Almost Isolated

Chapter 17 - APOR Pass

"OMG! I have no time for this." Neri rolled her eyes heavenwards, her patience running short. She was on her way out when Margot called, insisting to drop by. "So, are you in or out?"

"You need me," Margot said. "You can't do this without me -"

"So, did you improve your grammar? Do you have someone to call 'mom' now?"

"The fu*ck, Neri!"

"The 'F' with your mouth... stay away! And I'm sorry you can't see your friend, Robbie."

Neri had tasted the bitterness in her mouth with the mention of the ghost. Since the incident of the bedroom door, Robbie had been missing in action. It was ironic that she hadn't seen him for three days. His violent behavior had surprised and upset her; but she had been a lot worried that she wouldn't see him again.

"Neri, you are so horrible," Margot scoffed.

"Of course I am." With that she said goodbye to the teenager and run off to her destination.

It was almost eight in the morning when Neri reached her address's barangay office. There were already ten people on the line, each wearing mask and face shield. She figured, she needed to begin her life again. It was still pandemic but she got to move.

She missed her parents but they cannot advise her anymore. Robbie had been a great comfort but with him being here and there, she'll end up being alone soon.

'Take your pick and help me.'  Neri remembered those words from her dream of her parents. It didn't make sense back then. Now she gathered, it was a message.

With all those masks, she was supposed to choose; Doctor Mary and Nomrad wanted her to take charge of her life. And instead of being a damsel in distress, her parents wanted her to be capable of everything.

Having an APOR pass was the first step.

"And where do you intend to go with your I.D. pass, Miss Beltran."

After an hour of waiting in line, Neri was finally entertained by a barangay officer. The woman had a stern face; she answered her politely, looking straight into her eyes.

"I would like to apply for a job. You see, I'm a registered nurse and my Aunt Dianna told me, our profession is really in demand nowadays."

The woman considered her reason for a moment, checked her papers and other credentials and then, gave her an identification card issued by the local government. It was an ID provided for Authorized Person Outside Residence, abbreviated as APOR.

The barangay officer instructed her to paste her picture on it before having the ID laminated. Just like that, piece of cake!

Neri thought it was her profession that convinced the woman. It was a relief. Now she can go anywhere with an APOR pass.

She returned home right before lunch. One window at the Jones' house had been opened; her eyes automatically darted for its direction, only to caught sight of Julian by the window. He was almost transparent as he showed his hand to her, his four fingers raised.

Neri's blood turned cold. She shut her door behind her.

~oOo~

"It's you."

"Yes, Ma'am it's me again. But without my foul-mouthed cousin. Can we talk, please?"

Neri had also planned to visit Alma Soriano that day, hopeful she'll get acquainted to Alejandra's relatives and have her story; the lady didn't seem to want her and was about to shut the door to her face.

"Please... I just need to know about Alejandra. I will only take a second. You don't have to let me in."

Alma was also wearing a light blue surgical mask like her. She'd stared at her, suspiciously. Scanning Neri, from her carrot-brown loose bun on top of her head, her casual green tees and denim jeans down to her red loafers. Then, the older lady's eyes soften at Neri's photo on her APOR ID whose lace hung from her neck.

"You're a younger version. Any relation to them?" Alma was referring to the de la Cruz.

"Not exactly... we are connected though." Neri searched for words, imagining the lady's reaction if she would mention Julian's ghost.

"You seem to be really nice girl." Alma nodded her head, inviting her in. "I'll give you their address."

According to Alma Soriano, she bought the de la Cruz residence a year ago from an 'Alice de Leon', the one who looked like her. Neri figured, Alice as a family of Alejandra.

"I don't know them personally but I'm sure Miss de Leon was one of the previous owners." Alma told her. "As I recall, she's a nurse. Most of her relatives are living in Germany, she'd decided to left San Isidro to join them there. The same reason, her family had to sell this house. The de la Cruz did keep a property in Lucena City."

A property in Lucena... In Lucena City...

Neri sighed as she stared at the address later that evening, in her room.

Miss Alma Soriano... Yes, the lady is still a 'miss', she thought. The lady has no idea who Alejandra was. But if she can visit the relatives of Alejandra in Lucena, she could still have her story. But... But..

Lucena City was two towns away from San Isidro. She may have an APOR pass but the guidelines at the city could be stricter. And the place had the highest case of the Covid-19 virus.

Neri felt cold as she remembered her parents' death because of the Coronavirus.

"Don't go Neri." Robbie's quiet voice almost made her jump. She was lying flat on her stomach while she held the address in a piece of paper. She accidentally threw it across her bed. "It's not worth it. You can just ignore Julian. Forget about me."

"This isn't about you anymore. It's about my life." At that moment, Neri found herself angry and terrified at her own situation. "I went to him because I was hoping for answers to help you. I didn't expect me, being mistaken for a hundred year old girlfriend of his. I was so afraid he wouldn't let me leave anymore that I made an agreement."

"Neri, I'm -"

"You seemed cool about it," she continued, not looking at him. "You even joked with my bratty cousin. And then you have the nerve to slam my door? And then disappear for how many days? What is your problem?"

Neri's phone started vibrating. Her hand automatically grabbed it from under her pillow. It was Nimfa.

"Hi." Neri frowned at her sister's worried smile. "What's up?"

She rose up into a sitting position, ignoring Robbie who vanished by her side in a blink of an eye, then appeared again, seated at the far end of the bed. He was looking solid as ever in his greenish brown soldier uniform.

And really annoyingly handsome too! She thought, dismissing the idea as she concentrated with her sister.

"Jade was worried about you."

"You both were."

"I'm still worried about you," Nimfa corrected. "You don't call or pm me. If I send a message to you, your response was usually hours later or even a day. Since dad's death, you were always offline. What were you doing these past weeks?"

"I - I...?" Talking about her paranormal adventure and investigation was out of the question.

She told the other truth. "I realized that I needed to move on. Maybe to look for a job here... I have an APOR pass now, sis."

"Oh?" A smile started to curve on Nimfa's lips. "That's good, Neri. I'm so happy for you."

"You don't need to worry about me anymore." Neri supplied.

"But still... Jade told me, he wanted to visit you. I think you should give yourself and him a second chance. You need someone, Neri."

"What? Are you suggesting that I make up with Jade?"

With that Neri saw Robbie scowl at her before disintegrating into thin air.