Remember That Day

Chapter 3

The next night, Jayda finally went out of her unit to inhale some air outside after locking herself the whole day writing her novel.

She had enough food and snacks, so she didn’t worry about being locked inside her room.

As what she expected, few people and other staff in the hotel who witnessed the commotion last night kept their eyes on her. They kept on blubbering such things which made Jayda rolled her eyes as she headed down the hotel swimming pool.

I saw it, really, she thought.

The night looked like yesterday’s evening. The sky was clear, so the brightness of the sea of stars above were obvious.

It was not long before she found a long wooden seat just as if it was meant for her to sit there. Hugging herself, she silently sat on the edge only to see that there was no one around except her and the guards.

It was 10 in the evening, so probably people had already been doing their night routines before going to bed, except those who were at the lobby. And it was not her time to do so. Her head was preoccupied with the scenes from her novel and of course, the murder incident that she, herself, was the only one who had took a glimpse of it.

She shut her eyes and breathed. Just as she exhaled, her phone rang. She looked at her phone on her hand only to learn that it was Tris.

“Hi there,” she greeted.

“Oh, still up. What’s with your voice? You seem troubled,” said Tris on the other line.

Jayda forced a smile as she scratched her knees. She replied, “No. I’m outside and it’s cold. It’s just that.”

She had heard her clicked her tongue before she responded.

“I know you’re a writer, but you’re not a good liar, Jayda.”

“Hey, I’m not lying,” she lied. “So what’s up? Why did you call me this late?” That was definitely switching to another topic.

“I’m just checking if you’re still alive. I know Faris isn’t there and no one is going to look after you except me.”

That tone of Tris’ was so teasing that it made Jayda sigh and laugh.

“To tell you, I’m not a kid anymore. I can definitely handle myself without you... even Faris,” she joked, but with a confidence in her voice.

“I’m impressed, really.” Tris laughed. “You’re joking, I know. You can’t live without me, Jayda. I’m telling you.”

“In your dreams,” Jayda protested and the argument instantly went down. “What are you really up to, huh?”

“Yes, okay. I called you because I want you to come to my boutique tomorrow morning. Let me shop for you.”

“What?” Jayda exclaimed. “What for? I mean, it’s not my birthday and you don’t need to shop for me. No. Stop spending your money in buying clothes for me. I still have a lot.”

By that, Jayda felt her friend on the other line was already pouting.

“Fine. Let’s just eat. Pick the restaurant and I’ll pay the bill. Come on! Please?” her friend pleaded in a very childish tone.

“Tris, I have—”

“No! That’s final! Cancel all your appointments because you have to come with me tomorrow. You’re going with me. You understood? Bye!”

As much as Jayda wanted to refuse, Tris already ended the call which made her smile. There was actually nothing as such appointment except her writing schedule.

But what she could do? She was ordered by her highness, Tris.

Wagging her head out of her best friend’s childishness, she started to browse her w******p account, but there was no new message from Faris. That made her sigh.

I miss you. Contact me when you have time, she had texted him before she turned off her phone.

She was about to tilt her head skyward to watch the stars when a guy suddenly passed by in front of her. What caught her attention more was his appearance. She had this sudden feeling that he was a bum of some sort.

No, she didn’t see his face, but the guy was wearing a hood, smelled like cigarettes and alcohol. Jayda’s eyes squinted as she watched him headed to the hotel’s service door.

Does he live in this hotel? she had thought to herself before she decided to follow him.

The guy in the hood walked straight to the elevator and Jayda was sure that he was the only one inside it.

She didn’t mind what was gotten into her that she suddenly wanted to follow a guy and thought that he was maybe, just maybe the one who was behind that mysterious murder incident.

Who knows? He really looks like and smells like he is someone who would do such a thing, she had thought again before she stand in front of the elevator and waited for it to stop.

“Where is he going?” she mumbled under her breath until she saw the elevator stopped at seven.

She gasped, palm on her mouth, cussing in her head simultaneously.

“No way!” she hissed as she pressed the open button. “No. He should not stop at that floor!”

Jayda was in panicked even though she was not yet sure about anything. But to think that CCTVs were not yet working on six and seven, there was no one except her and Faris on that floor. It was ridiculous, but among the 10 units on the 7th floor, there was only one room that had been occupied for the past 4 weeks, and that was their room!

People from that hotel wouldn’t believe her, so she kept it to herself. She would have to gather evidences before spilling that there was a killer around the circle.

The moment that the elevator stopped, she stepped out of it very slowly without making any noise. There was no one on that floor except her.

Brave enough, she started from the left end. She pressed her ear to each door, wondering if she could hear anyone inside.

The first half was nothing until she came to the the 8th door which was very near to her unit.

“Damn it! He’s here,” she whispered as she pressed her ear really hard against the door.

Jayda heard several scratches and typings on the keyboard. She was not sure until she heard a steel-like sound resonated inside followed by a man’s voice that made her tremble in fear and surprise.

“She should have just died. Suits her.”