Neighbors
"WHAT are you doing here?! Are you stalking me?" I asked while pointing at the tall man in front of me.
He shook his head. "I'm not. I also live here," he answered calmly.
My eyes narrowed at him. "Don't lie! You're probably stalking me!" I accused him.
He shakes his head and grips the grey backpack on his back. "I'm not stalking you, Khriz. I-I also live here," he says.
My eyes abruptly flew to the elevator button, and my face turned pale as snow when I saw the button. I gasped and looked at him when realization hit me. Fuck.
"Oh my god?! You're my neighbour?!" I exclaimed.
He nodded. "Yes, I live in the next unit beside yours. I am your only neighbour," His lips quirked when my reaction deflated.
An awkward laugh ensues from me to hide the embarrassment I just made.
"Oh my goodness. . . My bad for accusing you," I kept my tone as casual as possible.
I can't believe this! Ang lalaking tinulungan ko kagabi at ang lalaki inaya akong maging girlfriend ay kapit-bahay ko pala! Is destiny playing with me? I raised an eyebrow at him when he bent down to carry the plastic bags I dropped. Is he trying to act chivalrously at me?
"Let me help you carry these bags," he said in a soft tone of voice.
I chuckle dryly. "Are you sure? Okay, if you insist. But don't expect that I'll accept your proposal just because you help me," I frankly said.
His expression turned crestfallen before he lower down his head. "I-I know," he said in a low voice.
I just grinned and pushed the elevator button. After minutes of being inside the elevator, we reach our floor. Sinulyapan ko ang katabing unit ng akin. I really can't believe that he's living beside my unit.
Ang lakas pa naman ng loob ko na iuwi siya dito sa unit ko kagabi. Paniguradong kilala siya ng mga staffs na tumulong sa akin. Jesus! The memory from yesterday added to the book of my embarrassment in life!
I sighed heavily. "I can handle it from here," I said while looking at him. "Thank you for the help,"
Saglit siyang tumitig lang sa akin bago tumango at pumasok sa kabilang unit. I shrugged before I opened my unit's door using my fingerprint. I organized my groceries and took a shower for the second time. Then, I cooked my early dinner and stored it for later. Bumalik ako sa kwarto at doon patalon na humiga sa kama, nagbabalak na manood ng naudlot na movie.
Ang sarap talaga sa buhay kapag walang ginagawa. Iyong hindi mo na kailangang gumising ng maaga para pumasok sa trabaho at mag-isip ng mga damit na susuotin mo para maimpress ang ibang tao.
I love being my own boss.
Habang kumakain ng chips at lumalaklak ng soda ay hindi ko maiwasan ang hindi madala sa pinapanood. I was so engrossed in the movie I was watching that I didn't notice that I already finished two Pringles and 1.5 Coke Zero.
This what I like about my body, kahit anong lakas ko sa pagkain ay hindi ako nataba. I have an hour glass body kaya lang, kinulang ako sa chest part. My boobs were only 34B size. I gained weight, but it doesn't go to my abdomen or face. Instead, you'll see my glutes getting thicker.
My boobs may be small, but my ass are thick and round.
The night came, and it was time for dinner. I reheated the food I cooked earlier and served it on the plate. Napakurap ako nang mapansin na marami ang sobra sa niluto ko. Should I share it with my neighbor? Pwede, tutal wala naman malisya 'yon.
I put the tagliatelle noodles on the brand new pink plate before I pour the white sauce. Then, I grade cheddar cheese on top. I can't help but smile when I saw the finished product. I took my phone to take a picture of the food and posted it on my Instagram story with the caption 'Pasta night'.
Kaagad na akong lumabas sa unit bitbit ang platong may laman na pasta saka dumiretso sa kabilang unit. I knocked three times and plastered a smile when the door abruptly opened, revealing my neighbor.
If I have a superpower, it is probably an x-ray vision because I quickly scanned him from head to foot. He's wearing a white tee shirt and light gray sweatpants. On his head are his grey headphones. Wow. He looked different without his eyeglasses, hotter but innocent.
I cleared my throat. "Hi, here's pasta for you. . ." I offered the pink plate to him.
He didn't budge and just stared at me like I was some kind of alien. I snapped my finger in front of his face, making him blink.
"T-Thanks," he stuttered.
My lips purse before I chuckled. "You're welcome. Ibalik mo na lang 'yong plato bukas," I said and was about to go to next door when he called me.
"Khriz," he called me.
I turned at him, confused. "Yes?"
"A-Are you wearing red?" he asked in a low and weak voice that I almost didn't heard.
"Huh?" nagtatakang tanong ko sabay tingin sa suot ko. "Are you high? Kita mo nang nakasuot ako ng red," natatawang ani ko sabay iling at dumiretso na papasok sa unit ko.
Lumipas ang ilang araw na walang masyadong nangyayari sa buhay ko. Paulit-ulit na lang at walang bago. It was kind of boring! So, when Sunday came, I invited my cousins to the gym. Hazel and Duke immediately accepted my invitation. I'm not sure about the two brothers— Dustin and Dwight.
Mayroon naman gym sa Silvermoon Tower pero mas gusto ko sa Rockwell dahil doon naman talaga ako nag-gym kasama ang mga pinsan ko. Madalas kaming mag gym ng mga pinsan ko. Noong una ay sina Dustin at Dwight lang ang kasama ko hanggang sa sumama na rin sina Hazel at Duke.
Dahil malaki ang age gap namin kina ate Kelsea at kuya Hayes na kapatid ni Hazel ay hindi namin sila nakakasama sa tuwing may mga lakad kami. Si Kryptone rin ay hindi palaging nakakasama dahil siya ang pinakabata sa amin at kadalasan na lakad namin ay para lang sa matatanda.
I was wearing a gray sports bra and a pair of gray workout leggings. Nakapusod ang buhok ko para hindi nakakalat sa mukha ko. Pagpasok ko sa gym, kinausap ko lang saglit ang attendant na nasa front desk bago dumiretso sa locker para ilagay ang aking duffle bag.
Luckily, walang masyadong tao sa gym. While waiting for my cousins to arrive, I did some stretching before starting my cardio and core routine. My eyes grew wider when I saw a familiar car from the glass window. Lumabas kaagad si Hazel kasama si Duke at kinausap ang driver sa harapan bago pumasok sa loob ng gym.
They approached me when they caught my sight. "Khriz! You're here na pala," Hazel gives me a peck on my cheeks, so Duke is.
"Kani-kanina lang. Kayo lang dalawa?" I answered.
"Kuya will follow," Duke says.
"Which one?" I asked and picked a ten-kilogram dumbbell and started doing some squats.
"Dustin, and he's with baby Ashiro. . ."
Napatango ako. "Mabuti naman at hindi na niya kinukulong ang sarili niya sa bahay," I said.
Nagsimula na silang dalawa sa stretching bago nagpatuloy sa cardio routine nila. After doing some squats, I did some sit-ups and plank toe touches. I only stopped when I saw a familiar man enter the gym.
Dustin's holding a black Adidas duffle bag while Ashiro is in the baby carrier.
Nakakuha kaagad ng pansin ang mag-ama. The famous boyish grin of Dustin Altamirano appeared when he spotted us. I rested my hand on my hips while waiting for them to approach us.
"Kanina pa kayo?" he asked and placed his duffle bag on the side.
"Halos kararating lang namin kuya," sagot ni Duke na tumigil sa ginagawa para lapitan ang mag-ama.
"Ashiro looks so cute! You're wearing identical workout clothes pa talaga, ha!" Hazel exclaimed and approached Ashiro, who quickly giggled.
They look so cute by wearing an identical pair of clothes. Ashiro is wearing a sleeveless romper jumpsuit with a printed sign 'Daddy's future lifting partner'.
"Did you buy this shirt? It's so cute," I commented while playing with Ashiro's chubby hand.
"Rara gave it," ani Dustin sabay ngiti.
I looked at him meaningfully. "Your face glowed when you mentioned your best friend's name," I smirked when I caught him off guard.
"Shut it, Khrizanta."
Tumawa na lang ako sabay ngisi dahil alam kong tama ang hula ko. We continued working out. For 20 minutes, sa treadmill kami ni Hazel. Dustin and Duke are on the other side of the gym. Dustin is on an upright bike with baby Ashiro while Duke is lifting some barbells.
Napangisi ako nang makitang may kausap na kaagad na babae si Dustin. Despite carrying Ashiro on his arms, using the a baby carrier, he still got the attention from the girls.
I nudge Hazel. "Look at Dustin,"
She snickered. "He really has the charisma to girls. If that's Dwight, for sure, he will never give them even a bit of attention," she commented.
"Exactly! That man is a beast," sagot ko at huminto sa ginagawa para makainom ng tubig sa jug ko. Pagkatapos, pinunasan ko ang pawis ko gamit ang towel habang nagii-scroll sa cellphone ko.
Thirty minutes later, tagaktak na ang pawis ko. I drink on my water jug again habang nasa beywang ang aking kamay. Nilingon ko ang mga pinsan kong papalapit na sa pwesto namin.
"Girls, are you done?" Dustin spoke. "Let's eat somewhere here in Rockwell. Ashiro is hungry," he added.
"Tapos na ako. I'll take a shower na," Hazel says and walks away.
"I'm going to take a shower, too." Duke joined the conversation.
"Mauna na kayo. I have ten minutes more," tumango na lang sila at iniwan na ako.
I did lunges with a dumbbell before deciding to cool down. After finishing my cool down, tumayo na 'ko para mag-shower. I took a cold shower and dressed up with a baggy crop top and black leggings.
Pagkalabas ko ng shower room, I saw Dustin with his phone, texting somebody while Duke was brushing his hair. Nakangiti siya habang panay dutdot sa phone habang si Ashiro ay nakaupo sa mga hita niya. Napaangat ang tingin niya sa 'kin nang lumapit ako para buhatin si Ashiro.
"Mas nauna ka pa natapos kay Hazel," he commented and raked his hair.
Ngumisi ako. "Matagal maligo 'yon," sabi ko at bahagyang sumayaw-sayaw kaya humagikgik kaagad si Ashiro. "Dancer siguro 'to paglaki," ani ko.
Narinig ko ang tawa nilang dalawa ni Duke na nagpailing lang sa akin.
"Tata pwetty!" Ashiro says, making my eyes wider.
"Did you hear that, Dust?! Hindi talaga nagsisinungaling ang mga bata," I snickered and kissed Ashiro's cheek. "Tata is pretty?"
"Y-Yes! Pwetty like Lala!" bulol na aniya.
Natawa ako at pinugpog siya ng halik sa leeg, napahagikgik siya. I saw Hazel coming out of the shower room. She had a towel on her shoulder while drying her hair with another towel.
"Let's eat breakfast, guys!" pag-aaya niya nang makalapit.
"Sure," sabi ni Dustin at binawi na ulit ang anak sa akin.
We ate breakfast in the rockwell mall and shopped for some clothes with my cousins. Humiwalay sa amin si Dustin dahil sa kids section siya pumunta for baby Ashiro. Habang kaming tatlo nina Duke at Hazel ang magkakasama.
Mga bandang tanghali ay pauwi na ako sa Silvermoon Tower. I was in the middle of traffic, so my Porsche was at a full stop on the highway. I looked at my phone when it vibrated. I was dazed when I saw a message request from someone on my Instagram.
I opened the message and a familiar photo showed. Bahagyang umawang ang labi ko sabay napakunot noo.
Who is this?
It was a photo of me at the mall in Rockwell with my cousin. I am smiling in the picture while holding a spoon. Medyo malayo ang pagkakakuha sa picture, but I could say that the person who took it was also in the restaurant.
Bumaba ang paningin ko sa kasamang message sa ibaba.
"Loving seeing you happy, sweetheart,"
It gives me chills because when I checked the account, wala siyang following at followers. He had a profile picture, but it was a plain white. It was obviously a new account because of the word 'new' on the profile.
I accidentally opened a new message request from this person. It's another picture of me, but this time it was inside the deparment store. Halatang sinusundan ako dahil nakatalikod ako sa litrato habang may hawak na damit. The message below the picture creeps me more.
"The dress you pick suits you. You look pretty as always, sweetheart,"
My follicles get shivers after reading that. Some fear and trepidation enveloped my entire being when a familiar person suddenly entered my mind. But I already requested a restraining order for him. He shouldn't come near me anymore.
Huminga ako ng malalim, pinapakalma ang sarili. I blocked the account just like I always do, and turn off my phone.
I was inside the elevator at Silvermoon Tower when my phone suddenly vibrated again. My face quickly turned pale when another message request from a different account showed up.
"No matter how many times you block me, you won't be able to run away from me. Never again. You'll meet me soon, sweetheart."
My phone fell from my hands. My hands trembled, and I abruptly had a hard time breathing when I recalled the face of that man who had harassed me before.
Dali dali akong tumakbo palabas sa elevator nang makarating sa floor ng unit ko. Hindi ko alam kung anong sumapi sa akin at imbes na sa unit ko ay kumatok ako sa kabilang unit. I kept barraging the door, feeling terrified.
Naiwan sa ere ang kamay ko nang bumukas ang pinto at ang nagtatakang mukha ng kapitbahay ko ang bumungad sa akin. Confusion and curiosity were evident on his face when he saw me in front of his unit.
"Croisx!" Tabingi ang ngiti 'ko.
He frowned. "Hey, you okay?" he asked gently. "Do you need anything? Your plate perhaps?" he asked in his usual calm voice.
Hindi ako sumagot at tumitig lang sa kaniya, medyo hinihingal pa.
"Are you okay? Do you need water?" he asked in worriedness.
I shut my eyes and took a deep breath before I slowly opened my eyes, directly at him. "I-Is your offer still up?"
He looked confused for a second. "What offer?"
"I'll be your girlfriend," I answered without hesitation, causing his jaw to drop.
Gusto kong magsuka nang lumabas 'yon sa bibig ko pero nagpigil ako. I need to swallow my pride if I want to be safe. I need a cover-up now that Pyscho is back. And I think Croisx is the perfect one.
I know using someone for your own good isn't right, but I need to take this chance to be safe from danger. I'm confident he won't bother me when he finds out I am in a relationship. Malakas lang ang loob niya noon dahil alam niyang mag-isa ako. He will never lay a finger on me anymore. . . I will never let him.
Croisx's frown deepened. "W-What? Why? I-I thought you don't do boyfriends?"
I licked my quivering bottom lips. "Well, you're lucky because you're an exception," sabi ko at kumapit kaagad sa balikat niya upang mahalikan siya.
"W-What. . . What are you going to do?" he stuttered, obviously nervous.
"I'll seal our relationship with a kiss," I stated, and without wasting time, I kissed him on the lips. It was just a peck, but his entire face immediately covered with blush. I smirked in spite of my anxiety. "You're now my boyfriend," I declared.
© FM