Locked in with a STRANGER
707 Words
It had been three hours since Levi locked herself in her room. She didn’t even bother to eat when Mang Ben called her earlier. She hated the idea that that guy had caught her off guard during their first meeting.
“How am I going to eat now?”
Levi muttered to herself, hopelessly famished.
She rummaged through her bags one by one, desperately hoping to find something to eat, but disappointment was all she uncovered. She was on the verge of tears when a soft knock echoed from her door.
“What do you want?”
she snapped, fully aware that the guy outside could hear every ounce of irritation in her voice.
“Nakakamangha! Ngayon ko lang nalaman na nakakapagsalita pala tong pintoan ko sa bahay,”
the man stated sarcastically. Annoyed beyond reason, she grabbed the nearest pillow and hurled it at the door, wishing it would somehow hit him.
“Hmm… anong silbi ng kasama ko dito sa bahay kung ang nakakaharap kong kausap ay yung pintoan?”
he added, voice calm but teasing.
Levi couldn’t take it anymore. She pushed herself up from the soft bed and stomped toward the door, her frustration fueling each step. With a sharp tug, she flung it open, her eyes blazing.
“Could you leav—”
She didn’t even finish her sentence before the guy shoved a tray of food right in front of her face.
“Instinct ko lang!”
A smirk tugged at his lips—a sarcastic statement, Levi assumed.
“Good for you, then.”
That was all she said. She grabbed the tray, turned her back on him, and slammed the door with her foot. Well, what did he expect? A thank you? That wasn’t in her vocabulary.
“Oohh! Salamat, Khaleb!”
She heard him call mockingly, mimicking the thank-you she refused to give. Ugh, this guy!
Levi groaned inwardly, feeling her energy drain fast. Better not waste it on him. She needed to save her strength for herself, not for the man lurking on the other side of the door.
She gently set the tray down on the bed, eyeing it suspiciously. She had to admit—it looked… good. A plate of rice, just enough for her to finish, a glass of water, and a steaming bowl of adobong manok. Her stomach growled despite herself.
Tears pricked her eyes as she scooped her first bite. It was perfect. Perfect. And yet… the thought that Khaleb—the infuriating, mocking guy outside—had made it made her scowl. Delicious, yes. But tainted by his presence.
Just as she was about to savor another bite, a knock shattered the fragile peace.
“Nakalimutan kong sabihin! Paki-sarado ng bintana, baka makapasok yung clown sa cornfield!”
Levi froze. Her blood ran cold. Clowns. Her heart lurched violently. She had coulrophobia. The mere thought of a clown would make her knees give out—and she was alone.
Levi swallowed hard and forced out a shaky, irritated breath.
“Nice joke,” she muttered, but her voice cracked—betraying her terror more than she wanted. God, she hated that.
Her body stiffened. Every muscle screamed at her to stay put, but reason—and survival—forced her to move. She wobbled toward the window, hands trembling as the eerie darkness pressed against the glass. The wind rustled the trees like ghostly fingers scratching at her nerves, and somewhere in the distance, an owl’s hoot sounded almost… wrong.
Don’t look. Don’t look. Just shut the window.
Levi yanked it closed, fumbling with the lock, heart hammering so hard she was sure it would burst out of her chest. The shadows seemed to stretch, twisting with the night sounds—the snapping of twigs, the whisper of wind, the creak of branches. Every sound screamed danger.
Finally, locked and secured, she sank back onto the bed, trembling but alive. Her stomach growled angrily, reminding her she still had food to eat.
I might die tonight, she thought bleakly, either from terror… or starvation.
Levi picked up her spoon with a sigh. Fear, hunger, and Khaleb’s meddling were conspiring against her—but at least, for now, the adobo was safe.
- Writer
