselves right beside at the graves of their loved ones. Ivanna tried to walked away from here but she still hopes for the man to come back so she is still a little bit hesitant. The air around them is awkward but the woman break it suddenly with a smile on her face. "I'm sorry, miss. You just reminded me of my late son." son? Now, that was random. How come I reminded her of her son? "he also stood here under this big cherry blossom tree when he has a lot to think about of. Especially when he's talking about his unrequited love. Are you here to also visit his grave?" at the mention of this, Ivanna suddenly recoils from her standing position. Abruptly forgetting about the purpose of her being here. Her son's grave? She immediately look unto the woman who just smiles sadly and places a wrath of lilies besides her where a small gravestone eerily stood. How come she didn't noticed that grave? Curiosity crept up in her insides and asked discomfort providing her comfort.
"your son... When and how did he dies?" the woman sat in the grass floor never leaving her eyes from the grave. Treasuring the moment and inhaling the smell of the blooming tree.
"Calex... My son dies at the age of 20. He never get to continue and graduate to his college course. He told me different things about his studies, his adversities, and even her lingering feelings for her crush. I know everything of how happy he became whenever his crush gets awards every graduation day and yet... And yet he never told me his underlying illness." Ivanna also sat down besides the woman and she can't help but feel a little sympathy when the woman shed some tears after telling the story about her son. She knows the woman is still broken about what happened to her son and she knows that feelings so well. Ivanna kept quiet and only listens to the woman. She might be feeling discomfort, irritation, and frustration for the man leaving without a word and informing her but she's not a jerk to ruined the woman's moment. Besides... The woman's story makes Ivanna so intrigued and she don't know why. "He kept his illness to himself all so I could not worry about him. He endured every pain and hide it with a smile. He is strong and yet he is shy when it comes to his crush." Ivanna and the woman both giggled at that and the woman continues her story with a smile. "But he is getting there... He told me he will build up his confidence to talked to her through phone calls and messages. He gets her number from one of her friends and excitedly shows me the paper where that number is written. Everyday, he memorized it to heart. Then he promised me that on the day of July 24 2019, he will finally talk to her." her smile slowly drops and more tears continue to gushed out of her eyes. "But those promise of him didn't get to be done as that day is the day of his death. He suddenly collapsed at his classroom and arrived dead at the hospital. I was so devastated and I don't know what to do. He is very sweet and I miss every bits of it. Even now." misery, regret and sadness. That's what Ivanna can feel in the woman's story. She is still mourning even to this day and that is very relatable as Ivanna also mourned her aunt's death for 10 years. An idea suddenly sparks on Ivanna's mind when she looked at the woman's son's grave. She remembered the promise...
"then... So you still have his crush's phone number? I mean, if your son didn't get to tell his crush how he felt then we can just try to tell her right now. It might be late but at least we can finished his promise and made him smile even for a little bit." the woman looks at Ivanna incredulously and yet the woman can't help but smile at her suggestion. The woman wipes her tears away and open her bag searches for several pockets before she give the wrinkled old paper right back to Ivanna's waiting hands. Ivanna looked at what's written on the paper and her smile immediately fades from her lips. Cold sweat slowly drops from her body and uneasiness follows. With shaking hands, she looks back at the woman who only gave her a curious and worried look.
"is there something wrong, miss? Why do you look like you seen a ghost?" what the woman asked didn't even registered in her mind and what all she is thinking about is what's currently on her hands. The cellphone number... 09282449122 is her number even now.
"Who is your son's crush?" with trembling hands and voice, Ivanna asked slowly wishing for a different answer. Thinking all of this was just a deep coincidence. The woman closed her eyes to think and only opened it a minute after.
"if I can remember right, Shaninah Gonzales is her name... He told me his crush changed her name to Ivanna Delta though 6 days before his death. Why? Do you know whose number it is?" Ivanna's breathe hitched and gulped slowly because of the sudden revelation. She can felt her hairs standing on her body... Calex is the woman's son's name. Calex got her number. C is the first name of the man she called to. And she is Calex's crush. All of the puzzle pieces is connecting together. She called a ghost. It texted her. And the worse of it all, the ghost stole her heart. A notification from her phone made her startled and with still shaking hands, she looked at it and she can feel her heart dropping when she received C's message. Making her tears gushed out as well.
From: 09383558244
I CAN SEE YOU. YOU LOOK PRETTY. KIND AS ALWAYS. IM SORRY I LIED. JUST WANT TO BE REMEMBERED. BY YOU.
⛔⛔⛔⛔⛔⛔⛔⛔⛔⛔⛔⛔⛔⛔⛔
A/n: sorry I need to stop it right there. I can't continue it myself 😭😭 still feeling some goosebumps from the not so same paranormal experience (thank god mine was only in dreams) and just wanted to share this story. How about you? Do you believe in ghosts?
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