GIRL NEXT DOOR

CHAPTER 5

It was a new morning, and George had already started getting ready to leave. I was in the kitchen, frying eggs, when I heard a knock on the door.

The door beeped as I opened it—and there they were: the three elderly ladies who had helped us with our things yesterday.

“Welcome!” they chimed in unison, smiling brightly.

“Good morning,” I greeted warmly.

“You’re welcome here. I hope we get to know you more,” said the short, round woman in front. “You can call me Rosa—just Rosa.” The others giggled for some reason I couldn’t quite place.

“I’m Elle,” said the tall, thin one in the middle. She extended her hand for a shake, an Jid that’s when I noticed—they were all holding each other elbow to elbow, like some sort of auntie formation.

“And I’m Anny,” the last one said, her voice soft and shy.

I smiled as they finished their introductions.

“Who’s there?” George called from the bedroom, stepping into view with just a towel wrapped around his waist.

All three women leaned to peek inside, exclaiming like teenage girls at a boy band concert.

I quickly stepped in front of them, blocking their view. “Ah—sorry about that.”

“Anyway,” Rosa said, still trying to peek around me, “we’re here to invite you to our community service for the elderly this afternoon. We’d love to have you join us.”

“I’ll see if I can make it,” I replied politely.

“I guess she’s not in,” Elle said suddenly, glancing at the door across the hall.

“She’s your next-door neighbor,” Rosa explained, lowering her voice like she was about to share a secret. “She’s usually not home. Just returned from abroad and took over her mother’s company. I don’t know what she’s doing here, honestly.”

I gave a polite nod, my face saying “did I ask?” without needing words.

“We’ll be expecting you,” Anny added, finally tugging the other two away before they could dig for more gossip.

For some weird reason, I glanced over at the door opposite mine before stepping back inside.

“Would you get dressed already?” I said, turning to George, who was still parading around in just a towel, his perfectly sculpted body on full display. “Trying to woo some old women now?”

“Alright, alright, I’m going,” he said with a laugh, running to the room.

“This boy from Syracuse,” I muttered, shaking my head as I picked up his clothes from the sofa. “He’s already acting like he owns the place.”

A few minutes later, he emerged fully dressed.

“What did those women talk about?” he asked, running a hand through his hair.

“Mind your business in Syracuse,” I replied with a smirk, pulling on a pair of shorts and one of George’s oversized sweaters.

“I’ll follow you to the port,” I added, grabbing my purse. “Need to pick up some toiletries anyway.”

We got there, and he dramatically wished me goodbye, tears welling in his eyes.

I turned back, fully aware that this is a life I can’t ignore. I have to live it.

On my way home, I picked up some toiletries and groceries.

As I stepped into the reception area, the ladies approached me like they’d been waiting all along standing in the exact same formation from earlier.

“It starts in an hour,” Rosa said, pointing toward the parking lot.

I followed her gaze and saw people loading coolers of food into the back of a bus.

I nodded politely.

“Umm,” Rosa suddenly gasped, like she’d seen a ghost.

“What is she doing here?” Elle whispered as they all tapped each other in shock.

“Exactly what I’m saying,” Rosa added.

I turned to see who they were talking about a young woman walking toward the elevator with a suitcase trailing behind her.

I couldn’t see her face clearly, but her walk... her hair... something about her seemed painfully familiar.

I nodded once at the ladies and walked away.

As I neared the elevator, the doors were just about to close and she was inside.

“Please hold it for me!” I shouted, running toward the elevator.

But she didn’t.

She just stood there, watching the doors close slowly and though she was wearing a mask, I could have sworn we made eye contact.

“What a disrespectful b***h,” I muttered as I caught my breath.

I got back into the room and dropped my stuff.

After arranging the groceries and sorting out the fridge, I headed to the bedroom for a quick shower and a change of clothes.

I put on a pair of baggy jeans and a basic top that revealed a sliver of my lower belly, then tied a sweater around my neck.

I slipped into my sneakers, pulled on a mask, grabbed a small bag, and headed outside.

Downstairs, I found the other residents gathered around, sharing some information.

I joined them, and the three ladies from earlier waved at me. I smiled back.

“Today,” someone announced, “we’ll start with a community clean-up downtown, where we’ll be tidying up the streets. Then we’ll head to the elderly home to help with cleaning, washing, cooking and finally, we eat!”

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone let out a cheer.

Moments later, we all made our way to the buses waiting outside.

I headed toward the middle bus and hopped in. Just as I was about to slide into a window seat, I felt someone grab me by the collar of my sweater and yank me back. Smart me already knew where this was going. Before the person could sit down, I shoved them aside, making them stumble.

But they weren’t giving up that easily.

They grabbed my legs and yanked me sideways, dragging me out of the way and giving themselves perfect access to the window seat. I landed with a thud in the seat beside them, fuming.

“That’s illegal and disrespectful,” I snapped from under my mask.

I could hear her scoff beneath hers.

“Illegal, you say? I saw this seat first. I deserve it.”

“You saw it first?” I practically shouted. Just then, the bus jerked forward, making me lurch. She caught me by the face before I slammed into the seat in front.

“Yes, I saw it first,” she repeated, gently propping my head back like she hadn’t just stolen my spot.

“The fact that you had to drag me out of the way proves I was closer,” I argued, raising my voice as a few passengers turned to watch.

“Put on your seatbelt,” she said calmly in the middle of our argument.

“Thank you,” I muttered, still fuming.

“You cheat,” I added, arms folded tightly as I faced the front.

Throughout the ride, we kept throwing glances at each other. At some point, she dozed off on my shoulder. I shifted abruptly, letting her head bump the glass. She flinched, and I couldn’t help but giggle.