Title: Strangers

Writer: Leigh Anne I. Jimenez

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Psychological

Rated: 16+

SYNOPSIS:

Rei Aragon, a 19 year-old girl who moved from the countryside after getting accepted at a University in Manila. Rei found an apartment room in an old building near her school. The quality of the place is not thrilling since the rent is cheap, so she has no other choice.

Apart from a haunted-like place, Rei also has weird neighbors. Nevertheless, she decides to put up with it until she saves enough money from her new job and move out.

CHAPTER 1

“It seems like it will rain soon.” a voice of an old woman beside me wakes me up. 

I look at the window and saw the dark clouds. I am currently riding a bus to Manila. I will reach my destination in an hour. I put on my earphones and played a song. I hugged myself because of the cold weather and I close my eyes to go back to sleep. I woke up because I felt that the bus had stopped at the station. Descending, I took my belongings to the bus compartment. My cellphone rang in my pants pocket. I looked at it and Elle’s number flashed at the screen.

I answered it, “Excited?” I ask while laughing.

Elle laughed, “Of course, should I prepare a red carpet?“

I just shook my head to her silliness. “I’ll call you later when I got there” I said before I hung up the call.

I traveled again to my cousin Elle's apartment. They have been living here for a long time so I will sleep with them first tonight and I will look for a place to stay tomorrow near the school.

It was late afternoon when I arrived at their house, and suddenly it started to rain. When I came, they welcomed me. Uncle Albert is my mother's brother, they have two children of Aunt Jacelle, Elle and Kuya Roby who’s not fond talking with people.

Elle immediately hugged me and I laughed. I hugged her too. “I miss you so much, Rei!” I tapped here back.

“Are you crying?" I asked teasingly and they laughed. I’m not a clingy type of person as I grew up in an unaffectionate family. I don’t know who’s my dad, neither his name nor his face. As for my mother, she passed away recentl

Elle used to live with us in the province. It could hardly separate us because we were the same age and also, we lived in our grandmother’s house. It was very big then and that served as our playground for several years. They only moved to Manila because Tito Albert was promoted to the company where he works and he moved to another branch in Manila, so Elle must go too.

“Hi, Kuya Roby” I greet him while smiling, he just nodded. As expected.

We talked even longer until dinner arrived. Pure laughter and storytelling filled the four corners of the house. 

Elle was the center in the story and always teased because of her being a cry baby and a jolly kid back then.

“By the way, why don't you just live here, Rei? Doesn’t it seem more dangerous when you have no company living with you? ” Aunt Jacelle asked worriedly.

“Oh, it's embarrassing. Thank you for your offer but I prefer the one near our school and, someone also offered a job near there.”

"We can't force you there, Rei but if  you can't find a place, you can live here with us." said Uncle Albert.

"Thank you very much, Aunt, Uncle" I sincerely said.

"What family are for, right? " Elle said while holding my hand.

I envy Elle. She have parents that can support her. She no longer has to look for a job to support himself. I got accepted in a university through a full scholarship.

“I really envy you Rei! If I'm as smart as you, maybe we'll go to a university together." she frowned.

"Then you should study well" I respond and everyone laughed well, except for Kuya Roby.

I washed the dishes after eating. I looked at the window, It’s still raining. Elle offered to share her room with me. After taking a bath I immediately fell asleep.

CHAPTER 2

I got up early to find an apartment. I'll cook first for the breakfast though, I don’t have an idea what they usually cook at breakfast. Elle jus woke up and saw me in the kitchen.

“Hey, good morning” she greeted.

“Good morning” I respond. 

 “What are you doing?’ she ask while pouring water to her mug. 

“I want to cook for breakfast but I don’t know what you usually cook for breakfast” I said.

“We usually don’t eat breakfast here but if that's what you're used to, it's up to you.” she smiled. 

“Anything would be fine” she added.

I just fried sausages, bacon, and eggs. That's all there is. While I was preparing the meal, Aunt Jacelle and Uncle Albert woke up.

“Oh, Rei, you don't have to. ” he said happily. I just smiled.

"Thank you for the food!" they said together before eating.

After eating, I said goodbye and went out to find a place to stay. The sooner I move the faster it would be. I haven't reached where I'm going yet, I'm out of breath. The weather was hot and there was no shelter, I even forgot to bring an umbrella. After I drank the water I proceeded to search for an apartment. 

Are rental houses really that expensive here? The lowest is worth 2,500 pesos. If I take that I might have nothing to eat. I kept walking until I came to an alley behind a mall. Just a jeep ride from my school. I saw the very tall old building, at the top of which was written Eden’s Paradise. I don’t know but I feel like something is not right there.

“Nevermind, I have to check it out.“ I whispered and continue to walk to get inside the building.

My eyes roamed around the room. This place… how should I put it? Ceiling covered with dust and cobwebs, flickering lights like what you always see in horror movies, the walls might collapse at anytime, plus the molds. The ambiance is unpleasant because of the dim lights and there is no ventilation. The quality and the oldness of the building added to the creepy vibe of the place. I almost jumped because a tall man appeared out of nowhere. He’s like Dwayne Johnson but creepier.

“Hey, kid. Don’t block the way” I shivered because of his voice. His voice sounds like a thunder. Out of fear I immediately give the way. He looked at me as if he was going to eat me whole. I gulped. A door across us opened and an old woman appeared. That ‘Dwayne Johnson’ guy walked away as he saw the old woman. I sighed. That was closed! The old woman smiled at me and looked at me head to foot. What was that? 

“Oh, are you here to inquire a room?” she asked while smiling. Oh, she must be the owner.

“Don’t worry about that thug or whatever he is. He’ll be gone soon” she noticed that I look again at the guy earlier. I just smiled.

“Yes, May I check the available room?” I politely asked. 

“Of course! Wait me here I’ll get the keys of that room. It’s so hot today. It must’ve been hard climbing up here” she said while walking away. I feel like there’s someone behind my back, like someone is looking at me. When I look at it there’s no one outside the hall way aside from me. I just shrugged my shoulder. 

The lady opened Room 7. The room isn’t small it isn’t big either. It has a small window that’s why it’s hot here. It has one bed that creaks and a wooden study table. Moldy walls and there are cobwebs everywhere. There isn’t much light coming in. This could pass as a storage room.

“This is the best you can find. There are only two bathrooms here, one for girls and one for boys” the old lady said while standing at the door. Shared bathroom? Uh, that’s not a good idea. Imagine the bacteria I could get from that. 

“Will you get it?” the old lady asked while still smiling.

“I think, I’ll just look for other apartments” I smile at her. The truth is, I can’t stand messy places. These are one of my most hated things. 

“Why? The rent fee here is cheaper”

“May I ask how much is it?” 

“One thousand pesos monthly includes the electricity and water.” she said while holding her mini-electric fan. 

I was shocked because of the price though, it’s understandable because of the not thrilling quality of the place. One thousand pesos including electricity and water? That’s the most shocking. The offer is so tempting but this place creeps me out. If I'll look for another place to move, It might take a while, the price of most rooms in this city is expensive. If I move here, I can handle the dirty surroundings, I'll just clean it up. I took a deep breath. Let's do this, Rei! 

“You must not be from Manila.” she said.

“Ah, I’m from the countryside.” I said. 

“Are you a college student?” she asks.

“I just got accepted in a university” I smiled awkwardly.

She was shock. "Oh, Really? you're not just pretty but you're  also a smart kid. " I just laughed. 

Although I was hesitant, I had already decided that I would just move here. I first took my belongings to Elle's house and said goodbye to them. Then I bought the ones I was going to use first, I arrived and clean the whole room and replaced it with new wallpaper that I bought at a nearby convenience store. I polished the floor and I replaced the bed with the bedsheet that Aunt Jacelle gave me before leaving. I remembered that I only brought a blanket and no pillow, I'll just buy it next time. 

At 4 pm when I finished cleaning, I picked up my toiletries and went straight to the apartment's public bathroom. The other residents with me were on the second floor, at the very end of the hallway was the bathroom, and on the first floor was the kitchen and laundry room as well as the reception.

Room 10 is the first room from the second floor, so I have to go through another room before getting to the bathroom. The door to Room 3 is open, as I pass by here, a man who I think is 30 years old sitting in front of his computer. Not that I want to interfere but I peeked at it.,