"We actually have a quiz today"

"But it looks like, you can't even move your hand without hurting yourself"

Then I just realized that in the first place, I'm not the one who caused this. But then, I think also, that I have also a faulty part— for not obeying orders. Did I or did not.

" how does it feel when you move?" He continued interrogating

"It hurts so bad " I said

"Then its better, if you stay at home for now, until it heal up"

" Temporarily, use your other reserved hand to eat," said dad. He took a sip from the cup of coffee and took a puff from his cigarette. Then I just noticed, before leaving the dining and now going to his work at his shop in the main town. He always goes home on his break every afternoon, then late in the evening, was his shop's closing hour.

Before finally leaving, he gave me a noticed that I should stay home and shouldn't stray away, I must not let any strangers in and then recalling what had just happened yesterday, about the brutally killing of the culprit; and I shouldn't worry as much as he reassured that he's gonna be back early in the afternoon, and if there's something happen; dial on the telephone.

Then, he said goodbye, and I watched as his jeepney was driven by him.

Although musingly, a bit of me still wanting to go to school, I can't deny the fact that a one day off, to our usually busy regular days in school, were a bit new to me. Ever since, I've been a top notch student, last year I was honored as top 3, diligently spending each night studying almost everything. I won't stop till I can memorize all the stuff the teacher included. Till I unwarily fallen asleep and only would know after my dad told me; in the morning that I did and he will lifted me up and tucked me into my bed,

Some of my friends always teased me with my eye bags and the few pimples on my face, if only they knew how hard I was going.

But I disregard all these physical imperfections, as long as it was rewarding, especially when parents will get to notice you, at least for once, or maybe as I face and see my reflection on the mirror and also see the reflection of the bruise— when you have this.

—————————

I got startled by a ring on the telephone. I was sitting on the sofa, and reading my notes when I heard it. It was placed, next to an aquarium, in a higher desk. I went after it and took the phone call.

" hi! This is Ms. Johnson, how's Ellena?

"Hey! Ms. Johnson, this is me Ellena"

"Oh hi! How are you?" How's your condition? "

"Well ummm…. I feel a little bit okay now, though it was still aching and in pain, but I can say that it's not that too much."

"And my dad decided that I'll not go to school and let me stay here for a while, so I can heal…"

" exactly! I totally agree, you need to rest more until you feel better. Have you already bought the medicine? The cold ice pack? Don't forget it…"

"Yes, we did. Thank you"

And then, I ran out, easily of something to say, and then there was an awkward silence that I'm waiting for her to continue to talk or maybe she's the one, who's going to end the call.

And then she did, when I hear, on her side that there's someone who opened the door and briefly talked to her.

"Uhmm… so yeah, I just check on you. Do not forget the medicine, have you given the prescription to your dad already?"

"Yes…" I said.

" okay… and the cold ice pack too! Goodbye for now. I have something to do. Take care well."

And then the line was cut. And then I put it back on the clip. And then out of nowhere I heard a rung of metallic chains being dragged on a rough-jagged surface of outdoor ground, and then it became louder and louder as it nearer to me.

So I went to the door, opened it and peek outside to see a dog, still in his leash, he has a black and white patch on his furry skin.

Then beyond him, across the road, was the house of the quarrelling couple an hour ago. Devoid of any life: the door- half open, but the lights were off, inside, and there's no trace of the couple.

The dog moved closer to me, dragging his iron chains. And I can't resist the urge to pet this little innocent guy. He was panting and tongue was out. So I hurriedly went to our small kitchen, got one of the small containers under the sink and filled it with water on the faucet. Then, gingerly went back again outside, to the seemingly escaped and thirsty dog, near our dog. The juvenile licked happily on the water.

And then from their house, I saw a person, walking upstairs but then slowed to a stop, and turned around to see me, petting his dog. And I quickly avoided his look as I continuously pet the dog. But something so strange occurred to me; as I looked up at him, this is the first time that I saw that person in that house; all I knew was Mr. And Ms. Smith lives together with Mr. Smith's brother, Fabio. And although, I hardly see the guy, I can clearly see, basing from what it looks like from the distance: he has a very thin and slim body, and long wan hand and fingers, and he was wearing shorts, only that looked like almost turned-into-rag, I'd thought for odd seconds, that it was a towel.

Then I became more suspicious as it became more strange, there was something wrong with his face- as he stared at me, without moving in that stair, his eyes were blank white, pupil less.

I supposed he was their guest, I thought dismissively as I glanced back at the dog, because I felt so awkward when I stared for too long and he stared back. But even though I turned my eyes down, I can still feel his; so I made a quick glimpse to test that; and he was still there, standing rigidly like a sculpted human figure. Then he steps forward downstairs, so I can now clearly see his complexion. Then the next thing I knew was completely baffling: he has what looks like a makeshift crown made from bushes thorns, that wounded his forehead, and it seems to bleed from that scratched wound to his forehead.

My eyes caught in both confusion and shocked, bewildered; who or maybe apt to say; what is that?

And then, just as easy as that, without moving or showing an emotion on his face, he seems to go back upstairs, but what made my heart startled was then, I saw him wielding a huge wooden hammer. It sparks some few scary questions, like, is he the culprit people were talking about, who left the body badly battered and tattered- vowels dangling out of Mr. And Ms. Celestio's son.

I got easily worried and threatened. I can feel the warm sensation exchanging for the cool breeze of morning. What should I do?Should I call the police? My father?

But I'm not even sure if it's really the killer. I just got a chance to glimpse for a very brief moment, and in an instant, he was already gone, upstairs, somewhere in the parts of the house. And I found myself terrifyingly watching and waiting if there's a havoc gonna start, but there's none.

But my instinct already told me what to do, I remembered dad's advice: no matter what happened don't let in any strangers.

So I left the dog outside and closed the door and any possible openings of this house; the windows, even upstairs: I make sure that there is no possible passage to penetrate.

Anxious what to do, still thinking if what I'd just saw is a normal person, human being or an unknown strange thing.

I thought it all back again, as my heart seems to grow and recede. Clearly, when I thought it- he was too strange to be compared to a human alike. Although in just one accident glance, you will believe so, how deceptive your eyes can be. But no, I know there is something unusual with him, that for the first time, I saw him, it sent out tingling chills on my back.

The house now was completely void of any outside sunlight, except the one fluorescent tube that was left open in the kitchen. I tried to even calm myself down a bit, as I sunk vigilantly on our sofa, seemingly disturbing myself, my thoughts to deviate, as I forced my eyes to read my notes again. But can't stop thinking, it was just a few meters away from here. So I squirm in anxiety in my seat, as I every so often look all around me and in paranoid, checking in every dark corner under the dining table, or the sink, upstairs, and even at the back of the sofas- checking it, denying what wasn't real.

I was acting so paranoid in daylight, what more when lights turned black, now I can imagine that I will not be able to sleep at night.

Painstakingly, although I was in careful prudence, of hearing and watching both from the inside and outside, I already imagined some scenarios like, the thing would plunder the house first before burning them alive. And that put a hard lump on my throat.

Long moments before all of these were easily swept under the rug when I heard nothing, except the rustle of the trees outside; breeze-blown, and the chirps of the forest bird. So I quietly opened the door, only to see the dog, seemingly in the front still of our door and had fallen asleep. Then I looked over at their house, and this time, what was my initial terrible and murderous thoughts was put to an end, when I saw both of Mr. And Mrs. Smith, smilingly walking down the stairs. Mr. Smith had hooked around his arm on his wife.

I let out a breath of relief, fully now opened the door and sank down again to pet the little dog. And then, suddenly I heard the crackle of tiny pebbles under the rolling tire of what I quickly imagine- dad's jeepney. But not, when a blue Chevrolet sedan came in view and halted to stop at the Smith's residence.

I thought, fabio— and the windows reeled down.

I think of giving notice to Mr. Fabio, so they won't misinterpret that I stole their dog. So I strides forward, with the dog now awake, skittering in his little fours.

"Uhmm excuse me…"

He was looking for something at the back when he heard me and turned around.

"Oh hey! What can I do for you?"

"Your dog had just escaped" as I glanced down at the dog, yawning. Then offered the red handle leash of it.

Then he went outside, he was wearing an orangy, long-sleeve polo, clutching a leathered black suitcase.

"Where is your father?" He asked.

"Well- uhh, he's not here, he's working"

"So you're all alone there?"

I only nodded.

" then stay rest for a while in our home, while you still waiting for him"

Then he sat down hunkered to caress the dog, and then took the red handle leash from me.

I admitted that on every occasion, iam easily convinced, especially when being persuaded and influenced. But the dog, made me said 'ok'

So we went inside.

***************

"Oh hey is that the child of john?"

"Ahhh" Fabio answered.

" so, how are you?" Ms. Smith said

"Oh, what happened to your shoulder? " she boomed.

"Did someone punch you?

I only swiveled my head with a smile and said;

" uhmm its because I fell down the stairs, I wasn't being careful. "

"Oh!" They all said, concerning.

"When did that happen ?" Does your father know about it?"

"Yeah. I got this yesterday"

"So you're absent in school today?"

" yes, my teacher and nurse let me"

"Good, so it'll heal fast"

"Where is your John?"

"Well, uh- he's in his shop today"

"Oh he's managing a store of guns" he muttered to himself

"Have you eaten lunch yet?" Mrs. Smith asked.

"No…"

"So eat with us, I just cook vegetables and meats for lunch. There are enough for us, we insisted you take your lunch here."