The Photographer & The Jolly Neighbor

7-

Jennie]

I usually starts my day by waking up at 6 am in the morning since mom died 2 years ago. I'm an only child and I have the best parents in my life with Kuma, my dog since I'm in my teenage years. Mom is a financial supervisor at the bank and Dad is a lawyer. I am born rich and kids envy me with all the things they were giving me. They were very supportive at me but then my Dad died because of cancer. Mom re-married again and I somehow appreciate my step father.  Pero lahat nagbago ng mamatay si mommy. My step-father stops working at lagi na siyang umiinom at naglalasing sa bahay. I stopped  schooling after a year nung nauubos na lahat ng ipon namin. The car na natitirang alaala ng mommy, naibenta na din dahil sa mga gastos mula hospital hanggang funeral. When I stopped school, I started doing different jobs.

Waitress, part-time singer sa bar, party hosts, make-up artists sa mga birthdays and weddings, lahat ng decent raket pinapasok ko mabuhay Lang kami ng step-father ko. I was a jolly kid, dun ako nakilala ng friends ko pero nawala silang lahat nung lumipat kami ng step dad ko para sa mas murang apartment. My life became dark. I may forced a smile at others pero deep inside me, wala na kong planing magpatuloy ng buhay. Only Kuma gives me the strength to go on.

Okay sa umpisa kahit ako na ang bread winner samen dalawa. Ok lang saken kahit it turns upside down real quick but after 1 year and 6 months na naglalasing si Dad, everything became much darker in me. He started beating me up when he's drunk. The reason? Naaalala niya si mommy pag nakikita ako and it hurts me dahil he is blaming me for our lost. Namatay kasi si mommy ng maaksidente yung taxi na sinasakyan niya because I borrowed her car to join a party.

I ignored all the pain physically and emotionally, I slept because of crying for hours and be normal again the next day.

Everyday, naghahanap ako ng reason to live and be happy again but I find nothing. But this morning gives me a different vibe.

I started to wake up and find Kuma lying beside me. I hug him feeling his warm body and it completed me again. I stood up and do my usual morning routines. This time, I decide to look for a school again and job at the same time.

I started to cook for breakfast for me and my step-dad lying his body on the couch with empty liquor bottles everywhere.

I sigh like a normal hobby for me every morning. I opened the fridge and found 2 eggs, 1 box of half empty milk for me and 2 pitchers of water with one almost empty. I close my eyes to stood myself from crying again.

I tied my hair in a bun and pick up the empty glass bottles around the living room and in the dining room. I cleaned all the mess and put all the trash in a black plastic bags at inilabas ko yun when my eyes saw a new figure walking down the street.

This is the first day I saw somebody like her. She has this bright aura that made my heart alive again. I found her aura that can lighten up a mood.

Mukha siyang Barbie doll. From her perfect features, to her glossy skin and petite but manly built body. She's wearing an earpods. Maybe she went out on a run with her abs revealing and maybe tired from running and decided to walk.

She is getting nearer at me and I waited for her to greet her once na malapit na siya saken.

"Good morning!" I shouted at her but Hindi man Lang siya nag'react.

"Hi!" I waved at her face and she flinched. She stops and look at me then pull out her earpods.

"Yes?" She asked eyes widen. The perfect brown round eyes I saw in my entire life.

"I said good morning" i show her my genuine smile with my gummy smiles and she chuckled.

She smiles and nods at me then put her earpods back. I almost melt from what she did and realization hits me when my step dad shouted.

"Jennieeee where's the breakfast!!" He shouted making me feel nervous as hell.

I run back inside the house and the moment I step inside the house he throw me the slipper he had and it hits me on my shoulder making me winced in pain again.
.
.
.

Lisa]

I decided to run around the area like I usually do in Thailand and get familiarized with the surroundings when the girl say something. I didn't hear it at all because of the earpods I have but nung nasa tapat na ako, she waved her hands in front of my face and I got flinched a little. I stopped and look at her.

"Yes?" I asked her and she greeted me good morning with her smile. The prettiest smile I saw. I felt something inside my stomach when she smile showing her gums but there's lacking in something in her eyes. I smile and nod at her thinking maybe she is like this to everyone. I put back on my earpods but made sure na naka'pause ang music ko and walk away. My heart beats madly and my brows frown when I heard someone shouted inside her home. A deep angry voice.

"Jennnieee!" I heard and look back seeing her running nervously. I didn't know what happened to me but I found myself walking back to her house and glanced on their window when my eyes widen when I saw a one slipper thrown at her on the shoulder made her winced in pain. I want to get in and punch the figure of a guy inside. I don't know if it's her dad or her husband but it's not right to throw like that at her.

I stop myself from interrupting them when I saw her closed the door crying. I run again but the image of the girl that named Jennie ay never na naalis sa isip ko.

"Oh nandito ka na pala!" Sigaw na Seulgi pagpasok ko ng gate.

"Hey. Aga mo ah?" Bati ko sa kanya pabalik.

"Ok. Magkikita kame ni Irene e" Sabi niya habang kinikilig.

"Looks like may nanalo na" Sabi ko and she giggled.

"Sana all nanalo" singit ni Bambam habang pasara ng pinto.

"Wag ka magalala buds di pa ko sinasagot! May chance ka pa" balik ni Seulgi.

"Nah. I quit!" Bambam said at tinapik si Seulgi sa balikat.

"Umpisa pa Lang naman alam ko ikaw na gusto" dagdag niya pa and I got amused.

"Ang bilis mo naman yata sumuko?" Tanong ko.

"Nah. Di ako sumuko. I give in. Kasi alam kong wala naman na kong laban pero oras na malaman kong sinaktan mo Yun, papasok ako sa eksena. Okay?" He said and  gave Seulgi a hand to shake.

"Pano? Alis muna ko. Breakfast Lang. Bye" he left us dumbfounded.

"Anyare dun?" Tanong ni Seulgi.

"Ewan ko nga e" sagot ko at pareho kaming natawa.