Stranger Next Door

CHAPTER 21

Keith came back after a few minutes. Niyakap ko si Yani, na para bang ilang taon kaming hindi nagkita.

"Mag usap muna kayo diyan. Babalikan ko kayo mamaya." sabi niya saka siya naglakad palayo.

Whe he left, I started to tell Yani that Keith already agreed to take me out.

"Buti naman, pumayag si Keith. Mas madali na lang sa atin yung plano." sabi niya sakin, "Basta kapag lumabas na kayo, humanap ka ng tyempo para mawala ang paningin niya sayo."

"No need. He trust me." seryoso kong sagot. "Ilalabas ka niya kasi sinabi ko na hindi ka naman tatakas. Ako ng bahala after. Basta pagkaiwan namin sayo sa spa, magkita tayo sa likod ng mall. Sisiguraduhin kong doon sa mall na lagi tayo nagpupunta niya ako dadalhin."

"Kinakabahan ako para bukas, Bella. Do you think, we can do this?" she ask, "Paano kapag nakahalata si Keith?"

"Yani, hindi siya makakahalata basta huwag tayong magpapahalata. We need to succeed in this. Ito na lang yung natitira nating way para makaalis at makapagsumbong tayo sa pulis." sagot ko. "If I didn't make it, go to the police station. Kahit mamatay ako atleast, nagkaroon ng justice ang pagkamatay nilang lahat."

"Stop saying that!" she seems mad, "Hindi ako papayag na mangyari yun. Wala ng mamatay pa satin, maliwanag ba? Mapagtatagumpayan natin to."

Tumango lang ako. Sa mga nangyayari ngayon, mas nagkakaroon ako ng pag asa.

"By the way, have you already ate?" tanong ko, baka kasi mamaya nakalimutan na naman siyang dalhan ni Keith ng pagkain.

She nodded. I told her I'll just eat for a minute since I'm hungry. Pinagmasdan niya lang akong kumain. I can't deny that Keith is a good cook. Eversince naman, talagang magaling na siya.

"By the way, kumusta kaya sa school? Hinahanap na kaya nila tayo?" malungkot na tanong ni Yani kaya naman natigilan akong kumain.

I miss going to school. Hindi ko alam kung anong iniisip ng mga teachers dahil hindi kami pumapasok. Hindi ko rin maidentify kung ilang araw na kaming nakakulong dito.

"Si Keith, ang alam ko pumapasok siya. Kaya hindi malabong nagtanong sakanya ang mga teachers." sabi ni Yani. "Kung hinahanap sana tayo ng mga teachers baka nagpunta na sila dito."

Nagkatinginan na lang kami pagkatapos no'n. The door opens. Nakita ko si Keith na nakangiti samin. Talagang paniwalang paniwala ang loko na hindi namin siya tatakasan.

"Keith, sinabi sakin ni Bella na dadalhin mo ako sa spa. Maraming salamat." Yani smiled, and I'm also smiling right now.

"Huwag ka sakin magpasalamat. Kay Bella. Siya nag nagsabi sakin na habang nagdedate kami, dalhin ka sa spa." sabi ni Keith, "Magpahinga na kayo, maaga tayo bukas. Tara na, Yani."

I waved goodbye to Yani. After that, I just sit in my bed. Waiting for something.

Hindi ko alam kung ilang oras ang nakalipas basta mayamaya, bumalik si Keith sa room at may dalang pagkain, as always

I thanked him, para naman mas maniwala siya. At naniwala naman nga.

"Are you feeling okay, my lady? You should be okay. Magdedate pa tayo bukas." he kissed me in my forehead.

Gusto kong umiwas, pero hinayaan ko na lang siyang gawin yun. Kung mas makakatulong sa plano, sige.

"Kumain ka na. I love you." then he left.

"I love you your face!" inis kong sabi pagkaalis niya.

Napairap na lang ako at inis na kumain. I really want to go out of here. Unti unti ko ng nakakalimutan kung ano ang itsura ng labas. I miss the fresh air, my classmates, the school. The mall and everything.

After I eat, I decided to take a sit on the bed. Sa sobrang pagkatulala ko, di ko namalayan na nakatulog na pala ako.

I woke up, the next day.

Actually, hindi ko talaga alam kung umaga na ba. Nakita kong may box malapit sa mesa. When I opened it, it's a dress.

So, ganun pala siya kaexcited?

There was a letter on it.

Bella,

I hope you'll like this dress. See you later.

Keith

Napairap na lang ako saka kinuha yung dress. That dress is color red. Off shoulder at hindi lalampas sa tuhod. May kasama ring sandal. Napatawa na lang ako mag isa sa sarili, not because kinikilig ako, yun ay dahil nauuto ko siya.

Well, I can't blame him.

Ganun talaga siguro ang nagagawa ng sobrang pagmamahal.

After I saw the dress, I decided to take a shower. Excited na kasi ako na makatakas.

Kung si Keith, excited na magdate, pwes excited akong malayasan na ang impyernong ito.

Habang naliligo ako, samut saring mga senaryo namin ni Harris ang nagbabalik sa ala ala ko. Alam kong paulit ulit, pero hindi ako nagsasawang balikan lahat ng yun.

—

"Calling me Mr. President is nice. I like it." he nodded his head, "How about you? What do you want me to call you?"

"Anything is fine with me." tipid kong sabi.

"So, anything. Here's your paper. You're finally enrolled and Welcome to Acadian University." nakangiti niyang sabi sa'kin saka inabot ang papel ko.

Imbes na ngitian ko siya pabalik, inismiran ko siya.

"Jerk! I said anything is fine with me but not the literal anything, okay?" pikon kong sabi.

He laughed and he patted my head.

"I know. Just let me think of it for a while. Ayoko ng basta-bastang nickname lang. I want it to be special." nakangiti niyang sabi.

Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko. It's beating faster than usual.

"Why are you blushing?" his question seems mocking me so I stepped on his foot.

Napaaray naman siya sa ginawa ko.

"What the hell, why did you do that?" he asked angrily.

"Kasi, you walks so slow. Pakibilisan naman ang paglakad, Mr. President. Keith and Ate Khaytelyn is waiting." pang-aasar ko saka ako naunang maglakad sa kanya.

—

I smiled after reminiscing that moment. Yun ang unang pagkakataon na bumanat siya. Unang pagkakataon na, pinakilig niya ako.

Na para bang may naramdaman akong kung ano sa tiyan ko.

—

"Ang galing nilang kumanta, noh?" sabi ko but Harris give me a signal that he can't hear what I'm saying.

Inilapit ko ang bibig ko sa tenga niya.

"Sabi ko, ang galing nilang kumanta!"

He laughed.

"Yes, of course. Sila palagi ang tumutugtog dito. Hasang-hasa na sila." he answered.

I whispered on him again.

"Maybe we should go here next time. It's fun watching free concert." nagtawanan kami ulit.

We enjoyed watching and we wave our hands together with the song. It feels like I became a child again. Pansamantala kong nakalimutan ang buhay ko sa US.

"You like it?" Harris whispered on me.

"Yes, I do." I answered without looking at him.

"You like me?"

"Yes, of course." I answered again, I turned my gaze into him when I realized what he just asked. "Wait, wh—"

He sealed my mouth with a kiss. He is not my first kiss after all but why does it feels like first time? That kiss is passionate. It's like a drug, I'm truly addicted.

—

I touched my lips. Napangiti ako ng palihim ng maalala ko ang unang halik namin ni Harris.

I miss him so much.

—

"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.

—

Napapikit na lang ako ng mata ng maalala ko ang nangyari samin ng gabing yun. Bawat haplos niya, ramdam ko.

Bawat paghawak niya, para vang nakadikit na sa buong katawan ko.

Gusto kong angkinin mo ulit ako, Harris. But that will never happen again.

—

When we reached his home, I started crying. He's just there at my side, patting my back.

He kissed my forehead, both my cheeks, then my nose, my chin and my lips.

I kiss him back, then he hold my nape. We're feeling each other's kiss. I forgot what I'm thinking, temporarily.

The kiss deepened, and he started to unzip my dress. My breasts exposed when he unhooked my bra.

He take off his shirt and now I can see his abs revealing. He also remove his pants and now, he's only wearing boxers. I let him remove my panty, and see him while he is removing hos boxers. He kiss me again like there's no end.

I let him squeeze my breasts, and kissy neck. I feel aroused right now.

His head starts to get down into my femininity, and eat is as fck. I tried to stop myself from moaning but I can't help it.

I want more.

He suck it, and lick my c******s and because of so much sensation, I almost pull out his hair. My nails even left some scratches on his back.

When he's done eating, he slowly entered his manhood into mine, making me moan out loud.

"H-harris." I even stuttered, when he starts entering in and out his c**k.

For the second time, I let Harrison Villar own me.

—

Napaiyak na lang ako matapos kong maalala ang nangyari samin.

I miss Harris so much. I miss his touch, I miss his smile, I miss everything about him.

Si Harris yung lalaki na talagang mamahalin ko hanggang dulo. Si Harris, pinaramdam niya sakin kung gaano niya ako kamahal.

Harris treated me as a queen. Harris make me feel that I am his everything.

No one can replace him in my heart.

—

"Where is Mr. Harrison Villar?" halos manginig ang tuhod ko habang nagtatanong ako sa nurse.

The nurse told me which room he is. I almost run and I froze when I finally reached his room.

Halos ayokong buksan ang morgue.

Nanginginig ang kamay ko. Nanlalamig na hindi ko maintindihan. Hindi ko alam kung kakayanin ko bang tingnan siya.

I love Harris so much, and I can't imagine my life without him.

I have lots of plans to do with him. Tho we don't know each other that much, I know in my heart that he's the one. He's the best of all my exes. He stayed by my side. But why? Why did he suddenly left me?

"Kung hindi ka pa handang makita siya, pwede namang bukas na lang." Yani tried to grab my wrist but I shooked my head.

"No. I want to see him." I took a deep breath then I opened the door knob slowly.

There, I saw Harris body. Doon na ako umiyak ng umiyak. I hugged him and told him to wake up.

"Harris, wake up please." naiiyak kong sabi. "I thought you're going to help me but why did you left so early? You said you'll never leave."

"Bella, tama na." Yani is hugging me right now.

Hindi ko na alam kung anong gagawin ko. The person who serves as my second mother dided. The man who I love the most died.

Ilang oras kaming nandoon ni Yani sa Morgue. I don't want to leave him here, kaso kailangang magsara.

Nakakalungkot isipin na walang pamilya niyang bibisita sa kanya but I'm sure, now they know about Harris death.

___

Tinapos ko ng maligo saka ako nagpunas ng luha. No matter what I do, he won't come back. Juat because Keith killed him.

Pinagmasdan ko ng maigi ang dress na nasa kama saka iyon hinaplos.

I can't believe that I'm going to a date with a murderer.

If Harris' is my date today, maybe I will be so excited. Baka ako pa ang mauna sa meeting place namin.

But he's not here anymore.

I shooked my head and started to wear the dress that he gave me. The dress is fine. It looks good on me but I can't put a smile on my face while I'm watching myself on the mirror.

Kahit ano pang mamahalin ang ibigay niya sa'kin, hindi matutumbasan no'n ang mga buhay na kinitil niya.

If he didn't kill anybody? Maybe I will give him a chance but after what he did, how will do it?

How will I love a man who kill those special persons in my life?

Keith doesn't love me. Keith is obsessed. He's a psycho and if there's only me, him and a dog? I'd rather marry a dog.

Bigla namang bumukas ang pinto at nakita ko si Keith na bihis na bihis.

Looks like he's so excited on our date kuno.

He's smiled when he saw me wearing the dress.

"Wow, you're gorgeous. Kahit anong isuot mo, bagay na bagay talaga sa'yo." he said while his eyes is sparkling.

I smiled.

"I know, because I'm pretty." confident kong sagot, "So, where's Yani? Did you also buy her a dress?"

He nodded.

"Of course, I did. Baka mamaya, sabihin mo na naman na kinalimutan ko siya." natatawa niyang sabi, "So let's go, my lady?"

Inilahad niya ang kamay niya, saka naman ako ngumiti pabalik.

"Let's go." saka ko inabot ko ang kamay ko sa kanya.

Napangiti ako ng iginiya niya ako palabas ng underground. Nakita ko si Yani na naghihintay sa'kin at talagang napayakap ako sa kanya.

Naiiyak ako dahil pakiramdam ko, sobrang tagal kong nawala sa outside world. Ni wala man lang akong ideya kung ano ng nangyayari sa labas.

"Hoy girl wag kang umiyak diyah ha, ang ganda pa naman ng damit ko." pang aasar niya.

Nagtawanan lang kami.

"I'm sorry, I'm just happy." mangiyak ngiyak konh sabi, "Imagine, we can stroll outside. I miss being outside like it's a long time."

"Are we just going to talk here?" tanong ni Keith kaya naman napatingin kami sa kanya, "We better hurry. The chauffeur is waiting."

"Wait, what? Chauffeur?" my eyes widened because of what I heard.

"Yes, a chauffeur. Why?"

"You hired a chauffeur, Keith!" I exclaimed.

He laughed.

"I want this day to be the best date. I want to be the best man for you, Bella." his eyes is sparkling and if it is weren't for the plan, I would stab her eyes with a fork, "So, are you ready, my lady?"

"I'm ready." I answered.