Stranger Next Door

CHAPTER 11

I don't know know what would be my reaction after what I heard. Yvonne's a jerk, yes, but he doesn't deserve to die.

That's too much.

Dali dali kong tinapos ang paliligo saka nagsuot ng bathrobe.

I grab my phone and checked the link that Yani sent me.

Natagpuan raw na patay si Yvonne sa bahay nito kani-kanina lang. Gaya ng pagkamatay ni Dale, sinaksak rin at putol ang maselang bahagi ng katawan niya.

The NBI and Police are still making an investigation for what happened.

"Parang sunod sunod na yata ang pagkamatay sa school natin. Hindi pa nga nareresolba ang kaso sa pagkamatay ni Dale, meron na naman." I heard Ate Khaytelyn sighed.

"Maybe we will just wait for further announcements. Pero isa lang ang naiisip ko ngayon, Ate." I stated. "Dale's murderer and Yvonne's murderer is only one person."

After that talk, we decided to clean in the attic. Pagkapasok pa lang namin, sumagi na sa isip ko yung maliit na pinto. Ate Khaytelyn got curious, too so we look for the keys.

There are lots of dirty stuffs in the attic, and we couldn't find the key so we decided to open the small door by the use of hairpin.

Buti naman at nabuksan namin yung pinto.

Isang underground room ang bumungad samin. Malaking kwarto. The room is well-organized, but because it was old, there are some dusts on it.

Parang prinsesa ang nakatira rito. Ang lambot ng kama. Meron pang salamin at may mga stock ng make up kits.

The one that really caught my attention is the white dress on the closet.

Walang ibang laman na damit yung closet. Yung dress lang na puti.

"I don't know that there is a hidden room here." sabi ni Ate Khaytelyn. "Look, there is also a bathroom here, bathtub and a shower."

I ignored what she said. Hinaplos haplos ko yung damit na nakasabit. I don't know why I find this dress attractive.

"That's pretty. Mukhang hindi pa nagagamit." sabi ni Ate Khaytelyn saka rin hinawakan ang damit.

"Hayaan na natin yan diyan. I feel something strange on that dress." sabi ko saka ako wala sa sariling naglakad paalis ng attic.

Ate Khaytelyn followed me. Nagpunta ako sa kwarto at naisip na manood na lang ng movies.

Meron namang mga stock na junkfoods sa kwarto kaya yun na lang ang kinain ko. Mayamaya rin, nagsabi si Ate Khaytelyn na kailangan niyang magluto, for dinner.

She doesn't want to be alone on the kitchen so I accompany her.

Tinola naman ang niluto niya dahil wala na kaming masyadong budget para makaluto ng mas masarap na putahe.

After eating, I scroll on my phone to know if there are new released articles about Yvonne. Sabi sa article, hindi pa rin daw ma identify kung sino ang pwedeng maging suspect sa pagkamatay ni Yvonne.

I'm in a deep thinking when Yani called. I immediately answer her call.

"Girl, ikaw na ba yan?"

"Yes, it's me. Ate Khaytelyn told me about Yvonne's death." I sighed before continuing to speak, "Can you tell me what happened?"

"Girl, wala akong alam. Nabalitaan ko lang rin ng makita ko yung article. Pero alam mo, girl. May hinala ako. Base kasi sa report ng mga pulis, pareho yung pagkamatay ni Dale at ni Yvonne, kaya hindi malabong iisang tao lang din ang pumatay sa kanila."

"Ganyan nga rin ang naisip ko. But if ever that it's only one person, the question is, what is his motive?"

"Hindi ko nga rin alam, girl. Pero alam mo, tingin ko kakilala lang natin ang murderer nila. Kasi isipin mo, yung dalawang yun, konektado sayo."

"Yani, I am not their friend." agarang sagot ko, "What happened is just a coincidence. Wala akong kinalaman don."

"Ikaw wala, pero yung pumapatay meron."

What does she mean by that?

"Bella, mag usap tayo." agad kong narinig ang boses ni Keith sa may labas kaya naman napatayo ako mula sa kinauupuan ko.

"What's that?" tanong naman ni Ate Khaytelyn na kakagaling lang sa kusina.

I hurriedly ran into the gate and there, I saw Keith pressing the doorbell several times.

"What the hell is your problem?" inis kong tanong. "It's already 8pm, at nakakaabala ka na. Kailangan rin naming matulog at magpahinga."

"I just want to talk to you." he hold my hands but I pushed him away.

"Keith, what I said last time is clear. I don't want to be friends with you anymore, and I hope you'll respect my decision." I was about to leave but he grab my wrist.

Pumagitna naman si Ate Khaytelyn at tinanggal ang pagkakahawak ni Keith sakin.

"Malinaw naman ang sinabi ng pinsan ko, hindi ba? Mahirap bang intindihin yun, Keith?" Ate Khaytelyn is asking him.

"Ate, I love your cousin. I love Bella." he said, and I automatically stopped from walking without looking at him. "I just want to know if she's okay."

"You see, she's okay. You can now leave." seryosong sabi ni Ate Khaytelyn.

"Ate, we're still friends, right?" after hearing what he said, I badly want to cry.

Keith had been a good friend of mine, but now knowing that he has feelings for me, I don't know if we can still be friends.

"Well, not anymore." Ate Khaytelyn said one thing, "And also, I don't want you for Khaytelyn so stop hoping that you and her are going to end up with each other."

Ate Khaytelyn closed the gate and that night, all I can do is cry.

I didn't dare to go to the terrace though I can't sleep. Minabuti kong mahiga na lang at hayaang dapuan ako ng antok kesa makita ko si Keith sa terrace.

I know at this hour, he's at the terrace.

I want to talk to him, because he is still my friend. I still care for him of course, but as a friend.

My phone rang. When I check the caller ID, it is Harris. It's almost 11 in the evening and he's still awake?

"I thought you're asleep." he said. "I miss you, Schat."

"I miss you, too."

"Are you thinking about something? Can you tell me what is it?"

I sighed before answering.

"Nothing. I'm just tired."

"I think you're not. Can you just tell me what is it? Please?"

"I... I'm just thinking about Keith. You know, Harris. He is still our friend. I still care for him, as a friend."

"Why? May nangyari ba kanina?"

"He tried to talk to me a while ago but I refused."

"Why did you refused?" He asked.

"Because I'm not yet ready to hear his explanations, and I find it awkward."

"Stop overthinking, Schat okay? Everything will gonna be okay. I love you."

That makes my heart pound.

"I love you, too." He hanged up the call.

Nakangiti pa rin ako habang yakap yakap ang phone. Ilang minuto rin ang nakalipas ng makaramdam ako ng antok kaya naman natulog na ako.

It was 6 o'clock on the morning when I wake up. Rinig ko ang lagaslas ng tubig mula sa banyo. Maybe Ate Khaytelyn is taking a bath.

I'm sure that everyone will talk about Yvonne's death so I decided to get white dress to my closet, as a sign of sympathy.

A few minutes after, Ate Khaytelyn was done taking a bath. Naligo na rin ako, at sabi niya mauuna na siya sa baba para magluto ng agahan.

I was done taking a bath when something strange happened. The white dress that I saw in the attic is here in my bed. Ganong tanda ko kanina, na ibang white dress ang inilagay ko sa kama bago ako maligo.

Biglang nagsitaasan ang balahibo ko kaya naman dali dali kong isinukbit sa hanger yung white na dress. Kinuha ulit sa closet ko yung dress na kinuha ko kanina.

After putting clothes and makeup, dali dali akong bumaba para tingnan kung ano ng ginagawa ni Ate Khaytelyn sa baba.

She looks surprised when she saw me walking down the stairs.

"Why are you staring? Do I look pretty today?" I make cute faces on her but she's still surprised.

"That dress." he pointed out the dress I was wearing.

"Yes, it's pretty." sabi ko pagkababa ko at iginalaw galaw pa ang ibabang palda na to.

"I know but why did you get it on the attic?" she's still in shock, so I take a look at myself on the mirror.

I almost stun when I saw that this is the dress I saw in the attic.

"Trust me, ate. I-I didn't get it. I'm gonna take it off." I was about to go upstairs but someone pressed the doorbell.

Of course I have to know who is it so I went into the gate to check.

"Harris." I automatically smiled when I saw him.

Nang buksan ko ang gate, nakita kong nakangiti siya sakin. But that smile faded when she saw what I'm wearing.

"T-that dress." he seems shocked.

"Why? Is it ugly?" I asked but he shooked his head, "I was able to change anyway—"

"No! It looks good on you. Now I can see you wearing that dress, it makes me remind you of her." he said.

"Who?" I didn't get his answer when I saw Ate Khaytelyn walking also towards us.

"Oh, Harris. You're here." Ate Khaytelyn smiled, "Hindi pa kami nakakakain so you could go first."

"No, Ate. I can wait." He answered.

Nagpunta na kami sa kitchen, saka inaya namin siya na kumain ulit.

Pansin ko na hindi mawala ang titig niya sakin. Hindi ko alam kung sa akin ba o dahil sa suot ko.

After eating, we decided to go to school. We saw Keith there. Harris talked to him but he just smiled. I also tried to talk to him but he looks scared. He even take two steps backwards after seeing me and go away.

Keith was mad.

"Don't mind him. Kakausapin ko na lang siya. Kitakits na lang tayo mamaya pagkatapos ng school." sabi ni Harris and I waved at him.

Nagpaalam na rin ako kay Ate Khaytelyn saka dumiretso sa room. As I expected, everyone is talking about Yvonne's sudden death.

They just stopped talking when I arrived.

"Girl, what are you wearing?" Yani asked, she also looked shock just like everyone.

Lahat sila gulat na para bang first time nila akong nakita na nagsuot ako ng dress. What's wrong? The design of this dress is not old fashioned.

"You look exactly like her, girl." Yani added, "Like Gwen."

I seated beside her with a confusion on my face.

It's Gwen again. The girl that Yani always talk about but I have no idea who is her.

"Harris say about about Gwen." pagsasalita ko kaya naman natuon ang tingin sakin ni Yani at Andrei, "Is that mean, Harris and Keith know her?"

"Oo naman, girl! First love yun ni Keith." agad na napatakip ng bibig si Yani sa nasabi, "Oh, forget what I said, girl."

First love ni Keith si Gwen? So there's a chance that—Omg.

Hindi kaya si Gwen ang dating nakatira sa bahay na sinasabi nina Keith at Harris na namatay? B-bakit ngayon ko lang naisip na baka nga?

"Yani." I called her nad she faced me. "Alam mo ba kung saan nakatira si Gwen nung nabubuhay pa siya?"

"Sorry, Bella but we're not that close. Nakikita ko lang siya na dumadaan daan dito sa school kasama si Herlyn, at isa pa sikat nga siya dito sa campus." Yani answered.

Natigil lang kami sa pag uusap ng dumating ang prof namin.

Of course she discussed about Dale and Yvonne's death.

Our Proffesor told us that Yvonne is a graduating student. He's the leader of the campus DXMC. Yvonne is good looking and known for being a jerk but he won the DXMC in every competition they joined.

Gaya naman ng lagi, emotional na naman siya. Dalawang estudyante raw na may potential ang nawala sa school nila. I agree.

Now that Dale is gone, of course it's really hard for the swimming team to find a new best swimmer. DXMC lost their leader and what saddened the most is, Yvonne's dream is not going to happen.

Last na taon niya na sana ngayon, sayang.

After that emotional story telling, nagpadismiss na si Ms. Alcantara.

I was able to go home when Yani and Andrei asked me if I want to go to Yvonne's funeral.

"Are you doubting?" Yani asked when I still didn't answer, "Maiintindihan kita kung ayaw mong pumunta kasi binastos ka niya."

Of course, he's a jerk! I can still remember what he did but I will go, as a sign of sympathy.

"No, I'll come. Yes, he harassed me but I'm not happy for his death. This is too much as a karma." maiiyak na ko.

"Are you sure? Alam mo naman na gusto naming okay ka lagi." si Andrei naman ang nagsalita.

I just nodded.

Pagdating namin doon, napakaraming tao. Hindi sa bahay nila Yvonne ginanap ang burol kundi sa simbahan kaya napakalaki ng space at maraming pwedeng dumalaw.

His parents are staring at his tomb. His mother is crying while his father is hugging her.

Ang lungkot rin ng tugtog na mas nakakapadagdag sa malungkot na ambiance.

"Kawawa naman ang parents ni Yvonne, kanina pa yan iyak ng iyak. Wala pang tulog." rinig kong sabi ng mga kalapit namin ng upuan.

"Paano namang hindi malulungkot e nag iisang anak nila yan. Nag iisa na nga lang, nawala pa." sagot naman ng isa. "Kahit pa pasaway yang si Yvonne, pagdating sa pamilya niya bumabait. Mahal na mahal niya ang magulang niya, kaya naman nakakalungkot lang."

Tahimik lang akong nakikinig sa pinag uusapan nila.

"Pero sayang pa rin talaga. Last year na sana ngayon ni Yvonne. Kahit naman mukha lang yong pachill, nagkocomply yon ng mga requirements at talagang desididong matapos." they are still talking about Yvonne.

"Kaya nga hindi ko rin masisi si Yvonne kung bakit siya naging ganon. Palibhasa nareject ng paulit ulit ni Gwen."

Pati si Gwen, kilala tong si Yvonne.

"Speaking of Gwen, tingnan mo yung babae." the other girl pointed me.

Nanatili lang akong nakatingin sa unahan para hindi nila mapansing nakikinig ako sa usapan nila.

"Diba siya yung Angel? Yung sikat ngayon sa campus?" tanong naman nung isa.

"Yes, and that Angel looks like Gwen right now. Ganyang ganyan dati manamit si Gwen. Hindi ko alam kung ginagaya niya ba o ano." they both laughed.

Ang sasama ng mga ugali, alam ng nasa burol nakukuha pa talagang magtawanan.

"Pero isipin natin, yang si Dale at Yvonne parehong nagkaroon ng koneksyon kay Gwen noon. Hindi kaya nagmumulto si Gwen?"

The girl's statement makes me had some goosebumps.