Remember That Day

It was a diverting evening for Jayda seeing bottle of beers, lights with different colors, and voices of people with elated faces on her friend’s swimming pool-themed birthday party. Certainly a great stress reliever after writing another forty thousand words for her signed novel to get the two hundred dollar bonus on the next month. Jayda had been a part time writer for three years, and it was a great help for her to buy her daily needs. A really good source of income, thanks to her avid readers. “Drink more, Jayda!” said Tris, walking as if she was on a bikini contest with a wine glass half-filled with vodka martini on her hand. Jayda turned to her left only to see the birthday girl drew near her. Jayda couldn’t deny it, her friend really had a great body of a real model. She smiled as she simply caressed her bralette down to her shorts. Jayda suddenly felt a little intimidated by Tris even though her outfit really made a great ante to her looks. “I drank enough, Tris. Faris isn’t even here, so I need to go home alone,” Jayda answered which made Tris rolled her eyes on her. “Your boyfriend seemed to be so busy for the past weeks. Does he still taking care of you?” Of course, she thought. But honestly, she had forgotten how it feels to be cared for. Tris was right. Faris was so busy that even calling her on the phone once a day was no longer possible. Faris had been a stockbroker for a long time. He had been to Switzerland for a 8 days already for a 4-week long business trip, so Jayda was left alone in the hotel where they lived for almost 5 months. It was for their future, so she smiled in her thoughts. “Yes, of course!” Jayda said anyway. She chuckled. “I’m fine, Tris. Anyway, happy birthday again.” Tris had pouted her lips before she said, “Okay. Thank you, Jayda. Thank you for coming. I really hope I didn’t ruin your writing schedule!” They both laughed as Jayda shook her head. As soon as Tris noticed her friend’s outfit, she began to tease her. “Anyway, how does it feel to wear a really nice and revealing outfit, my dear unchic friend?” Tris raised her eyebrow. Jayda had taken a glance with her clothes before she let out a sigh. “Really uncomfortable,” Jayda replied. “If it isn’t really because it’s your birthday, I wouldn’t wear this! I swear!” Tris giggled as she saw Jayda pulled down the end of her shorts. Not to mention, Jayda’s outfit was a gift given by Tris two days before her own birthday. It was not because Jayda couldn’t afford to buy clothes, but knowing her friend, she would probably wear a loose shirt and jeans even though it was a pool party! “Come on, you are my friend! You are beautiful! I am just fond of teasing you, but you really are stunning tonight. It’s not even your birthday, but thanks to me, I bought you a really nice outfit,” Tris said jokingly. She had even flipped her hair before she sipped her drink. “Thanks.” Jayda rolled her eyes and Tris laughed in return. It was past 10 in the evening when Jayda decided to go back to the hotel. As soon as she informed Tris that she was leaving, her friend gave her a tight hug. “Take care. Be careful in driving,” Tris reminded Jayda. She left the place soon after and looked for her car outside Tris’ house. Cold night, clear skies, and twinkling stars, Jayda smiled as she thought of another scene for her ongoing story. She hopped inside the car, and before Jayda could be able to turn on the engine, her phone rang. A smile automatically flashed on her face when she saw that it was Faris, calling her. “Hi, Babe,” Jayda greeted him. “Hi there, Babe. I remember, it’s Tris’ birthday and I’m pretty sure you came to the party. Are you going to stay there for the night?” She liked to, but her novel was waiting for her. “Ah, no. In fact, I’m coming home now. How are you there? How’s your day going?” asked Jayda as she put on her seatbelt. Jayda heard him cursed which made her creased her forehead. “Babe what’s wrong? Babe?” She had waited for atleast 5 seconds before Faris finally answered her. “It’s... nothing. I just... I was just trying to cook food for myself, but I ended up hurting my hand with a knife. “Babe,” Jayda breathed, “you could’ve just buy outside.” “I know, but I’m okay. Don’t worry. Anyway, I’ll hang up now. Take care. I love you!” “Babe...” Jayda couldn’t even replied when Faris ended the call. Send me a selfie of yours and I’ll be fine. I love you too, she had mailed before she drove home. It had taken her 30 minutes before she finally arrived at the hotel parking area. Wearing her leg-long cardigan she left in her car first as a cover to her body, she stepped out from the car. Few people from the hotel lobby, securities, and hoteliers welcomed her, but she didn’t care anyway. She walked straight to the elevator, press the right button, and waited to bring her to the 7th floor. She suddenly yawned. Jayda felt tired and worn out from the party, so she thought of ditching her writing schedule tonight to have a good night sleep, but it didn’t end that way. After the elevator opened, she suddenly felt her chest became heavy. It was maybe the result of being a coffee addict. Few more steps and she reached the door of her room. As soon as she twisted the door knob, a woman’s dead body welcomed her, making her staggered backwards because of surprise. No trace of blood, probably died by choking. No. How would she know? Her knees had weakened before she could be able to shout for help. “Help! Somebody help me! There’s... there’s a body! Someone is dead!” she stuttered. Gathering all her strength, she managed to stand and ran back to the elevator, then down to the lobby where she asked a receptionist to call a police. Her chest became heavier as she desperately gasped for an air. Her actions drew the attention of almost everyone. “Okay, Miss, stay calm. Where is the body?” a security asked, waving his hands down as if it would help Jayda to composed herself back to normal. Breathing in and out, she answered, “Up there... 7th floor, room 715... my room. A woman’s body. Please, call the police!” “How come that there is a dead body—” “I don’t know!” Jayda interrupted. Her every muscle was tensed and flames of anger shot through her. “I just arrived at my room from my friend’s party, and then you’re going to ask me why there is a dead body there? The hell would I know!” The security pursed his lips as he massaged his temples. “Okay. Police are coming, we are going to help you. They will be here shortly, won’t take long now,” said the security. As minutes dragged, Jayda found herself wondering how in the world that a dead body would be inside her room. She heaved a deep sigh as she rubbed her palms. Who could probably do this? Who might be the person behind the murder? Of course it wouldn’t be her nor Faris! And why of all people, why did this thing happen to her? After a couple of minutes of waiting, they finally heard voices entered the foyer, sirens outside; a police radio squawked down the hallway. Jayda didn’t let any more minute to slide and she rushed towards the elevator again with the policemen. To everyone surprise, they found nothing. What the hell? Jayda thought to herself. The corpse that only Jayda saw was no longer in the room. She shook her head. “No... there’s no way that it was gone right this instant! I saw it! I saw it with my own eyes! There’s a dead body—” “Let me ask you a question, Miss Jayda,” a police with a big built interrupted her. “Please, Officer, believe me! There is something...” she pleaded the police to believe her, but it was not easy now that the body was no longer in sight. “You are drunk, aren’t you?” That shut up her. Right. She was little bit tipsy, but she was sure about what she saw earlier! “No... no, I’m not,” she denied. Jayda even brushed her hair out of frustration. Just as she looked straight to the Officer, she added, “I’m sure about it, Officer. Why... why don’t you check the CCTVs to prove myself to you? Check them!” But the police glanced over his shoulder to call the hotel security. It was a middle-aged man with a shorter height. “We are sorry to say, but the CCTVs at the 6th and 7th floor is still under maintenance. In fact,” the security simply looked behind Jayda to assure himself that there was no dead body inside her room, “there’s no trace of blood. There were no clue nor a sign that a crime was committed here. Maybe... maybe you’re just really drunk. We could smell the alcohol from you.” Jayda just sat down after what she heard. No one believed her. The deputies started to leave one by one, shaking their head. “Have a good night, Miss Jayda. We’re leaving now. Don’t worry, there is really nothing like a woman’s dead body inside your room.” The Officer pat Jayda’s shoulder and started to walk away. As soon as a tear ran down from Jayda’s cheek, her phone vibrated. It was Faris. She fished for her phone inside her cardigan’s pocket only to see a selfie of his boyfriend she requested earlier, but it didn’t lighten up her mood. “What the hell was that, Jayda?” she mumbled under her breath. No. I would investigate it myself, she had thought to herself before she wiped her cheeks and enter her room. But where to start?