The Photographer & The Jolly Neighbor

8--

Lisa]

I early get up again from the bed. Di ako pinatulog ni Jennie ng maayos. Her thoughts keeps me bugging all night. I almost get up in the middle of the night and run to her home but who am i? We just met and talk ng wala pang 1 minute. Why am I so concerned all of a sudden. Those gummy smiles. Those cat eyes that smiles when she smiles. Then sa huli makikita ko yung iyak niya kapalit nun?

It bothers me a lot and seeing Jennie for the first time makes me feel like I need to protect her. I want to keep her safe with me but how? How can be a stranger like me will do those things to her? I need to figure out this what ifs of mine.

I woke up like usual. 5 am. I stretched and ready to go for a run. Kagaya ng oras kahapon, Yun din yung oras na dadaan ako sa bahay nila Jennie. She needs me at alam ko na may reason kung bakit sa akin pinakita yung sitwasyon na ganun.

I have my 3rd round of jogging around the city and it is almost time like yesterday when she went out with a bag of trash. I stayed 2 houses from her home and waited. It's been 15 minutes and I'm started to worried.

O heard the dog barked and the door opens. Jennie. She is now having her smile again talking to her cute brown dog. She is wearing a semi-formal outfit today and holding a bag unlike yesterday. When she gets out of the gate, I quickly walk fast to get near her. I put on my airpods but didn't open my music app. I fake a cough to get her attention and victory! She looked back at me and widen her eyes when she saw me.

"Hi!" She said but I pretend I didn't hear her. She made her walk slower to closed the gap between us.

"Huy!" Sabi niya pero I keep pretending. I almost let out a laugh with her facial reaction but I stop myself.

I got shocked when stop walking and shake me from my hoodie. I stop my pace too. I pull out my airpods and look at her.

"Any problem miss?" I asked and she rolled her eyes and walk passed me.

"Sunget!" Sabi niya. I got shocked but smile at the moment.

"Hey?!" I said and this time she's the one who's not answering. I walk faster than her buti na Lang maiksi binti niya Kaya mabilis ko siya abutan.

"Hindi ako masunget" Sabi ko ng mapantayan na siya sa paglalakad pero di pa din siya umiimik.

"Siopao?" Sabi ko and she stop at me while pouting with a frown looks.

"Gooood morniiiing!" I said. Ginaya ko yung ginawa niya kahapon with a wide smile making her wide her eyes and laughed.

"Ganyan ba ko mukhang tanga kahapon?" She asked making me feel embarrassed.

"Ayaw mo kase tumingin e." Sabi ko.

"Sungit mo Kaya" Sabi niya.

"Hindi Kaya" bawi ko.

"Okay. Okay. Ganto" i started making her stop from her tracks.

"I'm Lisa and you are??" I said giving her my hand. She smiled widely and stretch out her arm too meeting mine.

"Jennie" she said smiling.

"San ka punta? Trabaho?" I asked but she shook her head.

"School?' she shook her head again and deep sigh.

"Maghahanap ako ng work para makapag Aral ulit sayang kase e. 1 year na Lang gagraduate na ko" she explained. Gusto magtanong Kung bakit di siya maka'graduate but obviously because of financial but the way she looks, Hindi siya mukhang mahirap. Yung flawless niyang balat hindi bagay sa mga taong may problema financially.

"Kakayanin mo ba magwork kasabay school? Mahirap Yun di ba?" I asked and she nods.

Think Lisa. Think. How can I help?

"Wait!" I said that made her stop again.

"Lisa nagmamadali ako e. Sorry" she said and walk away waving her hands making me run again to her.

"Wait Lang!" Sabi ko Ng pigilan ko siya sa braso.

"Kailangan ko umali--"

"Shhhhhhhh" Sabi ko ng tinapat ko yung daliri ko sa bibig niya. I grab her wrist then run that made her run too.

"Upo" Sabi ko Ng dinala ko siya sa isang convenience store. I don't know what I'm doing right now but it made me so happy.

"Wag ka Ng umalma. Umupo ka Jan kakain Tayo" Sabi ko at tatayo siya para umalis ulit Ng hawakan ko siya sa balikat at umupo ulit.

"Lisa I have no time for this just--"

"Shhhhhhhhhh. I know you need work just Trust me." I said that made her gulp then nod slowly.

"Wag ka aalis ha?" I said and she nods again. I walk towards the counter and ordered a cup of hot coffee and hot choco and 2 bacon w/ ham clubhouse. I look back and see her smiling at people outside the glasswall of the store.

"Here miss" the cashier said and I give her the payment.

"Hey" I called Jennie and put down the tray.

"Choco or coffee?" I asked and she pointed on Choco.

"Good choice" Sabi ko and she smile at me.

"I'm not a criminal okay? Don't look at me like that" I said chuckling ng mapansin kong nakatitig lang siya saken.

"No it's not like that. We just met yesterday and today pero parang ang gaan ng loob ko sayo. I'm not actually into strangers pero when I found you walking on the street yesterday, there's something in you that lightens up any mood." She said that caight me off guard and choke on my own coffee.

"Honestly I feel the same way. There's something in you na parang na'magnet ako" sabi ko and she smiles.

"So we are friends now?" I asked and she nods smilingly.

"So ganto Jennie.. may alam--" pinutol Niya ko Gaya ng ginawa ko kanina.

"Shhhh" Sabi niya. Nanlaki ang Mata ko at gusto ko na tumawa.

"Akin na yang tinapay mo" Sabi niya at nagulat ako.

"Gutom kpa ba? I can buy you another one if--"

"Shhhhhhhh" she cut me off again. She grabs my clubhouse and started to pull off the covered plastic.

"Madumi kamay mo kase nag'jogging ka.. nganga" Sabi niya and it got me confused.

"Nganga sinabi" paguulit Niya at dinuduldol sa bibig ko yung tinapay. I open my mouth and bite on my bread that made her smile again. I started to feel something inside my stomach and it feels weird.

"Bat namumula ka Jan? Nahihiya ka? Wag mo sila pansinin kunyari jowa Kita" she said and my heart beats fast.

"Ano ulit sinasabi mo?" Tanong nya.

"Ah.. ano kase.." panimula ko while scratching my nape.

"I know a sure job. It's legal and decent. Wag ka na maghanap sayang Lang pera mo tas di ka pa sure.. just give me your number so I can give it to my friend" I explained and she pouted.

"What? Ayaw mo?" I asked.

"No. I mean yes. Haaay! Gusto ko yung work. I trusted you naman kaso ano e.." she said startled.

"Ano? May problema ba? Magagalit ba boyfriend mo?" Tanong ko. Di ko Alam bat natanong ko yun pero kanina pa yun pumapasok sa isip ko.

"Ha? Wala akong boyfriend!" Sagot nya ng biglaan. Maybe it's her father inside their home.

"Ano kase." Panimula Niya ulit and she lowered her head fidgeting her bread with her fingers as I waited for her continuation.

"W-wala kase akong phone" she said and it made me shocked for a moment but I didn't bother to react. Baka ma'offend pag nagkwestiyon pa ko.

Tumayo ako bigla at umalis.