His Roses

Chapter 4

I stood up from the sofa when Seirra suddenly entered. She was holding a plastic bag, and her hair and clothes were wet.

I quickly got the towel from the bathroom and gave it to her. "Sierra? What happened to you?" She took the towel, wiped her face, then wrapped it around her body. She looked at me, smiling from ear to ear like she just won a million pesos in the lotto.

"Hahaha I'm alright! I just got caught in the rain. Did you eat already? I brought Jolly Spaghetti, family size, even if it's just the two of us eating." She handed it to me, and I looked inside.

"I thought you only went to 7/11?" I put the food on the table and started preparing plates and spoons.

"We met at 7/11, but we went out for a bit-I'll tell you later, wait, I'll just take a quick bath." She walked to the bathroom slowly but still in a hurry. A few moments later, I heard the sound of running water.

I sat down and quietly waited for Seirra, but then she shouted,

"Eat now, girl! I already ate!" I nodded even though she couldn't see me. I opened the Tupperware and smiled when I smelled the delicious spaghetti from Jollibee. I don't know why, but Jollibee food always makes me happy.

I took a good portion and slowly put it on my plate.

After a while, Seirra came out and went straight to her room. She moved fast after about two seconds, she was already in her pajamas, walking toward me with a smile still on her face.

My eyebrows met. I was confused about how she was acting. She wasn't usually like this, and I hadn't heard any news that she won the lotto.

She sat in front of me, acting shy but excited, while I was still eating spaghetti. I eat slowly because I get full easily.

"You owe me a story," I said, which made her laugh.

"Okay, fine. So... we're together now." I almost choked on my spaghetti because of what she said. They just met, and now they're together? What is that strangers who went out and came home as lovers?

"Judgmental, huh?" She handed me a glass of water, which I took and drank right away.

"I'm just surprised..." I said. She rolled her eyes and pouted.

"What can I do? I love him already," she said dramatically and sighed.

I just shrugged and focused on my spaghetti.

"You don't understand because you don't have a boyfriend yet, I told you to download that app! There are so many handsome and rich guys there, even foreigners!" she said cheerfully. I shrugged again, and I knew she rolled her eyes at me.

After we talked, Seirra went to the living room to relax on the sofa while watching the news.

"Wow, I thought I'd only see something like this in movies," she said to herself, loud enough for me to hear while I was washing the dishes.

"Why?" I asked, curious, while drying my hands with a kitchen towel.

"Come here," she said. I walked to her and sat beside her. She fixed her sitting position.

"Prosecutor Alvarez and his girlfriend were found dead in their apartment when one of their family members visited them," said the news anchor. The screen then showed photos and videos of the crime scene, full of police and reporters.

"I can't watch things like this," Seirra said in disgust, picking up the remote to turn it off, but I stopped her.

"Wait, if you don't want to look, don't, but we should still listen," I said. She slowly put the remote down and grabbed her phone instead to focus on it.

I sat properly, took the remote from her, and turned up the volume of the TV.

"The police still have not caught or identified the suspect. There were no witnesses when the crime happened. The police are reminding everyone to report any suspicious people. Stay alert and keep yourself safe," said the reporter as the camera showed police still investigating the area.

It was live, so the story was still fresh. "Wow, they still haven't caught the suspect," I said and looked at Seirra, but she wasn't listening she was smiling at her phone, probably chatting with her boyfriend.

She noticed me looking, raised her eyebrow, and asked, "What?"

I shook my head and kept watching the news.

After a while, I decided to sleep, and so did Seirra. I closed my door and locked it. I also checked that all the windows and the door outside my room were locked. I always do that every night or when we leave the house.

Before going to bed, I walked to the window and opened it. The cold breeze touched my skin, and I hugged myself.

I looked outside... it was quiet and dark, but I felt like something was watching me. Someone... like it was hunting its prey. I always get this feeling every time I open my window at night, or maybe it's just me imagining things again.

I took my digital camera, turned it on, and pointed it at the moon. The moon is like the sun but at night. I love how the moon and stars shine so bright, like even in darkness, there's always light and hope.

I looked at the picture I took, it was beautiful. Then suddenly, I heard footsteps. Only one set of steps... the sound of shoes stepping on the wet road. I looked at the end of the street but saw no one. I looked down, hoping it was just the security guard.

But no one was there...

No person walking.

But why...

The sound was getting louder, like it was already near me... around me... where is it?

I jumped a little when I heard a knock on my door. I turned my body toward it, still in shock.

"Elira? Are you still awake?" I felt relieved when I heard Sierra's voice outside.

I walked to the door and opened it.

"Delivery guy at the door," she said, pointing to the main door and smiling before going back to her room.

I just nodded, then quickly left my room and walked toward the door.

I tiptoed and looked through the peephole first. When I saw that everything looked fine, I slowly opened the door.

"Good evening, ma'am. For Elira Shane Buenaventura?" said the delivery guy with a smile.

"Ah, that's me," I said softly. He handed me a box it was big but very light. I was confused but still accepted it.

"Wait, sir," I said, then brought the box inside and placed it on the counter. I went back to the door quickly, but when I looked again... he was gone. No one was there.

I stepped outside and looked around the quiet hallway. The delivery guy must have walked really fast to disappear that quickly. But I didn't even hear any footsteps leaving.

What is happening?

I asked myself while standing in the hallway, then looked back at the box inside our apartment. The box was still there...