Remember That Day

Chapter 7

“There’s nothing shaky here,” Jayda whispered as she looked over the plants in the garden around the hotel’s pool area.

“Miss, what are you really doing here? It’s dark. You better get inside the hotel now.”

She then let out a deep sigh as she wiped her hands against her jacket, finally giving up as she found nothing after inspecting possible reasons why would that guy be turning up around every night.

“Miss?”

“By any chance, can someone hide a body here in the garden? I mean, can someone actually bury a dead body here?”

“Excuse me?”

Jayda piched herself as she realized how reckless that questions of her could be. Slowly, she turned to look at the guard in mid-forties based on her quick calculations behind her then smiled. She was actually spacing out when she asked those questions.

“Ah, I mean... I’m a writer. I’m just wondering if someone could actually make a crime like killing someone then bury around the hotel.”

“A writer?” the guard asked, almost squinting his eyes on her.

“Yes, definitely. Maybe I could do some explorations here. You know, I’m just wondering. I’m a kind of struggling right now since I’m out of words and informations about killings, crimes, and... and such...”

The guard crossed his arms which made Jayda scratched her head, thinking about something more to say to conceal what was she really up to. But she was cut off when the guard suddenly spoke.

“How could someone bury a body here?” the guard said, seemingly swayed by Jayda’s show.

Oh, god! I thought he would think that I am planning to kill someone then bury it here, Jayda thought to herself, almost cheering with her inner being.

“Yeah right?” Jayda commented.

“Well, it’s somewhat possible, but the fact that there are CCTVs around and the guards here are doing multiple rounds, checking everything 24/7, well that’s not easy.”

Nodding, Jayda said, “That’s... that’s true.”

“Unless the killer is really really smart,” said the guard, emphasizing every word that made Jayda think that there’s really something in the pool.

“Anyway, you seemed searching for something earlier. Have you—”

“Ah, nothing. I just thought I lost my stuff here as well, but I was wrong. I’m heading inside now.”

Jayda cut him off to finish their conversation just when his walkie talkie squawked. Just right on time.

“Alright.”

The guard shrugged his shoulders as he headed to his station. However, Jayda’s curiosity wouldn’t end that way.

As she walked towards the hotel’s elevator, Jayda couldn’t help it, but to speak out what was all in her mind.

“The guard’s right. So who could he be? Is he the guy in the 8th unit? What is he doing? Why does he always in the pool? Did he really bury the body around the pool’s garden? Ugh!”

After the lift took her to the floor seven, Jayda slowly inched until she reached the front door of the 8th unit. It might looked ridiculous, but Jayda couldn’t restrain herself to drop all her suspicions to the guy living in that room.

“Of course, I didn’t really base my suspicions whether he is an alcoholic or he smokes a lot. I don’t care! What I am concerned about is, what’s with his odd behavior?”

Jayda had nothing, but all suspicions yet she couldn’t ask for help nor could try to fish an information about his neighbor. Who would give her an idea about his identity or a hint that he was actually a murderer? She had no one to blame. In fact, she wanted to investigate all by herself.

Although she was not yet sure that the suspicious guy in that unit was the same as the mysterious guy she always see in the pool area, answers would all be based on her next move.

She should have just died. Suits her.

That’s right. I heard him say those words. It only means that he killed someone! she thought to herself as she bit her lower lip.

Without pressing her ear against the door, Jayda could already hear someone shouting inside the room.

Jayda uttered, “Is he on a phone call?”

“It doesn’t matter, Gon! Help me!”

“Fine. Calm down first—”

“How can I calm down?”

Jayda started to feel nervous as she tried to eavesdrop more of the conversation. His voice was booming inside and she could surely tell that he was terribly mad.

Assured as she was that the cameras weren’t still working on that floor and no one could see hear in front of his neighbor’s room, she stayed there for a few minutes only to jumped on her feet.

“You still have time, Bro.”

“I don’t have! What if someone see it? What if someone... I’m dead!”

What on Earth is he hiding? What is he afraid to see by anyone... is he really hiding the woman? The dead body? Jayda’s eyes grew bigger as she thought it to herself.

“Did someone see you?”

“No. I don’t think so.”

Pressing her palm against her mouth, Jayda rushed to her room. Her sweat was dripping from her temples down to her cheeks as if she ran for hours. She was extremely nervous that her knees almost tumbled upon entering her room as she threw herself on bed.

“He’s definitely the guy I saw in the pool. If only I could see him... and his room... But how could a killer be in a hotel like this? I think I’m going to die...” she uttered as she felt helpless and drained.

Her eagerness to know the truth was fading. How could she unfold something all by herself? In fact, no one would believe her.

While drowned in her thoughts, Jayda suddenly felt her phone vibrated inside the pocket of her jacket she was wearing.

“Faris?” she uttered the moment she pressed the answer button.

For a moment, Jayda felt relieved as Faris finally gave her a call. She sat on her bed as she tucked her hair behind her ears, smiling.

“Babe...” said Faris on the other line.

“Babe?” For some reason, Jayda’s forehead creased.

“How are you? Are you okay? How are you doing?”

“Wait, Babe. You sound nervous...”

“Look. I miss you, too. Of course, I’m worried since I’m still away.”

That questions made Jayda think as if Faris already knew something happened to her. But how? He was miles away. Although it was not as if she was hurt so bad to ask if she was doing good, she just couldn’t stop her thoughts. Or was she overthinking things again?

“Um... I’m fine, Babe,” Jayda answered. “You? You seem exhausted. Your voice... did you run, by any chance? I could feel that you’re out of breath—”

“Oh, my voice. Ah, I’m sorry, Babe. I was... I was in the gym. Right. I was in the gym earlier. You know...”

Why do things doesn’t feel right these days? Jayda thought to herself as she shut her eyes.

“Ah, really?”

“Um.”

“So, what’s up? Have you eaten? How’s your day at work? Are you tired?”

As Jayda tried to lighten up the conversation, she couldn’t deny the fact that she felt there was something up in him.

“I’m resting for a bit. You know, I still have some work left today!”

“Oh, yes. The time difference... I forgot.” Jayda faked a laugh.

“And I’m doing good here, Babe. Don’t get yourself too worked out thinking about me, okay?”

As her mere instinct was telling her that something was really wrong, she couldn’t get away with it.

“Babe, by any chance...” Jayda bit her lower lip, hesitating to say what she wanted to ask.

“Um? What, Babe? What is it?”

Just as Jayda breathed long enough to muster her courage to ask her boyfriend, she finally threw the words against the phone.

“Are you... are you by any chance...”

“Babe, you’re making me worried—”

“Are you hiding something to me, Babe?”

The other line went in silence as Faris had taken seconds before he could give his answer to Jayda. After he let out a sigh, he finally spoken.

“I’m... I’m sorry, Babe.”