Stranger Next Door

CHAPTER 12

My mind is still out of focus after we go to Yvonne's funeral. Hindi muna ako umuwi kasi hindi ko macontact si Ate Khaytelyn so I stayed at Yani's house.

I don't want to be alone there.

It's been three hours but she still didn't answer my calls. I'm starting to get worried.

"Girl, calm down. Maybe Ate Khaytelyn is just busy. Alam mo namang napakasipag mag aral non, diba?" Yani is reassuring me, but I'm still worried.

I know her. She may be busy but not to the point that she will forgot to answer my calls. Isa pa, kung magiging busy man siya, alam ko namang magpapaalam siya sakin.

I tried to dial Harris' number. Luckily, he answered it on the first ring.

"Yes, Schat?"

"Uh, are you with Ate Khaytelyn?" kabado kong tanong, "Kanina ko pa kasi siya tinatawagan. She's not answering may calls."

"No, but I saw her with Dennis a while ago."

She's with Kuya Dennis again, and yet she didn't bother to ask me why?

"Saan mo nakita? Nasaan ka ngayon?"

"I'm at school. I saw them in the field." he answered, and I immediately hang up the call.

Nagpaalam na ako kay Yani saka ako nagpunta sa school para puntahan si Harris.

I don't know why I feel nervous right now.

"Hey, Sch—Bella." Harris said when he saw me walking towards him. "What's wrong?"

"May gagawin ka ba?" tanong ko.

"Wala naman. Actually, pauwi na nga ako. Why?"

"Help me find Ate Khaytelyn." I didn't wait for him to answer and I just drag him in the field. "In which part of the field did you saw her?"

"Schat, calm down." he's trying to hug me but I pushed him away.

Ate Khaytelyn is like my sister. I couldn't forgive myself if something bad happens to her.

"Schat, I'll help you find her. Please calm down, okay?" He hold both of my arms and I hugged him.

Hindi dapat ako umiyak. For sure, she would be mad at me for acting like a crybaby.

"Let's go." niyaya niya ako at naglakad lakad kami sa field, expecting that I would see Ate Khaytelyn.

We spent almost one hour in the field but I didn't saw her. Nag aalala na ako sa mga oras na to.

"Baka umuwi na siya." sabi naman ni Harris pero umiling ako.

I know that Ate Khaytelyn doesn't want to be alone on that house anymore.

Napag usapan namin yon at sabi niya, hindi niya na kayang mag isa lang pagkatapos ng nangyari.

"Magreport na kaya tayo sa mga pulis? What if something bad happened to her? I'm worried, Harris." I can't help myself, I'm crying.

He hugged me and patted my back.

"We can't, Bella. Kailangan muna ng 24hrs bago magresponde ang pulis. Maghintay na lang tayo, baka may nilakad lang si Ate Khaytelyn."

I suddenly remembered Kuya Dennis.

"S-si Kuya Dennis. Diba sabi mo, siya ang huling kasama ni Ate? Maybe he knows where Ate Khaytelyn is." sabi ko saka nagsimulang hanapin si Dennis sa room nila.

I saw him on the room. He's busy writing. Sinilip ko pa kung kasama niya sa Ate pero wala siya don.

"Kuya Dennis." I knocked on the door, saka naman nagtinginan yung ibang estudyante ng kumatok ako.

He walked towards me, with a confused face.

"Yes, Bella? By the way, where's Khaytelyn?" he asked, but I just rolled my eyes up.

"I'm the one who should be asking you like that. Where's my cousin?" I'm glaring at him right now but he's still clueless.

"I'm with her, an hour ago but she said she would talk to someone so I go back in the classroom alone. Kanina ko pa nga siya hinihintay."

"But Harris told me that you are the last person that Ate Khaytelyn talked to. Don't ever deny it, Kuya Dennis. Before I forgot to have respect for you." inis kong sabi saka ako umalis.

I didn't leave school.

I just stayed on the SSG Room, together with Harris. He stayed by my side to reassure me.

Umabot ang ala sais ng gabi pero walang nagparamdam na Ate Khaytelyn. Paubos na rin ang mga tao sa school. Ayoko pang umalis ng school pero sabi ni Harris, hindi kami pwedeng magstay lang sa room.

Doon niya na lang raw ako papatulugin sa kanila at itutuloy na lang namin ang paghahanap bukas.

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 kiss my 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.

"Good Morning." someone whispers on my ear and it awakens me.

I opened my eyes, and I saw Harris. Smiling at me. Biglang sumeryoso ang mukha ko ng

"Did she call?" I asked, but he shooked his head.

Tumayo na ako habang nakatakip ng kumot ang katawan ko at saka dali daling nagbihis. I told him I'm going to the police station. Sabi niya, sasama raw siya.

When we reached the Police station, they refused to cooperate with us. 12 hours pa lang daw ang nakakalipas at kailangan pa maghintay ng 12 hours pa para rumesponde sila.

I can't control myself from crying. Harris just hugged me.

Sa mga oras na to, ramdam kong may masamang nangyari kay Aye Khaytelyn. Hindi siya ganon. Hindi siya basta basta umaalis ng walang paalam. Minabuti kong huwag muna akong pumasok.

I just stayed at Harris' place. Tinawagan naman ni Harris si Yani para sabihing hindi ako makakapasok.

Ngayong araw rin lumabas ang article sa pagkamatay ni Dale at Yvonne. Doon na nga lumabas na iisang tao lang ang pumatay sa dalawa.

May nakita ring markang x sa bandang batok ng dalawa, at hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin nahahanap ang kung sino mang suspect.

"Stop overthinking, Schat. Makakasama yan sayo." sabi ni Harris saka inabutan ako ng kape.

I just placed it on the table.

Lutang pa rin ang isip ko. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko mahahagilap si Ate Khaytelyn.

Sa kakahintay ko, di ko namalayang nakatulog na pala ako. I woke up and immediately checked my phone. It's already 12 in the afternoon. I look for Harris and I saw him cooking in the kitchen.

"Harris." I called his name.

Nilingon niya ako pero bakas sa mukha niya ang lungkot.

"Bella, they already found Ate Khaytelyn." he said.

"Really?" my eyes sparkled. "Let's go. I have to talk to her for not texting me."

I was able to go away but Harris pulled me closer into him and then hugged me.

I can feel his tears into my shoulders.

"A-are you crying? What happened?" I tried to calm down, but I feel something.

"She's dead, Bella." he said, and time literally stops.

Tulala lang ako. Nakatingin sa kung saan. Wala akong reaction na pinakita pero tuloy tuloy lang ang pagdaloy ng luha ko.

Harris hugged me again but I didn't respond. I feel so numb right now.

"Ate Khaytelyn was found dead by the Janitor. In the field. There are lots of NBI now in the school to investigate. Her body is now in the morg—" I stopped him from speaking.

"Let's go."

We rode the taxi, and stopped in a hospital. Tinuro sakin ni Harris kung saang morgue kami pupunta.

Habang palapit ng palapit sa morgue ay pabigat ng pabigat naman ang mga hakbang ko. I guess I'm not ready to see Ate Khaytelyn lifeless.

I don't know how would I continue life without her. She's like my oldest sister, and my mother. She's always here to guide me but now she's gone, what my life would be?

Harris opened the door and the moment I see her lying, and lifeless, that's the time that I started to cry really hard.

I heard Yani and Andrei's footsteps but I just ignored them. Iyak lang ako ng iyak na para bang nawalan ako ng katuwang sa buhay.

Nakayakap si Harris sakin habang hinahagod naman ni Andrei ang likod ko.

Rinig ko naman ang mahinang paghikbi ni Yani.

At this moment, I don't know what I'm going to do.

Ilang oras akong nasa Morgue, nakatingin lang at hindi pa rin matanggap ang pagkawala ni Ate Khaytelyn.

Harris bring me into our house, pero ayokong magpaiwan ng mag isa kaya naman sinamahan ako ni Andrei.

Si Harris at Yani na lang daw ang mag aasikaso para maiburol si Ate Khaytelyn.

I just stayed in the room all day. Hindi ko na nga namalayan na nagset up na pala ng burol ni Ate.

Ate Khaytelyn, I'm so sorry for crying. I know you don't want to see me like this but I can't help myself.

I really can't imagine living alone here.

It was 8 o'clock in the evening when Harris knocked on my door. He said I need to dress up because the guests are here.

Napayakap na lang ako sa kanya habang walang humpay ang iyak. He kissed me in my forehead and said that everything will gonna be okay.

I take a shower and those scenarios with me and Ate Khaytelyn keep flashing on my mind. I'm gonna miss her.

I chose to wear a black dress then I go downstairs. Maraming nandito. Karamihan, taga school. I smiled awkwardly.

Dahan dahan akong lumapit sa kabaong ni Ate at ng makita kong nakahimlay siya ay hindi ko pa rin mapigilang maiyak.

She's good to everyone.

Alam kong maling mangbintang pero wala akong ibang nakikitang palagi niyang kasama kung hindi si Kuya Dennis.

"She's beautiful, isn't she?" tanong ko ng maramdaman kong lumapit sakin si Harris.

"Yes, she is. Just like you." He smiled at me.

Naupo ako sa upuan ng tahimik. Some are asking me if I'm okay but I'll just simply smile at them.

Wala ng iba. Puro ngiti lang.

Nakita ko rin si Keith, and like what I did to others, I just smile. Hindi ko talaga alam kung kaya kong makipag usap sa ngayon. Nangingibabaw ang lungkot.

"Ms. Alcantara." walang reaksyon kong sambit ng makita kong parating siya.

She suddenly hugged me and started whinning like a child.

I tap her back, and started crying too. Pero hindi ako humikbi. Walang emosyon ang mukha ko.

It almost took five minutes before Ms. Alcantara stopped from crying. She told me that Ate Khaytelyn's murderer is just the same with Dale and Yvonne's.

Tinanong niya pa ako kung baka daw may nakaaway si Ate pero sa pagkakatanda ko, wala naman.

I saw Kuya Dennis came and I can't help my anger kaagad ko siyang nilapitan para komprontahin.

"Ikaw ang huling nakasama ni Ate, diba? Aminin mo! Ikaw ang huling nakasama niya!" napataas ang boses ko, at naagaw ko ang atensyon ng lahat.

They start murmuring.

"Bella, wala akong aaminin dahil hindi nga ako ang huling nakausap ng ate mo!" he's talking back, "Bago kami maghiwalay, sinabi niya sakin na may kakausapin siya kaya pinauna niya na ako sa classroom. Believe me, I can't do that to Khaytelyn. Mahal ko na siya, at hindi ko magagawang patayin siya."

Umiling iling na lang ako dahil hindi pa rin ako naniniwala.

"Stop lying, Kuya. I have a witness." tumingin ako kay Harris saka siya lumapit samin.

"Dennis, admit it. You're the last person that Ate Khaytelyn talked to." pagpupumilit ni Harris.

He keeps on shooking his head. Dahil sa inis agad ko siyang pinagtulakan palabas.

"I will file a case, Kuya Dennis. Go on and defend yourself. Hindi ako papayag na hindi makamit ni Ate ang hustisya sa pagkamatay niya." sabi ko bago ko tuluyang sinaraduhan si Kuya Dennis ng gate.

Bumalik ako sa loob, at saka nagdesisyong magkulong sa kwarto.

Sinabihan ko sina Yani na sila na lang munang bahala sa mga bisita.

I heard Harris knock on my door. When he realized that I left it unlocked, he opened it and seated beside me.

"Bella, alam kong iniisip mong si Dennis ang pumatay kay Khaytelyn pero, alam mong masamang mangbintang ng walang matinong ebidensiya." napatingin ako sa kanya, "I know Dennis for almost five years and he has a good reputation in school. He's kind."

"So anong gusto mong sabihin, Harris? Na nag iimbento ako?" I sounded upset.

"No, that's not what I meant. Hangga't wala kang matibay na ebidensiya hindi mo pwedeng pagbintangan si Dennis. Hindi uurong ang kaso kung ganon."

Natahimik ako saka humagulhol ng iyak. Kung sakali man na iisang tao lang ang pumatay sa kanilang tatlo, kailangan kong malaman kung sino yon.

Kailangang makamit ko ang hustisya sa pagkamatay ni Ate Khaytelyn.

"Will you help me? In finding her murderer?" tanong ko habang wala pa ring tigil sa paghikbi.

Tumango naman si Harris. Though a lot of misfortunes are happening right now, I still feel strong because of Harris.

Hindi siya nawala sa tabi ko.

"I will help you find the murderer but before that, I want you to take care of yourself." he said.

Nagpaalam na rin siya pagkatapos non. Ako, nagstay lang sa kwarto. Mga bandang alasdiyes ng gabi, unti unti ng nababawasan ang mga tao at ang natira na lang ay ako, si Harris at Keith. Sinasabihan ko na rin naman kasi silang umuwi pero ayaw nila.

When it's already three, I decided to go downstairs to prepare snacks for them. Some bread and cup noodles.

Mag aalas singko na ng umaga pero hindi pa rin ako inaantok. Ayokong matulog. Gusto kong bantayan si Ate hanggang mag umaga.

Mga alas kwatro ng umaga ng magpaalam si Keith. He told me that he need to sleep atleast one hour. Papasok pa raw kasi siya.

I also asked Harris if he will go to school and he said no. The school will understand why he's absent.

Nagpaalam ako sa kanya saglit na magsashower muna ako.

Nasa kalagitnaan ako ng pagpili ng damit na isusuot ng may mapansin akong parang tao sa terrace.

I checked who is it and I saw it's Keith.

Gaya ng lagi kong nakikita, pinapakiramdaman niya ang hangin.

"I thought you're going to sleep." sabi ko.

He opened his eyes and the way he look at me right now is like the unusual Keith.

"I told you before, Bella. Wala kang dapat na malaman. The more you want to know something, the more consequences you'll face." sabi niya at hindi ko alam kung paano ako magrereact, "It already started, and you can't do anything to stop it."