Malediction

Unwarranted Visit

At her floor, I searched for Andrea. My eyes scanned the whole hallway just to get a glimpse of her, expecting her to be wobbling by her own. My mind believes that it was a joke she played drunk but her door was unhinged. My heart dropped. I went hazy with rage. “No…” I whispered to myself. Was I too late? How did the bastard know her room? My fingers were shaking. Despite my fear of what to see next, I entered the room with no hesitation.

Upon entering the room, I sensed a weak scent of alcohol. It was dark and almost quiet except for the ruffling of fabric and metal hitting the floor. I crept slowly, silently to avoid being noticed. I saw the bed with the hint of moonlight that sneaked through the window glass. A man's back was in front of me as he pulled his pants down to his feet, three inches taller than me and probably weighed heavier. The man was surely older than me and he looked familiar. Dark slender fingers extended flat on the sheets, with its palm up. It was Andrea's hand hanging by the side. I knew it was hers. I stooped down, still unnoticed. My heart raced, but I was unable to discern if it was from the rage filling inside me or the strange feeling of excitement to take out this sick living animal of a man.

Despite my light steps, I nudged something in the dark and Andrea's bag spilled its contents. He heard the clatter and saw my shadow. I took the familiar pink rectangular device from her bag. He turned around to face me. Surprised but he was fast. Before he could loom over me I pushed him forward with the taser on the neck and electricity spread from his neck to his shoulders. He shuddered violently. I was fascinated. He dropped to his knees, struggling but he gradually laid on the floor. The taser didn't last as it ran out of battery but he was already dazed. I dropped the taser, laid an open plastic bag over his head and started placing punches on his face. Those were solid and strong. His cheek started to bleed and his eyelid was already building a swell, visible in the moonlight room. I stopped when I ran out of breath and my knuckles became numb, but my appetite to hurt him more was insatiable. I dragged him out of the room.

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I washed my cut-ridden hands and face in Andrea's bathroom. I held to my face a little bit longer as I sighed. What have I done? Was punching him until unconsciousness too much? I removed the red stains on my arms with warm water. It was unclear what happened, but I was sure he wouldn't do it again. I prepared a washcloth for Andrea. I walked to her bed and made her position comfortable with sheets covering her. I sat beside her and wiped her face, neck and arms. It also wiped her tears. She struggled but she muttered, "Thank you...for the second time...I really tried to stop him..."

"I know you did, you're a strong girl." I said, in all honesty. She smiled. A few minutes later, she slept soundly. She probably fought the drug's effects until I arrived.

Andrea was drugged with GHB, a r**e drug hidden in his pockets. She called me before she went weak as her body showed effects of the drug that she can't struggle no more. I stayed by her side until before the first shift staff woke up. I hugged her, the realization of her fear hitting me. If I wasn't in time, if my phone only vibrated like it usually did, it would've been too late. And the second time? What was her life before I showed up? I ran my cut-ridden fingers on her hair and kissed it. I wonder what made her think I was different from those animals? I was a mess too, especially now.

With Andrea sound asleep, I went out and locked her doors before suspicions arose. I took the stairs again. My head hurt like hell and I was groggy from lack of sleep. I massaged it to ease the pain. I had to leave this place and meet her and Tim later that day. On the ground floor, I accidentally bumped into someone by the lobby. I took a step back from the impact taken by my exhausted body. “Oh my. I’m so sorry.” The apologetic voice was familiar. A petite, naive-looking girl stopped to check on me, despite holding coffee orders and paperwork on a resort. It was Sandra’s. Jesus, this girl can’t just see where she goes, doesn't she?

“It’s fine.” I just wanted to rest a bit before leaving here or getting caught. She stared at me, checking me from head to toe.

“You look like sh*t.” She says upon closer look.

“I am aware.” I shrugged it off. “I pulled an all-nighter”, which was true, vaguely. “Oh, I see.” She said with a knowing tone. “No, that’s not what happened…” I denied her unspoken accusation. Why would s*x be the first thought that comes to her mind in my situation? She giggled. I just scratched my head. Looking to the papers and coffee she was holding, I genuinely offered my help, which she gladly accepted. With her bag on one arm, I took the stack papers she held with my free hand. To be honest, the papers were truly heavy for her petite frame. When I saw her before, she looked unbothered by the work. Do PAs always have to work this much? From a glimpse of the papers, I noticed it was budget plans. It was pending for approval. I wonder what kind of swindle Jerry was up to again.

As we walked, her keys jingled loudly by her hips. My head hurt from the noise it created, and when I was about to tell her to stop, my eyes suddenly turned to see something familiar. It focused on the small devices and keychains attached to her key ring.

I guess helping her wasn’t so genuine, I later thought. We needed that recorder.

I looked back to the hallway, avoiding her seeing me looking. I had to have it. Maybe I could pass by her again later or sneak it away before we part? I wasn’t sure. The hook to her jeans seemed loose. I nudged her multiple times on the side ‘accidentally’, trying to dislodge the key ring from the tiny loose-closed hook on her jeans. She didn't mind, but her face became a little redder than before.

Before the keys fell to the ground, I caught it, simply picking up papers I intentionally dropped to the ground as a disguise. Sandra didn't seem to mind this and continued on after one glance. I pulled the chain holding the recorder, placed it in my pocket and lightly threw the keys to the ground near her next step. It was as if it just dropped at that moment. She picked it up swiftly, without checking them and placed it inside her bag instead.

In the corner of my eye, I saw a familiar silhouette a few doors after Jerry and Amanda's room, near the end of the hallway. I tried to get a good look to relieve my uneasiness from the man’s familiarity. “Eric.” My little observation was cut short with Sandras’ call of my cover. She smiled warmly at me, looked in my eyes and whispered, “Thank you.” as she took everything I was handed to earlier, two doors ahead of her employers’ room. The silhouette was covered by the door Sandra opened. I smiled and nodded. She went into the room and closed the door.

The silhouette was the man I dragged out of Andrea’s room yesterday. It’s just peculiar because he didn’t look...right, by any way from just being punched by me. How could he stand with an open skull?

“Oh, tour boy. What brings you here?” Amanda’s sultry voice echoed in my ear, breaking my stare contest with that man. I turned to see Amanda in her bikini with a sheer robe on top that failed to do its job. “I helped Miss Sandra deliver some things to your room. I was about to go back.” I was trying to be nice despite the fact I didn’t want to talk to this woman, she was very intimidating and I was done with being nice. She stepped closer. I know she was trying to be alluring, but it was a hard pass. No one can stir me more than Andrea. I wonder if she’ll wake soon, I thought instead of Amanda. “You look so tired. Want a few drinks with me before sleeping on this sunny day? It’ll help you sleep better.” She offered. I was shocked Tim was right all along. She really does hit on me. My face probably displayed my dumbfoundedness as I thought of my polite decline. "Thank you but..."

"Ah, ah, ah!" She interrupted with a singing tone. "I've never heard someone say no to me before James, even the president took shots with me."

"Oh, I see. I guess I can't refuse that. But I have one question before we go to the bar." My muscles tensed.

"All right, what is it?" She seemed impatient.

"How did you know my name?"

" Oh! What a slip of tongue. Well, I suppose I know many things dear. Especially to people I like." She giggled in delight. Her face displayed a winning smile as she cornered me in this conversation. My uneasiness grew. I had to gauge how much she knows of me. Her offer would be great despite the fact it may be a trap. I think I can get away from it at some point when we're there.

Her phone suddenly vibrated. She gestured her hand to a pause and answered the call. It was Jerry. He was impatient to see her. I guess that was a similarity they both share.

I actually waited for her, for some reason I am not entirely sure myself. It was probably a curiosity of this woman’s antics. She sighed. She fixed her sheer robe and looked at me, saying, "I suppose we could have our drinks another day. I really hope to see you again, James." Her disappointment was visible but how could she make it look sophisticated? She probably wanted to toy me out of boredom, or something more complex. She walked away, hips swaying followed by her flowy robe. Jerry needs to step up his game to keep this feisty woman in check. She's dangerous.

Finally, I can get some sleep before leaving. Now, with the recorder in my pocket, my job was done and I was really not feeling good. Before leaving the floor, I tried to look for the man but he was gone.

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It was just one sleepless night but I was so fatigued that I continued sleeping on the bus back to Manila. It was only 3 hours away but it felt longer. I laid my head on her shoulder and interlocked my fingers on hers. I felt a light kiss on my forehead as I dozed off. Andrea hadn't spoken much since the incident so I didn't push through it. She looked dazed as she viewed Bulacan's sights by the window. Trees and trees the bus crossed endlessly, in between acres of grass and distant houses grand and shabby. I sat in the center of the three-seated row while she sat near the window so she wouldn’t be disturbed with her little bubble of serenity. I think she needed that.

With one eye barely open, I saw Tim was near the aisle, checking his phone and putting it back then pulling it out again in disbelief. His eyes wandered through other passengers inside the bus. I involuntarily sat straight, following his eyes’ target as well. “What are we looking for?” He jumped a bit, completely not noticing me who just woke beside him. “Ah… no one. A friend of mine is on the bus, I just can’t see him.” He said hesitantly. I looked at him skeptically. “Tim, you have to be confident when you lie.” I said with all honesty to my good man. First, he wasn’t usually jumpy, he was calm and collected most of the time. Second, whoever it was is someone he knows, but not a friend. No friend should make someone so wary about their presence.

Tim looked at Andrea for rescue. Was I invading his privacy? She noticed this and interjected, giving me the eye. I didn’t say another word of interrogation. ”Is it personal or from Masfino?” She asked. “Very personal.” Tim mumbled to us. Andrea glared at me for being too nosy. “Leave him alone James.” She said lightly, pulling me to her side and removing the tiny space between us. When Tim was left alone to his eye wandering, she whispered, “I think it's his apprentice from college. He’s very excited to see him personally but he’s a little scared.”

“Why?” My sleepiness disappeared. I was now curious. “It’s his girlfriend’s brother but I’m not sure if they’re together or he’s daydreaming about it.” Andrea and I tried to suppress a chuckle.