What happened next door was later broadcast in the local news. 

Everyone was surprised how Renee ended her life, and the reason why she did that was still an ongoing case, but they said on the news that they were leaning into the subject of questioning her husband, Hayden. The police have received information about their fighting and how it caused a disturbance in the nearby household. Iyon lang din ang maaaring mag-cause kung bakit umabot siya sa desisyong iyon.

Pumunta rin naman kaagad sina Patty at Bailey matapos ko silang tawagan kanina. The Cummings household couldn't be entered by anyone right now. They put yellow tape around the house and only the authorities could get inside. I wanted to go inside the house and check what happened, but I couldn't.

I felt like it was more than just a suicide case.

"I have a weird feeling about what happened," sabi ni Patty. "Bakit gagawin ni Renee 'yon? No'ng nakausap naman natin siya, malungkot siya, oo, pero parang hindi naman siya 'yong tipo ng tao na gagawin 'yon. She was pregnant pa. I don't think she would do it."

"Or maybe she knew something that put her life to danger kaya niya ginawa 'yon," sabi pa ni Bailey. Napakunot ang noo naming dalawa ni Patty sa kanya. "Bakit naman parang jinudge niyo ako sa opinion ko, ha? Akala ko magbibigay tayo ng mga possible scenario tapos para titingnan niyo ako na parang may kasalanan ako. Like, duh?"

"Why would she do that though?" Patty questioned her. "Kung may alam siya, hindi niya gagawin 'yon. If I was her, siguro nagpakalayo-layo na ako. Hindi na ako mag-stay pa. Siguro 'yong mga pag-aaway nila, it wasn't just a fight. Ikaw ba, Mitch? Anong nalalaman mo?"

"Ha? Saan?" usal ko.

"Duh? Nasaan ka ba, huy?" ani Patty. "Pinag-uusapan lang natin 'yong nangyari sa mag-asawa, kung saan-saan na tumatakbo 'yang isipan mo."

"O baka may alam ka talaga, Mitch, ha? Sabihin mo na sa amin, hindi naman namin sasabihin, e," dagdag pa ni Bailey. "Saka kaibigan mo naman kami. Chika mo naman sa amin kung may nalalaman ka pa."

"Pulis ka ba para ichika ko 'yon?"

Nanlaki naman ang mata nila. Napasinghap pa si Patty. "'Yong totoo, Mitch? May alam ka ba na hindi namin alam? It wa slike you know something, but if you think that would keep you safe. . . Okay. Don't tell us right now. . . Pero curious ako, does it have to do anything with you?"

Umiling ako. "No. No. Hindi naman ako. It wasn't about me, but I felt like it wasn't just my place to say something about it. I guess, we'll just have to let the things unfold on its own. . ."

"Hm. . . Interesting. . . What could happen in the next few days, 'no?" tanong pa ni Patty, pero hindi na ako sumagot.

I knew by the things I said and acted, that they were already guessing I'd done something in it. But I wasn't the one who put her into her death. I just can't believe that they thought I'd done something, but if they just knew the truth, it was Hayden.

"Hindi pa rin ba umaalis 'yong mga pulis sa labas?" tanong ni Patty.

Mabilis namang sumilip si Bailey. "Hindi pa. . . May dalawa pang sasakyan sa labas. Mukhang hindi pa sila tapos. But if they were leaning into a suicide case, bakit naman parang sobrang tagal na imbestigahan 'yong loob ng bahay?"

"It hasn't been a day naman," sgaot ni Patty. "If they would so such investigation, hindi 'yan titigil hangga't ma-rule na nila kung anong case ito. There could be a foul play or whatever. . . I think we should go to a party and forget that this is happening. . . You should come with us, Mitch. Bawal ang humindi. You've been stressed enough to deal with this, so deserve mo naman sumaya. Go hook up with men out there. Let the police do their job. We might not know it soon, pero nabalita na rin naman sa TV kung anong nangyari so we'll know it then. . ."

Pumayag naman akong sumama sa kanila. Pakiramdam ko ay hindi rin ako makakatulog buong gabi na aalalahanin ko kung anong nangyari kay Renee. Wala na akong balita kay Hayden at kung nasaan siya ngayon. Hindi ko na rin nakakausap si Zeke, sigurado ako na siya ang nakita ko kaninang umaga. He was there, at that moment. Hindi ko alam kung paano umabot sa kanya ang balitang iyon. Someone might've tell him. Hayden could've told him about it. Wala na naman iba pang tao na pwede niyang malaman iyon kung hindi sa lalaking kinakama siya.

Inalis ko sa isipan ko iyon. Nagpalit lamang ako ng damit at saka ako sumama kina Patty at Bailey sa isang club. Doon na rin namin kinita si Cole na binungaran pa ang kanyang girlfriend kung nabalitaan namin ang nangyari kay Renee Cummings. When he found out na iyon ang kapitbahay ko, he was shocked. Late na rin niyang na-realize na magkakasama kaming tatlo dahil pinag-uusapan namin ang tungkol doon.

I went to the bar counter and ordered a drink for myself.

"Hey." Umangat naman ang tingin ko sa nagsalita. Pagkatingin ko naman ay ang bartender pala iyon. Pumwesto naman ito sa harapan ko saka inabot ang in-order kong rum coke. "Why does it seem like you were going through something, huh?"

Napangiwi naman ako. "Nah. . . It's nothing. . ."

Sumipsip ako sa baso ng rum coke ko. It made me feel good. It wasn't as strong as I usually get, but this was enough for me. I don't need too much alcohol right now. I need my mind to be in the right place.

"Have you got anything to do tonight?" he asked.

Napakunot ang noo ko saka ako umiling. "No. . . Nothing."

"Who are you with today? Are you with anyone else? Any boyfriends?" he queried.

Napangisi ako. "I don't have a boyfriend, but I came here with my friends. . . I think they were on that side. I just came here to get a drink. This day was too much for me. I just needed to put my mind elsewhere."

"Hm," he hummed. "Well, I've got something else for you."

"What is it?" I asked.

"Have you got a minute?" he asked, and I nodded. "Follow me."

He cocked his head to the side where he entered a room that says "Authorized personnel only" and he walked inside. Hindi ko sigurado kung susundan ko ba siya sa loob, but he was expecting me to be there. I took the glass of rum coke with me and found my way to the room where he was waiting for me. As soon as I closed the door behind me, he reached for the knob and locked it.

"This should be quick," he said, taking his belt off and zipping his pants down. "Do you give good head?" he asked.

"Yes. . ." tipid kong sagot.

"Perfect! I really need one tonight. I am so horny and I think you're a very pretty good boy. Come on, I need to get back to work. Get on your knees and suck my cock."

Pinaluhod niya ako at nang tumapat na sa mukha ko ang crotch niya ay ibinaba ko naman ang underwear nito. He was already hard that's why it didn't take him too long to reach the peak of his length. Iniangat ko muna ang tingin ko sa kanya bago ko ibinuka ang bibig ko at dahan-dahan kong sinubo ang kanyang pagkalalaki. Napaliyad ang ulo nito habang ipinapasada ko ang bibig ko sa kahabaan nito.

I wasn't moving my head anymore when he started to thrust his hips into my mouth. I choked up multiple times, but he didn't bother. It was too hot for him to stop. Just as when he was close enough to reach his climax, someone kept knocking on the door. As soon as the knocking stop, he made me get up on my knees from the floor and put his pants back on. He whispered to me that we would continue it later back at his house as there were too many nuances happening around. Tango na lang din naman ang isinagot ko at saka mabilis kaming lumabas ng staff room.

I went back to where my friends were sitting, pero naabutan kong wala si Cole at Patty ro'n. Si Bailey lamang ang naabutan ko at may kausap pa itong lalaki. I was about to join them, pero ayoko namang sirain ang moment ni Bailey, so I chose to go around the dance floor and started flirting with me around.

In the middle of the dance floor, I was dancing with one of the guys I found cute and he asked me if I wanted to take a pill. I didn't understand what he was explaining, but I agreed. Pinabuka niya ang bibig ko at siya mismo ang nagpasok ng pill sa bunganga ko. I drank it together with the rum coke. 

The sick beat and people dancing around made me feel so alive. Someone took my rum coke out of my hand. Hindi ko alam kung sino, but if they wanted it, they could have it, I guess. Wala na akong ideya kung sino-sino ang mga lalaking lumalapit sa akin. They were grinding themselves into mine. Ramdam na ramdam ko pa kapag idinidikit nila ang pagkalalaki nila sa pwetan ko. Some of them were horny. Kung hindi lang open masyado, I bet some of them had their dicks flung out and could be fucking someone else right now.

Later on, I was feeling a little high, and I was kissing men around. Somehow, in the middle of the crowd, I saw someone familiar.

"Gio. . ." I mumbled his name as I left traces of kisses on his neck. "I didn't know you would be here. . ."

"I am, and I wanted to talk to you," he spoke right next to my ear since we couldn't understand each other from the loud music that the DJ was playing. "Would you come with me for a second? This is kind of important and I need you to know it."

"Can we do it later? I'm having fun. . . You should be having fun as well. Are you also moving in with your parents? It seemed like you are in the town so often. . . Or you were seeing some people around? I know you're type, Gio. . . They were just around waiting to get fucked."

"I think you're high," he spoke to my ear.

"What?"

"I think you're high. What did you take?" he asked, but I don't fully understand what he meant.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Gio."

"I need to pull you out of this crowd." He grabbed my hand, and he was pulling me away from my spot, but I hastily retrieved my hand from him. "Come on, Mitch. I think it would be best if you could go home now. Did you get here alone? I'll take you home."

"Go away, Gio! Don't be a killjoy. . . Have some fun or else get lost!"

He shook his head. "You're not listening, Mitch. I don't know if we will see each other again, but you should take a test—"

I wasn't able to hear what he said anymore and he got lost when the music got loud and the crowd went wild. I was on the dance floor for a few hours until I was pulled out from the crowd by Patty and Bailey. A moment later, a man came to us asking if he could talk to me. Patty said no, but I wouldn't accept a no for an answer. I left my friends on the table and joined the man. If I do remember it correctly, he was the bartender who I sucked earlier. We were leaving the club and he whispered to my ears that he would be taking me home, and I just giggled at the thought of what we could do.

***

"Hey, hey. . . Get up. It's time for you to leave." Nagising na lamang ako sa pagyugyog ng taong nagsalita. Hindi ko naman maibuka ang mata ko nang maayos dahil nasisilawan ako sa liwanag. The window blinds were on, and it shouldn't be at this hour. "It's seven in the morning. . . I let you sleep in my bed because you gave me a good head as you promised, but it's time for you to leave. I don't want my girlfriend to find you here."

I couldn't get up easily, and so he offered me some medicine to take. He thought the rum coke wasn't strong enough to make me feel this way. My body could tolerate most of the alcohol, but something happened just put me in this kind of bliss that made my head hurt a little bit.

I stayed for ten more minutes until I felt a little better. I put my clothes on, and before I left his house, he told me not to tell anyone because it was our only secret. Tumango na lamang ako sa kanya at tuluyan akong lumabas ng bahay niya.

When I was outside of his house, it took me quite a while to figure out where I was. As I learned that I'm in the place near the Motel Maria. Nagkaroon naman ako ng ideya na silipin kung nando'n si Hayden. Pagkarating ko sa premises ng motel ay nakita ko ang sasakyan niya na naka-park do'n. Nagdalawang isip ako kung sisilipin ko ba siya sa kwarto niya o hahayaan ko na lang dahil ayokong ma-connect muli sa kanya.

Naghintay na lamang ako ng taxi na masasakyan pabalik sa bahay. Hindi rin naman nagtagal nang may humintong taxi sa harapan ko. Mga ten minutes lang din ang itinagal ng biyahe at nakarating din naman kaagad ako sa bahay. Pagkabayad at pagkababa ko ng sasakyan ay una kong napansin ang sasakyan ng pulis sa labas ng bahay ng mga Cummings.

Hindi pa rin sila tapos. . .

Tumungo naman ako sa bahay ko, pero pagkapasok ko lamang sa loob ay biglang may kumatok sa pinto. Napaikot ang mata ko at bagsak ang balikat na bumalik sa pinto at saka binuksan ito. Bumungad naman sa harapan ko ang isang officer na nangangalang Officer Bloom. May hawak itong notepad sa kaliwang kamay at ballpen sa kanang kamay. Napansin ko rin ang deep black shades na nakasabit sa may kwelyo nito.

"Good morning. . . May I confirm if I'm speaking with Mitchel Burrow?"

Tumango ako. "Yes, sir. . . Good morning."

"Perfect. . . Good thing, Miss Klara Champagne caught you before me. . ." anito saka siya napalingon sa likuran kung saan niya tinanaw si Nay Kla na nakatayo lamang sa tapat ng bahay nila. Ibinalik din naman kaagad nito ang tingin niya sa akin. "I know you know what happened to your female neighbor, Renee Cummings. It was on the news and we only shared minor details because this is still an ongoing case. . ."

"Why would it be an ongoing case kung na-rule naman na suicide ang nangyari?"

Umiling naman ito. "We haven't ruled out anything yet, Mister Burrow. That's why I came here to see and talk to you because we needed some information regarding the Cummings. Since you live close to them, you are just one door away from them, we would like to ask you some questions. Would that be okay with you?"

I wasn't able to answer him.

"I know it was too early to do this and I apologize if I was coming at this hour, but we needed to do this now. What you know could help us resolve what really happened to Renee Cummings. . ."

"Why? What do you think really happened to her?"

He shook his head. "I can't answer your question, Mister Burrow. But you can answer mine. . . How well do you know the Cummings?"

I know them so well. When the day they moved in, they fucked for the first time and I saw it all. Every time they did it, I was there to watch them. There wouldn't be a time for me not to miss it out. I felt like watching them having sex was enough for me to know them. They loved each other. They wouldn't do such a thing that would put each other in harm. . . But then I was wrong. All I knew was wrong and there were a lot of things I knew that I might also be wrong.

They shouldn't really be asking me. They don't need to ask me. I was just their neighbor. They should be asking Zeke who was part of this act. I stopped entertaining Hayden when I found out about the things he did.

I would still take all those secrets with me to the grave. I'm not ready to lose anything yet, I thought I would, but I can't. 

I love my life and the freedom I had. Everything was so precious back then. I really don't have to be scared of anything. I was having the best time of my life out there, and it all changed when I tied myself in a mess with a troubled married man.

I just can't lose my life because of one dead pregnant woman. Not now.

Three snaps.

All that brought me back to my senses.

"I'm losing you, Mister Burrow. . . " he said, swaying the pen he was holding in front of my face.

I slightly shook my head and returned my attention to the officer talking to me. His eyes were on me, and he never wanted to look away. As he was holding a pen and a pad in his hand, I knew I'd be here for the rest of the night.

"It would be better if you'd come with me to the station."

I looked back and turned around to see where it all began. A lot of things had happened and I was a part of it and now that they were coming at me as if I did something bad, I knew this would be the end of my peaceful life. This would be all over the news and people would see me as a villain—but I'm not.

I shifted my head back to the officer and nodded to confirm it. "Yes, sir. . . I will. . ."

"Alright, come with me. . ." he said, and I followed him, leaving all the past behind.

***