The Worlds Between Us (TAGALOG)

It’s been two days since I got kicked out of my parents’ house and since then, I’ve been struggling to find my own place here in the city. From boarding houses to apartments, all I heard was “Sorry hija, try mo sa iba, baka may bakante sila doon”. I stayed in a cheap hotel for the past two days and I haven’t found any permanent place I could stay in. At ngayon, andito na ako sa ibaba ng isang building nanghihingi ng tulong sa mga santo na sana may bakante sila. This will be the last building I’m visiting today before going back to square one tomorrow. I heard this building was built in the early 1900’s but it still remained sturdy. Pumunta ako sa receptionist at nagtanong, “Hi, may available apartments pa po ba kayo dito?” Inabot ng ilang segundo bago makasagot ang babae kakatype sa computer niya at tiningnan ako. “Good Afternoon po. Yes po, may available pa po kami dito. Do you plan to take an apartment here po? If so, you can speak with the manager po.” Nakangiting sagot ng babae. My heart jumped out of joy and relief. Finally, I found one! Di na ako magpapakastress bukas. Ginabayan ako ng babae sa isang opisina. Bells chimed as we entered the office and a lady, probably about 50 or so, looked at us before looking at the girl from the reception. “Yes?” sabi ng babaeng nasa desk. Mukhang kinakabahan ang babae mula sa reception bago sumagot. “May gusto po sa bakanteng apartment po, ma’am.” “What do you mean bakante? Wala tayong bakante dito.” Sagot niya. “Ha? Pero ma’am nakita ko po kanina na meron.” Nanatili akong nakatayo, kinakabahan na rin. “You’re new here, right?” tanong ng manager sa babae. “Opo.” “No wonder. That apartment’s not available kaya wag kang magsabi na meron.” “Pero ma’am, andito na po ang may gusto sa apartment.” Sabi ng babae at tiningnan ako. Tumingin rin sa ‘kin ang manager sa ‘kin at bumuntong hininga. “Bumalik ka na dun, ako na dito.” Sabi ng manager sa babaeng mula sa reception. Agad na umalis ang babae at pinaupo ako ng manager sa mga upuan na nasa harap ng desk niya. “I’m sorry for the inconvenience ma’am but I’m afraid you can’t stay here.” Sabi niya sa ‘kin. Ito na. Sabi kona nga ba. Bakit? Bakit bawal? May nakareserve na ba? Then bakit sinabi ng receptionist na available kung pwede niyang sabihin na reserved na ang mga bakanteng apartment dito. Kailangan kong makuha ang bakante dito o babalik ako sa square one bukas hanggang sa wala talaga akong makitang matitirhan. “Why? If there’s an available flat here then why not let me stay? I can pay twice the money if needed.” Sabi ko. May extra naman ako dito kaya okay lang. “I’m sorry but it’s really not allowed. The past tenants went crazy and some went missing after staying a few months in the apartment.” Sagot niya. What the hell? Baka may sira lang talaga sa ulo ang mga past tenants dba? “Bakit nadamay ang apartment? It could be the past tenants’ personal issues diba? Please let me stay here. I’m perfectly sane at hindi rin ako mawawala.” Sabi ko. “Naniniwala ka ba sa supernatural na mga pangyayari be?” tanong niya sa ‘kin. “Ha?’’ lutang kong sagot sa tanong niya. Ngumiti lamang ang babae sa ‘kin. “That apartment’s not available since it was believed that evil spirits roamed around the apartment bringing bad luck to the tenants.” Aniya. “Oh don’t worry. I’m a religious person kaya for sure hindi ako maapektuhan niyan. I’ve been having bad luck since I was born, ngayon pa ba ako matatakot?” natatawa kong sabi. Ngumiti siya bago inulit ang mga katagang bawal ang apartment na yun. “Bakit? Again, I assure you, I won’t go missing and you can even test me if I’m crazy or not. Just please, please let me stay here? I’ll pay in advance.” “I’ll have to refuse that offer, ma’am” umiiling siyang sumagot. “I’ll pay twice.” Sabi ko pero umiling pa rin siya. “Then thrice!” sabi ko pero umiling pa rin siya. “Four times the amount!” medyo pasigaw kong sab isa kaniya. Bumuntong hininga siya at tumingin sa ‘kin. “I’ll take it.” Ngiti niyang sabi pero parang may masamang balak. I mentally laughed and silently exclaimed out of joy and excitement. Yes! Eto na talaga! Magkaka apartment na ‘ko! Minus one na sa libo-libo kong mga problema. I kinda agree sa quote na money is happiness. “Make sure to tell me if there’s anything I could help you with or if something’s bothering you about the apartment,” aniya. “Yes!” excited kong sagot sa kaniya. I signed some paperworks and finally, I was on the last page. “Then it’s settled. I’m this building’s manager, Miranda Chua. Don’t hesitate to comm us if there’s any problem miss….” Tiningnan niya ang document kung nasaan ang information ko at nagsalita ulit, “Marleigh Claveria. I hope you stay here longer.” “Yes, thank you so much!” halos tumalon talon akong sumagot sa kaniya. “Ah, by any chance… are you connected to the Claverias?” Medyo kinabahan ako sa tanong niya pero nanatili akong kalmado sa labas. “Claveria? Marami pong Claveria dito sa Pilipinas,” ani ko at tumawa. “Kilala mo si Orson Claveria?” Si papa? Of course, almost everyone in the country knows my father. Especially here in Manila. His great success in the business world made him quite well-known which greatly affected my life. His great charity donations for the victims of every disaster there was in the country was enormous enough for people to praise as a saint. His popularity rose at a frightening rate the moment he also participated in government projects and every one of those projects was a success. If I was a stranger, I’d probably like him too. But I knew better…since I was his so-called daughter. Quite the title actually. “Hindi po kami konektado. I’m actually from Davao de Oro so I think we’re not that related,” ani ko. “Is that so? Anyways, I’ll call someone to guide you sa apartment. Pretty much everything’s already there including furniture and the bed so no need to worry about it unless you want to change it. Good luck on your stay here.” Sabi niya. I bid my thanks and goodbye as I went outside here office and was immediately guided by a staff. We stopped in front a door with the label L687. I thanked the staff who guided me and gave the room’s key card before entering the room. Everything was so…peaceful. I went outside the balcony and the view was amazing including the sunset that was facing my balcony. Just like the sunset, one day the stampede of problems approaching me will end. I doubt I’ll go crazy and be missing like the past tenants when I have an apartment as beautiful as this. Bukas ko nalang kukunin ang mga gamit ko sa hotel. For now, I’ll rest. Bumalik ako sa loob at pumasok sa isang kwarto. Ang ganda din ng interior design dito. Humiga ako sa kama at unti-unti na sanang matutulog pero bigla ako nagisingan ng diwa nang biglang may naramdaman akogn presensya. Pero parang huminto ang puso ko nang may makita akong lalaking natutulog sa kama sa tabi ko. “WHAT THE F*CK?!” shocked kong sigaw at tinapunan ng unan ang lalaki kaya napabangon rin siya. I’m sure walang tao nung pumasok ako sa apartment at wala ring tao sa kama nung humiga ako and lastly, nilock ko ang pintuan ko. Napabangon rin ang lalaki sa gulat pero napatalon din siya sa kama nang makita niya ako. “WHAT THE HELL?!” sigaw niya. I was about to get angry when I got distracted by his half-n***d body. His hair was wet as if he just took a shower and when I looked at his face… it was as if his face was sculptured by the Gods to be so perfect. Did he shower in fairy dust too? He looks so otherworldly. Di ako mashashock pag sinabi niyang international actor siya. Veins were visible on his hand gripping the bed sheets. I mean okay lang siguro if may ganitong nilalang na gwapo na gugulat sayo sa kama diba? “WHO ARE YOU?! WHY AND HOW ARE YOU HERE?” malakas niyang sabi. His voice was deep enough to wake me up and come back to reality. “WHAT DO YOU MEAN?! I’M THE ONE WHO’S SUPPOSED TO ASK YOU THAT!” sigaw ko at dali daling kumuha ng bagay sa tabi ko at tinutok ko sa kaniya. Napatingin ako sa nakuha kong bagay at plastic lang pala ito na bulaklak. Talaga ba, Marleigh? Anong gagawin mo sa plastic bulaklak? Ipapalo mo sa abs niya? Nanginginig akong tumingin sa kaniya at bayolenteng hinagis ang plastic na bulaklak sa mukha niya. I was about to get my phone to call the manager about the man who suddenly appeared in my bed pero the moment I looked at him again he was disappearing like dust. What the hell… May ganito na sa first day ko palang dito. Natatakot ako at halos di na ako makagalaw sa position ko pero parang ganon din siya. He looked at me as if I was a newly discovered animal in his eyes. “You’re disappearing,” he said. “What?!” Mas lalo akong nagpanic pero wala namang nangyayari sa ‘kin. “No, you’re disappearing!” I shouted. But everything was too late. The moment I finished my sentence, he was already gone. Everything went black as well as I collapsed on the bed. Now I know why the past tenants went crazy.