Next Door

Chapter 22

"Keep an eye of Jhoana. Makes sure na nababantayan mo siya, okay?

"Thank you, bes!"

Ako? Bakit ako pinababantayan? Sino to? These few questions suddenly came up on my mind. I really think hard why this person ordered Mika to keep an eye on me. Kasamahan ko ba to sa trabaho or someone that I just met and have feelings on me and just want me to be safe, and that's it? I chuckles. Impossible!

"What came up into your mind while reading that message must be true." I startled of Mika's appearance. I didn't move or even watch her while taking her way into the chair which across of mine. I felt guilty and embarrass.

"What were you thinking?" She added which lead my eyes into her.

"Nothing." I said after I shook my head. "Uh...well, I forgot to ask." I continue by interject of what she was about to say. "I never thought that there's someone out there that obsessed with me," kasabay ng paglahad ko sa kanyang harapan ang mensahe na nabasa ko. "Who is that?" I asked and look into her eyes seriously.

"I told you, what came into your mind while reading this message must be true." She answers holding her phone in front of me. I chuckles softly and took my beer on the table.

"Yeah, probably...but hindi ba maganda kung manggaling sayo?" Paghahamon ko since wala naman akong assurance if what I just thought might be true so I guess hearing from her would be believable.

"Well, his someone I know. He accidentally saw you and maybe he was like...you know, love at first sight." Sagot niya na may halong kilig at konting tawa. "You met him already." She added and winks which made me creased my forehead in front of her.

"Where and when?" I curiously ask cause I didn't even remember anything.

"Naalala mo yong nasa bar tayo tapos lasing na lasing kana. Yong humiga kana sa floor nun sa kalasingan mo, tapos pinapaalis mo pa nga ako dahil sabi mo "Pare-pareho kayo, walang mga kwenta. Ganun yong sinabi mo." Pagku-kwento niya na pilit ko ring inalala pero wala talaga akong maalala.

"Yong nahimatay ka sa kalasingan mo, di mo maalala?" Pagpapatuloy niya.

"Ahh...naalala ko na." And nods, "Tapos anong nangyari pagkatapos kong mahimatay?" Tanong ko ng maalala ko na yong kaganapan na yon pero hindi lahat atsaka matagal-tagal narin yon.

"Siya yong tumulong sa akin. Matapos ka niyang maisakay sa sasakyan ko tinanong niya ako kung okay lang ba na kunin ang number mo kaso diko binigay, baka magalit ka. Tapos nitong mga nakaraang araw panay pangungumusta niya sayo kaya ayon, ikaw nakabasa." Mahaba niyang kwento pero diko parin gets.

"Bakit niya ako pinab--"

"Kasi nga nasabi ko sa kanya na hindi ka tagadito sa Dav--" pagputol niya sa akin ngunit naputol din siya ng tumunog ang phone niya.

"Wait." Sabi niya at tinignan ang kanyang phone. Matapos ang ilang segundo tumunog ulit ito ngunit tumawag na.

"Jho, something came up. Is it okay with you kung pupuntahan ko muna to?" Tanong niya matapos niyang kausapin yong tumawag.

"Yeah! Of course. Something bad happened?" Tanong ko as I raise my eyebrows.

"No. It's just a friend needs me. Are you sure okay, ka lang?" She asked again and I just nods.

"Okay, just text me. Bye!" She kiss me on my cheek at dali-daling umalis. Sino kaya yong tumawag. I shakes my head at uminom ulit ng beer. Makalipas ang ilang minuto someone came to my table.

"Are you alone?" He asked as he came closer to my right side but I looked at him blankly.

"Hey!" He snapped his fingers in front of my eyes that made me wakes up. 

"Yeah, but she just left." Sagot ko at inalis ang aking paningin sa kanya but instead of walk away umupo siya harapan ko. 

"Why?" He asked while making himself comfortable.

"I don't know." I answer as I put down my beer on the table at humarap ulit sa kanya. "I need to go." And was about to stand up ng pigilan niya ako. 

"Alis kana? Kakakaupo ko lang, oh." He disappointly said and his reaction as well.

"Mahaba pa ang gabi kaya huwag kang mag-alala. For sure mayron kang madudukot diyan, expert ka naman pagdating diyan, diba?" I said softly but I feel irritated inside of me.

"No. I don't need them." He said after shaking his head.

"Same as me. I don't need you, okay? I gotta go, bye!" I answer annoyingly at umalis na sa harapan niya. He calls me but I didn't turn around even just once.

Sino ba yon? I really feel irritated this night, idagdag mo yong sagot ni Mika na hindi natapos which made me sick inside of me, but for sure may dahilan yon. Do I need to believe her or probably she's telling me the truth earlier. Mababaliw ako kakaisip nun.

Matapos kong pumara ng taxi, sumakay na ako at itinuro ang address ng apartment ko. I was about to take a nap when my phone rang.

"Are you home?" Mika asked on the other line.

"I'm on my way." Maikli kong sagot.

"Okay, take care." She said at pinatay ang tawag.

Habang nasa loob ako ng taxi biglang sumagi sa isip ko yong sinabi ni Jia at yong nabasa ko sa phone ni Mika. Nagdadalawang isip ako kung maniniwala ako sa sinasabi nila pero kung iisipin ko naman mukhang tutoo naman ang sinabi ni Mika atsaka bakit niya ako lolokohin, diba? 

We've been friends for months and she's the only person na pinagkakatiwalaan ko at alam niya yan, then bakit niya lolokohin? Maybe I'm just overthinking and out of judgement. I shrugged my shoulders and shook my head.

Let's call it a day self, I just need to rest.

Sometimes, people recognize you by doing mistake and also some people would have been happy by doing mistake and sometimes, people chose to commit mistake by thinking that they would recognize by others. And what's the worst is? Killing someone might be a good thing that others have done by thinking, taking the life of others is the only way to take their revenge. And the justice? Well, justice are for those people who can afford by paying their freedom.

Sometimes, people would shout at you without even asking the reason behind why did you do that such thing. It's hard for them to say 'how are you,' 'are you, okay?' instead yeld and scream in front of you which makes you trembling inside. And the worst-case scenario is...you can commit mistakes by accusing you and end up choosing to do the things that you might regret at the end.

Punching is the only way I could think to get out in that scenario but in the end it gave us more difficult life that leads by taking two life-my parents.

"Money = Wealth = Freedom = injustice." These four things happened to me to my family to be exact. Then, some people would ask "why you're being like that?" Without even asking the history of my life.

Depress? I'm much more than that, but as you can see I did my best to live like a normal. I fight my depression every single day until now but still living in the darkest part of my life. Well, those things are the best for me not this time.  

"Ma'am, nandito na po tayo sa apartment niyo." Kuya driver wakes me up by tapping my shoulder. I opened my eyes at kumuha ng pamasahe at iniabot sa kanya.

"Thank you po." Sabi ko at lumabas na ng sasakyan. Antok na antok na ako kaya binilisan ko na ang paglakad. Pagdating ko bubuksan ko na sana ang pinto ng may napansin akong nakasabit sa door knob.

Isang maliit na paper bag na may lamang Teddy Bear at may kasamang sulat sa loob. Binuksan ko ito at dahan-dahang tinignan. 

"Kamusta kana, jhoana?"