Chapter 11

I'm at the pace of my life where I'm crawling just to live another day. Many people could think what I'm doing is disgusting but if you're trying to live to see another day, you won't see that point of view. It is when you are in the position, your eyes will open up to things you've never thought that's happening in real life and this is what it is right now. The real tragedy of my life.

As when I parked my car on the street and take turns on my GPS and place Lilac's talking about, I don't know if I'm already at it but this is where my GPS brought me to. I stepped out of the car and headed to the landlord she's talking about.

It is a three-story apartment building and actually seeing it wasn't that bad, could be comfortable or good enough for myself while I'm trying to fix all of my messes. This could be enough of a home for me.

I push the doorbell and for about five minutes, I heard a shout from a man followed by his rummaging footsteps. Not that long when the doors open, a middle-aged man came into my sight. I'm trying my best to give my pleasant greeting but I don't think that this person wouldn't mind it.

"Who are you?" he asked, checking from head to toe. Now that's something. "What are you doing in my apartment?"

"Oh, so you're the landlord?" I said, reminding myself that I should talk to him first.

He raised his bow and still trying to interrogate me, "I am the landlord and what it brings you here?"

"Well," I started. "I'm trying to find a place and thought that there could be some vacant rooms to rent-in."

"Oh," he muttered then laughed. "You're too late, the last room was already occupied."

"Are there any rooms I can rent? I can pay for it!" I said.

But he just shook his head, "it doesn't matter, all units are vacant. Goodbye and step off of my land."

Even if I tried to persuade him, there's no unit to take when it's all occupied. But when he's about to close the door, I immediately step in my foot onto the door and made him open it once again.

"What are you doing?"

"Someone referred to me this place," I told him and he was just looking at my face, it's like he was about to waste his time on me. "Lilac referred me to this place."

His eyes narrowed when I gave him a name, "who's Lilac?"

And I do remember that it's not that name to tell him, "it's Gina, she told me to go to this apartment."

Suddenly, he got interested when he's slowly opening the door widely. "So, you know Gina?"

I nodded, "Yes..."

"How?"

I scratched my head with all his questions, "she's my colleague. Is there any chance I could still—"

Then he hastily grabs my arms and pulls me inside the apartment and closes the door behind us. And maybe I thought that was perfect timing and I almost forget to say it.

"So I could get a room?" I asked him.

He looked at me, "hmmm... maybe," he was unsure.

"What?"

"There are no vacant units as of now but I think someone can have a shared unit with someone else. He just moved in and I guess if we talked to him about it, you can share it with him. Do you like it? Or else you don't have many places to stay and of course, I wouldn't let Gina down."

Napatango na lamang ako sa sinabi niya, at least there's a little chance of staying here. Naglakad naman ang matanda papunta sa hagdanan, tiningnan ko lang siya kaya binalikan niya ako ng tingin.

"C'mon, we'll meet him and talk to him so you could get your room."

"Sure," aniko saka sumunod sa kanya.

As we're heading upstairs to the third floor, he keeps talking about Gina that if she would come by here or anything that comes with Gina. I answered him with all uncertainties because I do not know that Gina, and I'm just trying to get a room and this man was trying to make his move to whoever that Gina is. It is all I care for whatever that it's.

When he gets on the third floor, we passed by a few doors until we reach the unit room 304. He knocks on the door and calls out some name of Enrico. Not that long when the door opens and the person he's talking about came right in front of us.

"Oh, hello, Enrico? How are you? Are you comfortable?" he asks.

Enrico just nodded to him.

"Good to know that," he said and trying to make an opening about it and I'm playing it cool. No tense. "I have something to tell," he said and Enrico was just like all ears to him. I'm taller than him, he got bored eyes and I couldn't tell by that if we're bugging him off or it was natural. "I would just like to know if you're okay having a shared unit with this man." Then he pointed at me.

Enrico looked at me and goes back to him, "I already paid my rent for three months."

"I can pay the half back to you,"

"Yes!" the landlord said, "he'll pay back the half of your payment. If you're okay with it, 'cause I know this unit has a bunk bed. What do you think?"

He shrugged off his shoulder, "I don't know, maybe."

"Is that a yes?" I asked.

"Maybe, do you have big things to put here?"

I shook my head, "no, just my clothes. It's all I have."

He smirked and I just ignored it.

"What's your decision Enrico?" the landlord asked.

"Go on, just pay me and we're good."

"Cool!"

"Great!" the landlord said and he faces me, "now tell Gina that I've got you a room, okay?"

"Sure I will," I smile.

"Okay, I'll go back to my room and if you need anything, just knock on the first door on the first floor, I'm at your service."

"Well, I'll be—"

"No more—" he just interrupted me and he left us heading downstairs. When he left, Enrico goes back inside his room.

"Hey, I'm just gonna pick up my bag outside," I told—almost a shout and he just nodded at me. Well, that's conversational. When he goes inside the bedroom, I went outside to pick up my bags. When I get back to the room, I got the first look around, not many spaces but I think its good for both of us and one thing, I'm not going to stay here for a long time. When I walked into the bedroom, I found him finishing the upper bed of the bunk bed.

"Hey," he called me. "You'll take the upper bed, 'cause I already slept the one below."

"Sure, not a problem." I said, "and thanks for being a good person."

"Why do you think I'm good?"

"Well, you have me to get a shared unit with you."

"It's not because of that, I just need the money."

"Oh," I muttered. "Okay... I just thought... nevermind, but are we cool?"

"Sure," he timidly replied. "How long are you gonna stay anyway?"

"Not much longer," I answered.

"You're still gonna pay me the half, right?"

I nodded to him, "it's what we agreed to, so yeah." I immediately grab my wallet and give him the only cash I've left on my wallet.

"This isn't enough," he said as he counted it. "You still owe me half."

"That's the only cash I have right now, but do you take cards?"

Napailing na lamang siya sa akin, "just pay me when you have it."

"I will,"

As soon as he left the bedroom, I went to my bed and already falling asleep. This might be weird, sharing a unit with a stranger, what could possibly go wrong? But what the hell, I don't care about sharing a unit with a stranger, after all, I've been in a world of danger for Pete's sake and this man, I think might not be harmful after all.

He's just emo, weird guy. That's all.

A few hours of getting some sleep, I woke up from a call. I answered it, it was Prentice.

"Hey... Dan... I know you're there... well, I just called to let you know something... we're having a baby girl... I just wanted you to know that, even if you don't want to be part of her life... see you around, Dan..." then she hung up.

And I took a deep breath, carrying a lot of emotions inside me and I don't know what to do. Tears and happiness were just all I feel. And this may end sooner, I'll come back for her. I promise.