Stranger Next Door

CHAPTER 6

Biglang kumunot ang noo ko sa ginawa ni Keith kaya naman tinapik ko ang kamay niya at lumapit do'n sa dalawang nag-aaway.

"Stop it." suway ko.

Napatingin naman sa'kin ang sinasabi nilang Claire. She's pretty yes, but her attitude makes her look like a trash. She rolled her eyes and examined my looks from head to toe.

"And who are you?" she asked and her two slaves whisper something on her. "Oh, so you are what they call 'Angel."

Naiinis ako sa pagsasalita niya. She seems mocking me. Trying hard ang pag-english niya. And sorry to judge but her bag? It's fake.

I was once a rich kid and I know what's the difference between the original and an imitation.

"Stop acting like a rich one because the way you speak right now tells me that you are not." narinig ko ang tawanan sa canteen.

I guess, she got embarrassed.

"Wow, coming from you? E balita ko nga kaya ka napadpad dito sa Pilipinas dahil naghirap kayo." She and her two slaves laugh at me but I am just smiling.

"At least I am honest and I'm not bragging about that. Atleast, I'm not trying to be rich just like you." I gave him a smile that she won't forget.

Chinicheer ako ng mga estudyante sa ginawa kong pag sagot-sagot kay Claire. She deserves it.

"So anong gusto mong palabasin? Na mahirap lang ako?" she's glaring at me right now, "Excuse me, can't you see my bag? It's Louis Vuitton. Galing pa 'to sa Auntie ko. And my phone? It's IPhone."

I suddenly laugh and everyone just keep silent. Pakiramdam ko ngayon, para kaming artista na pinagtitinginan.

"I was once a rich person, Claire and as I can see on your phone and bag, it's just an imitation." biglang nagtawanan ang mga nanonood sa'min.

"Peke ka pala, eh! Pinagyayabang mo pa 'yang bag mo na 'yan e peke naman pala!" sigaw no'ng isa kaya mas lalong lumakas ang tawanan.

She's speechless. Base from her reaction, she's about to cry.

"You don't want to believe me? Come and check mine." hinila ko siya papunta sa pwestong inupuan namin at ipinakita sa kanya ang bag ko. "This is the original, and that is the fake one."

Wala pa ring tigil ang lahat sa pagtawa. Her two slaves look at her with disgust.

"Ew, Claire. I can't believe that you fooled us!" sabi nung isa saka umalis.

"We're not friends anymore, Claire." umalis din 'yung isa.

Pinagtitinginan na ng lahat si Claire kaya naman dali-dali siyang tumakbo palayo. I help the girl who bumped into her to stand up.

"Are you okay?" I asked, but she just stare at me.

She looks so shocked. Parang nakakita ng multo.

"I will help you—" napatigil na lang ako ng bigla siyang tumakbo palayo.

What's wrong with her? I just want to help.

"Hey! You are so strong, girl!" papuri ni Yani ng makabalik ako sa upuan. "Alam mo bang ikaw lang ang nakabara kay Claire ng gano'n? Well, alam ko na rin naman no'ng una pa lang na hindi siya mayaman, pero hindi ako nagsasalita kasi ayoko ng gulo."

Yani can't stop on speaking about Claire but that girl keeps on running on my mind. What's with her? I want to know who's her.

"Yani, sino 'yong babaeng inaway ni Claire kanina?" Yani's face become serious.

"That's Gwen's bestfriend." she answered.

Everyone became serious. Hindi ko alam kung may nasabi ba akong mali para magbago ng gano'n ang reaction nila.

"Dati, napakaingay na tao niyang si Herlyn. Kapag magkasama sila ni Gwen, akala mo mga megaphone ang boses. Pagkalakas-lakas. Talagang tandem sila kung tandem," napailing na lang ako dahil ang ingay talaga ni Yani. "Pero ang bali-balita rito, yang si Herlyn, may gusto do'n sa boyfriend ni Gwen. Si Keifer."

Tumango na lang ako dahil pareho kong hindi kilala si Gwen at Keifer.

"'Yon ang naging reason kaya nag-friendship over si Herlyn at Gwen. Ilang buwan ring hindi pumasok si Gwen. Hanggang sa nabalitaan namin na namatay siya." she said.

Mas lalo lang akong nacurious. Why I do I feel like Herlyn's a good person?

"Simula ng mamatay si Gwen, naging introvert na 'yang si Herlyn. Hindi na siya kumakausap ng kahit na sino." Yani added.

"Tama na nga yan, Yani. Hindi ka naman sigurado kung totoo yung bali-balita, 'diba?" suway naman ni Andrei.

I think of it for almost weeks. Sa halos tatlong linggong nagdaan, masasabi kong naging peaceful naman ang pag-aaral ko dito.

Si Keith naman, masiyahin as always. And for Harris, for the past three weeks, we were just ignoring each other. We won't talk if it's not important.

Paminsan-minsan naman, nakikita ko si Herlyn sa campus. She's alone.

Si Claire, after what happened she transferred. Kaya naman wala ng feeling mayaman na bully, na nanggugulo dito sa school.

And of course, people keeps on calling me "Angel." That makes me uncomfy, actually. I used to live in a normal life, where people don't know me. Kaya naman, everytime na papasok ako sa school at kung sino-sino ang kumakausap sa'kin, naninibago ako.

"Good Morning, Bella." a guy from Engineering department suddenly blocked the passage and he's holding a bouquet of flowers. "For you."

"Uh, thank you?" nagtataka kong kinuha ang bulaklak.

"What was that for?" and here's Keith again, protecting me as if he's my boyfriend.

Lagi namang ganito si Keith. Akala mo naman ikakamatay ko kapag binigyan ako ng kung ano-ano.

"Giving her flowers." the guy answered him sarcastically.

"Bring it back, Bella," utos niya pero kumunot na lang ang noo ko.

"No. What's wrong if he gave me flowers? Stop acting like he did something bad, Keith." sabi ko sa kanya.

"I'll go ahead, Bella. Hope to see you again," the guy winked at me before he left.

Nakita ko naman ang inis sa mukha ni Keith. What's wrong with him? Sa hitsura niya ngayon, para siyang boyfriend na nagseselos.

"Huwag ko lang talagang makita kita 'yon, masusuntok ko talaga 'yon. Wala akong pakialam kung mas matanda siya sa'kin. Alam ng nananahimik ka, haharang-harang sa daan tapos magbibigay ng bulaklak. Anong bang trip no'n?" the way he act right now makes me annoyed.

"I don't see anything wrong with that, Keith." inis kong sabi.

"Magtigil ka nga, pre." suway naman ni Harris. "Una na kami, Bella. May pasok pa kami."

Tinanguan ko lang si Harris saka ako tumungo sa room namin. When it's recess, I told Yani and Andrei what happened. They keep on saying that Keith likes me because he acted like that.

That's impossible.

"Girl, trust me. Kapag ang lalaki may gusto sayo, ayaw no'n na may kinakausap kang iba. At base pa lang sa kwento mo, positive! May gusto si Keith sa'yo!" I can hear Yani's shriek.

"Just stop it, okay? We're just friends." wala sa sarili kong sabi habang kinakain 'yung burger na inorder ko.

"Sabagay. Huwag ka na do'n kay Keith. Mukhang possesive, eh. Kung nandito lang si Keifer, baka sa kanya kita iship. Si Keifer kasi, medyo may pagkamasungit tingnan pero soft inside." parang kinikilig pa ang bruha. "Alam mo, bago si Harris si Keifer talaga ang crush ko. Kaso nalipat na lang kay Harris kasi nataken na ni Gwen."

Natawa na lang ako sa sinabing 'yon ni Yani. Si Andrei naman, tiningnan siya na parang naiirita.

She keeps on mentioning Keifer and Gwen but I don't know them.

"How about Harris? Can you tell me more about him?" I almost cover my mouth for what I utter.

Why the hell did I asked her about Harris? Matagal na nga kaming hindi nagpapansinan no'n after that 'kiss thingy'.

"Harris is a silent guy. Siya yung tipo ng lalaki na hindi mo mababasa kung anong nasa isip. Basta ayon, lagi siyang focus sa pag-aaral. Ni wala nga kaming babae na maship sa kanya kasi, parang wala sa vocabulary niya ang mainlove." seryosong sabi ni Yani.

"Tingin mo, malabo na talagang mainlove si Harris?" kumunot ang noo ko.

I don't know why but I am expecting that Yani would say no.

"Parang malabo na talaga, girl. Bakit mo ba biglang natanong ang tungkol kay Baby Harris?" my eyes widened because of her question and I just simply smile.

"Wala naman. K-kahit kasi kaibigan ko siya, hindi talaga siya palakibo." I replied.

We just continue eating.

Biglang dumaan si Herlyn kaya nagawi ang tingin ko sa kanya.

She's alone, as always. I want to be her friend but Keith keeps on telling me that she's bad influence. But why? It is opposite from what I see. She seems a good person. I don't know why a lot of people keeps on judging her.

"Tingin niyo, masamang tao talaga si Herlyn?" The two stopped from eating and face me.

"Ayokong magsalita, wala akong karapatan na sabihing oo, dahil hindi naman ako sigurado. At wala naman akong karapatan na sabihing hindi dahil hindi siya kaibigan ko." sagot ni Andrei saka siya nagpatuloy sa pagkain.

"How about you, Yani? What do you think?" usisa ko.

"I don't know also, Bella. Ayoko ring magsalita." she continue eating.

"Herlyn!" I called her and luckily, she turned into my direction.

I waved at her but she suddenly walk away.

"How can she manage to be alone all the time?" I am asking myself but Yani and Andrei heard me.

"Bakit ba kasi parang masyado kang curious kay Herlyn, girl?" Yani seems confused.

"There's something in her that I want to know." I answered.

After recess, we decided to go back in the room. Halos hindi ko na nga naintindihan 'yung mga diniscuss. Hanggang sa nag-uwian na at gaya ng nakasanayan, sabay-sabay kami nina Ate Khaytelyn na uuwi.

"Oh? Bakit wala pa sina Harris at Keith?" tanong ni Ate Khaytelyn ng sunduin niya ako sa room namin.

I just shrugged and waited for a few minutes. Nakita ko na namang napadaan si Herlyn.

"Herlyn!" I called her name and again I waved at her, but she looks so shocked.

Parang may iniiwasan na kung ano.

Akala ko iiwasan niya na naman ako pero lumapit siya sa'kin at hinawakan ako sa kamay.

"Bella, mag-iingat ka." she's looking at me and I can see her sincerity. "Basta mag-iingat ka. Huwag kang masyadong magtitiwala."

"Saan?" kunot noo kong tanong.

Bigla ko namang nakita si Harris at Keith na paparating na. Herlyn suddenly walk away.

"Sorry, napaghintay ko kayo." Keith is smiling at me right now but I'm still mad of what he did.

I didn't talk the whole time when I was with Keith and Harris. I find it really awkward.

When we reached home, I lay in the sofa. Nakakapagod pumasok. Halos isang buwan pa nga lang pero nakakaramdam na agad ako ng pagod. What more if the second semester came?

"I forgot to ask you, who's that girl who talked to you a while ago?" tanong ni Ate Khaytelyn habang kumukuha ng tubig sa ref.

"Ah, she's Herlyn." tipid kong sagot.

"Is she your friend?" Ate Khaytelyn is drinking a juice right now.

I just shook my head as answer.

"Then why did she told you like that? Is she threatening you?" Ate Khaytelyn sounds a little bit worried.

"No. She's just reminding me to keep safe." I yawn and decided to go to my room to change clothes.

After changing my clothes, I decided to sleep. I guess it's already 9 o'clock in the evening when I woke up. Ate Khaytelyn didn't wake me. Hindi tuloy ako nakakakain ng hapunan.

I was about to go to the kitchen to eat, since I felt a little hunger. Kaso, napansin ko 'yung pinto ng terrace. Nakabukas. Ang ganda ng liwanag na nangagaling sa buwan kaya naman naisipan kong tumambay ulit.

Keith is also on the terrace. As usual, he's feeling the air with his eyes closed.

I was just staring at him. I don't know what would I feel. Sa totoo lang, kapag nandito sa may terrace ang senaryo namin, ang kalma kalma niya lang tingnan.

"You're still awake?" he opened his eyes and look at me.

Tumango lang ako dahil hindi ko pa rin nakakalimutan 'yung ginawa niya kanina.

I'm still mad.

He always do this and that makes him really annoying. Daig niya pa ang boyfriend kung gumanon. That guy seems harmless and there's nothing wrong with that.

"Are you okay?" kumunot ang noo niya, pinagmamasdan ako.

"Yeah. I'll sleep. Goodnight." wala sa sarili kong sabi.

I was about to enter when he called my name. That voice is soothing. I should be mad but after hearing his voice, I feel something I can't explain.

"Bella." he repeated.

I faced him but my reaction is still the same.

"Yes?"

"Are you mad?" he asked.

I sighed. Ayoko naman na kung ano ang isipin niya.

"So you're mad?" he chuckled.

That was the first time that I saw him chuckled.

I mean, he's always laughing but this is different. Yung tawa niya ngayon ang cute tingnan. Hindi malakas, hindi rin mahina. Tamang tawa lang.

"Did I do something wrong?" he asked again.

Napayuko ako. How would I say it? That I am mad because of what he did?

"Alright. Let's take a walk outside." he said.

Napakunot ang noo ko. It's already dark. Halos wala na ring tao sa labas.

"I'll wait for you there." before I could speak up, he entered his room.

Kahit natatakot ako kasi madilim na, bumaba pa rin ako. I guess Ate Khaytelyn won't notice if I left. She's already asleep.

I wear jacket since I know that it's too cold outside. Keith is waiting for me when I opened the gate.

"Where do you want to go?" tanong ko ng makita ko siyang naghihintay.

"Nothing. We'll just take a walk." seryoso niyang sabi saka siya nagsimulang maglakad.

Sumunod naman ako sa kanya. We were just walking. I can hear the sound of the crickets. I can also hear the wind brushing through the leaves.

"Are we just going to walk?" I asked, then he stopped walking and faced me.

His face is still serious. Ibang-iba sa Keith na palagi kong nakakasama.

"I just want to be with you, Bella. That's all." he said. "I want to keep you safe."