My Blind Neighbor (MayWard)

Warmth

"Na-threaten ka sakin?" Natatawang tanong ng babae. Binaba na nito ang hawak at saka huminga ulit ng malalim. "Sa itsura kong to?"

"I admit, it's kinda silly," ang sabi ni Edward, realizing how much of a coward he was. He's a 22 year old man, medium built, but afraid of this gangly girl who looked as fragile as a runway model. "I have issues."

The girl chuckled. "Mukha nga."

Inayos nito ang sarili para tumayo.

"Can I help?" Edward asked. But the girl was able to stand easily, and that was enough answer. "My name's Edward. Edward Barber. If it makes you feel safer I can call the police, I can wait here and we'll give our statements," he suggested as he pulled out his phone from his pocket.

Umiling ang babae. "Maymay...Police ang tatay ko, pero naka leave siya at nasa probinsya. Besides pag nalaman niya tong nangyari, baka hindi niya na ako payagang manirahan dito nang mag-isa," napa-iling ang babae sabay ngiti. "Paktay na. Di ko dapat sinabi na mag-isa ako. Kadalasan di naman talaga ako mag-isa. I have a service dog, si Lakas. Kaso sumama siya kay Yong kanina para bumili ng pagkain."

Napatango si Edward. He understand that too well. It's the same reason he didn't want his sister to know that he's freaking about this girl next door who seemed to be watching him every day. And he's only been here a week. She'll send him back to live with her again, and everything Edward worked hard to get the courage to live alone would be put to waste. "Oh, I remember that dog. Kasama mo siya nung nakita kita sa bookstore. I work there, by the way. Yong's my workmate. I didn't know you were friends."

Edward saw her smile. Sa narinig ay marahil mas nabawasan ang agam agam nito tungkol sa lalaki. "Ikaw pala yung pumalit kay Christian."

"I'm really sorry Maymay," Edward repeated. "I mean it."

"Okay lang. Aaminin ko, akala ko talaga mamatay na ako kanina. Buang ka. Pero medyo gets ko san ka nangagagaling. 'Di mo naman alam na bulag ako, gets ko kung pano magiging creepy yun. Weird pa rin, oo. Pero understandable."

"C-can I ask something?" Tanong ni Edward even though he didn't feel like he deserves to be the one asking questions.

"Oo naman."

"Why do you keep standing by your window? I mean, it's just that it's every night."

"Ah," Muling ngumiti si Maymay. As if she wasn't blind, she took a couple of measured steps towards her window. "Sira kasi yung aircon. Halata mo naman siguro na sobrang init dito pag gabi. Alam mo na, Manila. Last week ko nang pinapa-ayos yun pero di pumupunta yung repairman. Dito lang sa may bintana ang presko kaya nakikinig lang ako ng audiobook habang nagpapahangin."

Napatango si Edward, finally getting it. Matapos ang ilang segundo ng katahimikan ay napa-isip siya kung bakit di pa siya pinapa alis ni Maymay. BGC has very low crime rate, but he doesn't think she should be this trusting especially of strangers.

"I'll fix the door chain tonight, for sure. Tomorrow I can call this guy who installed the airconditioning in my apartment to fix yours. There's a hardware store a few blocks from here. Is it okay to leave you alone?" Tanong ni Edward.

"Talaga ba? Nako, salamat. Oo naman, pabalik na yun si Yong wag ka mag-alala. At saka mag-isa naman talaga ako dito kaya sanay ako." Naglakad ito sa direksyon ni Edward at kinapa ang pinto. Edward observed that aside from the lock of the doorknob, there's a bolt and then the lock chain, which should be secure enough.

Nag-paalam na si Edward at agad na dumiretso sa hardware store na nadadaanan niya papunta sa trabaho. Pagbalik niya sa apartment ni Maymay ay naroon na si Yong. Maymay already filled him up with the crazy night, and for some reason Yong cannot stop laughing with how bizarre the story was. Edward was ashamed, honestly, so he focused on fixing the door.

"Tahimik naman ng katrabaho mo Yong," parining ni Maymay. Inaayos nito ang hapagkainan. Watching her walk around her house almost made Edward forget that she's blind. She seemed to have memorised the place, how many steps to take from the counter to the table, which drawers to look for for specific utensils. Yong wasn't even helping her, obviously aware and confident that Maymay can take care of herself. Edward knew that this should be given since it's her house, but it still was amazing given her condition. Quite inspiring, too.

"Pinaka-mahiyaing pogi na nakilala ko," Yong answered from where he's lying on the floor playing with Lakas. "Madami na customer namin dahil sakanya. Karamihan may crush sa misteryosong Englisherong mestiso. Dami ngang nagpapahingi ng number sakin. Eto namang si Dodong ayaw ibigay."

Edward honestly wished he didn't look this way. Which is selfish and self-entitled on its own. But with his social anxiety his looks kinda makes it harder for people not to notice him. He'd rather be left alone, thank you very much.

"He has issues," pabirong pag-ulit ni Maymay sa sinabi ni Edward kanina. "Iba siya, kaya pala feeling niya tinitingnan ko siya gabi-gabi. Artistahin pala si Dodong."

Napangiti na lamang sa hiya si Edward. "I'm uncomfortable with the attention honestly. I don't know why people think I look good here in the Philippines. When I was in Germany I was probably the least good-looking guy. Seriously, I'm just a normal person. I'd never get what's the big deal."

"May, paki-translate," ang sabi ni Yong. Nang makitang naayos na ni Maymay ang mga pinggan ay tumayo na ito at binuksan ang dalang pagkain na kanyang binili.

Natapos nang ayusin ni Edward ang door chain at magpapa-alam na sana nang mapansin na tatlong pinggan ang nakahanda sa hapag-kainan.

"I have to go," sabi sana ni Edward. Napatingin naman sa direksyon niya si Maymay. Namaywang ito.

"Hahampasin na talaga kita ng floor lamp kapag umalis ka," she threatened.

Tumingin si Edward kay Yong na naka-upo na at naghahain ng kanin sa sariling plato. "Di siya nagbibiro Dong. Tara na, kain."

Even though he felt unsure Edward found himself eating with Yong and Maymay. It was a roller coaster night, and with how angry and frustrated he felt when this all started, he never thought it'd end with him eating dinner with such warm people.