Stranger Next Door

CHAPTER 10

"Mahal kita." hindi malinaw ang mukha ng lalaki habang nakahawak sa mukha ko. "Ipaglalaban kita kahit na anong mangyari."

"Hindi mo naiintindihan." I can hear my sobs.

The guy hugged me, and it feels like he was the safest place to go away from danger.

"Bakit? Ipaliwanag mo sa'kin ang hindi ko maintindihan." the guy said.

"Papatayin niya ako." sagot ko at ng lumingon ako ay nakita kong may sumaksak sa'kin ng kutsilyo.

I hurriedly wake up. Thank God it's just a dream.

"Girl, napano ka?" tanong ni Yani pero ipinilig ko na lang ang ulo ko.

This the last day of our stay in Yani's house. Hindi na kami nakahanap pa ng buyer. We don't have a choice. We're going back to the house.

Nagkasabay pa, mamaya yung Acquaintance party. I guess, I'm not going to enjoy. Lumipas ba naman ang ilang araw na lutang ang isip ko. Hindi ko alam kung saan pa ba ako papunta.

Sometimes I think of coming back to US, but no. I promised to myself that I will live on my own. Mom keeps on dragging me down but the more she drags me down, that's the time when I drag myself up.

"Girl, pwede kong pakiusapan si Tita na hayaan pa kayong magstay ng matagal. Alam ko naman kasing hindi okay sa inyo na bumalik pa ng subdivision." Yani hold my hands but I just gave her a sweet smile.

"No, it's okay. Stop worrying about me." lumapit ako sa gown namin na nakahanger, I'm caressing its soft fabric, "Later, we will be having a party so we must enjoy."

She nodded.

Pinatay lang namin ang oras. After that, we started fixing each other. Buti na lang, maalam tong si Yani sa make ups. Ako kasi, kapag may mga ganitong occassions, naghahire ako ng make up artist at hairstylist.

Gatsby ang theme ng party so all of us are wearing black. I'm wearing a black cocktail dress, because that is the cheapest and Yani chose it for me.

Masyado raw kasi akong baby face, so that gown suits me.

She chose Mermaid gown for herself. She has a coca cola body that's why the shape of her body will be the highlight and it really suits her well.

Panel gown naman ang kay Ate Khaytelyn since she's the senior among the three of us.

"See? Ang gaganda natin!" Yani is looking at the mirror, wearing her bright smile.

We just rode tricycle. Yani said that tricycle is much cheaper that taxi. We can save money with it.

When we reached the hotel, most of the people are staring at us.

Why are they staring at us like that? Do we look ugly? They are also murmuring.

"She's really an angel. I want to make her my girlfriend." the guy on the table whisper on his friend.

"You're such a Goddess, girl. Lahat sila sa'yo nakatingin. Gosh!" Yani is smiling at me.

Naghanap kami ng mauupuan pero kaagad kaming nakakuha ng pwesto. Lots of guys offered their seats to us.

"Iba talaga pag maganda, kabog!" Yani is laughing.

Nakikita kasi namin kung paano mag unahan yung ibang estudyante para lang mapaupo ako. Hinanap ng mata ko kung nasaan si Keith at Harris.

I saw them looking at me, so I avoided.

Later on, the party started and of course they have a small introduction speech. Sabi nila, kung buhay raw si Dale maybe he will be the Star of night.

Well, I can't deny. Dale's handsome.

"But of course, let us be happy because Dale is happy in heaven now. Students, sit back and relax!" the emcee on the party shouted and then the lights blackout.

I can't see anything.

Naramdaman ko na lang na may humila sa akin. I can feel his breath in my neck.

"You look stunning tonight." my heart flutters when I recognized whose voice it is.

It's from Harris.

Naramdaman kong binitawan niya ako at kasabay non ang pagbalik ng ilaw. Nakatayo na yung mga magpeperform sa stage.

Everyone seems enjoying the party except me. I keep on thinking about Harris, what he made really makes my heart beat fast.

Pagkatapos ng maraming production numbers, the dance floor is now open. Lots of students are getting wild maybe because of the alcohol.

"Hey! Let's dance!" yaya ni Yani saka ako hinila papunta sa dance floor.

She's tipsy, and she's also getting wild.

"Yani stop it, you're drunk. Let's go home." I'm trying to stop her but she's stubborn.

"Agad? Ang kj naman, mamaya na. Let's enjoy!" she's shouting and waving her hands like hell.

Buti na lang talaga at hindi ako uminom. I realize that Ate Khaytelyn is also on the dancefloor. Most of the students are already drunk. Konti na lang siguro yung mga nasa katinuan pa.

"Hey. You're that angel, right? Can you be my girlfriend?" he's the guy who I heard a while ago.

He's drunk.

"Sorry, I gotta go." I was able to leave but he grab my arms and pulled me closer to him.

Yes, he's handsome but what he's doing right now is wrong. It's harassment.

"You know what, I always see you walking on the hallway and now that you are closer to me, you're more pretty. You're the prettiest girl I've ever seen and and I want you to be my girlfriend." he said.

"Sorry but I don't think about being in a relationship right now. Please let me go." I'm trying to push him away but he's too strong.

He touched my face.

Napapikit na lang ako hanggang sa narinig kong nagsigawan ang mga tao.

Keith punched that guy!

"Yan ang napapala ng mga taong hindi marunong rumespeto sa babae." galit niyang sabi.

Everyone is staring at us right now, even Harris.

"Let's go." he grab my wrist and bring me outside the hotel.

Hindi ko alam kung paano ako magsasalita. I'm still mad at him but I must say thank you for helping me with that jerk.

"Thank you." tipid kong sabi.

Nagsimula na akong maglakad pabalik ng hotel ng magsalita siya ulit.

"Where are you going?" tanong niya.

"Of course I will get my things, call Yani and Ate Khaytelyn. Uuwi na kami." palayo na sana ako pero hinatak niya ako palapit sa kanya.

He's hugging me.

"Please come back to the house." he said, "Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit ka na lang biglang umalis doon, Bella. You never explain the reason why."

I pushed him away, and faced him. I showed him how mad I was.

"You're being creepy, Keith. I don't know if you are still the Keith I know."

"Tell me exactly, why I am being a creep?" he asked, "Kung sinasabi mo sana sakin edi sana naiintindihan ko."

Napailing iling na lang ako. Masyado na akong maraming iniisip nitong mga nakaraang araw. I am okay physically but I don't know if my mental health is still okay.

"Bella, gusto kita. Gustong gusto kita. Mababaliw ako kapag umalis ka." he said those words without any hesitation, "I tried to stop myself but I can't help it. I keep falling and falling for you everyday."

"Then move on." hindi na naman ako natuloy sa binabalak kong pag alis dahil hinila niya ulit ako.

He kissed me. He fcking kissed me. I pushed him away and slapped him hard.

"You're a jerk!" I wiped my mouth and I'm glaring at him.

"Why? Why can't you feel the same, Bella?" he asked. "Gusto mo ba yung lalaking yon? Yung nambastos sayo, gusto mo yon? Siya ba?"

"Oo!" halos sumigaw na ako dahil naiinis talaga ako sa kanya.

Buti na lang, walang masyadong tao ang dumadaan.

"Yan yung gusto mong marinig diba? Edi yun yung paniwalaan mo." I almost lost my breathe because of so much anger. "From now on Keith, we are not friends."

Tumakbo ako palayo sa kanya. I bumped into something. I thought it was a wall, but it is Harris.

"I heard everything." he calmly said.

"So what? Are you going to go by his side? Then go!" inis kong sabi saka niya ako hinila pabalik.

"I didn't say that. You're the one who's paranoid here." he said.

Hindi ako kumibo. Iyak lang ako ng iyak. Harris hugged me. Everytime he's by my side, I always feel that I am safe from everything.

Kumalas siya sa yakap saka pinunasan ang luha ko.

"Do you want to come with me?" he asked.

I just nodded. Akala ko kung saan kami pupunta, yun pala sa bahay niya lang.

He offered some foods but I didn't ate it. Nalulungkot lang ako sa mga nangyayari ngayon.

I am currently sitting in the couch. I'm watching him prepare me some drinks. I must be sad but seeing him comforting me, it made me smile.

"Harris." I called his name and he faced me. "Do you even know that everytime I see you, you makes my heart flutter?"

My eyes widened after I realized what I said. What the hell was that?

"I mean, it's about—" I stopped talking when he suddenly kissed me.

We kiss each other like their has no tommorow. The kiss deepened, and his hands are moving anywhere.

I felt something strange when he kissed my neck. I don't know if I'm going to push him away because I'm also aroused.

I let him unzip the back of the dress I'm wearing. I'm not wearing a bra, so my breasts has already been exposed.

He suck my pinkish n*****s and I bite my lip because of the sensation he's giving.

That night, I let him own me.

I woke up when I realized that someone is kissing my cheeks.

"Good Morning, Schat." he gave me a smack kiss.

"Schat? So you have a nickname for me already? What's the meaning of that?" taka kong tanong.

"Why do you mind?" he asked.

"Because I am curious?" tanong ko pabalik.

He fixed the strand of my hair that is covering my face and he put it at the back of my ear.

He's smiling at me right now and that is the smile that I wanted to see everyday everytime I woke up.

Harris' smile.

"Ik hou van je, Schat," he still smiling but I got confused of what he said.

"What language is that, Mr. President?" I keep on bugging him. "Can you tell me, please?"

"I love you, My Treasure." he kissed my forehead and then he walks towards his kitchen.

I almost stunned. Why is he good in making my heart pound?

"By the way, what's your plan already?" napapikit na lang ako sa tanong niya ng maalala ko ang mga problema ko.

Everytime I'm with him, I forgot all those problems. I want the time to stop. I want to be with him, always.

"I'm gonna call Yani first." I grab my phone on the table and then I dialed Yani's number.

"Girl! Where are you?!" Yani seems upset, "I'm here at your house. Kakahatid ko lang kay Ate Khaytelyn. I don't want to leave her alone here so tell me, where are you?"

Nagkatinginan kami ni Harris.

"I'm with Harris. Papunta na ako diyan." sagot ko saka ako dali daling nagbihis.

I don't care if Harris is looking at me while I am putting my clothes. He already touched it.

"What did Yani said?" He asked.

"Nandoon na sila sa bahay. Pupunta na ako don." I was about to leave but he pulled me and hugged me tight, as if I'm not going to see him anymore.

"I love you, Bella." he said.

"I love you, too." I replied and then kiss him on his cheeks, "By the way, let's keep it a secret from everyone. You know what happened, and Keith is your friend."

He just nodded.

Pagdating ko doon, nakita ko ang mga maleta namin. Yani seems worried, but I still manage to smile.

"Buti naman pala at kasama mo si Harris. Nag alala kami sayo ng hindi ka namin mahanap kagabi, ano bang nangyari?" tanong ni Ate Khaytelyn.

"Keith confessed that he likes me." I sighed after remembering that scenario, "He tried to kiss me but I pushed him away."

"Did he hurt you?" Ate Khaytelyn stood up and examine my body from head to toe.

"I'm okay, Ate. No need to worry." wala sa sarili kong sabi.

"Girl, I'm sorry to say this but I need to go. Susunduin ko pa si Ate sa terminal ng bus. Mag iingat kayo, ha? Iwasan mo na si Keith, kung pwedeng sa loob lang kayo ng bahay, dito ka lang sa loob," hinawakan niya ang kamay ko, "Kapag may problema, tawagan mo ako o si Andrei."

Tumango lang ako.

When Yani already left, we fix all our stuffs. Tahimik ko pa ring pinagmamasdan ang bahay. Nababalot ako ng takot ngayon, hindi ko lang ipinapahalata kay Ate.

"By the way, why are you with Harris? You can call us, para sana sabay sabay na tayong umuwi." Ate Khaytelyn looks like she's suspecting me on something.

"I forgot, and of course, both of you are drunk. Kay Harris ako sumama kasi nakita niya ang ginawa ni Keith." wala sa sarili kong sagot. "But somehow, I should be thankful to Keith. He saved me from that jerk."

"Who's jerk?"

"There's a fourth year student on the party who harassed me," I opened my luggage and I start folding my clothes.

"Omg, is that you and Keith?" she seems startled, "I was so drunk and I didn't recognize that it's you."

My face twisted. I didn't get what she wants to say.

"May naharass daw na babae, at yung lalaki sinuntok yung nangharass, kaya nga pagkatapos non, itinigil na ang party at nanermon ang Dean." natatawang sabi ni Ate Khaytelyn, "But that serves him right. Maniac."

Hindi na lang ako kumibo saka nag ayos ng mga gamit. We decided to just sleep in one room.

"Ano nga palang pinagsasabi ng Dean?" tanong ko kay Ate.

Tapos na kami sa paglalagay ng rosary sa mga pinto. Yung closet na lang ang inaayos namin.

"Ayon, ang sabi isususpend daw yung si Yvonne." Ate Khaytelyn stated.

So, Yvonne is the name of that jerk.

After lots of talk, I decided to take a shower. Nanlalagkit na rin ako dahil wala pa akong ligo pagkatapos ng nangyari sa amin ni Harris.

I want to tell it to Ate Khaytelyn but I'm afraid that she would judge me. I'm aware that I don't know Harris that much.

While I am in the bathroom, Ate Khaytelyn is still in the room.

"Bella, your phone is ringing!" Ate Khaytelyn shouted, at dinig ko naman kaagad dahil nasa kwarto ko lang ang bathroom.

"Who's calling?" I currently putting shampoo in my head, "Ikaw na lang ang sumagot, Ate!"

I waited after a few seconds.

"Ate? Who called?" pag uulit ko.

"Yani called." she answered, "Patay na raw si Yvonne."