27th Incident: Contents 文書 

Mahigpit ang pagkakahawak ko sa file case na wala ng laman. Lahat ng gusto kong malaman, nakakalat na sa sahig.

Inisa isa kong dinampot ang mga pictures, ang torn articles, pati ang kopya ng unang print nito. May listahan rin akong nakita pero pahapyaw ko lang na nabasa. Sa dami ng gusto kong noong malamang kasagutan ay nandito na ngayon sa harapan ko ay hindi ko na alam kung anong uunahin sa mga ito. Pero bago ang lahat, I need my mom to explain why she have the plastic file case. Kaya inipon ko lahat ng contents ng plastic file case, ibinalik ito sa lalagyanan at isinara.

"Mama... W-why do you have the plastic file case?" tanong ko sa kanya na may mababang boses at hindi ko alam kung cold ang tono ko.

"I did it to protect you, my son."

"That is a selfish answer! We have been looking at this for a long time. A lot of people have died in finding this plastic file case! Mama! Answer me!"

"I'm sorry..."

"Mrs. Kobayashi, how did you get the file case?" Rio asked.

"I was in the same station where Yuya collapsed." Panimula ni mama.

Nakita ko siyang nakahiga at walang malay sa platform ng train station. At first, I wanted to call for help but I saw the file case and I got curious. When I checked it. I found out all the contents of the file case. This will surely ruin you, my son. So I did my part as your mother. I had to protect you.

Protect me? I can't understand....

"So, I had to hide the plastic file case. I also had to appear late." Paliwanag ni mama. "When I saw Yamamura, I knew he is part of the thirteen people who are cursed. So, that's when I've decided not to give you the plastic file case. But now that you found out, I don't know how can I help you now..."

"Just tell us the truth. Please cooperate." Sagot ko. "Tell us what you know. This is not about you or me anymore. The cursed people deserves to be saved too."

"So that's why Yamamura is probably attracted to you, Mrs. Kobayashi. He can feel the presence of her daughter with you." Rio analyzed.

"Bakit ka ginugulo ni Hinako? Cursed ka rin ba?"

Mom did not respond. I hate it.

Kaya ginawa ko na ang nararapat kong gawin. Binuksan ko ang file case. Nasa living room kami ngayon at inilapag ko sa mesa ang lahat. Ang photos, lists at ang article mula sa Shibuya Today Newspaper.

Una kong binasa ang torn article at ang karugtong nito:

The Shibuya Today Newspaper. January 28, 2011.

The 23:57 Incident.

SHIBUYA TOKYO. Thirteen people committed suicide at exactly 23:57 yesterday, January 27, 2011. The exact time for the last train ride of the station in Hanzomon Line Platform. The thirteen people were seen standing side by side and jumped all at the same time as the last train was approaching to Shibuya Station. These people were last seen suddenly laughing together while wearing their surgical masks before committing a group suicide. They were wearing surgical masks with a drawing of a smiling mouth drawn in red ink. It was later revealed that these people were in a religious group and decided to commit a group suicide to end their suffering altogether. However there is one thing that was discovered during the—

Matatandaang putol ang article na ito noong binasa ko sa ospital dahil punit ang kalahati nito. Kaya naman tuwang tuwa ako ng may karugtong ito.

...However there is one thing that was discovered during the investigation. One person survived the incident and is currently in critical condition in Shibuya General Hospital. Further details has yet to be identified. The list of the people who committed suicide ha yet to be released in public. It was requested by the Shibuya Ward Police to keep the identities of the people for their personal discretion and privacy.

There is one thing for sure, this incident has happened again. The 23:57 case is just one of the cases of mass suicides in Japan. According to some reports, similar case has happened first in 1980s however the time is quite different. Due to the popularity of the last train ride accident, it was named as 23:57 by the netizens as of today.

The 23:57 has been a popular trending topic already which scares the people. This has caused so much trouble to people with the last train ride work shift that the Shibuya Ward Police and the government is acting up on prohibiting the printing of anything related to the 23:57 incident.

Written by: Risa Miyake

Natulala na lang ako ng matapos kong mabasa ang article. I almost know most of the contents of the article b there is one thing which made me curious.

Risa Miyake? Risa? Wait. Is this some sort of a coincidence? Is she the girl who contacted me? If this writer and the one who called me, the same person, then I will meet her tonight in Shibuya.

Kinuha ni Rio ang article at binasa nilang dalawa ito ni Ayako.

"There's something wrong with this article. Hmmm" Rio told me. Pero hindi ko siya pinansin dahil matindi na ang adrenaline rush ko sa mga nalaman ko.

Hindi ako maka get over sa mga nalaman ko. Kaya naman ay matapos kong mabasa ang buong article ay agad kon tinignan ang listahan. I need to know the names of the people who committed suicide and find the one who survived.

At binasa ko ang listahan.

Thirteen people who committed suicide (23:57 Incident):

1. Ayame Mendez – Deceased

2. Gen Kawashita – Deceased

3. Doctor Carl Higashi – Deceased

4. Riiko Katou – Deceased

5. Police Inspector Sawada – Deceased

6. Minami Yamamura – Deceased

7. Hinami Uchida – Deceased

8. Yoko Uchida – Deceased

9. Rica Miyake. – Deceased

10. Nanami Kitade – Deceased

11. Shuunei Uno – Deceased

12. Yuichi Kobayashi – Deceased

13. Yolly Kobayashi – Alive.

Finally, I have names of the people. Mas madali pa kasi may mga mugshots sa tabi ng mga pangalang nandito sa listahan. Nagkaroon ako ng mga flashbacks ng mga nakita kong mga naka surgical masks. Pero masyadong intense ang lahat. Dahil may mga pangalang ikinagulat ko.

Agad akong kumuha ako ng papel at sinulat ko ulit ang lahat ng mga nakalista sa separate -sheet. I need to keep my mind going. Even though I was shocked. I re-wrote the names and I can't stop myself from thinking. Everything is overflowing.

Thirteen people who committed suicide (23:57 Incident):

1. Ayame Mendez – Thought to be Ayako's twin sister but is actually's Ayako's obsessed friend who share the same surname.

2. Gen Kawashita – Rio's classmate and close friend. Victim of bullying.

3. Doctor Carl Higashi – Mamiya's fiancé. Had an affair with Nurse Riiko

4. Riiko Katou– Yuuri Katou's (Private I Café waitress and Daisy's workmate.) sister. Shibuya General Hospital's nurse. Doctor Higashi's other girlfriend.

5. Police Inspector Sawada – Ueda's brother-in-law and workmate.

6. Minami Yamamura – Yamamura's wife who cannot bore a child.

7. Hinami Uchida – the ghost kid who is always with my mother. Yamamura's daughter to Yoko Uchida. Why would she commit suicide? She probably was dragged into the incident.

8. Yoko Uchida – Hinami's mom. Oliver's EX. Yamamura's lover too. Father of Hinami. He killed Oliver. Oliver killed him too.

9. Rica Miyake – I don't know her but she share the same family name with Risa.

10. Nanami Kitade – I don't know her too. Basing on the mugshot, she looks like a 70-80 year old grandma.

11. Shuunei Uno – Oya-san's son. I have seen him once as a ghost with Oya-san.

Tuloy tuloy na ang pagsulat ko ng bigla akong nagulat sa dalawang huling pangalan na nasa listahan. Parehong Kobayashi.

12. Yuichi Kobayashi –

13. Yolly Kobayashi. –

Sino si Yuichi Kobayashi? Wait. Kamukha niya sa mughsot ang nakita ko noon. Yung mid-thirties na lalake! Sino siya? Kailangan kong malaman kung sino talaga siya. Pero ang ikinagulat ko lalo ay...

Yolly Kobayashi? Ang survivor ng ng 23:57 incident 4 years ago ay si— mama?!

Napatingin ako kay mama. Siya nga yung nasa mugshot photo katabi ng panglan na nasa listahan.

Takot pa rin ang facial expression niya.

"Anong ibig sabihin nito, ma? Isa ka sa nag group suicide four years ago? You are the thirteenth person who committed suicide four years ago, is that true?! And it says in the list that you survived. There's only one Yolly Kobayashi I know. It has to be you, mama!"

Mom looked at me with fear and she sighed.

"I-I should have told y-you about this from the beginning."

"Is this what you wanted to hide all along?" Rio asked. "You wanted Yuya to be protected."

Is this the reason why she kept saying that she needs to protect me?

There's something strange though. I can't recall it.

I can't remember it at all. Honestly.

"But you can no longer hide this Mrs. Kobayashi. Yuya has been dragged in this curse already." Pagpatuloy ni Rio.

" I know. I wanted to hide the file case so that I can fix this alone."

"Ma. You are selfish." Sagot ko sa kanya. Hindi ko alam pero mahapdi na ang mga mata ko.

"Yuya." Hinawakan ako ni Ayako para pakalmahin.

"This curse is not just about me. It's about the people are being involved!" sigaw k okay mama.

"I know! I tried my best not to get you involved!" sagot naman ni mama sa akin habang umiiyak.

"It's not about me mom! What if something happened to Ayako?!"

"I'm sorry!"

"Look at what happened?! You were hunted by Yamamura! Look at what happened to you?! Stop being selfish! If you need help, ask me!"

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." Paulit ulit ni mama na sinasabi habang tinatakpan niya ang mukha niya habang umiiyak.

Rio sighed and hugged her.

"Enough of this! All we have to do now is do something about this curse!" Sigaw ni Rio. Ngayon ko lang siyang nakitang sumigaw.

"Do not cry Mrs. Kobayashi." Pinatahan ni Rio si mama.

Patuloy pa rin ang pagluha ni mama kahit pinipigilan niya.

I felt bad.

"I guess we have to list the cursed ones too." Sabi ko bilang pagputol sa sobrang awkward na nangyayari ngayon.

"Okay. Ako na maglilista. Sabihin mo na lang sa akin ang info na kailangan kong isulat." Rio insisted. Hinayaan ko siya.

Si mama naman at Ayako ay magkatabi. Ayako has been so silent. I guess shock din siya sa buong nangyayari ngayon.

Sa likod ng nilista kong analyzation about thirteen people who committed suicide ay naglista naman si Rio. Medyo malayo siya sa akin kaya hindi ko makita. Pero idinidikta ko na lang sa kanya ang alam kong pangalan at tao na nasa curse ngayon. At nga matapos kami...

The cursed people of 23:57 (OMG!)

1. Rio Sakurada ❤ – ME. The main character of this curse!

2. Yuya – Hotheaded person.

3. Ayako-chan – Hotheaded person's GF. She's cute!

4. Police Inspector Kotaro Ueda – Shibuya ward police.

5. Tomomi Mamiya – Psychiatrist. Megane girl.

6. Kojiro Uno – Oya-san. The owner of the apartment where Ayako ang Yuya live. Lolo ko siya.

7. Yolly Kobayashi – Yuya's mom. The survivor of the group suicide four years ago.

8. Tetsu – Tigok na. Former editor of Peculiar Magazine.

9. Yamamura – Tigok na. The investigator who killed Oliver. The semi villain in this story!

10. Oliver Figueroa – Tigok na. Private I Café staff daw sabi ni Yuya.

11. Daisy Figueroa – Tigok na. Private I Café waitress daw sabi ni Yuya.

12. Yuri Katou – Tigok na. Private I Café waitress daw sabi ni Yuya.

"Ayan! Tapos na!" sabi ni Rio habang kagat kagat ang lapis sa bibig niya at tuwang tuwa na ipinakita sa akin ang listahan.

"P*ta!" Bulalas ko. Rio's version of his list is beyond my comprehension. Why is there are heart after his name? At saka ano 'tong mga description niya sa mga pangalan namin? Nakakapikon.

"Take this seriously, Rio!" asar kong sabi sa kanya.

"I am serious about this. Don't fuss on small things like this, Yuya. All we need to do is find the last remaining cursed one."

"Hah?!" naguguluhan kong tanong sa kanya.

"Thirteen people are probably being cursed now. So probably, one last person is needed to complete the thirteen cursed people too." Paliwanag ni Rio sa akin.

At biglang pumasok sa isip ko ang tumawag sa akin kanina.

"Si Risa! Si Risa!"

"Ano?" tanong ni Rio sa akin!

"Siya ang pang thirteenth!" Sagot ko. "Well, siguro."

"Then we need to find her!" Ayako exclaimed.

"The thing is she set an appointment mamayang 6pm." Sagot ko.

"Okay..." sagot naman ni Rio na parang natatawa.

Matapos ang nakakapagod at nakaka draiwn na revelation ngayong araw, nagkaroon kami ng discussion. Tutal mamaya pa namang 6pm ang meet up naming with Risa. Tinawagan na rin namin si Police Inspector Ueda at si Mamiya-san at payag na rin silang makipag meet mamaya sa Private I Café. At dahil matanda na si Oya-san at kagagaling lang sa trauma ni mama, minabuti na naming huwag na silang imbitahin about sa meeting mamaya.

At sinimulan na naming ang discussion naming about 23:57...

"Why did the thirteen people, including you, commit suicide?" Tanong ni Rio." I don't get it."

"We are different beings and each of us has our own difficulties in life and struggles we fight. But sometimes, some people cannot bear those problems. They chose to end it." Sagot ni mama.

"Then why did you try to commit suicide then?" Rio followed up his question.

"Huh?" Mom was not able to answer properly. "Please ask another question instead."

"It seems to me like you are not the kind of person who will commit suicide." Rio told mama. "Anyway I have another question."

"How can we stop this curse?" tanong ni Rio.

"I-I don't know." Mama replied.

I think hindi niya talaga alam. Kasi kung alam niya, edi sana nagawa niya na ito noon pa.

"Okay. Let's stop here" pagbasag ni Rio sa katahimikan habang kausap si mama."I will make something for you so that Hinako will no longer disturb you. But remember, my charm will only work if you will no longer welcome Hinako and if you put your faith in my charm. It will still depend on you."

Mom nods. Sinuotan siya ni Rio ng isang bracelet na mula sa kanya.

Maya maya ay nag ring ang cellphone ni Ayako. Tinignan ito ni Ayako at ibinaling ang tingin sa akin.

"Si Shibata-san" sabi niya. At sinagot niya ang mobile phone.

"What?!" medyo tumaas ang boses ni Ayako sa kausap. "I have submitted a write up already. You can't do this to us!"

Nakuha na ni Ayako ang attention ko. Nilapitan ko siya habang nagtataka.

"Who is this writer? Give me her number." Patuloy na nakikipagusap si Ayako sa mobile phone. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin. Pero katabi lang niya ako kahit wala akong idea sa nangyayari.

At ng matapos ang usapan, Ayako talked to me. Naluluha siya.

"They said that they found a new writer." Naluluhang sabi sa akin ni Ayako. "Thus, I won't be needed to submit articles anymore. We won't be able to get this freelance thing."

Ayako is not ready to give up Peculiar Magazine just yet. I know. She loves writing. She loves writing bizaare things in particular. Even though hindi halatang mahilig siya sa mga weird phenomenons at mga unexplainable events, mahal ni Ayako ang pagsusulat tungkol dito.

"So anong sinabi mo sa kanila?" tanong k okay Ayako.

"Hiningi ko ang number ng bagong writer nila! Magaling raw e."

Hah?!

"Why would you do that?" Tanong ko. "I don't think it's her fault. Well, it's not your fault."

"I know! Probably because of my intense emotions. I should have not done that."

"So, binigay nila ang info ng writer?" tanong naman ni Rio.

"Yeah. Familiar nga yung pangalan. Parang nabasa ko na somewhere." Sagot ni Ayako.

"Risa. Risa Miyake daw. Ito number niya." Sabay pakita ni Ayako ng number sa amin.

Nagulat talaga ako sa sinabi ni Ayako.

"Wait! Risa Miyake! The one who wrote the article in Shibuya Today?!" bulalas ko.

Agad kong kinuha ang mobile phone ko at ikinumpara ang number ng tumawag sa akin at ang number na nakuha ni Ayako kay Shibata.

Pareho. Parehong pareho.

Parang umaayon na sa atin ang lahat ng nangyayari. Randomly, I searched Risa Miyake in Google.

Risa is indeed a popular writer!

From writing news reports to articles in Peculiar Magazine. Who are you Risa?

Time flies. It's 11:30AM already. We decided to accompany mom again at home and eat lunch together. May mga work commitments kami ni Ayako sa English Teaching School at sa Peculiar Magazine pero naabisuhan na naming sila na hindi muna kami papasok.

Ayako and I went home to our apartments. I am holding the file case. Mahirap na. Nagpahinga lang kami ng ilang oras, naligo at nagbihis para sa meeting.

When we arrived in Shibuya, we can still feel amazed by the number of people around us. Then we finally met Police Inspector Ueda and Mamiya-san at Hachiko.

Sabay sabay na kaming pumunta ng Private I Café. We saw this young girl with light brown bobcat hair wearing pearl earrings at the hang-out section. I just noticed that she has a mole at the lower left part of her lip.

"I have been waiting to meet you, Yuya Kobayashi and Ayako Mendez." Nakangiti niyang bati sa amin.

She is surrounded by twelve ghosts wearing surgical masks.