#post disaster

I looked around this house and saw scattered, unopened boxes everywhere. This is my new house, and I’ll live here. Alone. Without them.

My wife. My son.

They left me after the flood. Our—my family is gone. Divorced. Officially.

It still felt unreal, like I was trapped in a dream.

“All done, sir.”

I snapped out of my reverie and thanked the movers.

I’m such a mess.

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I didn't understand. I’d checked this house, asked neighbors, and even double-checked before signing the papers. Everything was fine. This house had no problems. Supposedly. 

But just on night one, I found a problem. The water.

Those were just drops at first. But slowly yet surely, it drops faster than it sounds like a splash. Sometimes from the kitchen. Other times from the bathroom or even the laundry room.

I always checked the taps twice every time I finished using them and before I went to sleep. I even called a plumber to inspect the pipes, but nothing. Apparently, according to them, there’s no problem. 

So what was I hearing every night? A delusion?

I heard a boy's laughter again. Really? At this hour? Did they even watch their son? So irresponsible.

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“Sorry I couldn’t help you move earlier. So, how is your new house? Have you settled in, Liam?”

My old friend, Samuel—or Sam—called. He sounded tired and a bit… worried? Why?

“What are you talking about? You had to move too, didn't you?” I said, half-joking.

This new house… I mused back about how many times I’d heard the taps sound broken. And not just that, it started to sound like furniture was being dragged around when nothing was. It’s weird. Feels… haunted. But that can’t be, right?

Sam hummed softly but didn’t say anything, waiting. 

“My house is… yeah, something. Maybe I just need more time adjusting. How about you and your family?” I deflected.

I could hear Sam's breath uneven and shaky through the phone. It took a while before he finally spoke, his voice weary.

“I’m worried. Ellie’s still so young, and after that disaster—can I even be a good parent for her?”

Yeah, such a disaster is bound to leave a scar on any child's mind, especially as young as her.

But why does he sound like Maya’s dead?

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“█████, can you get the plates for Mommy?”

The sounds of kitchen utensils moving around awoke me. This house really has a unique way as an alarm.

“Here, Mommy! Daddy's still sleeping. Can I wake him? I want to play knights with him.”

“Let Daddy sleep for a while, baby. He’s tired.”

I heard the boy sighed. I waited until there were no more sounds before I left my bed.

What an amazing way to wake up.

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I walked past the kitchen after I brushed my teeth. I checked and found some utensils not in the position I left them in last night. I put them back in their position.

Really, I couldn't believe this house is haunted by a pair of mother and son. Sometimes, I heard the mother make a phone call to someone. Other times, like this. But, I don't want to think too long about this first thing in the morning. 

I thought about what kind of breakfast I would cook today. Before, I always woke up with breakfast already made. Now… I need to cook something to eat.

Right… Let's just think about what to cook. Don't think about anything else. Don't. Let's… Cook for breakfast. I’m hungry. I need to eat. I need to cook to eat. Yes, that’s it.

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I decided to clean the whole house while also checking if they only moved my kitchen utensils or anything else.

My bedroom and bathroom are safe. But my son's toys are littered around from the storage room to the living room. I swear I already sealed those boxes again!

Even if you're a young boy ghost, you can't just open those boxes! Those are still his!

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“So… What did you mean by ‘something’? What happened to your house?” Sam called again two days after the last call. I’m glad he said Ellie's better. She's a sweetheart who didn't deserve this mess.

I explained everything from night one to what just happened today. It’s so frustrating. This house drove me crazy. I ended my rant with cursing, “this house is too haunted! I’m going to move up!”

Sam slowly and tried as tactfully to say, “Liam, maybe this isn’t as simple as you think?  Have you think to… you know, put CCTV like those people in TokTok?”

Samuel, how long have we been friends? You think I didn’t know that’s your way to say “I don’t believe you so I’ll nudge you to prove it?” I fummed. I know this haunted house sounded like bullshit, so you know what I did? I agreed with the annoyance he picked up and still had the gall to laugh.

Before I managed to close the call, Sam humorously said, “wait for me! I also want to watch it. Tell me when you are going to check so I can drop Ellie to her Grandma. Don’t watch it alone!”

How weird. “Why don’t you just leave her home with Maya? Is she busy?” I asked but I know, Maya can never be too busy for their sole princess.

I heard Sam sighed deeply, trying to hold back his tears. Wait, he's crying?

“Liam, Maya died. She didn't survive the flood. She's one of the deceased.”

What?

How could that be?

How can I not know?

How can I forget this?

But it's not a joke. Samuel won't joke this. 

But… I didn't remember this.

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I’d been setting up CCTV on this house for at least a week. From living room to storage room, none escape. I just need to check it. I’d message that cocky man and he said ‘on the way’. But when’ll he be here? 

Maybe I should watch it first. What can go wrong? I'm an adult and not afraid of ghosts.

I messaged him, ‘I'll check it first. Eat the spoiler lol.’

I just opened the monitor when Sam called and hurriedly said “wait! I'm really close!”

I can hear he sped up his driving, which worried me. “Sam, slow down. It’s just watching CCTV, not a movie. Even the spoiler won’t be that exciting.”

“You listen to me, old man! If you want to watch it, don’t close this call. I'm really close. I will arrive soon.” 

I hummed and searched the earliest folder. Nothing in the first minutes, then I saw me check the pipes. Then I returned to the bedroom and slept—huh? I backracked the record ten seconds ago, I left my bedroom? I saw me move the furniture. 

No, it must be a mistake. Let's check the records of another day.

But the more I watched, the more horrified I became. I saw me moving furniture, touching the utilities, and even playing with my son's toys and scattering them.

What's happening? 

What did I forget?

It can’t be.

My head hurts! I closed my eyes and saw a glimpse of that day's incident.

I remembered it happened too fast. It caught everyone off guard. We didn't know. Didn’t have much time to evacuate. The waves were too fast and too strong, quickly sweeping anything on their line. People were screaming for help. I was holding Ethan but we were far from safe. Melissa's should be safe. I tried to give Ethan to Melissa before another wave arrived and…

Oh.

There's never a divorce.

They died.

I killed them.

I made a mistake.

And they paid the consequence.

I should be smarter, more competent.

They won't die then.

It’s all my fault.

It's me who shouldn't be here.

I’m sorry, Melissa. Your husband failed you.

I’m sorry, Ethan. Father is useless.

What should I do? 

I don't know.

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“Liam! William! Did you hear me? I’m outside. Open the door, please..!”

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It's this one:

Uso Ewin at over 171 during the main events of Mobile Suit Victory Gundam.

Though Suletta's now taken the official record at youngest with 3 at age 4: