Lana pipes

What the heck? What the actual heck? How is it possible that Mom knew this neighbour/tenant before? No stalker neighbour/tenant that is what he is. The way she looked at him, it was as if they knew each other for a possibly long time.

"Lana, play hide and seek with me." My younger brother Ben called me, who is 10 years younger than me. "Play with dad, I'm not interested-" I didn't complete, "Dad isn't home yet" Ben replied. He left me no choice. "Alright," I said.

"I'll hide, you find me" Ben contended.
I shook my head.
I closed my eyes and started counting, Ben ran over to where ever he intended to hide.

I heard footsteps and opened my eyes. "Mom, You're finally here, I've been waiting for you. Do you know that freak? How do you know? Why did you send me away?" I started questioning without a gap.

"Lana would you please, give a break from that dense question of yours?" My mom pleased and sounded irritated at the same time.

"But Mom did he hurt you? Or what the heck did he do? You, you sound so-"

"Lana I'm tired and you," She grabbed my shoulders with her palms and said, "You stay the hell away from him."

But, I intended to ask her but why? But she just left, no matter how many times I'm gonna ask she isn't gonna tell. I'm gonna have to find it out on my own. And I will.

If I can't get my answers from her, then I shall get them from that hooligan.

I walked out of our house and reached his. The door is open, well that's a good sign, unlike last time, I don't have to bang the doorbell.

He saw me coming and stood in front of his porch. "What the heck did you do to her?" I questioned him pointing my index finger.

"Oh! Miss Careeda I did nothing to her, she caught the flu" He answered.

"What?" I uttered in confusion. Later noticed that my finger is pointing towards his ginger cat, which is on the porch.

"I don't care a thing about your stupid cat, I'm asking about my mom," I said with disbelief. "She's flustered"

"Does this whimsical face look like it did something?" He shook his head. "Besides she looks like she would do something, no offence of course." He derided.

"Well, well, well now who's offending and adding no offence at the end"

"If you'll leave I have works to do- "

"What are your so momentous works anyway" I flashed into his house and found several paints on the sofa and tables, there were even a few paintings hung up on either side of the walls, when I came into his house this morning there weren't any.

"You're an artist," I said with a huge surprise.

"Is it bad to be one?"

"Nope. I simply didn't peg you for it." I said calmly.

"What did you peg me exactly for then?" He queried.

I spun around taking a look at the surroundings, something about this place now is welcoming and pleasant or maybe it's those astounding paintings and arts. "Hmm, for being a rogue, stalker, hypocrite-"

"How discourteous" He arced a brow.

I avoided him and went forward to see more paintings on the backside of the sofa, Ben was hiding there. "Ben? You are here, why?"

"You caught me." He said displeased. "He said you wouldn't catch me here," Ben said looking at that rogue. He is smiling now, looking at me.

"So, now you're friends with my brother?"

"It seems I can't be yours, baby cakes" He winked.

"What?"

"It's written on your shirt!" He said staring at my shirt. I leaned down to look at it, its white shirt written with baby pink letters as baby cakes, with a small chocolate cake photo. "What's your name?" I inquired.

"Jaro, Jaro Briggs"

That's what Mom murmured when she first saw him, it means she knew him before and that is a name? Who  names  like is that? "That's a name? I think your parents are also eccentric like you, maybe you got it from them that stalking, hypocritical behaviour etc," I said with a twisted smile.

He's so calm now, it's almost like he's offended. As if I care? I don't care if he's offended or not. "That, only they can answer if they are alive, or not, I mean how would I know?" He said emotionless.

"So, you-, you are- "

"An orphan"

Hmm, that's the reason he went so melancholy, as I said I don't care nor regret telling anything. "Ben, let's go," I said to Ben holding his hands.

"No sorry? Or I'm sorry for saying that stuff? Anything that sorta?" He clenched his jaw, looking intrigued.

"Why should I be sorry, if your parents left you? It's not like my fault and I'm not sorry for saying anything." I said without absolutely regretting anything. I and Ben walked out of his house. But one question remained to bother my mind. How did Mom know him? Even if she know, what did she talk to him about, without me? Why does she look tensed and warned me to stay out of his sight? If she has a problem with him, then she can make him leave this house, why not do that?

Q/A

Q. Do you like your neighbours?

A-

Author's note:

I hope you're enjoying this story, so far. Stay tuned for more interesting twists and turns. It's gonna be a ride on a rollercoaster.

👻