Nikolaj lent me his clothes for that night. Nakakahiya man pero hindi na ako tumanggi tumanggi as I didn't want to go back to that house, especially at night. The place somehow became a horror house for me. Kaya kinabukasan na kami kumuha ng mga gamit ko kung kailan maliwanag na.
I took all my personal things and clothes that were good for one week. Ang gusto pa nga ni Nikolaj ay for a month na, even for two months. I even think that he was planning to move everything that was in my wardrobe to his house. Ayaw pumayag sa one week ko. When I told him na I could just laundry my clothes at kukuha na lang ulit ako kapag nagkulang, doon n'ya na ako hinayaan.
Nikolaj was kind enough to let me stay with him. I was planning to move away again, to hide, and to run away. But he was right. He made his point. Paano nga naman kung muli akong mahanap ng stalker ko? After all, the stalker always did. He knew who I was.
So, even though I thought I would die of embarrassment as I decided not to rely on someone when I ran away from home, I accepted Nikolaj's offer. It would really be better for me to stay with someone rather than live alone. Masyado nang delikado ang nangyayari para sa''kin. I really didn't want to drag Nikolaj into my personal issues, but he insisted, and I was so desperate kaya pumayag na akong mag-stay muna sa bahay n'ya.
It was still a huge mystery for me kung paano bigla na lang nawala ang mga nakita ko sa kwarto. There were no traces left, and I even doubted myself kung totoo ba ang mga nakita ko. If only Nikolaj wasn't there to testify that what I've seen was indeed real, I would really think that it was all in my mind lalo pa dahil na rin sa nangyari sa party. I still think the man who danced with me was my stalker, and he was just waiting for another chance to approach me.
I tried hard not to be a burden for Nikolaj. He really is kind. He was giving me everything I needed even before I asked him. He was generous with food and was making sure that I was comfortable. He was unbelievably sweet.
I could still remember when he comforted me that night. Para pa ngang ang sarap laging magpa-comfort sa kanya. And it shocked me when he gave me a kiss on the cheek. Naramdaman ko kaagad ang pag-iinit ng mga pisngi ko nang maalala ko ang tungkol doon.
So, I decided to cook for him para makabawi man lang sa mga ginagawa ni Nikolaj para sa 'kin. Nasabi na n'ya kaninang umaga na baka mas mauna akong umuwi sa kanya dahil may pupuntahan pa s'ya. And I knew that there wouldn't be any food for us dahil pareho kaming wala sa bahay. I'm not proud of my cooking skills, but I still wanted to do something for him since he was looking after me. Ayaw ko namang maging pabigat sa kanya.
"Kumusta ka naman?" tanong ni Lyda habang nasa byahe kami pauwi. "Wala pa ring balita tungkol sa stalker mo?"
It has been almost a week since that happened pero ramdam ko pa rin ang takot ko dahil sa nangyari.
I shrugged my shoulders. Wala na rin akong narinig sa mga pulis pagkatapos noon.
"Wala. I think he's laying low dahil na-involve na rin ang mga pulis."
"O baka nga wala ka talagang nakita dahil nakainom ka? May halong alcohol kasi 'yung drink na nasa punch nu'ng party. Naalala ko pa nga na parang hindi ka okay nu'ng pag-uwi mo." Then she shook her head. "Ay, hindi. Nakita nga rin pala ni Niko 'yung nakita mo."
Pilita kong ngumiti sa kanya.
"Buti na lang nando'n si Nikolaj para patunayan 'yung statement ko."
And... I didn't quite like that. Yes, I was grateful for Nikolaj for backing up my statement, pero lumalabas kasi na hindi credible ang sinabi ko kung hindi dahil kay Nikolaj. I didn't want to dismiss my fear that night as some alcohol hallucinosis. I wasn't a drunkard. I've never been so drunk in my entire life to the point that I would pass out and imagine things.
