Almost Isolated

Chapter 30 - Farewells

"You don't remember anything else? Like being -"

Neri had glared at Margot, cutting her off. They were back at their grandparents' house. As soon as Philip calmed down, they'd left the Jones' house for a more secure place.

Philip sat on the middle of the sofa with Robbie at the farthest side, invisible from sight except for Neri. Margot seemed not to see the ghost too, as her cousin simply looked through him for the past minutes.

Robbie wasn't in the mood to mingle with Margot ... or her. But why wouldn't he leave?

"Margot wanted to ask," Neri said, dismissing her annoyance with her boyfriend, "if you saw  the face of the man."

Philip stared on the low center table, touching his temples. He winced; obviously, his head was in pain. "I was on the floor in Helen's room looking at some pictures when he grabbed me from behind. A big knife was ready for me but I managed to pull free. I remember hitting the floor then nothing."

He looked up at Margot then dropped his gaze to the table again, confused. "I should be in Helen's room but I'm already downstairs with you guys when I got to my senses. What happened to me?"

"You were -"

Neri shook her head at Margot. It would be a long story and Philip must leave. She already called for her aunt to pick up Margot, explaining she had to send for her cousin earlier, for an emergency reason. Dianna would be coming soon and she shouldn't see another unauthorized person outside residence.

"I think - I think," Philip looked up at Margot. "I should go home. It's late."

"That's good!" Neri agreed escorting the young man for the main door. "You should rest. If you remember something about the guy, you can contact Margot -"

"How about the police?" Margot asked Neri. "Should we report this?"

"We don't have the photos anymore or the money." Philip's tone was suddenly raised, turning to Neri's cousin. "What will we report? How will we explain what we're doing there after curfew? We lost the stuff that could help the Empoy sisters. This is all your fault, Margot."

"Me -?"

"I was almost murdered!" Philip blurted out. His face red.

Margot's mouth opened then closed, seeming to protest but changed her mind. Philip didn't look at the tall girl after that. He simply left without saying anything to them. Neri felt sorry for her cousin sensing that she had been hurt. She wanted Robbie to talk to Margot, maybe to ease her mind since the two were better friends; the ghost had vanished from his seat.

"I have a photo in my phone," Margot said, breathing out, suddenly in control of her emotions again. "And I think I can still find something inside Helen's drawer."

~oOo~

"So, how was the murder mystery adventure?" Neri found Jade cooking breakfast the next morning. She felt relieved, he didn't go down from the guest room, even after her aunt and Margot left last night; but still, he didn't want him staying with her for more days.

"What are you really doing here, Jade?"

Neri was dressed in light blue scrub suit, her carrot-brown hair, fashioned in a bun. She was ready for work, her first day that she wanted to be in the hospital early; she'd decided that she should deal with her ex-boyfriend once and for all.

"You said my sister was worried about me? You did come here as a friend, correct?"

"Probably." Jade said quietly, his cheerful smile fading. "Probably not."

Neri had known her ex as direct; he finally gave it to her. "I want you back. You told me you didn't deserve me because you weren't a good girlfriend, I am willing to give you a chance."

Neri couldn't tell Jade straight the last time. She didn't want to hurt his feelings that she made him believe, it was all her fault, now she wanted to be honest with him. "I don't love you, Jade. I thought I did. It was all for my dad because he liked you. I'm really sorry."

Jade nodded. He was transferring two fried eggs in a plate; he almost dropped them. "I didn't expect this," he said. "You know I came here for you and had to quarantine myself for a month to see you."

There was that one quality of Jade that Neri didn't like. It was his way of making her feel bad whenever something didn't go well for him. Like when she got late for their date or she did wrong at her job in St. Gregory Medical Hospital back then.

She wanted to say, it was his own decision to waste his time for her; she told him, "I'm sorry you have to come here. I really am."

Jade made a quick move, grabbing one of her arm. His eyes hurt, jaws clenched. Neri thought he was going to hit her; he pulled her in an embrace. His hold tensed then he released her.

She'd known her ex as a gentleman. They only kissed three to four times and never got to the second base. His touch didn't have any impact on her even at that moment. Maybe it was because she longed for someone else - Robbie.

"So, I guess I'll be packing my things now," Jade said.

"You could stay for a few days more -"

"What for?" Jade gave out a dry laugh, almost sarcastic. "You said you didn't want me anymore. I do hope there's no one else?"

Neri said nothing.

She joined her ex-boyfriend eat breakfast. They talked about the Covid case in Seattle and Neri's other previous co-staff in St. Gregory Medical Hospital. They never mentioned about love or their past relationship again. Before Neri went for work, Jade told her, he'll be leaving for Seattle that day. However, he could postpone if she will insist that he stay.

Neri told Jade, he should fly home and go back to work.

'The hospital needs us.' She remembered saying those words to her ex. 'The same reason that I'd moved on with my grieving to continue my duties!'

Neri had kept herself busy on her first day of work at Don Juan Medical Hospital in the city. It was in the mid-afternoon when she received a call from her cousin.

"What?" She almost screamed in annoyance. It was a good thing; she took the call in a storage room. "You're in where? Darn it, what are you two doing in there?"