"Mr. Moralez, isn't this is too much of a big leap for your career?" Mr. Sanchez, one of his Luxury hotel investor pleaded after reading the brief of Mr. Moralez's new business proposal.
"Khlein, you have been with my company for years, you invested a lot on our hotels and became one of our bigger shareholders- and I respect your insight... But I am not doing this out of greed, I need to find cure for my son, I can't lose him too!" A tear formed on Mr. Moralez's eyes as he recalls the death of his beloved wife two years ago.
"Everybody get out!" Mr. Sanchez shouted, jolting everyone out of their conference room, including other minor investors.
"So, the curse is still acting up?" He added after the two of them are the only ones that remained.
"The curse will never stop, Khlein, believe me, that witch meant to curse me and my entire family lineage!" Mr. Moralez tighten his grip on his glass of rum before sipping.
"Then let's do it, I'll invest half my assets to your research lab, I can't let you battle this alone!" Mr. Sanchez stood up to tap Mr. Moralez's shoulder to show empathy.
"I'm grateful, don't worry, I won't waste your time and resources- I still plan to make a fortune out of this!"
Mr. Sanchez broke in laughter after seeing his friend never lose himself.
"Good, this is why I will forever support you and your ventures!" Mr. Sanchez raised his own glass for a toast.
"If I can't find cure to this curse, I might as well make one!" Mr. Moralez smiled, battling the weakness threatening to overcome him.
"That's right, friend-"
"Don't call me that, we can't let the curse get to you too!" Mr. Moralez cut him off.
"Oh? And what would that witch do to me? I have protection, the Church won't let me be infected with malicious energies, my friend!" Mr. Sanchez proudly stated.
"Do you still think that the Church could help us with this? That Witch has some backing with some evil being, we need more than just a priest, we need their Gods!" Mr. Moralez replied, recalling all the religions he visited after his wife fell ill then tragically leading to her death.
"I know, but what can we do? We can no longer find her people to help us, this is better than nothing, right?" Mr. Sanchez hold unto his necklace laced with symbols from the Church.
"Just don't let your guard down, let me know if something unusual is happening to your body. I won't be able to forgive myself if you also got entangle with this mess!"
Unbeknownst to them, that's the last time that they would have the time for each other... A year passed and mister Khlein Sanchez was found dead on his condo, chest inflamed as his heart was found withered, rotten that caused his life.
***
Achan's P.O.V
"Sign this, this, and this!" Manager held a clipboard at my face after suddenly barging into my room, distorting my peaceful slumber.
"Did you bump your head or something? Shouldn't I be leaving-"
"Things changed, all the things you said last night was enough evidence to keep you here!" He said before handing me a pen to use.
"Tsk, do I have a choice?" I reluctantly held unto his pen and read the contract.
"Your knowledge about the curse is what we need, no other could ever recognize that Curse until you saw it only once... You only need to work on your Practice and we might stand a chance at saving Young Master's life!" He explained as he sat in front of me, staring at me with those eyes.
"But doubling my salary? Is that necessary?" I held back, I escape his gaze.
"The Young Master's life costs more than all the money in this world- he's the only heir to the world's leading medical research-"
"Fine, fine, I get it!" I cut him off.
Why is he glazing that man so much?
"But tell me-"
"Ugh, can you sign this first!" He said, irritated.
"You're surely a bipolar person!" I mumbled, recalling what happened last night.
I hesitantly sign the contract and just glared at him.
"About your question, no, there's no cure to the Young Master's curse. Believe me, our Boss tried all remedies and even hired the best scientists out there... Only your kind could lift it!"
"How did you know that's my question?"
"It's written all over your face, and you've been asking us that since you got here, right?" He smirked before messing up my hair.
"Hey! Wait... Isn't there any other Spiritual Healers out there? The ones who are an actual Babaylan?"
"Oh, so now you believe in this stuff?" He giggled, making my blood rush into my face.
"Well, what can I say, you guys sold me yesterday!" I looked away, trying to hide flustered my face.
"We did had a few before you, that's why Young Master's too worked up when he saw you, don't take everything he said seriously, he just didn't have a very good history with Spiritual Healers!"
"Really?" I turn to him.
I couldn't keep my breath when I saw his face close to mine, I can smell his faint cologne.
"About yesterday..." He began.
"I- It's alright, it's my fault after all!" I move back, distancing myself.
Why is this heart so freaking loud? I can't focus!
"Alright then, I'll be leaving for a while, Miss Irene would take care of you for me... Try not to cause mischief while I'm out?" He grabbed my head and shook it.
"Huh?" I took his hands, confused by the sudden farewell.
"I've done my part here, I have to finish some business and I'll come back!" He smiled before leaving me stunned.
"Oh right, I forgot!" I lay back in bed, contemplating.
What did I think? Why am I so delusional?!
"Why are you sulking?" A voice interrupted.
"Aren't you happy to stay?" He added.
"Good day to you too, Young Master!" I covered myself with my blanket, trying to hide from the monster.
Did I puke on my sheets last night? Why is the bedsheet different again?
"What?" He asked me as I jerk out of the bed.
"No- Nothing!" I acted normal as I feel my clothes.
It's definitely not what I was wearing yesterday.
I can see him smiling as he shook his head.
"Why are you here anyway? Weren't you disgusted to see me?" I said as I sat back on the bed.
"I'm here to give you something, I heard you identified the curse immediately when you saw it... You'll be needing this- don't try to Practice it without supervision though, or you'll end up the same way that owner faced!" He smirked after handing me an old book.
"Grimoire?" I told myself as I observe the leather cover of the book.
"Try not to mess up, or my curse will end up killing you!" He dropped the book on my lap and started walking out.
"Look at you, if you can be this decent, we could have had a proper first impression!" I said that made him stop on his track.
"Don't mind the first impression, it's already done. Just prove yourself worthy of my time!" He returned to being a basic asshole.
"Tss!" I flung my arms into the air to let out my frustration.
"Wait?" I held my chin as I recall his image in my head.
What happened to his neck?
"Eh, who cares!" I shrugged before opening the book.
Fuck!
"This can't be?!" I exclaimed as I read the name of the Grimoire's Spell Master.
Grimoire of the Revered Babaylan, Rachan Allare.
Copy no. 19
"He sold copies?!" Frustrated, I threw the book.
That damn con, he even sold copies of the book that I tried hiding away from the world?
"All unimaginable barbaric treatments..." I whispered as I recall all those screams from my past.
All the patients that died on his hands that he blamed on a false dark forces. All the lies he tells to those people who suffers from an illness- which could have been treated if they went to a hospital instead!
"All the pain and suffering-" I stopped myself as I look into the door of my room where I last saw the Young Master.
Don't tell me he experienced all that?!
"Pa? What the fuck?!" Weakened by the realization, I held on the blanket as I recall the past.
Ten years ago...
"Anak, look? My greatest research!" Papa ran to me as he grab his book from his bag.
"Pa, you just came back from your travels, rest first!" Mama tapped Pa's back.
"I can't, Achan needs to learn this, immediately!" He got serious which made my mother back up.
"What is it Pa? I was about to go to school, can you please tell me faster?" I giggled out of excitement from my father's adornment, unaware of their impending huge fight.
"This, I just learned it from our Coven, a Curse named Maiden's Remains... A very powerful curse that makes the target lose everything they love! Do you think we could learn this?" Papa smiled, showing me a drawing of a woman's shadow filled with black smoke.
"Pa, that's a curse for a Witch, you're not possible to perform such gender focused spell?" I laughed, making him lose his face.
"Then tell me, how could a Babaylan cure such powerful Spell?" Papa stroke my head as he hid his book.
"I dunno, Bloodletting? Paired with Purification Ritual to get rid of the cur-"
"Rachan?! Our child is too young to learn about these!" My mother interfered.
"'nak, could you go to school right now?" My father smiled, hiding his anger to seep through that pretentious face!
"Okay! Ma? You'll fetch for me later, right?" I smiled before leaving them.
If only I know that I was the reason for their constant fight, I should have stopped Practicing right then, my family could still be complete today if I just became more aware on my younger age!
"Tsk!" I stood out of the bed and grabbed the book back.
"Oh Achan? Good morning!" Miss Irene greeted me as she places an icepack on her temple.
"Can I borrow a phone?" I walk into the dining room and sat next to her, dropping the book into the table.
"How come you don't have a hungover? You drank a tequila for goodness sake!" She moaned as she pass me her phone.
"Thanks!" I thank her before running back to my room.
"Wait, who are you gonna call?" I heard her before I close the door.
I immediately dialed my sister's number and ran to the balcony.
"Can you stop being a fucking whore and leave me and my husband al-"
"'te, it's me!" I cut her off.
"Oh! Achan?!" She screamed.
I took a moment to compose myself, can she stop screaming on the phone?
"I need help, it's about Pa's!" I started off strong to keep her attention all to myself.
"Did senator Rilion contacted you again? Wait, where are you? Why do you have a new number? Is this why I couldn't contact you from the past week?!" She immediately got serious.
"No, I'm fine, it's about our family's Practice!" As I complete my sentence, she stopped for a minute.
"A- Are you seriously gonna take his path?"
"No, I just need to know something!"
"Go on? You know you can tell me everything!" Her voice softens.
"Can father really perform miracles?" I said which tipped something for her.
"I thought you didn't believe him?" Her voice got louder.
"I know, I do, but we both know how convincing he could be- remember that awful smell that he suddenly got rid off with a flick of his fingers?"
"He knows herbal medicine, big deal, but why are you having doubts right now? Weren't you the first one who figured out the truth?" She said as if she's convincing me.
"I guess, but after what happened to me, you'd gonna have second thoughts too!"
"Why, what happened?!" She got worried even more.
"What if I tell you that I am currently in the house of someone powerful- who is under the Curse of Maiden's Remains?" I said that flipped her off.
"GET OUT OF THERE, RIGHT NOW!" She yelled, panic flows in her shaking voice.
"Why? What do you know about that curse?!" My gut feeling was right, it was right to call her!
"Do not try to even touch the person's beloved ones, or you'll end up in the middle of that Curse! And if you dare try to lift that curse, your as good as dead!" She exclaimed, fear riddled in her tone.
"So it's true? Things such as Curses are real?"
"Achan, don't argue with me, I hid it from you for a reason! Now, tell me where you at?!"
"Don't worry Ate. I'm already in the middle of the Curse, you don't have to worry about me!" I smiled as I reach for the end call button.
"Achan! Do not Practice, do not Prac-" Her last words before I ended the call and blocked her number.
I'm sorry Ate, but it's too late, I cannot back out from this anymore!