The Photographer & The Jolly Neighbor

9-

Jennie]

Tumayo siya at umalis nung sinabi kong Wala akong phone. Teka! Scam ba to? I suddenly became nervous. Honestly I have a phone but my step-dad throw it on the wall when he's drunk one night and get irritated again at me. It broke into pieces making me cry all night.

I almost left out a tear realizing na Wala ng magtiya'tiyaga saken dahil sa sitwasyon ko sa buhay but got confused when she stop on the counter again. She came back holding a piece of small box.

Sim card?

She get her phone inside her hoodie and pull out her sim card and replace it with a new one. She open up her phone and slide it on my side.

"Wag mo burahin mga laman niyan. Kopyahin ko pagdaan ko bukas ulit sa inyo madaming impor--"

"Ano to Lisa?" I said in a serious tone and I saw her shocked.

"C-cellphone?" She answered startling when she saw how serious I was.

"I know but.. why are you giving this to me?" I asked whispering.

"Meron pa naman akong isa sa bahay siopao.. kailangan mo yan.. isoli mo na Lang pag nakabili ka na ng bago.. pano ka tatawagan ng inaapplyan mo kung wala kang phone?" She explained asking and she was about to get the bread but I grab it and gesture at her to take a bite not using her hands and she obliged.

"Ayokong ispin ng mga magulang mo na--"

"They were in Thailand" she answered quickly.

"Okay.. e yung mga friends mo"

"I live alone" she said and lowered her head but it somehow breaks my heart and pity her.

"Pero noo" Sabi ko at napatingala siya.

"Noo?" She asked making me chuckled.

"You call me siopao Kaya tatawagin kitang noo" Sabi ko that made her laughed a little. A cute laugh.

"Basta sayo muna yan walang magja'judge sayo. I also saved my number there text mo ko mamaya para malaman mo kung kelan mo imi'meet magiging boss mo" she said pero di na siya tumingin saken. Maybe I said something foul at her.

"Noo" tawag ko sa kanya and she just hum.

"Nganga" Sabi ko and she obliged again and took a bite that made me smile again.

"Thank you" I said staring at her genuinely. She looks up at me and smile.

"So you trust me na?" She asked and I nod at her. Sino bang hindi magtitiwala e pati iphone11 niya binigay na niya saken.

Nagkwentuhan kame about what is her purpose doing here in Korea but everytime I will asked her about her family, she will changed the topic. Well ganun din naman ako because I don't want her to pity me.

"I saved my number on your phone so I'm expecting you to call me later okay? Di ko Alam number mo para maibigay ko sa kaibigan ko" we stopped in front of my house and I am so nervous that my step father might caught us.

"Sige na pasok na ko" Sabi ko and she just nod smiling. She was about to walk away when I grab again her one hand causing her to stop and look at me.

"Noo wait" I said in a serious tone.

"Lisa thank you so much. Honestly di ko Alam kung may tatanggap saken na work since wala naman akong regular experience pero you helped me a lot sobrang thank you" I said almost teary.

"It's so much okay. Seeing you smile when we first met, lighten ups my day. Di ko Alam ano meron sa gilagid mo bat nakakatuwa" Sabi niya at napahampas ako sa kanya.

"Okay na yung mood e!" Sabi ko at inirapan siya.

"Pero Jennie." I look at her when she called. She quickly flip our hands and now she is the one holding me.

"I gave you that phone not because para sa work lang. I gave you that in case you need someone to talk to about anything.. anything Jennie. I'm your friend right?" She said and I was taken aback. What is she referring to?

I simply smile and nod at her when she put my hands down and pinched me on my cheeks then waved at me.

"Babye siopao" she said and I smile at her.  I deep sigh and hide my smile again and the phone inside my bag. Mahirap na baka makita ni Dad at sirain na naman.

I opened the door and Kuma run towards me and I quickly pick him up and nakita ko na naman ang taong sisira ng magandang araw ko. Sitting on his favorite chair sa dining area holding a bottle of beer again. Tanghaling tapat.

I gulp at the moment and closed the door. I know he will hurt me again anytime he wants. I put down my bag and walk towards the kitchen to prepare what is something left.

"Mag grocery ka para di ka naghahanap!" Sigaw ni dad pero Gaya Ng dati, I ignore him and started to wash the dishes.

"Kuha mo ko ng beer sa ref" he added and I obliged. But there's none left inside the fridge.

"Wala na po beer dad" I answered him

"Wala na pala e! Ano gagawin mo jan? Bumili ka dun! Gawan mo Ng paraan! Ang tanga tanga mo talaga!" He shouted. Binalewala ko ulit dahil alam kong lasing lang siya at bumalik ako sa paghuhugas ng pinggan. My eyes widen in shocked in terror when a bottle of beer was thrown from behind me crashing it in front of me when it landed it on the kitchen sink.

I got flinched when he grabbed my hair and pull it and pushed me hard on the floor.

"Ano? Di ka bibili? Bingi ka ba o tanga ka talaga?!" Sabi niya habang nginungudngod ako sa sahig malpit sa mga bubog pero pinipigilan ko.

"Dad please masakit po" pagmamakaawa ko. He slapped me from behind that cause me to cry hard.

"D-dad Tama na po please" I tried to begged again.

"Dahil sayo nawala ang mommy mo dapat ikaw na lang!" He shouted. I gather my strength to pull up and he fall on the floor sitting. I saw his anger again that made me scared

I stood up and face him to begged for more. My both hands stretched forward trying to stop him when he walks towards me. I know it won't help me but I don't know anything else to do.

"Dad please. Nasasaktan po ako tama na po! Dad please!" I said while stopping him. He punched my body for me to stumble down and my lip to cut. I cried and begged for more. He kicked me on my stomach causing me to ball my body and he repeated kicking me on my shoulders and at the back . When he was tired hurting me, he get out of the house and left me crying on the floor in pain. I'm sure he will get back by midnight again in a drunk state.

It's been 30 minutes when I finally gain my strength to clean all the mess again but still I'm weak with all the pain my body is giving me. I clean up all the things he made and I went to my room.

6:30 pm.

I didn't noticed I slept after I took the shower. I decided to leave dad na sana noon ko pa ginawa. With all the bruised and cuts I have now, I realized it's not him anymore. He is not the same guy my mom met. Not the same guy that took care and love me when mom married him. He maybe a step-father to me but he loved me at first. But everything messed up and not the same step father I used to respect and love.