housemates (completed)

housemates 7 -- revelations

Because of last night's mishap, I present to you update #2 for tonight...

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M couldn't think of any other way to warn J of the 'impending danger' her grandparents' visit would entail. She had long wanted to meet her housemate personally but actually had no idea how. J, too, was thinking of the 'right time' to finally meet M.

M fumbled with her keys as she unlocked the door. She entered the mudroom which was actually the foyer of the house where shoes, coats, and bikes were stored (typical of Japanese houses). She opened the cabinet on the side where J stored his shoes and found his sneakers missing. M sighed in relief and walked into the unit. The last note she had left was still on the dining table. M walked to J's door and stood there facing it, hand poised to knock.

"Paano kung tulog pa sya?"

"Kung tulog man, malamang naka-pantulog...eh kung hindi..."

"Pero paano nga kung hindi...ang layo ng grotto dito...dodoblehin ko yung pag-rosary ko?"

M sighed heavily. "Here goes nothing..." She knocked on the door. "J?"

There was no response. She knocked again but with a little more force and still didn't get a response. She tried the doorknob. It was unlocked. She slowly opened the door. She was greeted by the strong smell of men's cologne. She wanted to put her head in the gap but the darkness that greeted her made her think twice. M just closed the door and began tidying the place up. "Sana wag ka muna umuwi...or umuwi ka kapag tulog na ako..." She said out loud, wishing the universe would help her out.

M entered the bathroom and found a set of dirty clothes everywhere. She carefully picked up a shirt and shorts. "Ano yan?" She said of the dark blue lump on the floor. She immediately recognized the label on the waistband. She dropped the shirt over it and picked both items up. She brought it to the laundry room and threw everything into the washing machine. "Di naman kita pwede i-run at tatalong piraso lang kayo..."

At 3:45pm, the doorbell rang. M bolted to the door and opened it slowly. It was Belle with a very big overnight bag, an ecobag full of Baguio delicacies and 2 brooms tied together. "Dito na ako nagpahatid..." Belle said as she deposited her stuff in the corner of the mudroom just before the main door.

"...uy! Ang ganda ng unit nyo ha...ang laki!" Belle exclaimed as she walked around the living room. M followed her around as Belle explored, explaining things to her friend. "Eh saan yung room nya?" M pointed to the door closer to the opening of the corridor.

Just outside the apartment, J struggled with the keys to the door. Just as he turned the doorknob, Papa and Mama were behind him.

"Good afternoon, hijo" Mama greeted cheerfully.

"Good afternoon po..." J turned to them and replied. Thinking that they were just passing by, J turned back to the door.