Furs & Everything Corner

29/03/2026

The Two Lives of One Heart

There were once two little girls who looked exactly the same—soft-eyed, bright-smiled twins named Alina and Mara. As children, they were inseparable. They shared secrets whispered under blankets, dreams of growing up together, and promises that no matter what happened, they would never leave each other.
But life does not always honor childhood promises.
When they were eight years old, their parents’ love shattered into silence and arguments. The house that once echoed with laughter became heavy with resentment. In the end, the court made a decision that would divide more than just a family—it would divide two souls meant to walk side by side.
Alina followed their father.
Mara stayed with their mother.
That was the last day they saw each other.
Alina grew up in discipline and distance. Their father, a former military officer, raised her with strict routines and hardened expectations. Love, for him, was not spoken—it was trained. And so Alina learned to be strong. She learned to hide her tears, to endure pain, to rise no matter how many times she fell.
Years passed, and that little girl became a soldier.
Not just any soldier—but one of the best. Her name carried weight in the army. She rose through the ranks with unwavering determination until she became a high-ranking officer, commanding respect and fear in equal measure. To others, she was iron—unyielding, fearless, untouchable.
But deep inside, she was still the girl who once held her sister’s hand.
Mara’s life was the opposite.
She grew up surrounded by warmth but also struggle. Their mother worked tirelessly, trying to fill the absence left by both husband and daughter. Mara remained kind, soft, and hopeful—believing that love could fix anything.
So when she met a man who promised her the world, she believed him.
She married him young.
But promises, like glass, can shatter.
The man she married was not kind. His words became sharp, his actions colder. Over time, Mara found herself trapped in a life that slowly drained her spirit. And then came another woman—a mistress who did not hide her presence, who treated Mara not as a wife, but as an obstacle.
Day by day, Mara’s world grew darker.
One day, after many years, Alina returned.
Not as the little girl who left—but as a commander, wearing her uniform like armor. She stood before the modest home of her mother, her heart pounding harder than it ever had in battle.
When the door opened, time seemed to stop.
Mother and daughter embraced, tears falling like rain after a long drought.
“I’m sorry,” Alina whispered.
Her mother held her tightly. “You’re home.”
But even in that moment of reunion, there was an emptiness.
“Mara…” Alina asked, her voice trembling for the first time in years. “Where is she?”
When she learned the truth about her twin’s life, something inside Alina broke.
“I will find her,” she said firmly. “No matter what.”
She promised her mother—and herself—that she would bring her sister back.
But fate moved faster than promises.
That very night, Mara’s suffering reached its peak. Cornered by cruelty, manip**ated and pushed beyond her limits by her husband’s mistress, she stood at the edge of an 11th-floor building.
The city lights blurred beneath her.
Her heart was tired. Her soul, exhausted.
And then—
She fell.
By the time Alina’s troops found her, it was too late.
Or so they thought.
Mara was rushed to the hospital, her body broken but her life still flickering.
Alina stood outside the ICU, her fists clenched, her entire being shaking with a rage she had never known before.
“They did this to her,” she said, her voice low and dangerous.
Her soldiers stood in silence.
“They will pay,” she continued, eyes burning with cold fire. “Whatever the cost.”
Days later, a woman walked into Mara’s home.
The same face. The same eyes.
But something was different.
It was Alina.
Disguised as her twin.
The family froze in shock. The husband’s face drained of color. The mistress stepped back, trembling.
“You… you died,” one of them stammered.
Alina tilted her head slightly, her gaze sharp and unreadable.
“Did I?” she said calmly.
In that moment, fear filled the room.
Because the woman standing before them was no longer the broken Mara they once tormented.
This one stood tall. Powerful.
Dangerous.
Behind the mask of her sister’s identity, Alina began to uncover everything—the lies, the abuse, the betrayal. Every tear Mara had shed became a blade in Alina’s heart.
But she did not rush.
She planned.
She waited.
Because soldiers do not just fight—they win.
And in the quiet of the hospital room, as machines beeped softly beside her unconscious sister, Alina made one final promise:
“You survived,” she whispered, holding Mara’s hand gently.
“So now… I will make sure they don’t.”
Because this time, the story would not end in tragedy.
This time, the girl who fell… would rise.
And the world would learn—
They should have never touched her sister.

21/03/2026

"Chosen at last"

She didn’t remember when she first arrived at the shelter. Time, for her, had blurred into a quiet routine of waiting.
They called her Mira.
She had once belonged somewhere—she was sure of it. There were faint memories tucked deep inside her: a soft voice humming, gentle hands stroking her fur, the warmth of a lap on rainy afternoons. But those memories had faded like old photographs left too long in the sun.
Now, her world was a small metal cage.
Every morning, the lights would flicker on, and the shelter would come alive with sounds—barking dogs, clinking bowls, footsteps of volunteers. Mira would slowly lift her head, her green eyes scanning the room, always hoping… maybe today.
People came and went. Some walked past quickly, barely glancing. Others would stop, smile, and say, “Aww, she’s cute,” before moving on to younger, more playful cats.
Mira wasn’t a kitten anymore.
She didn’t jump against the cage bars or meow loudly for attention. She simply sat there, quietly, her tail wrapped around her body, watching.
Waiting.
Days turned into weeks. Weeks into months.
One by one, the cats around her disappeared—adopted, carried away in warm arms and hopeful futures. Each time a cage emptied, Mira felt a tiny spark of hope… followed by an ache when no one stopped for her.
“Still here, Mira?” one volunteer would whisper, gently scratching her chin.
Mira would lean into the touch, purring softly. She loved those moments. They reminded her that she still existed to someone.
But when the volunteer walked away, the silence returned.
And so did the waiting.
—
One rainy afternoon, when the sky was gray and the shelter unusually quiet, the door opened again.
A woman stepped inside.
She wasn’t like the others. She didn’t rush. She didn’t go straight to the playful kittens tumbling over each other. Instead, she walked slowly, as if she was searching for something she couldn’t quite name.
Mira watched her from her cage.
The woman stopped… not at the front, not at the loudest cages—but right in front of her.
For a moment, they just looked at each other.
Mira didn’t move. She had learned not to hope too quickly.
The woman knelt down.
“Hi there…” she whispered.
Her voice was soft. Gentle. Familiar in a way that made Mira’s chest tighten.
Slowly, cautiously, Mira stood up and walked toward the bars. She didn’t meow. She simply pressed her small face against the metal.
The woman reached out her fingers.
Mira leaned in.
That touch—warm, careful, and full of something she hadn’t felt in so long—made her close her eyes.
And for the first time in months… she purred.
—
“Why her?” one of the staff asked later.
The woman smiled, her eyes slightly teary.
“She looks like she’s been waiting a long time.”
—
The ride home was quiet.
Mira sat inside a carrier, unsure of what was happening. She had been moved before—cages, rooms, different corners of the shelter. But this felt different.
There was a calmness.
When the carrier door finally opened, Mira stepped out slowly.
The space was small, but warm. There was a soft blanket waiting for her. A bowl of fresh water. A little toy mouse.
She looked around, unsure.
Then she saw the woman sitting on the floor, not too close, not forcing anything.
Just waiting.
Mira hesitated.
Then, step by step, she walked closer.
The woman didn’t move.
Mira reached her… and gently placed one paw on her leg.
It was a quiet question.
The woman smiled, her voice barely above a whisper.
“It’s okay… I’m here.”
Mira climbed onto her lap.
And just like that, something inside her—something broken, something lost—began to mend.
—
Days passed.
Mira explored her new home, slowly at first, then with growing confidence. She discovered sunny spots by the window, soft pillows, and the comforting rhythm of her new owner’s presence.
At night, she curled beside her, listening to the steady heartbeat she had missed for so long.
No more cold cages.
No more endless waiting.
—
One evening, as rain tapped softly against the window, Mira lay curled on her owner’s chest, purring deeply.
The woman stroked her gently.
“You waited for me, didn’t you?” she whispered.
Mira blinked slowly, her eyes full of quiet love.
Because she had.
Through all the lonely days… the silence… the feeling of being forgotten…
She had waited.
And somehow, in a world so big and uncertain, the right person had found her.
—
Mira was no longer just a shelter cat.
She was home.
And this time… she knew she would never have to wait again.

18/03/2026

She wasn’t supposed to stay.

The night I found her, the rain was relentless—cold, sharp, unforgiving. She was tucked beneath a broken cardboard box beside a dim alley, shivering so hard her tiny body rattled against the pavement. A tortoiseshell kitten, barely old enough to open her eyes fully, yet already carrying the weight of a world that had forgotten her.
I told myself I would just help her for one night.
Just one.
I wrapped her in my jacket, and she didn’t resist. She didn’t even meow. She just pressed her fragile face against my chest as if she had finally found the place she had been searching for all her short life.
I named her Lea.
At first, she was afraid of everything—shadows, footsteps, even her own reflection. But slowly, day by day, she learned. She learned that food would come regularly. That hands were not always meant to hurt. That warmth could last longer than a fleeting moment.
And most of all, she learned to love.
Lea grew into the kind of cat who followed me everywhere. If I sat, she sat beside me. If I cried, she would quietly climb onto my lap and press her forehead against mine. She didn’t need words—she understood everything I couldn’t say.
People say we save animals.
But Lea saved me.
Years passed too quickly. Her playful jumps turned into gentle walks. Her loud purrs softened into quiet hums. Her bright eyes, once full of endless curiosity, began to carry something deeper… something tired.
One morning, she didn’t greet me at the door.
That was the first sign.
I found her curled in her favorite corner, breathing slowly, too slowly. When I called her name, she lifted her head—but it took everything she had. Still, she tried. She always tried… for me.
The vet said words I didn’t want to hear.
Old age. Weak organs. Limited time.
I remember holding her that night, feeling her bones beneath her fur that once felt so full of life. I whispered apologies over and over.
“I’m sorry I can’t fix this. I’m sorry I can’t take your pain away.”
But Lea didn’t look at me with sadness.
She looked at me with peace.
As if to say, You already did enough.
The final days were the quietest. No more chasing, no more jumping—just moments. Small, precious moments. I stayed beside her constantly, afraid that if I blinked, I would miss her last breath.
On her final night, she did something she hadn’t done in a long time.
She climbed onto my chest.
Slowly. Painfully. But determined.
She rested her head under my chin, just like the first night I found her. Her body was weak, but her purr—soft, broken, but still there—echoed against my heart.
I held her tighter, tears falling into her fur.
“Please don’t go,” I whispered.
But deep inside, I knew.
Her breathing became lighter… softer… until it almost disappeared.
And then—
Nothing.
No sound.
No movement.
Just silence.
Lea was gone.
The house felt unbearably empty after that. No soft paws following me. No quiet purrs in the night. Just echoes of memories in every corner.
But sometimes, when the world is still, I feel it.
A warmth beside me.
A presence.
A love that never really left.
Because Lea didn’t just need saving that rainy night.
She needed someone who would stay.
Until the very end.
And that’s what they ask of us—not perfection, not miracles.
Just this:
To love them.
To protect them.
And when their time comes…
To be there.
So they never have to face the end alone.

18/03/2026

LOST CAT – PLEASE HELP 🙏
Please message me if you see my furbaby named Lea.
Tortoiseshell color
Short tail
Spayed
Around 1+ year old
She was last seen this morning at a vet clinic PawsUp in Beribi (beside Pizza Hut). While I brought her in for vaccination, the door opened and she ran off quickly.
We’ve been searching everywhere, including nearby areas and Annajat basement parking, but still haven’t found her.
If you see her or have any information, please message me or call 8870153.
Thank you so much for your help 🙏

Check out Viv Viv Restaurant’s post.

16/03/2026

Today my heart is very heavy. I lost one of my beloved furbabies, Cheetah.
Cheetah is the son of my senior cat Coffee, and from the very beginning he was already very special to me. I watched him grow from a tiny kitten into a handsome, chubby boy. Like all my furbabies, he was well taken care of. He was vaccinated and dewormed every 3 months because I always wanted him to be healthy and protected.
When Cheetah was only 6 months old, he became very sick with parvo. That time was very difficult and scary for me. With the help of the vet and a lot of care, including force feeding just to keep him strong, he survived and recovered. I was so happy because he fought so hard to live.
When he turned one year old, I noticed something was wrong again. He looked very pale, so I immediately brought him to the vet. That was when we discovered he had what looked like a snake bite. Again, with medicines and antibiotics, he recovered. Cheetah was always a strong fighter.
At home, I have 9 furbabies. Some of them I rescued from the road where no one was taking care of them. I try my best to give them a good life. I feed them dry cat food, sometimes I cook for them boiled pumpkin with chicken meat, and boiled fish mashed together so they can eat something healthy. For their snacks, they enjoy Royal Canin Fit. All of them are vaccinated and regularly dewormed because I treat them as my family.
Cheetah is a male and neutered, and he liked to roam around the house and outside a little. That was his daily routine.
Last night I brought wet food for them. Usually when it’s feeding time, all of them are there waiting. But Cheetah was not around. I started looking for him that night and continued until morning, hoping he would come home like he always did. But I could not find him anywhere.
Today, a neighbor who has dogs told us that our cat had already died and they buried him. When I went to the place where they buried him, I saw Cheetah. I saw bite marks and parts of his skin with no fur. My chubby Cheetah was gone.
My heart broke into pieces. I cried so much.
Cheetah went through so many struggles in life — parvo, a snake bite — and he survived them all. I always thought he would continue to grow old with us. All of us will go back to Indonesia.
Losing him like this is very painful.
I love all my furbabies and I do my best to take care of them and give them a safe and loving home. I just hope people will also take responsibility for their pets, especially dogs, by neutering them and keeping them safely contained, so other animals will not get hurt.
Rest peacefully now, my sweet Cheetah.
You were loved, cared for, and will never be forgotten.
Run free now, my precious boy.
You will always have a place in my heart. 🐾🌈💔

05/01/2026

Our cat named “Hairy”

Hairy came into my life when he was just a tiny kitten—small paws, curious eyes, and a heart that quietly chose our home as his forever place. He grew into a handsome tabby mixed with white, soft and fluffy, with eyes that always seemed to understand more than words could say. He was male, neutered, and calm in a way that felt steady, comforting—like he belonged right where he was.

Every night, Hairy slept with Papafur. It became his routine, his safe place. No matter how the day went, when night came, Hairy knew exactly where to curl up. That was his comfort, his habit, his silent way of saying, “This is my family.”

Then one day, without warning, Hairy was gone.
No signs. No noise. No goodbye.
Just a sudden emptiness where his presence used to be.

Not knowing what happened hurts in a different way. It leaves questions that have no answers, moments where you still listen for his steps, still glance at the door hoping it will open and he will walk in as if nothing ever happened. I still hope—quietly, deeply—that one day he will come home. We still waiting for his coming.

I have nine cats now. Domestic cats, each with their own personalities, their own ways of asking for love. I love them all the same. I care for them the same way I cared for Hairy. I make homemade food—boiled pumpkin, carrots, fish, chicken—because I want them healthy and strong. Dry food as their alternate meals, wet canned food sometimes, and Royal Canin Fit always there as a special snack. All are spayed or neutered, all vaccinated, all dewormed every three months. I do everything I can, because love is shown in care, every single day.
But Hairy holds a special place.
The firsts often do.

Love does not disappear just because someone is gone. It stays in routines we remember, in empty spaces that once felt warm, in hope that refuses to fade. Hairy may be lost, but he is never forgotten. He is part of my home, part of my heart—and he always will be.

Wherever you are, Hairy… your place here is still waiting.

We miss u so much❤️🙏🏼.

26/12/2025

For weeks, local market vendors complained about a stray cat stealing fish every morning. Attempts were made to chase him away and even trap him, but the cat always returned. His routine was consistent, quick, and determined, leaving people frustrated and suspicious. No one imagined there was a deeper rea*on behind his behavior.

When authorities finally followed the cat, they expected to uncover a hidden stash of food. Instead, they watched him slip through a cracked door into a small, quiet house. Inside lay an elderly man, weak and confined to his bed, barely able to care for himself. The cat gently placed the fish beside him, revealing the true purpose behind the thefts.

The cat had not been stealing out of hunger, but out of loyalty and care. He was feeding the man who had once fed him, offering comfort and companionship in return. Once neighbors understood the situation, they chose compassion over punishment. They began leaving fish outside their stalls, allowing the cat to provide without fear.

16/11/2025

"Ang Huling Pagbalik ni Luna” — ang pagtatagpo ng nakaraan at kasalukuyan, sa baryong nilamon ng dilim.

“Ang Huling Pagbalik ni Luna”

Mahigit tatlumpung taon na ang lumipas mula nang iniwan ng mga tao ang baryo ng San Miguel. Tinubuan na ng damo ang mga daan, at ang dating mga bahay ay natabunan ng lumot. Wala nang bumabalik doon — maliban sa iisang nilalang tuwing kabilugan ng buwan.
Ang itim na pusa.
Si Luna.

Ngunit isang araw, dumating sa baryo ang isang dayo — si Mara, isang dalagang estudyante sa unibersidad na gumagawa ng dokumentaryo tungkol sa mga alamat ng Visayas. Narinig niya ang tungkol sa “Aswang ng San Miguel” at sa “pusang may p**ang mata.” Walang naniwala sa kanya, pero para kay Mara, iyon ang pinakamainam na paksa para sa kanyang thesis.

Bitbit ang kamera, flashlight, at lumang mapa, tinahak niya ang daan papunta sa baryo.
Pagdating niya roon, ramdam niya agad ang bigat ng hangin — malamig, mabigat, at parang may nakatingin.
Sa gitna ng gubat, nakita niya ang isang lumang bahay na gawa sa kahoy.
Sa pinto, may nakasulat pa sa kupas na pintura:

“Bahay ni Aling Rosa.”

Pagpa*ok ni Mara, amoy-luma at alikabok ang paligid. May mga gamit pa — mesa, duyan, mga lumang litrato.
Sa isang larawan, may isang matandang babae at isang batang babae na magkahawak kamay.
Sa likod ng litrato, may nakasulat:

“Ako si Luna. Salamat, Nanay.”

Ngunit nang ibalik ni Mara ang larawan sa lamesa, bigla niyang narinig ang mahinang pag-iyaw.
“Meeeow…”

Paglingon niya, may itim na pusang nakaupo sa hagdan.
Tahimik. Nakatingin lang sa kanya.

“Uy… ang ganda mo,” sabi ni Mara, pilit na ngumingiti.
Lumapit siya, inabot ang kamay. Ngunit nang magdikit ang daliri niya sa balahibo ng pusa — biglang lumiwanag ang paligid.

Nang magbalik ang kanyang paningin, wala na siya sa loob ng bahay.
Nasa gitna na siya ng isang lumang kalsadang hindi niya napansin kanina.
Sa paligid niya, tila may mga bahay muli — ngunit hindi na abandonado. May mga ilaw, may mga taong naglalakad, may batang naglalaro.
At sa di kalayuan, nakita niya si Aling Rosa, buhay, nakangiti.
“Luna, halika na,” tawag ng matanda.
At sa tabi ni Aling Rosa, ang batang si Luna — buhay, nakasuot ng puting bestida.

“Nasaan ako?” tanong ni Mara, nanginginig.
Ngumiti si Luna.
“Hindi ito ang mundo mo,” sagot niya. “Ito ang mundo ng mga naiwan — ang baryong hindi nakalimot.”

Doon niya naintindihan — dinala siya ng pusa sa nakaraan, sa alaala ng baryo bago ito malusaw ng sumpa. Ngunit habang nakatitig siya kay Luna, napansin niyang umiiyak ang bata.

“Gusto ko nang matapos,” sabi ni Luna. “Pagod na ako, ayokong kumain ng laman, ayokong matakot sa sarili ko.”

Lumapit si Mara, hinawakan ang balikat ng bata.
“Paano kita matutulungan?”

Ngumiti si Luna, at unti-unting nagbago ang kanyang anyo — mula sa batang babae tungo sa pusang itim na may p**ang mata.
“Maaari mo akong palayain,” sabi niya sa isip ni Mara. “Dalhin mo ito.”

Sa tabi ng pusa, may lumang kuwintas na may hugis buwan. Kinuha ito ni Mara, at sa isang iglap — bumalik siya sa kasalukuyan. Ang bahay ay wasak, at ang pusa ay wala na.
Ngunit sa kanyang palad, mahigpit pa rin niyang hawak ang kuwintas.

Mula noon, hindi na nakita ni Mara ang baryo sa kahit anong mapa. Parang nabura ito sa mundo.
Ngunit tuwing kabilugan ng buwan, naririnig niya ang mahina at pamilyar na pag-iyaw mula sa labas ng kanyang bahay.
At tuwing titingnan niya ang kuwintas sa kanyang dibdib, may bahagyang liwanag na lumalabas dito — parang tanda ng isang kaluluwang sa wakas, nakalaya na.

Wakas… o baka simula pa lang.
Sapagkat sa ilalim ng bawat buwan,
may pusang nakamasid —
at may alamat na hindi kailanman namamatay. 🕯️😺

08/11/2025

Init ng paa, Init ng Dama
Sa paang may kumot, siya’y kumikiskis,
Parang batang naghahanap ng yakap na bitbit.
Ang lamig ng gabi, napapawi sa hapis,
Ng pusang marunong magmahal nang tahimik.

01/11/2025

Ang Pusa sa bahay ni Aling Rosa -Part 2

Aang pinagmulan ni Luna, ang pusang hindi pangkaraniwan.
Mas madilim, mas misteryoso, at mas puno ng lihim.

"Ang Pinagmulan ni Luna"

(Kasunod ng kwentong “Ang Pusa sa Bahay ni Aling Rosa”)

Bago pa man naging “Luna” ang pusang itim na kinatatakutan sa baryo, siya ay isang batang babae — mahina, may sakit, at inampon ni Aling Rosa sa murang edad.

Sampung taon na noon si Luna. Payat, maputla, at laging nakayuko. Iniligtas siya ni Aling Rosa mula sa lansangan sa bayan ng Sta. Clara, matapos nitong makita ang bata sa ilalim ng tulay — nanginginig, may sugat sa binti, at tila walang magulang.

“Wala ka bang tahanan, hija?” tanong ng matanda.
Umiling lang si Luna.
“Simula ngayon, ako na ang magiging nanay mo,” sabi ni Aling Rosa, habang marahang pinahid ang luha ng bata.

Sa unang mga buwan, maayos ang lahat. Tinuruan ni Aling Rosa si Luna magluto, magtanim, at magdasal tuwing gabi. Ngunit habang tumatagal, may mga kakaibang bagay na napapansin ang mga taga-baryo.

Si Luna raw ay hindi natutulog sa gabi.
Nakikita siyang naglalakad sa paligid ng bahay tuwing hatinggabi, nakatayo sa ilalim ng buwan.
At tuwing may namamatay na hayop sa baryo, lagi siyang naroon kinabukasan — tahimik, nakatingin sa bangkay, at tila may alam na hindi kayang ipaliwanag.

Isang gabi, may narinig si Aling Rosa na mga yabag sa bubong. Pag-akyat niya, tumambad sa kanya ang batang si Luna, nakaupo sa gilid, humahaplos sa sariling bra*o na puno ng balat na parang kaliskis.

“Luna! Anong ginagawa mo diyan?!” sigaw ni Aling Rosa.
Tumalikod si Luna — at doon nakita ng matanda na p**a na ang mga mata ng bata.

“Nay…” mahinang sabi ni Luna, “…bakit po ako gutom kahit kakakain ko lang?”

Lumapit si Aling Rosa, nanginginig, pero imbes na takot, awa ang naramdaman niya. Alam niya kung ano ang ibig sabihin noon — dahil siya mismo ay hindi tao.
Isa siyang aswang.

Matagal na niyang tinatago ang kanyang sumpa. Noong kabataan niya, ginamit niya ang itim na mahika para mabuhay ang kanyang anak na namatay sa sakit, ngunit kapalit nito ay ang sumpang magpakailanman siyang maghahanap ng laman ng tao upang mabuhay. Sa paglipas ng panahon, natutunan niyang umiwas — kumakain na lang siya ng hayop, ng dugo ng manok, upang hindi maging ganap na halimaw.

Ngunit ngayong nakita niya ang mga mata ni Luna, alam niyang lumipat na ang sumpa.
Ang itim na mahika na minsang ginamit niya ay nagpamana ng kapangyarihan sa bata.

At sa gabing iyon, habang umiiyak si Luna at humihingi ng tulong, niyakap siya ni Aling Rosa.
“Hindi mo kasalanan, anak. Ngunit kailangan mong matutong magtago sa mata ng mga tao.”

Kumuha si Aling Rosa ng pulbos mula sa bote, itinapal sa noo ng bata, at binigkas ang sinaunang dasal:

“Sa liwanag ng buwan, ikaw ay magbagong-anyo. Sa dilim ng gabi, ikaw ay mabubuhay.”

Sa isang kisapmata, nagliwanag ang paligid — at sa harap niya, wala na si Luna.
Isang itim na pusa na may parehong p**ang mata ang humaharap sa kanya.
Ang unang paglabas ni Luna bilang pusa.

Mula noon, itinago ni Aling Rosa ang sekreto. Tuwing araw, alaga lang siya ng matanda. Tuwing gabi, siya ay bantay, kasabwat, at tagapagtanggol. Ngunit habang lumilipas ang mga taon, unti-unti nang nagugutom si Luna — gutom na hindi kayang punan ng gatas o karne.

“Nanay…” sabi ni Luna isang gabi, “…bakit ganito ang pakiramdam? Parang gusto kong sumigaw, gusto kong lumipad.”
At doon nagsimula ang pagbabalik ng kadiliman sa baryo ng San Miguel.

Ngayon, ayon sa mga matatanda, minsan daw nakikita sa gitna ng kagubatan ang isang babaeng may pusang itim sa balikat, naglalakad nang walang tunog. Sinasabing iyon daw ang kaluluwa ni Aling Rosa at ni Luna, mag-ina sa sumpa, tagapangalaga ng dilim.

At kung minsan, kapag gabi ng kabilugan ng buwan at maririnig mong umiyak ang pusa,
wag mong subukang hanapin kung saan nanggagaling ang tunog.
Dahil baka si Luna na mismo ang nakatingin sa’yo —
mula sa likod ng dilim.

25/10/2025

"Ang Pusa sa Bahay ni Aling Rosa"

Sa pinakaliblib na bahagi ng bayan ng San Miguel, may isang baryong halos hindi na dinadaanan ng mga tao. Ang daan papunta roon ay puro putik, napapaligiran ng matatandang puno ng balete, at sa tuwing sasapit ang dapit-hapon, biglang bumababa ang makapal na hamog na parang usok. Doon nakatira si Aling Rosa, isang matandang babae na kilala sa baryo bilang tahimik, mapag-isa, at may alagang itim na pusa na pinangalanan niyang Luna.

Ayon sa mga taga-baryo, kakaiba si Luna. Hindi siya tulad ng karaniwang pusa—matalas ang kanyang mga mata na tila may ningning sa dilim, at kung minsan, nakikita siyang nakatayo sa bubungan, nakatitig sa buwan na parang may hinihintay. Kapag sumapit ang gabi, madalas marinig ng mga kapitbahay ang alulong ng a*o, pero hindi nila makita kung ano ang dahilan. Laging sinisisi ng mga tao si Luna, dahil tuwing maririnig iyon, may nangyayaring kakaiba.

Isang gabi ng kabilugan ng buwan, umuwi si Mang Ernesto, isang mangingisdang galing sa kabilang bayan. Pagdaan niya sa bahay ni Aling Rosa, napansin niyang bukas ang bintana at may liwanag ng kandila sa loob. Sa labas ng bahay, nakaupo si Luna, tahimik, pero nakatitig sa kanya. Napahinto si Mang Ernesto — dahil ang mga mata ng pusa ay kulay p**a.

“Luna? Ikaw ba ‘yan?” mahinang sambit niya.
Ngunit imbes na umalis, ang pusa ay ngumisi.
Oo, ngumisi — isang ngising parang tao.

Napalunok si Mang Ernesto at mabilis na naglakad palayo. Pag-uwi niya, agad niyang ikinuwento sa asawa ang nakita niya. Subalit pinagtawanan lang siya. Kinabukasan, kumalat ang balita: nawala si Aling Rosa. Naiwan lang si Luna, nakaupo sa pintuan, at tila nagbabantay.

Mula noon, nagsimula ang sunod-sunod na kababalaghan sa baryo.
May mga hayop na biglang nauubos sa likod ng bahay — mga manok, kambing, pati a*o.
May mga batang nagigising sa gabi dahil may naririnig daw silang padyak ng tao sa bubong, kasabay ng malambing na pag-iyaw ng pusa.

Isang gabi, nagpasya si Tomas, ang pinakamatapang sa baryo, na magbantay. Nagtago siya sa likod ng punong mangga sa tapat ng bahay ni Aling Rosa. Bandang hatinggabi, nakarinig siya ng tunog ng pagkaluskos sa bubong. Nang silipin niya, nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata — isang babaeng payat, mahabang buhok, at may pakpak na parang paniki ang bumababa mula sa bubungan. Sa kanyang mga kamay, karga niya si Luna.

Ngunit sa halip na pusa, nakita ni Tomas na unti-unting nagiging tao si Luna — isang batang babae na may malamlam na mata at ngiting puno ng hiwaga.

“Nanay,” sabi ni Luna sa boses na malamig, “gutom na po ako.”

Ngumiti si Aling Rosa — o marahil, ang aswang na anyo niya.
“May makukuha tayong laman ngayong gabi,” sagot nito, sabay lipad palayo sa dilim ng kagubatan.

Hindi na nakagalaw si Tomas sa nakita. Kinabukasan, wala siyang masabi — nanginginig, nanlalabo ang mata, parang wala sa sarili. Ilang araw lang, natagpuan siyang patay sa ilalim ng puno, may dalawang malalalim na sugat sa dibdib, at sa tabi niya… nakaupo si Luna, naglilinis ng kanyang mga paa.

Lumipas ang mga taon, tuluyan nang iniwan ng mga tao ang baryo. Walang naglakas-loob tumira roon muli.
Ngayon, sinasabi ng mga matatanda na kung minsan, kapag kabilugan ng buwan at tahimik ang paligid, makikita mo sa malayo ang isang itim na pusa na nakaupo sa bubong ng lumang bahay ni Aling Rosa — nakatingin sa buwan, habang sa likod niya, may aninong lumilipad.

At kung sakaling mapadaan ka roon, wag mong titigan nang matagal ang pusa.
Dahil baka hindi na siya pusa sa susunod mong tingin.

*Karugtong Part 2