Stranger Next Door

CHAPTER 19

"Keith." pagtawag ko sa pangalan niya.

He's smiling at us right now. His smile is creepy. Talagang hindi mapigilang manindig ng balahibo ko.

"You look scared." he is still smiling.

"What are you doing here?" galit kong tanong.

Hindi ko alam kung saan pa ako kumuha ng lakas ng loob para magalit. I just want him to be out of my sight.

"Why?" if he didn't stop smiling, I would think that he's crazy.

He started to walk towards us but I shouted.

"Huwag kang lalapit! T-tatawag talaga ako ng pulis!" galit kong sabi.

"Then do it." parang wala siyang pakialam sa sinabi ko at lumapit siya sakin.

He suddenly grab my waist and started to scream. I'm expecting that someone can hear me.

"Yani! Y-yani, help me!" I keep on shouting but Yani seems frozen.

Nakatingin lang siya samin. Gulat na gulat.

Keith dragged me into the attic. Now, I have guts that he's going to lock me there.

"Let me go! I know what you did! You locked Gwen there also!" malakas kong sigaw, "Ngayon alam ko na na masama ka talaga! Wala talagang magkakagusto sayo!"

He acted as if he didn't hear anything.

Ibinato niya ako sa kama ng underground room. He looked at me with a blank expression. My hands are trembling.

I don't have my phone right now. No one will help me here.

"Yani." I run into the door and knock on it several times, "Yani! Wtf, let me go, Keith! Malalaman at malalaman rin ng lahat ang ginawa mo!"

Kumatok ako ng kumatok. Nagbabakasakali akong mabubuksan pero wala. I started to give up and I just sat on the bed and started crying.

Looks like the history already repeats itself. Right now, maybe Yani is dead and I feel guilty because I did nothing.

Sa kakaiyak ko, hindi ko namalayang nakatulog pala ako.

Nagising ako na nasa isang hindi pamilyar na lugar, sa may tabing-ilog.

Nakita ko si Keifer at Keith na nagtatawanan sa isa't isa kasama si Gwen?

"Thank you nga pala sa pagyaya sa'kin ng picnic." nakangiting sabi ni Gwen sa dalawa.

Kung titingnan, napaka perfect talaga ng friendship nilang tatlo.

"Sus, wala 'yon basta ikaw." hirit naman ni Keifer.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit kahit magkamukhang-magkamukha sila, alam ko kung sino si Keith at Keifer.

"Ang lakas naman ni Gwen sa'yo." nawala ang ngiti ko ng sumabat naman si Keith sa usapan, "Kunin mo nga 'yong cellphone ko sa kotse. Naiwan ko."

Napairap naman ako dahil halata namang ginawa niya lang yon dahil nagseselos siya.

"Gano'n ba kayo kaclose ni Keifer?" tanong ni Keith kay Gwen ng silang dalawa na lang ang naiwan.

Tumango naman si Gwen na parang nagtataka sa tanong niya.

"Why did you suddenly ask? Close naman talaga tayong tatlo, 'diba?" pagbabalik ni Gwen ng tanong sa kanya.

Keith suddenly grab her arms and gave her a threatening look.

"How can I be sure that you and Keifer are just friends?" he seriously asked, "Tell me, Gwen."

"Ano bang nangyayari sa'yo, Keith? Bitawan mo ko!" Gwen is trying to escape but Keith is holding her too tight.

Kasabay naman no'n ang pagdating ni Keifer. He's too shocked of what he saw so he pushed Keith.

"What the hell are you doing? Sinasaktan mo siya!" suway ni Keifer.

Tumayo si Keith sa pagkakadapa and he gave them a glare.

"Huwag ko lang talagang malaman-laman na may relasyon kayong dalawa kung ayaw niyong masira ang pagkakaibigan na to." after he said that, he left.

The scenario changed. I don't know why I'm seeing this pero parang ipinapakita sa'kin ni Gwen ang mga nangyayari.

I'm currently at my house, in the sala. Keifer and Gwen is sitting in the sofa but they both look worried.

"Bakit ka tahimik?" tanong ni Keifer sa kanya.

"Iniisip ko lang kasi Keifer, paano kapag nalaman ni Keith yung tungkol sa'tin? Alam mo naman na may usapan tayo simula't sapul pa lang na walang talo talo, diba? Baka magalit yun satin." Keifer hold her hands and kissed her forehead.

They love each other so much and even I'm watching from afar, I can feel it.

"Gwen, for now we will just take it a secret. Pangako, maghahanap ako ng tiyempo para sabihin kay Keith ang lahat. Alam kong maiintindihan niya naman tayo. Mahal kita."

After that, the scenario becomes different.

Gwen is in the sala but this time, she is alone. She's sleeping soundly. Seeing her perfect face, I can't blame Keifer and Keith for falling inlove with her.

I suddenly hear footsteps walking towards her. My eyes widened when I realized that it's Keith.

"You're sleeping so soundly, my queen." he said those words while touching her face.

I stunned when he started to kiss her. Gwen moans silently but she pushed Keith away when she finally woke up.

"What are you doing?" she asked, "Did you just try to rape me?"

"Rape?" Keith laughed, "I know that you liked it."

Gwen slapped his face. Keith's face turned red and he started glaring at her.

"I didn't like it for your information. Get out, or else I will call cops." tumayo na siya ng sofa but Keith grab her arms, "What the hell, I said get out!"

"Why, Gwen? Why don't you like me?" he asked, "I look like him. I dress like him. If you want, pati pagkilos niya, gagayahin ko! Please, choose me."

"Get out. No matter what you do, you're not going to be him."

The scenario changed again.

Si Gwen, nasa room kung saan ako nakakulong. The guy remove his mask, revealing Keith's face.

"Kung hindi ka mapapasa'kin, mas mabuting mamatay ka na rin!" sigaw ni Keith at nakita ko kung paanong sinaksak niya si Gwen.

"No! No!" sunod sunod kong sigaw saka ako tuluyang nagising.

I woke up here in the room, alone. I don't know what time it is. I don't know if Yani's okay.

Mas lalo lang akong nabahala dahil sa mga nakita ko sa panaginip.

Malinaw na malinaw na sa'kin ngayon ang lahat.

The door suddenly open. Iniluwa nito si Keith na may dalang pagkain.

"Eat. Ayokong nagpapalipas ka ng gutom." he said.

"Why would I eat that? Baka mamaya meron pa yang gayuma." I laughed bitterly, "Mas gugustuhin kong mamatay na lang sa gutom kaysa kainin yan."

"Alam mo, pasalamat ka nga concern ako sayo. Ganyan naman talaga kayong mga babae. Ipinagtatabuyan niyo yung mga taong totoong mahal kayo. Mas pinipili niyo yung manloloko." galit niyang sabi.

"Hindi manloloko si Harris." I'm glaring at him right now, but he's just smiling.

May saltik nga talaga.

"Then where is he? He's not coming back, Bella. Kahit umiyak ka pa at magmakaawa, hindi na siya babalik. Naintindihan mo?" he walks towards me and touched my face, "Harris left you."

Tinitingnan ko pa rin siya ng masama.

"He never left, Keith. You killed him."

He nodded, saka siya naglakad palayo sakin.

"Whatever. Iiwan ko na yan diyan. Kumain ka na." and again, he left.

Tears starts to fall in my eyes. Please, I hope Yani is safe. Okay lang sakin na habambuhay akong nakakulong basta ang importante, ligtas si Yani.

Kahit si Yani na lang.

Wala akong ibang ginawa sa loob kundi ang umiyak at magbakasali na may isang taong magliligtas sakin dito.

I'm also hungry but I don't want to eat the food that Keith prepared to me. I'm mad at him.

He's a killer. All this time, I've been looking for the murderer but it turns out that it's the person who lived next door.

He's obsessed. He's going to do anything just to get me.

Hindi pwedeng dito lang ako habambuhay. I need to make a way for me to get out. Kailangang matapos na ang lahat.

They need justice.

I think many times, to think of a plan. Actually, I'm not sure if this will work but atleast I tried.

I ate the food that Keith gave me. I waited for a few hours for Keith to come back. Walang orasan sa loob kaya hindi ko alam kung gabi na ba o umaga.

The door opened. At last, he came.

"Good to know that you ate it. I cooked it just for you." he said.

I smiled at him. A seductive one.

"Well, I can't deny that you're a best cook." I laughed. "Did you bring any snacks for me? I'm still hungry."

His eyebrows met. Parang nabibigla sa ikinikilos ko.

"Are you planning something? Why are you acting like that?" oh, shoot.

Naghihinala pa yata. Siguro, kailangan komg dahan dahanin. I should not get too fast on making the plan.

"I said, I'm hungry. What's wrong with that? Of course, I need to eat." I sighed.

"I know. Magluluto pa lang ako." he gave me paperbags. Mga anim na paperbags to be exact. Mga malalaki.

"What's this?" taka kong tanong.

"I buy you dresses. Babalik ulit ako. Magluluto muna ako para sayo." he smiled.

This dresses are expensive. Not just expensive but also, pretty. Ganito ang mga isinusuot kong damit noong nasa states ako.

But I can't use it anyway. Nandito lang naman ako sa loob.

I got bored so I decided to wear all of those dresses. How amazing that all of it looks good on me. If Harris is here, I'm sure he would compliment me.

Akala ko matagal pang babalik si Keith, but he open the door and he saw me wearing the dress he bought.

He plastered a smile on his face.

"You look gorgeous, my lady." my fake smile faded when I heard him called my, My lady.

He also called Gwen like that.

"Why? Did I say something wrong?" Keith asked.

I just shook my head and gave him a fake smile again.

"By the way, thank you for these dresses." I said. "These are my type."

"I'm thankful that you liked it." he sighed, "Sana next time, ako naman."

That will never happen.

"Well, let's see."

His eyes sparkled.

"You said, what?" he seems shocked.

"I said, Let's see." sagot ko kahit sa totoo, ayokong sabihin ang mga bagay na yon.

I can't love a murderer. He's a psycho. Kahit siya na lang ang nag iisang lalaki sa mundo, hinding hindi ko siya magugustuhan.

Kinakasuklaman ko siya.

He killed the innocent Dale. He killed Yvonne. He killed Ate Khaytelyn, and Harris, and Andrei.

I loathe him to the point that I don't want to see his face.

"That means, you're giving me a chance?" he asked.

Ramdam na ramdam ko kung gaano siya ka excited. That's right, murderer. Maniwala ka sa mga pinagsasabi ko.

Wala sa sarili akong tumango.

He run towards me and hugged me. I hugged him back tho I really want to push him away.

"I promise, Bella. I'm going prove myself to you. I love you." sabi niya bago siya tuluyang kumalas sa yakap.

I just gave him a quick smile. He was about to leave but I called his name.

"Keith."

Nilingon niya naman ako. Naiirita akong makita ang mukha niya na ganyan, what the hell.

"Yes?"

This is it, Bella. Ask him if Yani is okay. Huwag kang mag alala. Hindi ka niya sasaktan.

"Is Yani okay? H-hindi mo naman siya pinatay diba?" kabadong tanong ko.

He smiled again.

My heart is pounding right now. Hinihiling ko na sana, sana nga hindi niya pinatay si Yani.

"No, I didn't." he answered, "Now that you're giving me a chance, I don't think I can kill her. Pero, mananatili siya dito dahil baka magsumbong siya."

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag. Thank God, Yani is safe.

"Then, where is she?"

"In your room. I locked her up. Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt her." he said again.

Kailangan kong lakasan ang loob ko. Kapag nandito siya, mas mapapanatag ang loob ko na hindi niya sasaktan si Yani.

"Keith. I have a favor."

His eyebrows furrowed.

"What?"

"Can Yani stay here also? Naboboring ako rito. Wala akong kausap. Hindi ko man lang namamalayan kung anong oras na. Wala akong alam na gawin. Kumain lang. Tapos matulog. I want someone I can talk to. Para mawala naman ang boredom ko at hindi ko maramdamang nag iisa ako." I gave him a puppy look.

"Then I'll just visit you every minute. Pupuntahan kita para meron kang makausap. Mamaya, maglalagay ako ng tv para may paglibangan ka."

"But..." pagkontra ko, "I want to talk to Yani. You know, she's my friend. Hindi na ako nagrereklamo kung nakakulong ako dito o ano. Just let me talk to her, Keith. Please." I almost cried, alam ko naman na pagdating sakin mahina ang loob niya. "Please atleast trust me."

He took a deep breath before speaking.

"Okay then. But, I won't let her stay. Hahayaan ko kayong mag usap ng dalawang oras. Pagkatapos non, ibabalik ko rin siya sa kwarto. Okay ba yon?" he ask.

Hindi ko mapigilang hindi matawa ng palihim. I just wish that everything happens according to my plan.

Hahayaan kong magkausap kami sa dalawang oras. Tama na yon para magkausap kami kung paano kami tatakas. Then I will beg to Keith that I'll talk to Yani again.

"Sige na. Babalik ako mamaya kasama si Yani." then he left.

Dadahan dahanin ko lang ang plano para hindi siya makahalata.

I waited for hours. Muntik na akong makatulog but I chose not to sleep. I wanted to see Yani.

I suddenly hear footsteps so I excitedly stand up. The door opens. Agad na tumakbo sakin si Yani saka ako niyakap.

"Sana tumupad ka sa usapan, Bella. Two hours only." sabi ni Keith at tumango naman ako bilang sagot.

After he left, I started crying. Alam kong hindi lang naman ako ang nahihirapan sa sitwasyon. Pati na rin si Yani.

"How are you? Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" naiiyak kong tanong, "Don't worry, I will do anything just to escape. May plano na ako pero kailangan lang nating dahan dahanin. Kapag kasi isahan nating ginawa ang plano, baka makahalata si Keith. Sa ngayon, pinaplano kong kunin ang loob ni Keith. I saw how inlove he is. Parang lahat yata ng hingin ko kaya niyang ibigay, except on escaping. Gagawin ko ang lahat para makuha ang loob niya at kapag nagtiwala na siya sakin ng lubos, doon tayo tatakas."

"Pero paano? Hindi tayo nakakalabas. Wala yung phone mo, kinuha niya. Nakatali ako sa room mo kaya hindi ako makatakas. Nakabantay siya sa lahat." nag aalalang sabi ni Yani, "Teka, may CCTV ba dito? Baka mamaya naririnig niya ang usapan natin, mas malabong makaalis tayo."

"No. Sa tagal kong nandito nasilip ko na lahat ng sulok." confident kong sagot.

"Do you think, it will work?" medyo nag aalangan si Yani sa plano ko but I confidently smiled.

"Yani. Kailangan na nating makatakas dito sa lalong madaling panahon." sabi ko sa kanya, "I know, and I can feel that Keith loves me so much to the point that, he's willing to give anything I ask for. I'm his weakness."

"Girl, alam ko. Ang sakin lang, hindi mahirap mauto ng ganon si Keith. What if sumablay tayo? Hindi to video game na may three lives tayo. Bella, kapag pumalpak tayo dito, alam mo kung saan tayo hahantong." she seems frightened but I disagree of what she said.

"Yani, it doesn't matter if we die it or not. If we die, atleast we died trying. Kesa naman mabulok tayo dito habambuhay at sumunod na lang sa kung anong gusto ni Keith? Do you want that to happen, huh?"

She shook her head.

"I'm just worried, Bella. Marami pa akong gustong gawin. Hindi kasama rito ang mamatay." she seems teary - eyed but I hold her hands.

"Trust me. We can escape. Alam kong makakatakas tayo dito." I smiled at her, and even I can feel her nervousness, she still managed to smile.