Haunted Romance (Book 3 of the Haunted Trilogy)
- FOR PREORDER ONLY
- 20 Parts
- Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy, Comedy
A ghost, trapped in a living person’s body, crosses paths with his ex-girlfriend—who’s determined to kill him. Meanwhile, the body’s rightful owner fights to reclaim it.
Story Teaser
GAB, The Living Ghost
Well, yes, I am a ghost. Isa akong multong walang idea kung bakit hindi pa ako sinusundo ni Grim Reaper. Then I soon realized why—because I’m still bound to live… in another body. Kaya lang, may isang problema. Nang dahil sa katawang ito, nagkrus uli ang landas namin ng college ex-girlfriend ko. And you know what’s amusing? She used to be docile, but now she’s this badass chick… and she wants to kill me. Little does she know, I’m already dead.
KAIRA, The Martial Artist
The thing is, I used to be a sweet girl, but this one guy changed me. He turned me into a lioness after cruelly breaking my heart. Ang puso ko, naging kasing tigas ng bato at wala nang balak umibig uli. I told myself that if I ever saw him again, I’d crush his bones and kill him like he killed something inside me. Ironically, I met someone who reminds me so much of him. I hated this new guy immediately. But eventually, I started to hate myself even more because I realized I was falling for the same kind of man again.
REX, The Soul Robbed of His Body
What the f*ck? I’m f*cking sure I ain’t dead yet! Some *sshole stole my body, and now I’ve become a ghost. Holy sh*t, but I have a phobia of ghosts, ain’t I? And now I’d have to be a freaking ghost while I try to recover my body? %#@!*&$%^$!!!!
Sample Chapter
GAB’S POV
I CAN’T BELIEVE what I’m seeing right now.
I see myself lying in a hospital bed, seemingly unconscious.
May oxygen tube at maraming aparato ang nakakabit sa akin. May vital signs monitor sa tabi ng kama. By the looks of it, I’m in an ICU. Being in here, I must be in pretty bad condition.
Pinaraanan ko ng tingin ang mga benda sa katawan ko. Mukhang marami akong tinamong bugbog at sugat. May cast ang isang binti at may benda ang buong ulo ko. It seems they shaved my head and performed some surgery there.
What happened to me? Did I get into an accident? And why am I seeing myself right now, as if having an out-of-body experience?
Bumalik ang tingin ko sa monitor. I’m not dead, right? Otherwise, walang numbers na nakalagay roon at hindi gumagalaw ang zigzag heartbeat line na nag-iisang linya kung wala nang buhay ang isang tao.
This is crazy. What is happening? Bakit nakatayo ako rito pero nakahiga ang katawan ko?
May isang blonde nurse na lumapit para tingnan ang monitor at sipatin ang bag ng dextrose. Tinawag ko siya pero hindi niya ako narinig. Hindi niya ako nakikita. Ibig bang sabihin, isa lang akong kaluluwa? Pero bakit wala ako sa katawan ko?
Ilang saglit na tinitigan ng nurse ang mukha ko bago lumakad palayo. I followed her and that’s when I realized I was floating.
“I have a bad feeling about the patient in bed three,” sabi ng nurse sa kasamahang nakaupo sa likod ng desk. “I don’t think he’ll survive.”
Napahumindig ako sa narinig. Was it me? Am I dying?
“Why would you think that?” sagot ng brunette nurse na mukhang hindi nagustuhan ang sinabi ng kasamahan. “He had a successful surgery for his head injury. He’ll wake up soon. It’s only been three days.”
Am I in a coma for three days?
“He reminds me of the patient we had before, who didn’t survive DAI after being in a coma for three days. And this is exactly how I felt when I stared at his face before he passed away.”
“What the hell is DAI?” kusang lumabas mula sa bibig ko pero wala namang nakarinig.
“Snap out of it!” saway ng brunette. “He’s definitely waking up. He’s too handsome to die young.”
Gumulong ang inuupuan ng isa pang female nurse palapit sa brunette. “Yes. I hope he wakes up soon so we can meet.” Ngumiti ito, halatang kinilig.
“No way, Harper! He’s mine! I gave him a bed bath yesterday, and I’ve already seen his body, so I have dibs on him, okay?”
“Well,” mukhang ayaw patalong sabi ng kausap ng brunette, “I’m scheduled to give him a bath tomorrow, so…”
“No way! Don’t touch him!” the blonde warned the brunette.
Napailing-iling ako. Really? I can still attract women even while unconscious and severely bruised? I’m not sure whether I should be flattered that I still look desirable in that state.
“Are you sure he’s single?” tanong ng blonde.
Tumingin dito ang dalawang ICU nurse at sumagot ang brunette. “Have you seen a woman visiting him? None.”
“He’s a Filipino, right?” pagkumpirma ng blonde.
“Yeah,” sagot ng brunette. “I didn’t know they had fine men in the Philippines. He must be a celebrity there.”
Kung puwede lang makisali sa usapan nila, sasabihin kong sampung taon na akong hindi nakakauwi sa Pilipinas simula nang mag-migrate kami ng pamilya ko rito sa L.A. I miss the Philippines. I even planned to come back for a two-week vacation.
Lumipad ang tingin ko sa digital display ng petsa at oras sa pader ng ICU. Dammit, I should’ve been in the Philippines today. Sa mga oras na ito, palapag na siguro ang eroplanong sinasakyan ko pauwi. But heck, here I am, in this place—this lonely place, in a deep coma.
Bumalik ang tingin ko sa blonde nurse na nahuli ko pa ang ginawang pagbuntong-hininga matapos tapunan ng tingin ang kama kung saan nakahiga ang katawan ko. Was she serious about what she said earlier? Nararamdaman ba talaga niyang malapit na akong mamatay?
No! I can’t possibly die this young! I’m only thirty-one and just starting to reap the fruits of my hard work. My life can’t end here. Marami pa akong balak, marami pang pangarap.
“I will not die,” kausap ko sa blonde kahit hindi niya ako naririnig. “I will wake up… and live long.”
Inangat ko ang mga kamay para pagmasdan ang mga iyon. I am totally a soul right now. Naisip ko na baka kailangan kong bumalik sa katawan ko para magising na ako kaya lumapit ako sa kama para humiga roon.
But nothing happened. I didn’t even feel I became one with my body.
Ilang beses kong sinubukan pero ayaw talaga pumasok ng kaluluwa ko sa katawan ko. Hanggang sa matigilan na ako sa ginagawa dahil biglang tumunog ang alarm tone ng patient monitor. Napamulagat ako sa nakita ko sa monitor. Hindi ko man naiintindihan kung para saan ang digits, alam kong nasa dangerous levels ang vital signs ko dahil nagpu-pula ang mga iyon.
Mabilis akong dinaluhan ng dalawang nurses. A few seconds later, a man in a white coat rushed in. I float behind them, watching as they try to revive me. My heartbeat line fluctuates, growing weaker and weaker until… it flatlines.
The deafening beep pierced my ears.
I’m dead. I’m fucking dead.
“Nooooooo!” I scream, trying to reach out for my body, but suddenly, I’m transported to another place.
I’m in a vast, empty, dark, and windy place. For a moment, I almost thought I was at the gates of hell, but then I noticed the city lights and the expansive night sky above. It feels like I’m on the rooftop of a building.
Am I on the rooftop of the hospital? Why was I brought here? Am I not allowed to see my dead body?
Hanggang sa matuon ang tingin ko sa isang malaking billboard sa di-kalayuan.
What? Mang Inasal?
Kailan pa nagkaroon ng Mang Inasal sa California? Pinagmasdan ko ang iba pang naaabot ng tanaw ko. Is that Alden Richards on another billboard?
Bench, San Mig Light… Sogo Hotel?
What the…? I’m in the Philippines?