Beyond His World

4

DRAKE.

I was fixing the dining area when the doorbell rang, telling me that Kiel has arrived.

"Hello!" He cheerfully said as he greets me. Kiel immediately went for a hug, which I gladly accepted.

Okay, Drake, calm down. 'Wag mong isipin ang mga hindi dapat isipin.

"Tara, kain na. I cooked chicken curry."

"Naks, favorite mo."

"Favorite mo din." We chuckled at that.

The reason why Kiel and I are best friends is because we have so much in common that we just started to vibe without even forcing anything.

Everything just worked out fine.

"Kumusta? Masakit pa ba ulo mo?" Kiel asked as I was putting rice on his plate.

I shook my head, "Hindi na."

"Oh, wait– bago 'yang damit mo? Ngayon ko lang nakita eh."

Again, I shook my head. "Ah, hindi. Sa kapitbahay ko 'to. Pinahiram niya ako kasi nasukahan ko daw yung polo ko kagabi. Ibabalik ko rin 'to mamaya pero lalabhan ko muna. Pupuntahan ko nalang siya tapos kasabay nun, kukunin ko na rin yung polo ko."

Kiel nodded, "Sige, samahan kita."

I nodded as well and we started eating. However, before I could even take a bite, the doorbell suddenly rang.

"Parcel?" Kiel asked and I shook my head.

"Wala naman akong inorder this week. Wala rin naman akong ibang ininvite today bukod sa'yo. Wait lang ha." I stood up and made my way to the door.

I opened it and saw my neighbor standing outside. He's wearing an all-black suit and tie.

I think he's on his way to work.

"Uy, hi! Ikaw pala! Anong meron?"
He extended his hand out to me, holding my polo folded up neatly.

I took it and gave him a smile. "Thank you.... kaso... suot ko pa yung shirt mo eh."

"I know. I can see that." Napakasungit naman nito.

"I mean, akala ko kasi sabay nating ibabalik sa isa't isa yung mga damit para, you know, isang beses lang kitang pupuntahan." He suddenly fell silent after I said that.

I mean tahimik naman talaga siya but– basta!

"Just return my shirt whenever you want to. Make sure to wash it up before you give it back to me."

Grabe maka-utos ha. Alam ko naman ang mga basic etiquette sa buhay!

Anyway, I just smiled. "Of course. Lalabhan ko bago ibalik sa'yo." He nodded and I smiled one last time before I started pushing the door to close.

However, my neighbor suddenly stopped me mid-way.

"Yes?" I asked.

"Kapag ibabalik mo na yung shirt, make sure ikaw lang mag-isa." My eyebrows furrowed at what he said.

"I just... don't like people that much." Ah, introvert siguro 'to.

I nodded. "Yeah, sure, I respect that." He nodded as well before walking away. I closed the door and went back to Kiel who was just using his phone.

He waited for me.

He immediately put his phone down as soon as I sat back down on my seat.

"Ano meron?"

"Just my neighbor. Sinauli yung damit ko."

"Akala ko sabay kayo magbabalikan ng damit."

"Akala ko rin nga eh."

He nodded, "Sige, sasamahan naman kita kapag ibabalik mo na yung damit niya–"

"Hindi na." I said, almost sounding like I was in a hurry. Kiel gives me a confused look and I nervously chuckle.

"A-ano kasi... medyo busy ako mamaya so baka hindi ko malabhan agad. Tsaka sabi naman niya pwede ko ibalik anytime eh." I awkwardly smiled at Kiel but he seems to understand anyway.

He nodded, smiling at me. "Alright, no problem. Just call me if you need any help or something like that."

"I know. Thank you."

-----

DRAKE.

After eating our late lunch, Kiel and I decided to hang out in the living room. We were just talking about stuff when I started singing and he followed, as well.

We sang "alone" and in just a few moments, we're basically having a concert in the living room. We stood on the couch, holding remote controls in our hands as we try to reach every high note there is to the song and laugh out loud every time we failed.

Our singing session was quickly cut off when the doorbell suddenly rang.

"Ang dami naman yatang may kailangan sa'kin ngayong araw." I joked before proceeding to the door, still panting.

"CR lang ako ah!" Kiel said before running towards the bathroom. He almost stumbled by the hallway, making me laugh just as I was opening the door.

I turned my head to the entrance and...

"Uy! Hi, neighbor! Kukunin mo na ba yung shirt mo? Ano kasi... nasa dryer pa. Papatuyuin ko nalang naman tapos—"

"Can you and your friend keep your voices down?"

Huh????

My eyebrows furrowed. "Alam mo, neighbor, soundproof yung walls sa bawat unit dito sa building. I've been living here for more than five years and I can say that—"

"Maybe they're not as soundproof as you think. You're not the only one living here so I guess you should learn how to be more considerate to your neighbors."

I blinked in confusion. Kailan kaya 'to hindi magsusungit kapag kinakausap ako?

Anyway, I just smiled. "Sige, we'll just tone our voices down. Balik ka na sa unit mo." I said, gesturing at his door.

He only gave me one last stare before finally turning back to walk to his place. I closed the door and just stood there, wondering what on earth is that guy's problem.