"Melvin, are you free tomorrow?"
Melvin was busy completing his tutorial while Adrian, who sit next to him, asked him with a grinning face. "Uhh, wait first Adrian. I'm busy completing my tutorial. This is very important," said Melvin with a sigh on his face.
"I know that you are aiming for high GPA laa, but no need to be so kanchiong in doing your work. We have a long weekend holiday tomorrow you know that? Maybe you should take a break now," said Adrian while patting Melvin's shoulder. "Ahh ok, so what are you gonna ask me actually?" asked Melvin while closing his Digital Communication module book.
"So, are you gonna be free tomorrow? Because I'm inviting you, Benjamin, Neeraj and Jia Ming to have a sleepover at my house, since my parents are away for a holiday trip," said Adrian with an excitement look on his face. "Ohh sure! Why not? In fact, I wanna take a break after studying this much!" said Melvin. "Ohh great! I will inform the rest that you will be coming to my house tomorrow for a sleepover!"
The next day, Melvin and the rest of the gang meet up at Yishun MRT station while waiting for Adrian. "OUCHH!" Melvin shouted when someone accidentally hit him while walking briskly. "Ehh hello?! Don't know to give way ahh?" the stranger shouted at him and walk away. "What the? He hit me and never even say sorry?" said Melvin. "Well, 'Welcome to Yishun'," said Jia Ming with a sarcastic sign. "Hey guys sorry I'm a bit late," said Adrian while walking towards them. "Ok guys, come let's go to my house," said Adrian with excitement.
Adrian and the gang have finally reached at his void deck after alighting at the bus stop. "Err, Adrian, you stay at Block 666?" asked Melvin. "Yup, why?" asked Adrian in confusion. "Never mind. Come on let's go," said Melvin and Adrian lead the way. "I have a bad feeling about this Ben," whispered Melvin to Benjamin. "Huh, why?" asked Benjamin. "He stayed at Block 666, and you know what does 666 represents right?" whispered Melvin. "Aiyaa, you and your superstitious belief. Don't worry la, nothing bad is gonna happen," said Benjamin. "But I got a feeling there will," said Melvin. Benjamin roll his eyes and proceed to follow Adrian.
Adrian lives on the second floor, so they went up by climbing the stairs instead of taking the lift. "Oh my god. I'm sweating!" said Benjamin while panting. "Come on Ben, it's only one floor away!" said Neeraj while patting Benjamin's shoulder. "I'm not as skinny as you Raj!" said Benjamin with an annoying face. While they are walking along the corridor to Adrian's house, a middle-aged lady showed up to them. "Ohh hello Adrian! How are you today? Are these your friends?" asked the lady. "Ohh Agnes! Hello, ermm yes, these are my friends and they are going to have a sleepover at my house," said Adrian. "Ohh hello Adrian's friends! It's nice to meet you! I hope we can get along really well!" said Agnes while smiling. "Uhhh sure, Auntie, we-we-we can get along really well, r-right guys?" said Neeraj.
The rest smile and laugh softly but they doesn't seem to mean it. "Don't just call me Auntie. Call me Agnes," said Agnes to them. "Ahhh, ok sure, Agnes," said Benjamin with a weird look on his face. "I don't think its right for me to address her as Agnes. She's like my mother and I can call her by her name? Doesn't seem right," whispered Benjamin to Neeraj. "Never mind la Ben. She just wants to be friends with us," said Neeraj. Neeraj always loves to have a positive thinking towards others, no matter how bad others treat him. "Ok Agnes. I'm going to bring them to my house, see you later," said Adrian. "Ok! Bye-bye! See you soon!" waved Agnes at the boys.
"Adrian, your neighbour looks friendly, but a bit weird," said Melvin. "Hahaha, she lives next to my house, so I won't hesitate to talk to her," said Adrian. "But recently she does act weird. At night around 10pm, she always like to make noise like banging the door, the walls, switch on the TV with loud volume and sometimes play her favourite Chinese Opera song loudly," said Adrian. "What? Really? When she start acting weird?" said Jia Ming. "Ermm a month ago I guess? Me and my family must bear with her noise and all that. But its weird, because she looks friendly and nice in the day, but make noises at night," said Adrian. "But the way she is being friendly with me, I can still tolerate her," said Adrian. "Ahh i see. Ohh well, time to play Super Mario Kart!" said Jia Ming while taking out his Nintendo Switch.
It's already 6pm, and Jia Ming, Neeraj and Benjamin are still playing Super Mario Kart while Melvin and Adrian are watching them playing. "Guys, I'm hungry, wanna grab something to eat?" said Adrian. "Sure, but should we go out and eat outside together?" said Melvin. "Ermm sure, where are you going to eat?" asked Adrian. "I don't know. Maybe we can try go Northpoint City and see if got any good restaurants to eat for dinner," said Melvin. "Ok sure, how about we go eat at Seoul Garden!" said Adrian. "Yes! Seoul Garden! I so long never eat there," said Neeraj.
Before they head out to Northpoint City, someone knock on the door. "I wonder who could that be," said Adrian while opening. "Hello boys! Are you all hungry? I have some cheesecake for you!" said Agnes while handing out the cheesecake to Adrian. "Ahh Agnes! Never mind it's ok. No need to trouble yourself," said Adrian politely. "Aiyaa no need to be so resistive laa, just take it," said Agnes. "Ahhh ok Agnes, thanks for the cheesecake. We will eat it after our dinner," said Adrian. "Hahaha ok! Enjoy guys!" said Agnes and she returns to her home. "What a happy lady, is she?" said Melvin. Adrian laughs while putting the cheesecake on the table. "Ok guys, let's go eat Seoul Garden at Northpoint!" said Adrian and all of them excitedly went out of his house.
"Ahhh, I'm so full! It's one of a great dinner!" said Jia Ming while walking back to Adrian's home along Yishun Pond. "Yeah of course! We can eat the cheesecake that Agnes gave to us if you are going to be hungry again," said Adrian. While they are walking along Yishun Pond, a couple is seen arguing in front of them. "Ahhh dang. What's up with those two?" asked Jia Ming. "Don't be busybody la Jia Ming! It's their business, not our business!" said Melvin. The gang tried to avoid the couple who are arguing. One of the couple accidentally hit Melvin as she tries to run away from him. "Move away la chi***!" shouted the girl with vulgar at Melvin as she run away. "Ahh come on! Why must I be hit by someone again!" sighed Melvin with an annoying face. "Don't worry la Melvin, be patient," said Neeraj.
When they reach at Adrian's house, a powerful stench can be smell from outside the gate. "Oh my god! What is that stench?!" said Jia Ming while holding his nose. "Ohh no. Don't tell me, there is something in your house, Adrian?" said Melvin. "Don't be stupid la Melvin. No need to be so superstitious about this," said Benjamin. "Oh my! The stench is from this cheesecake!" said Adrian while opening the cover. "Hey! This cake is already expired way back in January, which is 9 months ago. Why the f**k did your neighbour give an expired cake to us?!" said Melvin angrily.
"Relax Melvin! I think we should approach to her house and told her about this properly," said Neeraj. Before they decide to approach to Agnes' house, a loud banging sound is heard on the wall. "Dang, what's going on?" said Jia Ming. THUD! THUD! THUD! "Ohh dear, it's already 10pm, looks like she is doing weird things again!" said Adrian. The sound of the banging is done in every 10 to 20 seconds, and Adrian's friends could not take it, since they are not get used to it. But instead of the banging sound, a loud clattering and clashing sound is heard beside Adrian's house. It seems like the plates and glasses are all smashing everywhere. "Ehh Adrian, I think you should not leave things like this away! Must report to the HDB or maybe the police you know?" said Benjamin. THUD! THUD! "See? She banging the wall some more! You don't want to report meh?" said Melvin. Out of a sudden a loud scream is heard at Agnes' house. "AHHHH!"
"Oh my god, Adrian! Let's check up on her!" said Benjamin. Adrian nod his head and proceed to her house with the rest. "This time, her weird acting is getting worse. Usually she doesn't throw her plates and scream," said Adrian with astonishment. "Ehh Ah Boy! What happen? Why she scream?" a man in his 40s walk up to him, seems to be his other neighbour. "I don't know uncle, this time she is getting worse! I need to find out what happen!" said Adrian. "Ok Ah Boy, we go see what happen. Boys, be careful!" said the man while approaching to Agnes' house. "AAHHHHHHH!" Agnes shouted again while smashing and throwing all of her stuffs away. "Oh boy, your neighbour really is a hell!" said Jia Ming. "Shhh! Be quiet! Don't let her know we are outside her house!" said Neeraj.
A few seconds later, Agnes fell silent. "Ok, so what she gonna do next?" whispered Melvin. "I don't know, we will wait and see what she does next," whispered Adrian. It's been 3 minutes and she is still in silent. "Why not try knocking on her door? See if she responses," whispered Benjamin. "Ok," replied Adrian. While Adrian knock on the door, a creaking sound is heard and it seems that the door is slowly opening. "The door is not locked!" said Adrian. "Try to open the gate," said Neeraj. Adrian tries to open the gate and of course, it's not locked! Adrian and the rest tries to enter Agnes' house slowly while tip-toeing. Her house is in dim light and the TV is switched on but in static. The coffee table is flipped over and a lot of shattered glasses and plates are everywhere on the floor. "I don't feel good about this Adrian, I think we should head out," said Melvin. "No, we need to find Agnes!" said Adrian. "Look, she is at the kitchen," said Jia Ming.
Agnes was standing in front of the kitchen window while facing outside the window. Adrian tries to approach her slowly. "Agnes, are you ok?" said Adrian. Adrian tip-toed slowly towards her while the rest is at her living room. The man in his 40s decided to call the police while he is outside the door. The rest of the neighbours are also there to witness the incident. "Agnes, it's me Adrian. Are you ok?" said Adrian and tries to touch her shoulder. At the time when Adrian touches her shoulder, Agnes turn her head quickly to Adrian and smile. "Hahahaha! Adrian, it's you!" shouted Agnes. Out of a sudden, she points her knife at Adrian.
"Wait, Agnes? What is this? Are you trying to kill me?" said Adrian in shocked. Jia Ming, Melvin and Neeraj are all shocked too and didn't know what to do. "I'm lonely, Adrian. I don't have someone to talk to. If I'm lonely, you must be LONELY!! You should not have any friends!" shouted Agnes. "Agnes? What is all this? Is that why you give the expired cheesecake? To poison us?" said Adrian. "Hahahaha yes, my boy. Now it's time for you all to die!" said Agnes and tries to shove the knife at Adrian. Luckily Adrian managed to avoid the knife attack and grab hold of her behind. "Guys help me! Uncle, help!" shouted Adrian. The man in his 40s and Adrian's friends tries to grab hold of Agnes. Neeraj managed to take away the knife from Agnes' hand and drop it. "AHHHHH! You all must die! If you don't want to die, you must be lonely like me!" shouted Agnes.
When they tried to control Agnes, a few policemen arrived and enter her house. The policemen managed to get hold of Agnes while Adrian and the rest let her go. "Let me go! I'm innocent! I don't want to go to jail!" shouted Agnes. "Sorry ma'am but you need to follow us to the police station," said one of the policeman. After they leave the scene, another policeman approach to Adrian and the rest. "I will need you to follow us to the police station." Adrian nodded and the rest went to the police station.
At Yishun North Neighbourhood Police Centre, Adrian and the rest finally finish reporting the case to the police of what had happened. "Ohh boy! That was one hell of a night!" said Jia Ming. "Ya siaa! My first time experiencing this situation! I'm glad we are all safe," said Melvin. "Yeah, let's wait and see what really happens to Agnes," said Adrian. "Ok guys, it's already 2.30am, we should head back and take a rest," said Melvin. "Yeah let's go," replied Adrian.
1 week later, Adrian receives a call from the police on the phone while having lunch. It's an update about the incident case. "As we know Adrian, Agnes have been suffering from depression and mental health problems. Her husband and her daughter have died from an accident a month ago and she is all left alone. She thinks that she must not fell lonely by herself, but the people who live around her must feel lonely too. That's why she make such noises at night to distract her neighbours, including you, so she will feel satisfied that the others does not feel peace just like her. Currently she is in Institute Mental of Health (IMH), having her treatment. She is slightly improving so far," said the police. "Ohh dear, I do feel pity for her. Thanks for the update officer," said Adrian and hung up his phone.
Meanwhile, Adrian update the case to his friends after the call. "Ohh dear, I feel really bad for your neighbour. I hope she gets well soon," said Melvin. "Yeah, true. This is why we need to look out for our neighbours if they need any help. It is our responsibility to help our neighbours if there are anything bad happens and report it to the high authority immediately," said Adrian. "Yes, true. A good advice from you," said Melvin.
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END OF STORY PART 1