My Blind Neighbor (MayWard)

The Night We Met

"Hey," malakas na katok ni Edward sa pintuan. "Hey!"

Narinig niya ang mga yabag na palapit sa pintuan.

"Sino yan?" The girl asked, uncertainty lacing her voice.

"Your neighbor," Edward answered, his hands trembling though he's not sure whether it's due to anger or fear.

"Ahh," the girl said more confidently. He heard her unlock the door and undo a bolt, though still keeping the door chain locked. Sumilip ang babae sa maliit na espasyo at ngumiti kay Edward. "Kung nagkakilala na tayo at di kita maalala, pasensya na ha, I'm not good with faces." Halos pabiro pang sabi ng babae.

Not good with faces? You've been staring at me for three days straight. Four, if you include the bookstore. Edward thought angrily. Stop pretending.

He wasn't really meaning to push the door. He doesn't even remember putting that much force. But that's what happened – he pushed, door chain broke and magically unhinged itself, and the girl was thrown against the floor. What kind of lock was that?

Edward was shocked to see the girl scuttling backwards, fear clouding her face. He felt bad and was about to say sorry when the girl reached for the floor lamp, holding it against her chest like a baseball bat.

"JUSKO LORD," the girl shouter, visibly shaken. "Ser kung pera ang hanap mo meron jan sa drawer, kunin mo na. Wag mo lang ako saktan."

"No, I don't want any of your money," Edward spat, remembering why he's here. He's mildly aware he's trespassing but he stepped inside nonetheless, determined to make his point. He wants the girl to know that it's never okay to stare, to make someone feel unsafe in their own home. "What I want for you is to stop-"

Napatigil si Edward dahil may napansin siyang kakaiba. Kahit na siya'y umabante ay nakatitig pa rin ang babae sa pintuan, lagpas sa kanyang balikat. Nilingon ni Edward ang pinto at saka tiningnan muli ang babae.

"Anong gusto mo?" The girl asked, tightening her grip on the lamp. "Pulis and tatay ko, pag sinaktan mo ako, sinasabi ko sayo hindi yun titigil hangga't hindi ka nahahanap." Her voice cracked upon mentioning her father, and Edward found his closed fists releasing itself. Edward took a silent step towards his right, watching the girl's reaction. She didn't move at all.

"You-" Edward watched as the girl scrambled before adjusting herself to face his new direction. Nakatapat naman ito sakanya, but it still wasn't exactly focused on his face.

"You're blind," Edward muttered almost to himself, shame washing over his body like a cold bath. Biglang humupa ang galit sa kanyang katawan at para bang siya'y nahilo.

"Salamat sa pa-memo, ha? Hindi ko kasi alam!" May galit na sabi ng babae. "Black belter ako kaya wag na wag mong susubukan pang pumasok."

"Shit...I-I'm sorry!" Nabubulol na sabi ni Edward.

"Ano?!!" Tanong ng babae. Inilapit nito ang tenga na para bang hindi makapaniwala sa narinig. "Ha?! Nagsosorry ka? Nasa episode ba ako ng Wish Ko Lang na biglang ayaw mo na magnakaw kasi di mo pala kayang magnakaw sa bulag na walang kalaban laban? Nakakainsulto, kung alam mo-"

"No, teka lang." Pagtigil niya sa sinasabi ng babae. "It's a misunderstanding, hindi kita ninanakawan. I'm taking three steps back. You're safe, okay? I can explain."

Nanatiling nakanganga ang babae na para bang hindi pa siya sigurado kung nangyayari ba talaga ito.

"Magpaliwanag?!" The girl screeched, too high pitched for Edward's liking. "Magpaliwanag kung pano ka biglang nakapasok sa loob ng apartment ko? Ay paktay na, gandang storya nito, I can't waaait to hear it."

Edward was never good at explaining himself when confronted. Kaya naman natulala na lamang siya at hindi nakagalaw.

"Oh. San na yung explanation mo?" The girl asked. Tinitigan lamang ito ni Edward, not knowing where to start.

Ibinaba ng babae ng kaunti ang hawak na floor lamp. "Umalis na ba siya?" She mumbled to herself.

Naisip ni Edward kung papaano kadali lang na umalis sa sitwasyon na iyon. He could slip out of the door as silent as he could, and the girl wouldn't follow him. Pero hindi niya magawa. Habang buhay nang matatakot ang babaeng ito, she'd never feel safe in her apartment again, and Edward knew exactly how that feels.

"Still here," Edward answered.

"Ay buang ka!" Gulat na sabi ng babae, sa taranta nito ay tumama ang lamp shade sa kanyang mukha.

Nanlaki naman ang mata ni Edward. "That wasn't me!"

"Alam kong lampshade yun, you asshole!" the girl spat, angry tears pooling in her eyes. "Ano ba?! Ano ba to? Ano bang problema mo?"

"I don't know what's wrong with me," Edward answered, feeling terrible. "I'm just really, really sorry. I promise you I won't hurt you. You can put the lamp down. I'm really your neighbour so I can fix your door. I'm sorry."

"So kapitbahay talaga kita?" Mabilis na pinunas ng babae ang luha sa mata at huminga ng malalim. "Matagal na akong nakatira dito at di ko kilala ang boses mo. Jusko, sa tinagal tagal kong nakatira dito, ngayon lang nangyari sakin to. Pano pa ako makakatulog sa kagabi knowing na yung kapitbahay ko pala, kayang kaya sirain ang pintuan ko at pwede akong saktan anytime."

"First of all, parang lumang luma na yung chain lock mo so it broke easily. I wasn't even trying to forcefully open your door. Second, I don't live in the same building so you would never see me again." Edward cringed at his word choice.

"Diba kakasabi mo pa lang na kapitbahay kita?" Halos tumitili na ang babae. "Papatayin mo ba ako sa kalituhan?"

"Across the street!" Habol agad ni Edward. "Your neighbour across the street. Nakatapat yung bintana mo sa bintana ko. Actually wala akong bintana kasi glass window yun na floor to ceiling. I'm not boasting, it's just that you've been standing by your window every night. I thought, I thought you were staring at me. I was really feeling uncomfortable I had to close my curtains every day, which I hate. This has been going on for three nights, and I just...and now, you're blind, and I get it now. I feel so stupid. But I felt, really threatened, so I came over to talk to you and this whole mess happened." Edward managed to vomit those words to explain himself. Ito na yata ang pinaka mahabang mga salita na nasabi niya sa tanang buhay niya.