It's the beginning of autumn when your grandfather's birthday is being celebrated. You reminisce the time when he blows the candles on his cake with your help and you will clap your hands in delight as all candles were off in your one, big blow before wishing him a Happy Birthday. It really is a wonderful event but it all ended last year due to his death because of heart failure. At his funeral, you wished that all those times be brought back and spend more of his birthday with all of your family members.But you know that's not the way how life goes and you did nothing but to accept the fact that your grandfather is dead. Today, you are walking down the sidewalk towards the cemetery where he rests to offer some candles and flowers as a remembrance of his birthday. If he was alive by now, he should be seventy-two of age. You put on a wry smile as you walk, thinking of the words he would say if ever he was still alive. You could already picture his face wrinkling up just to put on the familiar smile that stops your crying when you were little. You thought that he will still do the same if you came home depressed from High School.

After a few minutes of walking, you finally arrived at the cemetery's entrance. You tilted your head to look at the sign and heaves a sigh as you remember the very same sign that you set eyes on at the funeral of your grandfather. The sky turned gray and rain started to pour as the slow and mournful procession started, like the heavens also mourned for another loss-- for your loss. You didn't mind the heavy rain at those times, as long as you can glance upon your grandfather's coffin for one last time until it was lowered down to its final resting place. You remembered that at those times; when everybody left, you sat on the soft ground beside the covered pit, remembering the happy times you had with your grandfather; not just on his birthdays but on your everyday life as well. You  were crouching down and hugging your knees like a five year old and didn't mind the rain that was soaking your petite body. Amidst the sorrow that your heart felt that time, you wondered when the rain stopped pouring down to you. When you tilted your head, you saw a familiar face, holding an umbrella on top of you; not minding if he's getting wet as well. You wanted to ask who he was but he left the umbrella and ran away. After a year, you are here today: In the same place, hoping that you two will cross paths again. The sky was getting a bit red because you arrived by late afternoon. You strolled around until you found your grandfather's grave. A smile automatically showed on your face as you saw the unique name of your grandfather on his niche. You crouch down to get a couple of thin candles lighted up but it seems that the wind keeps blowing the flame off. You chuckled.

"Grandpa, I know it's your birthday but blow the candles once~" you murmured; as if talking to your grandfather.

You failed a few times but you got the candles lighted after another few tries then starts saying some prayers and singing a birthday song to him. You sat on the soft grass while giving out some stories to him about your current status: how you graduated from High school, how you ventured in the city alone just to get your entrance exams and all. You teared up at the moment you said that he wasn't there anymore to guide you. You cried softly because of his loss and you didn't noticed that you fell asleep.

------

A few moments later, a soft voice keeps telling you to wake up. You groaned loudly as you sat up while rubbing your eyes.

"Ooh~ Where am I?" you murmured with a soft yawn.

"You're at the cemetery. Didn't you know that you fell asleep?" the young man asks.

You focused your sight at the young man in front of you. You jumped in surprise as you realize who just woke up you. "__________?" you asked. He nodded and you squealed in delight. He was one of your favourite idols in a Korean band and he was crouching in front of you; looking worried and such. He smiled at the fact that somebody knew him even though he wasn't on his home country. He helped you stand up and stares at you with a questioning look. You gasped in realization that it was already late and you got flustered because your mother might scream at you if you don't go home right now.

"Umm, ________, if it's okay to ask but, what are you doing here?" I asked. He looks at me.

"I was looking for someone. Locals says that this is where my late girlfriend was buried but I still couldn't find her name on the niches." he explained. I got a bit surprised that he got a girlfriend at his age. But, it didn't even get reported that he has a girlfriend in Korea. Was their relationship made in secrecy? You thought. But the girl is dead and there's no way that the fans will care anyways. In fact, they wouldn't even believe if this came out to the media.

"I can help you look for it~" You offered. "I know this cemetery more so I might be able to help you search for it."

"Jinjja? Oh thank you so much. I wish I could repay you at some sort." he said with a thankful expression on his face.

"An autograph is fine with me~" you chirped happily as you stood up and offered your hand to him. He took your hand and replies with a nod. You threw away the fact that your mother will be angry and you went to help him.

The two of you started your unusual gravehopping on the dark scenario, using the brightness of your phone as your only light. The cemetery is really creepy and the only lights on the place are the lamposts lined on the sidewalks. The apartment-styled burials aren't even well lighted so it sent goosebumps on  you and you could feel the hairs on the back ofyour neck rising because of the uncomfortable feeling lingering on the air around the two of you. You can't help it but to cling on his arm. You heard him chuckle. To hide your embarassment, you asked if he found the name already.

"Not yet..." He sighed.

"But were already at the cemetery's boundary. It's still not here?" you asked. This time, he didn't care to reply a word.

The two of you continued walking until you came face to face with a large wall. Written on it were the words: Dead End. You gulped and tried to pull him back to the entrance. But as you pull him, he didn't seem to budge. You tried calling his name but he didn't respond. His body didn't move as well. It's only a few minutes when he suddenly moved and he pinned you to the wall. You were caught in surprise and almost dropped your phone as he leaned closer to you. You are flustered and you know to yourself that you are blushing amidst the dark scenario around you, espacially when he leans down to your ear. You trembled as you felt something slick and wet on your earlobe, guessing that it was his tongue, you hugged his neck quickly and tilted your head for more. But as you did, he quickly retreated and whispers low.

"You are mine, ________"

"Mm... yes oppa... I'm yours." you mumbled aagainst his ear.

"Then, let's live down to your grave together, shall we?" he whispered again. This time, you got confused and makes him face you. But as he lifted his head, you screamed in horror as the once charismatic and handsome face of his was replaced by a horrendous image of a rotting corpse's head.

"AAAAHHHHH!!!!" you screamed and pushed him away.

It was so horrifying that you didn't even mentioned turning around to look at him. You could only hear the earthly moans he was eliciting and his angelic, if not charming, voice is now gone. The cemetery became your hide and seek venue. You ran and ran without a hitch, taking multiple turns at curves and stepping into the grassy patch where millions of souls rested. You stoop down in one of the apartment-styled burials to catch your breath when you thought you couldn't hear his voice anymore. The place was getting creepier by the moment and you could feel the thick mist covering your surroundings which made your heart pound even more. You noticed that you were leaning by an open burial and before you could totally get away, you saw two arms with sleeves like that of the casual attire coming out of it and grabbing your long, black hair. You screamed in fright even more as you frantically tried to get away from it. Reaching on your pocket for a small swiss knife, you forcefully cut your hair to get away from its grasps and ran away again.

"_________ Where are you?" You heard his voice again and you knew you had to run away. It was hours since you've been running but it seems that the exit is really far away from you. Just then, you had an idea. If you can find your grandfather's grave, it means that you are near the exit. You murmured Grandpa please help me... repeatedly to yourself as you scan the soil swiftly and cautiously. By the corner of your eye, you spotted the only grave with the boquet of flowers you left and your hope rises that you can get out of the cemetery and forget all about this. But as you passed by your grandfather's grave, an arm quickly shoots from the ground and grabs your ankle very tight. You shouted and yelled for help but to no avail. A head quickly follows and you recognized that it was your grandfather because of the slight feature on his face (given that it's only been a year since he's buried so he didn't decompose that much.)

"G-G-Grandpa...?" you stuttered as you glanced at him. You saw him smile but it gave you the goosebump instead.

"I'm so happy you greeted me on my birthday, grand daughter... But I'll only rest if you can accept his hand for marriage." he spoke casually and points back to my bias who was now nothing but a corpse from the dead. You hollered in disdain and tries to break away from his hold but it gets tighter and tighter the more I struggle. Your heart beats like crazy as your bias trudges towards your direction until he came hold to your wrist and threw you to a very deep pit. You groaned in pain and grimaced a bit as you rub your back. You looked up at him, who resumes on his normal face and holding a note on his hand.

"I found my girlfriend's grave already!" he declared with a smile.

You thought that he was just joking and decided to play along, even though you admitted that he was kind of crazy and absurd. "R-Really? W-W-What was her name, by the way." You saw him smirked.

"___________" he replied sarcastically.

You gasped as he pronounced your whole name and struggled to get out of the pit but he already covered you with the sticky soil and your screams were muffled. You tried to escape but the soil was too soft and you can't do anything but to plead inside your mind until everything went black.

"_________!!! Ireona! Hey! Get a grip!" a voice repeated. You jolted up in surprise while catching your breath and turns to look at him.

"What happened?" You asked with a quivering voice.

"You were kind of having a bad dream and it made me worry so much." Your bias stated, his face painted with worry. You can't help it but to cry as you saw him and threw your hands around him. He didn't know what to do so he hugged you back as well while soothing you. You told him everything but all he said is that those are just nothing but a bad dream. He helped you up and gathered your things as you walk away.

"Oh wait! I think I left my phone." You said and returned to where you were reclining. You found your phone by the large root of the Balete Tree and picked it up.

But before you go away, you realized that you were sleeping in front of the Balete Tree or more like, you were reclining by the Balete Tree. You glanced at your bias who was waiting patiently for you. He waves back at you but you only gulped in response and hurriedly removed your jacket; only to put it on reversed. When you looked at your bias, you saw nothing left of what was there and your bags were on the floor. You blinked a few more to believe what you saw and that's where you realized that you were being played by something that you yourself cannot see. You could feel your heart racing once again and you quickly did a sign of the cross before scurrying away back home. 

As you arrived back home, your older sister gasped as she saw how your long hair was cut messily. She quickly told this to your mother but you ran up your room to hide in the corner. You shivered in fright as you cupped your once long hair and you couldn'thelp but to cry and mumble It's all real... over and over again. Suddenly, a thick fog covered your room and you could feel yourself suffocating on it. You tried to call for help but your voice was silenced by the unknown. You looked around in hope to find some help but you couldn't see clearly. On the dark room which was only lighted by the illumination of the moon, you could make out a shadow approaching you. You coughed and tried to scream but nothing came out of your mouth. It's him, your bias. He was wearing a creepy smirk on his face and he grips on your hair harshly. He brings himself closer to you and you tried to squirm away but the more actions you did, the more your breath was getting harder.

"Rest in Peace, my Yeobo~"

That night, your sister found you dead in your messed up room while clutching the band's album with one hand while the other took out your own throat.

©r.e.q.u.i.e.m.○7

How was it? Kind of confusing, right? :\ for pinoys, ang alam ko ay nuno sa punso ang nagbibigay ng ganoon or duwende ba 'yun? :P Naguguluhan ako kaya parang nangyari is pinaglaruan siya ng lamang lupa hanggang sa pag uwi niya... tas namatay siya dahil dun... TT Thanks for reading and comment your feedbacks.