Week #1 Contest: Encounters From the Unseen

Growing up in the countryside, where there aren't much population and a place where people often rest as the sun sets, stories of experiencing strange or unexplainable things are just normal to hear. May it come from a drunk who doesn't have a clear mind and having illusions, people claiming that they have a third eye to see the unseen, from avid believers, or from parents who wanted to scare their children to sleep. I have experiencies that fit the criteria but happened during childhood.

When I was six, our only source of water supply is our old well which was used since my great grandparents's childhood until ours. Later on, it was ignored when my late Uncle have dug up a spring and built a reservoir around it, connecting a water hose from there to our house for convenience which we are using until now and even the neighbors are benefitting from it. But before that, we have some unusual encounters from the old well first.

As usual, I would be with my mother while she would do her laundry at the well since no one would look after me at home. I'll just play whatever game I could think, then she would just let me while she does her task. Then one time, I slipped and fell to the well. Luckily, the waters weren't that deep and I was saved by my mother immediately.

The next day, I was excreting blood instead of solid waste and they believed that I was punished by the encantos living in the well. The albularyo was summoned and their speculations were confirmed by him. My memory was vivid after, but all I remember was my father brought offerrings to the well as per the albularyo's suggestion. Since then, I get cured and I can't remember that the well was used after the incident.

After that incident when I was kid, nothing more happened. My fear and belief with such things constantly disappeared. Not until when I work there in Manila during pandemic. I was staying in my Lady Boss' home which is very spacious, but only three are living. At the first floor was cozy and comfortable, and you'll home instantly but at the swcond floor, think again. It feels like a different house up there. I had goosebumps at my first nights there.

Do you know a feeling that someone is watching behind your back but you can't see who is it? I got this feeling during my first month and it doesn't stop there. Sometimes, the door would slowly open with a creaking sound in the guest room. It would be forcefully shut in her son's bedroom where he doesn't use anymore. I was the only person up there since I'm the only one allowed, can't blame anyone who pull such pranks on me. At first, I was still silent about it because I thought that it was just all in my mind.

Then, one time, I experienced the strangest thing. I was in a theather room and supposed to go out, but when I was step outwards, my heavy suddenly became heavy like I can't take another step. It was just like someone was pulling me back from the dim part of the theater. I never palpitate from coffee but at that time, I think my heart would jump out of my chest. But one thing that have defeated that strange force was when I prayed, and every thing went back to normal.

I still feel those invisible eyes watching me every day for like months but it couldn't touch me like that anymore. It just disappeared as days passed for me there. Maybe, it got used to my presence or it realized that it can scare me anymore. Then, I have learned that every newcomers there experienced the same thing. So, I wasn't alone in that case, but at least, I passed the stage, whatever exactly that might be.