"What are you doing here?" I asked because of his unwelcome presence.
His fuming eyes scan the room and it settled to Sean who's sitting haggardly on the floor.
"No. What are you doing?" He fired back, emphasizing the 'you'.
"We're about to do our group activity."
I furrowed my brows when he laughs without any humor like he's mocking me.
"Group activity? With just the two of you? What kind of activity is it? Let me join."
Join? Is this his new trick to abuse me?
"Leave us alone." I tried to shut the door but he stopped it with his hand on top.
"No. I want to know what are you two up to that you have to take a leave on your job."
"I told you it's a group activity!" I tried to push harder but he's too strong without even trying.
"Then why is it only the two of you?"
With his loud voice, some guys from the billiard hall came out to check on us at the terrace. He's making a scene!
Amidst our battle with the door between us, someone cleared his throat from behind Lyndon.
"Excuse me, we're the other groupmates." I heard Angel's excuse, I tried to peek behind Lyndon but his chest is too wide.
When he moved to take a look behind, I saw Angel turned pale.
"Lyndon?" Mike was the first to speak, he didn't expect to see him here either. Angel grabbed Mike's shirt from behind.
"Hey, you guys are late. We've been waiting for you to start the group activity." Sean soon stood up and greets the other members calmly while emphasizing the 'group activity'.
"Yeah, sorry." Mike stares at Lyndon warily as he moves closer to the door while Angel is behind his back, following him like a scared cat.
Lyndon followed them with his gaze so I blocked it.
"What are you still doing here? I told you already it's a group activity." I said bitterly. I'm not like you who spend time on some ridiculous things.
"The papers." He suddenly said.
I blinked. "What?"
"Where are the papers?" He scowled.
What papers? The bill? Why is he asking me that instead of the landlord?
He noticed my curiosity so he added, "My activities."
I stared at him for a moment, stunned. Is he for real? Is he really asking for it? Did I mishear it?
"Excuse me, what? I think I misheard you."
His jaw clenched before answering again. "Where is my copy of activities that you usually bring?"
So it's real.
"I didn't bring it."
"Why?" His brows furrowed.
Why he asked.
"I thought you don't like it that's why you keep on trashing it."
"I didn't-"
"Suzi, we need to finish this quickly." Sean interrupted him.
"Shut the fuck up we're talking." He said, uptight.
"You're disturbing us, leave." I said to Lyndon. He's going to do anything just to annoy me, huh?
"Bring it to me tomorrow, I'll do it." He said before holding the doorknob and closed the door himself.
I heard my members sigh of relief when he finally left. They stayed quiet about what happened, I sense fear from them so I started the meeting to ease them. Right after that, we assigned our parts, identify our topic, search for our possible references, and plan out how will we do our activity. We wrapped up the information we've gathered after a few hours.
"Omg, Sean! You have a bruise." Angel pointed at his arm. "Did Lyndon do it?" She asked worriedly. "I heard he's like a mad dog. What did he do to you?"
"Angel." Mike stopped her from talking too much. Angel shut her mouth as she looks at me, she opened it again after giving me a look of curiosity.
"Is there something going on between you two?"
I frowned at her absurd question.
"Angel, stop." Mike reprimanded even though he's curious too.
"I'm just curious, she's not obliged to answer if she doesn't want to."
"No. There's nothing going on between us, if there is then it must be hatred."
They didn't question me further and I'm grateful for that. It's really disturbing that they even think of that despite what they have witnessed earlier. Thinking about their question gives me chills.
I was about to ask them to stay for dinner but when I check my mini-fridge, it's empty. I haven't gone to the market for the past few days because I've been buying cooked meals.
"I'm sorry, I want to make you guys dinner but I haven't gone to the market yet."
"No, we're fine. We'll just eat outside." Angel smiled.
"What about you?" Sean asked.
I looked at his arm and answered. "I'll just buy some."
"How about you join us?"
I lifted my gaze at his question, I'm being invited out to join them. This is the first time.
"Are you sure?" I hesitated.
"Of course." He smiled at me.
I quickly wear my jacket because it's about to get dark, night breeze is usually cold.
When we went downstairs, the billiard hall is already empty, the landlord isn't in the apartment too. On my starting days here, I was very scared because I'm literally alone inside an empty apartment. I spent my nights studying to occupy my mind when fear is starting to devour me. Overthinking makes it worse, thinking that an unidentified spirit starts to appear out of nowhere or a man with ill intentions attacks me, so I always make myself busy.
After a week and a few days, I'm slowly getting used to it that it didn't matter to me anymore whether I'm alone or not.
I didn't know if it's because I ate too much or if it's because of the thought that someone invited me to join them that makes me full. Either way, I'm very satisfied because they also treat me to dinner so I fully go on eating without worrying about my money. We finished eating after the sunset.
"Thank you for the meal." I thanked them afterward, ready to leave.
"Wait, I'll accompany you on your way home." Sean stopped me. "It's already dark."
"No, it's okay. The apartment is just near here. Your house is farther than mine so you should go with them already."
Angel and Mike agreed with me, leaving Sean no choice but to follow. We bid each other goodbye and left on separate ways.
I stared at the passageway in front of me, it's darker than usual...and eerie. I looked back from where they left but they are already gone. I sighed.
I should just think about the things and foods I should buy from the market this Saturday and budget them.
Carrots, potatoes, cabbage, eggs, bread, seasonings, pen, toiletries, Lyndon...
Lyndon?
As I was walking at the shortcut alley, I saw him talking with three other guys, they seem to know each other. I don't know if they are also the ones who play billiard at our place or they're different from the guys he brings there.
Out of panic, I hid behind the large trash cans. I don't have any choice since I have a feeling that if they saw me alone they will dispose of me immediately.
What is he doing here in this dark alley meeting with someone in the middle of the night? He seems very suspicious than usual.
I also didn't mean to eavesdrop but I heard some of their conversations.
"We just want the body not her head so we don't care if she's intelligent or a dumb bitch. If you don't follow the deal and refuse to give it to us, you know what will happen, right?"
I covered my mouth with my shaking hands to not let my gasp out and be heard.
What was that? What kind of deal is that? That's Lyndon, right? They are talking to Lyndon. What are they talking about? A lot of thoughts came building up inside my head but I'm too afraid to listen to it all at once.
If I'm right that they're one of those who visit our place then I must be the one they're talking about, right? They visit the hall frequently because they are planning to do something terrible to me. Does the landlord know about this? Remembering his bright face because of his sudden customers and his endless kindness towards me, I think not.
I thought that Lyndon's bringing them every day just to annoy and abuse me but I didn't expect that his anger for me will go this far.
Lyndon's reply and the rest of their conversation became muffled because of my thoughts shouting inside my head. My vision became blurry, tears pooled in my eyes. I bit my hand just to refrain myself from sobbing.
I waited for them to leave so that I can go home already. An hour has passed after they left but I still didn't move an inch. I'm afraid that if I get back there, death already awaits me.
Thinking about that place reminds me of him, sitting in front of my room waiting for me to get back as he ready his knife to stab me and cut my head. Or maybe he's waiting inside my room so that people won't notice if he did those horrible things to me inside.
My heart aches at the thought of my own death. My mind is telling me not to go back and just run away like I used to do but I insisted to go back, facing that beast.