Wrong Room

3: Face to Face with Shame

Going through my entire day is hard enough. This morning, I woke up so late that I came in half way through my 9AM class, which is also my favorite subject. I had to explain to my professor why I came in at such an unearthly hour because she is very strict when it comes to attendance. I told her everything from the party until the time I fell asleep, but I skipped some parts of it. She wouldn't want to hear about that one now would she.

I wasn't able to eat breakfast and I always make sure not to skip it, but today is an exemption.

When I woke up this morning, I almost forgot about him, the drunk guy who intruded in my privacy, but he wasn't a dream all right. He was all too real and he was there lying on my sofa, snoring. As I passed by him on my way to the kitchen, I could smell him reeking of alcohol and some other smell that I couldn't recognize and have no plan to.

I went through my day just like how I face it everyday.

Now that I am headed back to my place, I hope that it is just an uneventful night. I wouldn't be able to handle the noise of the party.

I searched through my bag for my room's key that I just tossed inside. With one hand on my jacket and the other on the door knob, I twisted it and opened my room.

The sight before me was so unexpected that all I thought that I would be doing once I got in my room was to toss myself on my bed.

But I couldn't do that.

Not with this guy sitting on my sofa. Not just any guy for that matter. It's the same guy that barged in to my room last night.

From the guy he was last night to the guy he is right now, there are a lot of differences. He has on a black plain v-necked shirt and a pair of denim jeans. He looked cleaner and neater than his state last night.

I was so shocked that I couldn't tell if my mouth is gapping open or not.

"What-? I thought I left you the-" He cut me off with my stammering when he answered.

"Yes, I read the note" he replied.

Just before I left for school this morning, I left him a note. It said
"Please leave when you wake up."

I even transfered all my valuable stuffs inside my room and locked the door in fear that he might take some stuff with him.

I already gave him the chance to get away with what he did but here he is. What is this? Atonement for his sins?

"Then why are you still here?"

"I-"

"If you don't leave right this instant, I'm gonna call the police!"

Tugging unto my bag's zipper, I was about to grab my phone when he spoke.

"Wait! I don't mean any harm."

"What do you want then?"

I may look like I'm so mad right now but deep inside, I am so scared that I am just a step inside my apartment and I left the door wide open. Just in case.

"Last night, I won't make any excuses that I didn't know what happened when I do. So, I'm here to apologize."

Pause.

So he's here to apologize. That's a point for him. I'm sure some would just take the chance and run. I guess he's a sensible person then. His Filipino is fluent. And I even thought last night that he's a foreigner.

"It's okay" I said and looked down. Why am I feeling shy all off sudden? I shouldn't be intimidated! Be strong Me!

He looks like he doesn't mean any harm so I decided to enter the room. I took two steps and he stood abruptly which surprised me because of the sound of the sofa inhaling back air.

I stopped where I stood and he too just stood there. We stared at each other for a few seconds and I thought I was gonna drown in the depths of his aquatic orbs. But before I could, I got myself back together.

"It's okay. I'll just forget about it and I won't tell anyone so you don't have to worried."

"I'm not particularly worried about that" he said in a soft voice while looking on the ground.

"Oh. You didn't puke on my floor so it's okay" I blurted thinking that maybe he was worried whether he vomited or not.

"I wasn't talking about that either."

"What then?"

"I- I want to make it up to you."

"For?"

"For last night."

"You don't have to. We can just go on our merry little ways and forget this happened."

"But I want to make it up to you."

I breathed in deeply because he is slowly getting in to my nerves.

"How about this. You can make it up to me by not doing that again, by not barging in to a stranger's room in the middle if the night, and by helping me get some more sleep. You can do that by telling your friends not to party here. That would really be great!"

"I'll do all of those, I promise. But I want to make it up to you."

Silence enveloped the room. I'm too tired to make a comeback.

"I'm Teeg."

I still stood there staring at him.

"I'm also live in here and my room is just around the corner. We go to the same school" he began introducing himself.

Wait.

"How did you know we go to the same school?"

"I- I've noticed you before" he replied.

His reply got me thinking because people don't really 'notice' me. They just ignore me.

"Oh."

Carlee's Note

Whenever I feel sad, I watch Running Man. Have you seen RM?