Stranger Next Door

CHAPTER 9

"Gising ka pa? Anong oras na, ah?" napatingin ako kay Yani na naghihikab-hikab pa.

It's already 2 o'clock in the morning. Nandito pa rin ako sa sala nila, nagsesearch ng mga possible customers na pwedeng pagbentahan ng bahay.

We need to sell it asap, or else we will be having some trouble with money.

"Girl, huwag kang mag-alala. Tutulungan naman kitang maibenta ang bahay kaagad." tumabi siya sakin saka sumilip sa may phone ko.

"Thank you so much, Yani. Alam mo, sometimes I regret that I decided to live on my own because I know in myself, that there comes a time that I will still look for my Mom." my eyes is alredy teary but I'm trying to hold back my tears.

I don't know what I'm going to do. If Dad is still here, maybe he'll tell me what I need to do for me to survive.

"Girl, kakayanin mo 'to. Alam kong kakayanin mo. Kahit anong mangyari, nandito ako. Tutulungan kita," Yani hugged me.

I'm so thankful because Yani is here. Tho she didn't know me that much, I can feel her sincerity to help.

"Sige na. Matulog ka na kasi tingnan mo ang mata mo, oh. Wala ka pang maayos na tulog. Huwag mong hayaan ang sarili mo na malunod sa sobrang pag-iisip. Nandito ka na sa'kin. Hangga't kasama mo ako, wala kang dapat na ipag-alala, ha?" she tapped my shoulder. "Matulog ka na. Inaantok pa ako."

Tinanguan ko lang siya.

Ayoko naman kasing pilitin na matulog. Kahit anong pilit ko, hindi ako dinadapuan ng antok.

May pasok nga kami pero hindi na namin nagawa pang makapasok. Sabagay, hindi naman maayos ang klase dahil halos lahat daw ay bumisita sa burol ni Dale. Maybe I'll visit him tomorrow.

Bigla ko na namang naalala si Dale. Wala pa ring bagong article na lumalabas. How is he? And his family? I'm sure that his family griefs for his lost.

But wherever he is, I wish for him to be at peace.

The next morning, we decided to left early so that we can still visit his funeral. Pagdating namin don, wala pang gaanong tao.

His parents greeted us a Good Morning but their eyes are swollen.

Halatang kakagaling lang rin sa iyak.

"Good Morning. I am Bella, Dale's schoolmate and she is my friend. Yani." pagbati ko saka ako nagmano.

Her eyes sparkled.

"Bella? Arabella Sylvania Garcia?" his Mother asked.

I was startled. Paano niya nalaman ang totoong pangalan ko?

"You know what, Dale keeps on telling some details about you. He said that you are pretty, hindi ka raw katangkaran pero napakacute mo." Dale's mom is smiling, "Sabi niya, nalove at first sight daw siya sayo."

Gusto kong matawa sa kwento ng Mama ni Dale. So pati pala si Dale, naniniwala rin sa love at first sight.

"Si Dale, mukha lang yong walang alam sa pagseseryoso pero kapag yon nagkwento sakin tungkol sa isang babae, alam kong seryoso siya," pinapakinggan ko lang ang Mama ni Dale habang nagkukwento. "Dale and I are super close together. I am like his living diary."

Dale is so sweet to her Mom.

"Sayang nga at hindi na niya masusuot ang suit na pinatahe niya talaga para daw siya ang maging pinakagwapo sa Acquaintance Party niyo." her Mom started crying again.

I hugged her, and I can't also help myself. Dale is a good child, and I am touched because he said a lot of good things about me.

If he's still alive, maybe we can be friends. Pero masyado naman yatang napaaga ang pagkuha sa kanya.

"Alam mo ba, kinwento niya sakin na sa mismong party niyo magpapaalam siya sayo kung pwede siyang manligaw. Talagang gustong gusto ka ng anak ko, Bella." napatango na lang ako habang yakap yakap ang Mama niya.

Matapos ang halos ilang oras na pagkukwentuhan namin, nagdesisyon na rin akong magpaalam.

Malapit na kasing mag alas syete ng umaga. Baka malate kami sa school.

When we reached the school, I accidentally saw Keith and Harris.

"Bella." he called my name but I didn't stop walking.

I don't want to talk to him because what he said really creeps me out.

"Bella, mag usap tayo, " hinabol niya ako at hinawakan sa palapulsuhan, "May nagawa ba ako sayo? Bakit ka biglang umalis ng bahay? Saan ka nakatira ngayon?"

"Why do you even care, Keith?" walang gana kong tanong.

"Because you are special to me. We are friends." I can see the sincerity in his eyes, "I'm sorry."

"Sana naisip mo man lang yan bago mo sinabi yung mga bagay na yon. Keith, minsan hindi kita maintindihan. Kapag nandito tayo sa school, normal ka naman." halos ilabas ko sa kanya lahat ng mga hinanakit ko.

"What are you talking about?" nakakunot ang noo niya na parang hindi niya nagegets kung ano ang ibig kong sabihin.

I sighed. Kahit pa siguro mag explain ako, hindi niya rin naman maiintindihan so what's the sense of explaining?

"Nevermind." I walk away and Yani followed me.

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad at napahawak sa dibdib ko. It is hard for me to ignore Keith because he is my friend.

But no matter what I do, I am still mad for what he said. I can't be friends with him if he will just keep on talking about nonsense things.

"So class, the Acquaintance party is near. Who's excited?" our professor asked, but I didn't respond.

Wala sa focus ang isip ko. And what the hell, how can they manage to celebrate after Dale's death? Hindi naman porke bumisita sila ng isang beses e yon na yon.

Pwede naman sigurong hintayin na muna na mailibing si Dale bago mag Acquaintance because swear, that's rude.

"The Dean already decided that the Acquaintance party will be held two days after Dale's burial. Inaasahan ng pamilya niya na sa last night at mismong libing niya ay nandoon tayo." the professor wrote something on the board, "So now, let's begin with our lesson. Obsession."

I don't want to listen but after hearing the topic for today, that caught my attention and I want to know more about it.

"Can someone tell me the definition of obsession?" oh shoot, recitation time. "Anyone, class?"

"Ma'am." Yani raised her hand.

"Yes, Ms. Sandoval?"

"Obsession is the state of being obsessed with someone or something." Yani answered.

"That is correct, Ms. Sandoval but of course, for you to understand more the topic, I would give some examples." Ms. Castillo said, "Class, alam niyo ba yung mga nababalita sa TV na napapatay dahil sa sobrang pagka obsess sa partner nila?"

"Yes, Ma'am. Marami po akong napapanood non." sabi ng isa mga classmates ko.

"Yun ang maaaring mangyari kapag masyado kang obsessed sa isang bagay. Pero class, ang pagiging obsess, hindi lang sa tao yan. Pwede kang maging obsess sa ibang bagay gaya ng mga hobbies, foods, or anything."

So obsession can kill.

"Para mas maintindihan niyo, yung obsession ay yung bagay na kinahihiligan niyong gawin. The one that makes you addicted and not to let go of it. Halimbawa ako, my obsession is gummy bears. Obsess na obsess ako sa gummy bears. Since I was young, I always buy gummy bears, and that is also my happiness." all of my classmates are listening, kahit sila mukhang interesado rin sa topic, "Pero ang sobrang obsession class ay delikado, lalo na kung sa tao. If you are obsessed with a person, there's a possibility that you can kill someone becase of too much obsession."

The topic is interesting, pero bigla akong napaisip kung bakit ito ang biglang naitopic ni Ms. Castillo.

"Actually, this has nothing to do with our lesson for today but I still discuss because I want you to be aware of it." natahimik si Ms. Castillo na parang may gusto pang sabihin samin na kung ano, "Kani kanina lang, may dumating na naman na article patungkol sa investigation ng pagkamatay ni Dale na marahil, ang reason daw ay obssession. Everyone is aware that Dale has lots of fans club."

Naging tahimik ang buong klase.

"Dale is a good child, a good student, and a good brother to his siblings. He is smart, kind and family oriented. He doesn't deserve to be killed brutally." Ms. Castillo is crying right now, at maging ako naiiyak na rin.

Everyone shows empathy of Dale's death.

"I'm sorry for crying. Class dismiss." nakangiting sabi ni Ms. Castillo at dinala na lahat ng pointers niya saka dali daling lumabas.

After she left, everyone become noisy. They are talking about Dale's death.

"Tingin ko, maraming teachers ang hindi makakapagturo ng maayos ngayon. They are still being emotional." sabi ni Andrei.

"Edi kung ganon, habang wala pang maayos na klase, maghanap na tayo ng possible buyers sa bahay niyo." Yani suggested.

Kaagad ako nagbrowse ng mga site kung saan pwedeng magpost ng announcement tungkol sa bahay.

"Wait. Magkano niyo ba nabili yung bahay?" biglang tanong ni Yani.

"I don't remember exactly the price since Ate Khaytelyn is the one who bought it but it cost almost 3M." I answered.

"Three? Three Million?!" Andrei and Yani seems shocked.

"Yeah. Actually, that is the cheapest one, " I'm looking at them and I don't know why they are acting surprised, "Is there something wrong?"

"Nabigla lang kami. For you three million is cheap but for us who doesn't have enough money, it is really a big deal." sabi naman ni Andrei. "Kailangan niyo talaga yong maibenta. Sayang ng nagastos niyo."

"But how?" I pouted, just because I am losing hope.

Paano kapag walang bumili ng bahay? It looks creepy and no one will dare to live on that house.

"Girl, kaya nga nandito kami diba? Tutulungan ka namin na maibenta yon. Basta kapag may nagtanong kung bakit mo ibebenta, sabihin mo na nakabili ka na ng bagong bahay. Sa pictures naman, para hindi magmukhang creepy, we can edit some lights. Ako ng bahala girl, no worries." Yani smiled at me and tapped my shoulder.

Hindi namin pinalipas ang araw hangga't wala kaming nahahanap na costumers. Kakapost namin sa kung saan saang groups, unluckily walang may gustong bumili.

Feeling ko, wala kaming magiging choice soon. Babalik lang ulit kami doon sa bahay.

"Girl, huwag kang mawalan ng pag-asa, okay. Sigurado akong may bibili pa rin naman ng bahay." Yani is hyping me up pero nalulungkot na talaga ako.

Naiisip ko na tuloy na what if bumalik na lang kami ng States?

Magiging ayos na kaya ulit ang lahat?

We're still browsing the site when Yani's auntie called. I let her talk to her Auntie first. She's smiling but after the call, her face becomes serious.

"Girl, hindi sa pinapaalis kita. Alam mo naman na willing akong tumulong. Next week kasi, uuwi yung tita ko at doon sila magsstay sa amin. Huwag kang mag alala. Bago mag next week, gagawin ko ang lahat para maibenta natin ang bahay." she just smiled.