Stranger Next Door

CHAPTER 24

I suddenly woke up in an unfamiliar place. Kinusot kusot ko pa ang mata ko para alalahanin kung nasaan ako pero natawa na lang ako ng maalala kong nandito kami sa secret resthouse ni Keifer.

I saw him cooking and I smiled.

They're sharing the same hobby. Amoy na amoy ko ang niluluto niya mula dito.

"Ang bango naman." natatawa kong sabi, "Ano bang niluluto mo?"

"Oh, you're awake. Ang aga mo naman yatang nagising." nakangiti niyang sabi.

Lumapit naman ako sa kanya para silipin kung ano ang niluluto niya.

Sisig.

"Woah, sisig?" I asked.

He just smiled.

"Nag crave kasi ako bigla kaya ito ang naisipan kong lutuin." sagot niya naman.

I just nodded.

"By the way, kumusta ang lakad mo kahapon? Diba, kikitain mo ang kakambal mo?" tanong ko.

"Well, he's mad when he saw me. Wala na rin naman siyang nagawa ng makita niyang nakatakas ako. Isinuplong ko na rin siya mga pulis, so no need to worry. Everything will be back to normal." sabi niya habang hinahain sa plato ang iniluto niya.

They are sharing the same face and it bothers me. I know he's not Keith but a part of me is still scared.

"Why? Is there any problem?" he asked when he noticed that I'm staring at him.

Nakaupo na ako sa mesa pero hindi ko pa rin magawang galawin ang pagkain na inihanda niya. Naninibago pa rin ako.

"Would you be mad if I will tell you that I'm scared?" kabado kong tanong.

His smile faded.

"Saan ka takot? Sakin?" he asked.

Yumuko ako sabay tango.

Kinain ng katahimikan ang paligid. I will understand if he decided not to help us anymore. Masyado naman talagang nakaka offend ang sinabi ko.

"Well, i wont be mad. I can't blame you. Me and Keith, we're sharing the same face." he sighed, "I understand what you feel and if you want me to cover my face just to make you feel okay, i will."

"No, no. That's not what I mean. It's just that, I'm not used to it. Sinasabi ko to dahil ayokong maramdaman mo na may ilang ako sa'yo but trust me, Keifer. You're a nice person." pagpapaliwanag ko.

He smiled.

"Well, thank you if you think that I'm a nice person." natatawa niyang sabi.

"Because you do." sagot ko naman saka sinubukang tikman ang niluto niyang sisig, "omg, ang sarap nito!"

"Did you like it?"

"Yes. What kind of meat did you used? The meat seems different. Hindi ko ma identify kung ano." sabi ko habang tuloy tuloy pa rin sa pagkain, "Kailangan tong matikman ni Yani, for sure she will also like it."

Inilinga ko ang tingin sa paligid pero natigilan ako ng marealize kong wala pala siya.

"By the way, where is she? Is she still sleeping?" tanong ko.

Keifer smiled.

"What are you saying, Bella? You're eating her right now."

"No, no! Yani!"

"Hoy! Ayos ka lang?" tanong ni Yani kaya naman napabalikwas ako ng bangon, "Binabangungot ka."

Napayakap ako sa kanya habang nagpipigil ng iyak.

I almost lost my breath thinking that I ate her. Glad it was a dream.

"Ano bang napanaginipan mo? Ayos ka lang? Gusto mo ng tubig? Ikukuha kita." suhestiyon niya.

"No it's okay." saka ako bumuntong hininga, "Hindi ko man lang namalayan na nakatulog na pala ako."

"Kaya nga hindi na kita ginising. Ang himbing ng tulog mo." she laughed, "Kanina mo pa ako tinatawag kaya naman tumakbo na ako rito sa kwarto. Akala ko kung napano ka na."

Nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag saka inilinga ang paligid. I don't know what time is it. I also don't know if really did his plan to see his twin.

"Hinahanap mo si Keifer?" nakangiting tanong niya na parang inaasar ako.

I smiled and eventually shook my head.

"Of course not. I don't even care about his plan. Huwag mo nga akong inaasar diyan." I started to walk away from her but she suddenly speak.

"Bakit? Natatakot kang ma-fall sa kanya?" she laughed afterwards, "Bagay naman kayo."

"You don't understand, Yani." I seriously answered and then face her, "I couldn't imagine myself loving the person whose wearing the same face as Keith."

Hindi siya nakasagot. I have a point so she couldn't contradict.

"I'm thankful that he helped us at hanggang doon lang 'yon. Do you understand what I'm trying to say, Yani?"

She just nodded.

"I'm sorry. Galit ka ba?" nag-aalalang tanong niya, "Nagjojoke lang naman ako. Alam mo naman na masyadong mabigat ang mga nangyati sa'tin. Gusto ko lang namang magjoke ng kaunti. I'm sorry if I offended you."

"No, no need to say sorry, Yani. I'm sorry for acting this way." napabuntong hininga na lang ako, "I'm overreacting, I'm so sorry."

Hinampas niya naman ako ng konti saka niya ako tinawanan.

"Ano ba yan, nag eemote na tayo rito. Tara na nga! Naghanda ako ng snacks natin. Baba na tayo." pagyaya niya.

Sakto naman pagbaba namin, nakita kong papasok si Keifer ng bahay. Hingal na hingal siya.

"What happened?" nag aalala kong tanong, "Did you saw, Keith? Did he hurt you?"

"He saw me. Sinubukan niya akong sundan, buti na lang, nailigaw ko." he sat on the couch.

Inabutan ko naman siya ng tubig. Tinanggap niya naman yon saka kaagad na ininom.

"Siguro sa ngayon, mas makakabuting dito muna tayo. Kailangan nating paghandaang maigi ang plano natin. Nasa labas lang siya. Nakaabang satin. Alam kong alam niya na kasama ko kayo." his statement makes me more frightened.

That means, hindi pa rin kami malayang makakalabas.

I miss being outside to be honest. I miss being free. I miss being away from danger.

Hindi naman pwedeng habambuhay, magtatago lang kami dito.

"Don't worry, Bella. It's just temporary. Kailangan lang natin maghanap ng tyempo dahil nakaabang si Keith. Gusto ko lang kayong protektahan ni Yani." seryosong sabi naman ni Keith. "There are plenty of foods here so you don't have to worry."

Tumango lang ako saka naupo rin sa sofa. We're all quiet. None of us want to talk. Siguro dahil na rin ang bigat na ng sitwasyon.

There still lots of unanswered questions in my mind.

"By the way, alam kong gutom na kayo pareho kaya ihahanda ko na ang pagkain na niluto ko, ha?" pagbasag ni Yani ng katahimikan saka siya tumungo papuntang kusina.

I'm still looking at Keifer while he's silently sitting on the couch.

"Why are you looking at me?" tanong niya habang nakakunot ang noo.

My eyes widened and I avoided his gaze.

"Well, I'm just amazed." I shyly said.

"In what?"

"How you love each other." simple kong sagot, "Keith loves you so much to the point that he chose to lock you up than killing you. And you love him that much that you chose to be locked up forever rather than escaping."

Hindi siya kaagad na nakasagot.