Kapre

Note: This story happened to me in real life. It's up to you if you would believe me or not.

Do you believe in mythical creatures?

Well, I do. And it's all because of one incident back when I was just 16.

It happened on the year 2010, just a few days before my 17th birthday.

I went home from the province where I spent my first semester in college. In that province, a huge mango tree stood beside my aunt's house, where I used to lived back then. I loved that mango tree. That's where I would spent the afternoon reading or else, sleeping. I didn't know it would be the source of my future problems.

I think it was after new year when I started having this weird feeling as though i was being watched. But I couldn't really tell if I just imagined that or not.

My other aunt, who lives not far away from our house, started acting annoyed whenever I went to her house. Puzzled, I was asked her why.

"You smell like tobacco," she answered.

"Me? But I don't smoke!" I said indiginantly. And I was telling the truth. I don't smoke. In fact, I hate the smell of cigarettes. Just sniffling the smoke of it by accident can make me gagged.

My aunt bent towards me and sniffed the air beside me and wrinkled her nose. "Yep. Tobacco alright," she muttered.

I scowled. "I don't smoke. You know that."

She laughed at my expression. "I know. You hate it. Maybe your being stalked by a Kapre," she joked.

Now, for some explanation since not all of you were not born here in the Philippines. (But for those who are Filipino can skip this part 'cause I know you know what a Kapre(Pronounced as "KAHP-PREH) is.) A Kapre is a mythical creature that came from some old Filipino horror tales that our grandma and grandpa used to tell in order to frightened the children into coming out at night. It was said that a Kapre is a creature who have the same features as a human man, except for the legs. It's legs were the legs of a horse. No it's not a centaur. (I used to think it was.) From the waist down, two long legs of a horse. But the most distinguished characteristic of the Kapre was it's liking of smoking tobacco. It was said that the Kapre loves to sit on a branch of it's home tree and smoke all night. Oh, and by the way, a Kapre loves to live in big trees like Acacia tree and Mango tree and all other big tree. And one more thing, A Kapre loves stalking and coveting pretty girls.

I laughed at my aunt's joke. Then, my mom came and told me to go home to watch over my baby brother. So of course, being the obidient daughter as I am, I went home and watch anime instead. (Toradora! was the anime that i was watching.)

Our house at that time was currently "Under repair" because of the Typhoon named "Ondoy" who came into our country, and , unfortunately, our house was destroyed. So I was practically living in a "ruin" like the ones in Greece (But not as pretty as those ruins) at that time. Half of our house have roof and walls, while the other half doesn't. We just used a tarpaulin to cover us at night. (Life's hard.)

It was.. I think, three days before my birthday? I was eating with my brother on the half of our house that doesn't have any roof and walls. The only cover we have were the branches of the big Macopa tree that stood behind our house, and every now and then, Macopa fruits keeps falling at us.

One macopa fruit landed on my coke, which made my stupid brother laughed and made me very annoyed, since coke was spattered on me. I looked up at the tree with a scowl. It was 7pm and the tree looked so dark. And because I was annoyed, I yelled at it angrily. (Yes, I talk to inanimate things.. and to animals too. Weird, huh?)

"Stupid tree!"

Of course, no one answered me. But something on the branch of the near the roof of the other side of house caught my attention. I saw someone(Or is it something?) peeking at us, but quickly hide when I looked at it's direction.

I shrugged it off, since I'm used to seeing things that other people don't. I got it from my mom. I think they called it sixth sense or third eye.(I'm not a cyclops, alright?)

So, after a few more hours, we went to sleep. I slept beside my mom and baby brother, while my dad and my stupid brother(really stupid) slept below the bed, on the floor. From my position, I could clearly see the laundry room(It's not really a room. It's just another un-roofed place where we do the laundry) and the washing machine.

I was almost in dream land when something caught my attention. I though at first it was just my imagination or just the trick of the smoke from the mosquito coil. But I was shocked when the thing.. Moved!!

It was a huge, solid, black shadow of a humongous man. It was sitting on top of our washing machine and smoking a big stick. (I think it was a tobacco) It's hind legs? Definately not human.

I wanted to scream at that time, but my voice got caught up at my throat. I was horrified. It's true! The Kapre's true! I quickly shut my eyes closed and buried my face in my pillows. I can't remember what happened next. I guess i fell asleep. But next morning, I told my mom what i saw the other night. And to my surprise(and her's too) she said--a little shaky-- that she saw it too. We both saw the Kapre that night.

So, my mom decided that it's time for me to see the albularyo(Pronounced as "AHL-BUH-LAHR-YOH")(witch doctor.) The albularyo told me that a Kapre do have a crush on me, which I found rather amusing. Me? Hahaha.. I sure attract many weirdos. And I am not pretty!

But the albularyo told me to be careful of big trees from now on. But he also added that the Kapre didn't mean to harm me. He said it was the one who protected me from the accident that I always get into..(I'm clumsy) He said that It was simply looking out for me-- and my whole family as well.

So, up till now, I can still feel the presence of the Kapre. But he's one of my weird friends. Just like the way I have a friend that's a ghost of a little Japanese girl that I somehow met in the province as well.

But that's another story.