The Photographer & The Jolly Neighbor

17--

Jennie]

I smile after reading Lisa's message and turn my head to Jisoo who came out of the store.

"Are you sure you don't need a ride?" Jisoo asked me while we are preparing to close the store.

"Oo naman. Paranoid lang si Lisa. In fact sobrang lapit lang ng bahay" Sagot ko and she nods slowly.

"Mapapatay ako ni Lisa pag may nangyare sayo" she said then chuckled.

"Okay na Jisoo. Nakausap ko na siya. Nakakahiya din kase out of way" Sabi ko and she nods again.

Kai and Dahyun bid their goodbyes and it's time for me to go home when Jisoo drive her car away.

I'm walking in the middle of the village alone. It's kind of dark because it's already past 8 pm at konti lang ang mga nagdadaan na mga sasakyan. With the sound of silence, I started to feel uneasy when a pair of steps doubles mine.

I stopped and look back pero walang tao. I ignored what I feel and sigh deep then started to walk again. I pull out my phone inside my pocket to peek if Lisa message me again but a catcall caught my attention and it creeps me out suddenly.

My heart started to feel uneasy as my body begins to tremble in fear.

"Pst. Pst"

another call from behind. I walk faster and stop suddenly the look back. Nanlaki ang mata ko ng nakita ko ang isang tao wearing a black jeans, black hoodie covering his face and he suddenly ran towards me. Tumakbo ako ng mabilis to make sure na di niya ko mahahabol. I turn right nung nakita ko yung short cut pauwi sa bahay. Takot na takot na ko at Nanginginig habang tumatakbo. I wanted to call for help but I can't shout out loud because of fear. Ang nasa utak ko Lang ay tumakbo ng mabilis habang naririnig ko na palakas na ng palakas na yung yabag ng takbo niya at alam ko maaabutan niya ko. I turn left again while running and crying at the same time in fear when I bump into someone.

"J-jennie?" A familiar scene with a familiar voice cause me to look up. My tears started to fall at napahagulgol ako sa takot.

"Bakit ka nanginginig?" I look back and the guy is gone.

"Love answer me. What happened?!" A tight embrace flinched me a moment and broke my trance that makes me feel safe again. It's Lisa.

She pull me away and search for someone. Wala akong sinasabi pero naiintindihan na niya agad kung anong nangyari. She searched around but she found no one.

"Are you hurt? Someone tried to hurt you? Have you seen the face?" She asks worriedly.

I just shook my head and she grab me and pull me again for a hug while I'm still crying.

"Shh. I'm here now. You're safe now. Let's go home" I nod and she carried my bag and wrap her arms around my shoulder while caressing my arm.

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Lisa]

"Hey bud? Kamusta?" Bungad ni Seulgi pagpasok namin ng gate. I just look at her and side glance at my girlfriend at naintindihan agad niya. She is with Irene which quickly stood up and approached the crying Jennie.

"Anong nangyari?" Irene asked. I pull a chair for Jennie and I sat myself beside her.

"Buds water please" I beg Seulgi and she run inside to get us some water.

"Hey cousin what's up??" Bati ni Bambam na kakapasok lang ng gate. He is happily walking towards us when he felt something is going on.

"Bat ganyan mga mukha niyo?" Tanong niya at nung napatingin siya kay Jennie ay nanlaki ang mata niya.

"Anong nangyari kay Jennie? Nagaway b Kayo?" Dagdag na tanong niya. I shrugged my shoulder and told my side story.

"I texted her na male'late ako ng uwi dahil naextend ang shoot pero di ako mapakali. Nagaalala ako ng hindi ko alam kung bakit so I decided to go home pero nasira ang sasakyan ko kaya iniwan ko sa Elle and nagcommute na lang ako. When I'm getting near here, I bumped into Jennie coming from the short cut pag galing ka sa store ni Chu. Tumatakbo siya. Nanginginig. Umiiyak." I said in a crack voice and looked at my girlfriend. Seulgi gave me a glass of water and I helped Jennie to drink.

"Someone was after me" Jennie said in a crack voice that made me clench my jaw.

"What do you mean? You know who?" Irene asks but Jennie shook her head.

"His face was covered by his good. Sinisitsitan niya ko at paglingon ko, nagsimula siyang tumakbo at hinabol ako. Hindi ko alam kung sino siya." She started to bury her head beside me and wrap her hands around me and cry again.

"Shh stop baby. I'm here. I will never let that happen again" I said. It makes me mad that I almost lost my girlfriend and it is all my fault.

"Pano kung si dad Yun? Pano Kung alam na Niya Kung nasan ako?" She asks trembling.

"Nandito kami Jennie. Walang mangyayari sayo hanggat nandito kami" Seulgi added that made her stops from crying. It breaks my heart seeing her in this state. I promise to take care of her but I failed.

"I'm sorry." I said whispering kissing her temple. She lift her head up and touch my cheeks while caressing it. She smile weak at me and wipe my tears falling down.

"Shh. Walang may gusto sa nangyari okay?" She said giving me a sad look.

"I'll talk to Jisoo. You will not work anymore okay? You will just stay--"

"No Lisa.." she cut me off. I frowned at her and wanted to refused Alam ko na ipipilit niya ang pagtatrabaho.

"What no? Jennie hindi pa ba sapat na muntik ka na makuha?Na.. na muntik ka na mawala samen? saken?" I stood up getting frustrated at alam ko na nagulat sila.

"Lisa. Chill" Bambam instructed. I walk back and forth. Hindi ko na alam san ako dadalhin ng galit ko.

I stopped in front of Jennie then kneel down. I hold her both hands and start to rub my thumbs on top.

"Love please. Hindi ko alam gagawin ko pag nawala ka" I beg Jennie and I saw how her face softens. She slowly nods at me and gave me a peck on my lips while cupping my cheeks.

"Shh. Let's go upstairs. Pahinga na tayo ha?" She asks and I slowly nod at her too.

We bid goodbye to our friends and I know how worried they were for us. And I've been thankful for them ever since we met Jennie and they gave us all the support we needed.