the other

As soon as I opened the door. A plate just flew in front of me and hit the wall beside me. Thank goodness that I had a good reflexes that I avoided it. My roommate is angry again at me, what it is again this time. "Where is my red lipstick, I can't find it anywhere. No one will going to take it except you" widening her eyes at me. "Why would I take that? I have my own red lipstick. I don't use other's lipstick especially if it is cheap. It would make my lips itchy" "What did you say?!" as she walks boldly towards me. She pulled my hair then said, "So you are saying that I am using a cheap lipstick and you have the expensive one?" "You are the one who said that", I said without showing any reaction. "You!" I can already see from her face that she is pissed as she pulled my hair more. I was about to talk back when my phone from the pocket of my school uniform ring. I shook her hands off of me to answer the call. "Hello" I knew she was going to kick me again so I stopped her before that happened. Before I leave the room, I told her to why not ask her best friend. I saw her earlier in the girl's bathroom applying the same lipstick she use in front of the mirror when I take a pee. I heard her shiver before I closed the door completely.

"Hello? Mom?!" "What?!"

After class, I went immediately to the place my mom told me. I know this is going to bring bad news. I sigh as I push the glass door and entered. She waved her hand from the back of the place. Then I walked towards her. "What are you going to tell me that it seems urgent" I said as soon as I reached her table. "Why don't you have a seat first?" So I pulled the seat in front of her. "What now?! I still need to go home and study. I have an exam tomorrow" I know what you are thinking, I am not being respectful to my own mother.

I don't treat her as my mother ever since I caught her having an affair to another man that leads my dad to death. I will never forgive her. So I decided to leave the house and live on my own. And now, she's calling me because she needs something? What do you think a kind of mom she is? It really makes me angry remembering all those things she did.

"I broke up with Andrew" "And so, what do you want me to do. Throw a party for you? Congratulate you?" "I caught him with another girl", she said as she started crying. "Well… Karma hits real hard" then drink the coffee prepared for me. "If that is what you are just going to tell me that you have to call me here. This is nonsense, I have to leave" I said as I stand and motion to leave. "Why don't we live together again?" I slowly turned to her with disgust. Both of her hands are holding the cup of her coffee looking down then slowly raised her head to look at me with pitying eyes. "Did I just hear you wrong?", I said as I completely face her. "Let's live together again. Let's start all over again", she said as she hold my hand but I move it away. "Don't act like a mother to me now just because you are all alone now. I survived all by these years by myself and I can still do that in the future for more years to come without your help" I said then leave.

I lie on my bed as soon as I arrived in the dorm. Little did I know that tears are already flowing from my eyes. When I heard the door opened, I immediately wiped them off. I hear my roommate happily talking to someone on the other line. I bet it was her new boyfriend.

I know that sooner or later, that woman would find out where I was staying. I know that she won't give up on me. I also know that even I turned the world around, she's still my mother yet I can't still forgive her. I can't still live with her. Every time I saw her face, the pain returns. All the memories goes back, I know that I can't move on if I will still keep those anger on my heart but I am not yet ready to forgive her, I am not yet ready to face her.

When my roommate is sleeping soundly after texting her boyfriend until late at night, I packed my things and leave. There is no need to tell her because she won't look for me anyway. We are not in good terms since we shared the same room.

I took the first trip in the bus going home in the province. I know that my grandma will adopt me, it is much better to have her than leaving with my mom or fighting with my roommate every day.

I gently stretched my arms and yawn when I woke up from being dazzled on the light of the sun coming in from the window of the bus. When I fully opened my eyes and my spirit is completely awake, I realized that I already arrived on my grandma's hometown. I smiled looking around as I get off the bus. This place bring back memories. I was seven when we last came here to spend summer, my family is still happy and complete that time. Time really flies so fast, you will never know what will happen next.

I rode a tricycle to go on grandma's house. I still remember that it in the opposite side of a tall mango tree where we always climb with my cousins. I again looked around for a second time with a smile on my face when I went of the tricycle like I came home for the first time in years coming from working abroad. I immediately pull my luggage and went on my grandma's house across. I opened the small old fence made up of bamboo that is tied together. I was about to enter when a woman on her forties wearing a floral duster skirt sweeping the dry leaves away went to me to tell me that no one is already living on that house, it is abandoned. At first, I don't believe her because I know that this is my grandma's house, it is where she lives. What she told me next shocked me like my dream of my future has torn apart. My grandma died a week ago and her son, which is my uncle is planning to renovate the house and sell it. I turned around to go back when I saw my mom staring at me hiding on the mango tree. "Mom?" Then go to that tree to make sure yet no one is in there, I am imagining things again.

The first thing that came into mind is what do I do now or where will I go. I can't go back there after leaving like that and show my face again to them, I bet that my roommate will laugh at me. Before I find a shelter, I visited grandma's grave. I told her everything I want to tell her that I never told her and also share what happened to me. A strong wind blows in conjunction with the sound of my stomach. I almost forgot to fill my stomach and it is already complaining because I haven't eaten anything since last night. I brought out a piece of bread then that is what I ate. After a rest, I stand. I need to find a shelter before the sun goes down.

I look like a lost kid walking around the town back and forth looking for an apartment when I noticed a flyer posted on an electric post. The school on the picture is not so far from here so I think, I can make it.

Passed seven in the evening when I got off the bus. I was standing in a waiting shed beside a street light that keeps on flickering. Just now, when the light flickered I saw a girl standing under the street light. Dressed like any other students, yet her skin was pale, face looking downwards and her hair was in a mess. It was just a blink yet when she stared at me, I stood like a paralyzed person. My breath hitched as she glanced at me. Those eyes of hers was the most lifeless eyes I have ever seen. I looked around but no one is in there and the only noise I can hear is the cold wind that rushes unto my skin. I thought that I was just tired from the trip and half sleepy so that is why I am imagining things.

Carrying my luggage, I started to walk on that path without any lights but my phone. After a seventeen minutes of walk, I finally reached the school in the middle of the woods covered with tall trees. A huge gate opened automatically that startled me a little, I walked slowly entering the place as I roam my eyes around the whole campus. My right hand is holding my things while the left is holding the map of the school. Following what is written on the paper, I went at the back of one of the buildings and there I saw the dorm where the walls are covered with tall grasses. Before I enter, I saw a young woman who looks like the same age as mine with long straight hair wearing a school uniform sitting at the stairs where the entrance to the building is. I didn't mind her and walked inside to look where room I was assigned. Room 17, this is where I will stay, I hope that I will get along with my roommate. I took a deep breath as I knock on the door. After a few seconds, the door was opened. My eyes widened when I saw the girl who opened the door for me. Even the place is dark I am sure on what I saw. Without looking at me even for a second, she went directly to her bed and cover herself with blanket. I know that it is rude to ask this to a person you just met but I still asked her if she had a twin sister or any relatives that looks like her who is also in this school. The girl get up of her bed and coldly glanced at me. Her stares were algid as she pursed her lips in distaste to my question but she still answered saying that she is the only daughter of her parents in a cold tone of voice that is like she was about to shout at me. If that is the case then who is the young lady I saw in front of the building a while ago sitting on the stairs that really looks like her. I asked her again if she was down stairs a while ago and saw me at the entrance, she said that she was in the room the whole time. In that moment, a chill run down all over my body.

The next morning, I was all dressed up wearing the school uniform walking around the corridor looking for my first class when some students came running and one bumped into me. I heard from the other students that someone jumped out of the rooftop this morning and found dead covered with grasses showering in her own blood.

With my own curiosity, I made my way through the large group of students surrounding the scene. I know that I should be looking for my class right now but I don't think that the school will still let the class continue after what happened. What a great timing to start my first day of school as a transferred student.

I cannot believe on what I am looking at right now, my roommate who I just met last night is the student they are talking about and found dead this morning. It creeps me even more that her eyes are still opened and it looks like they are staring at me. I immediately went out the crowd then I saw a woman standing in front of the building looking straight at me that really looks like her. I rubbed my eyes countless times thinking that I might just imagining things but she's still there. She flashed a smile like an evil without blinking.

I ran immediately going back to the dorm and locked myself to the room. I can't believe that I just witnessed a suicide case and the worst is I know that person, I was just talking with her last night and this happened. I am chasing my breath as I lean on the door when I got startled from the knock on my door. I gather myself around again then slowly hold the door knob with shaking hands as I turned it and opened the door. From the chink in the door I take a peek to know who is the person behind yet I saw no one so I fully opened the door yet no one was around there. The place is covered with silence when the bell from the school rang that means the class will start.

I shyly introduce myself in front of the new faces that I never seen before. Well, yeah of course, how would I know them if I just arrived in the place last night and this happened. I can't still believe that the principal still announces to continue the class after what happened, my roommate just died. That is why rooftops are one of the most dangerous place in the school. You will never know how many students take their lives from that place. I slowly raise my head to see those eyes that are only staring at me. My knees are getting weak, and sweat is all over my body behind this uniform. "Are you the roommate of the girl who just jump a while ago?" asked the guy sitting in the center. "Ahmmm" "Is it so sad that it is your first day in here and yet, you experience this kind of thing already. So unlucky of you", said the other girl student. "Wahahaha that's enough", stopped the teacher to them then looked at me with a weak smile then told me to take a sit.

Maybe yeah, it is a bad timing that of all time I transferred here with this time. But what can I do, it is not my fault that, that girl killed herself. It has nothing to do with me, she is just a roommate I met last night. After class, I went directly to my room to finish unpacking my things when I noticed that the room feels so empty. All of the things that my roommate owned is gone, they are so fast in cleaning the things up. I am looking forward to be in good terms and friends with my roommate this time but this is rather worse than always fighting with a roommate. All of the students in this school is looking at me with those pitying eyes and whispering with to each other like I am some kind of a criminal.

While folding my clothes, a knocked from the door stopped me. A half blond girl smiled at me as soon as I open the door. She's a little bit smaller than me and cuter. Her straight bob cut haircut that looks ridiculous to some other girls fits her perfectly. She's just like an elementary student yet she looks so charming that you can fall in love with her by just staring at those sweet smiles of hers. "Hi, I am NiNa, your new roommate", then she held her hand. I also introduced my name and shake her hand then I let her enter into my room. "Are you not afraid? The last owner of this room just commit suicide", I said while continuing folding my clothes. "Why? This room is not haunted just because the late student used to live her died. She didn't commit suicide inside this room so it is not a big deal for me. It is much better to live with a roommate who always smoke and drink" "Isn't that against the rule?" "It is, but my roommate is good at hiding and keeping things so the school never knew. I already told her countless times to stop doing it yet she never listened. I already got full so when I heard that there is a vacant around here. I immediately volunteer to transfer room and here I am. I hope we can be good friends", she said sitting on the other bed in front of me while also fixing her things.

"I wonder why she suddenly think of ending her own life" I said as I lie on my bed. "She is always alone and don't have friends so people around her doesn't bothered at all. She always carry books and read them all the time. Her long black straight hair that always cover her face when walking is enough to make her look creepy, I never saw her tie her hair. She's always quiet in class and when she talk, her voice is so small and can't stare straightly at people's eyes" I faced her still lying on my bed. "Do you know her?" "Hmm let's say, she's bit popular at school because of her get up. When you first met her, she looks like a ghost that you almost jump out of scared" "I didn't feel that though", I whispered to myself. "Do you know if she has a twin sister?" I asked. "Hmmm, I am not sure. She's not very open when it comes about talking about her family. Why?" "Ah…ah nothing" I said as I turned around. Is it just me who saw that girl that looks like her? Is it just my imagination because a lot happened lately or I can see dead people now? No…no…no while shaking my head. Just the thought of that makes me scared.

The next morning, the bright smile coming from my roommate while greeting me a good morning liven up my spirit. I greeted her back with a bit tired and sleepy voice as I woke and turn my alarm off. Two hours before the class start yet she is already in her uniform and well prepared. "Isn't it too early to go to school?" I asked as I stand from my bed. "I need to finish something so I have to go to the library first", she said while folding her blanket still wearing that big smile. "Ah okay, fighting" I said in still tired tone while rubbing my eyes as I get my towel hanged on a chair then go to the bathroom.

I really don't want to go to school today just thinking of those eyes looking at me like I killed my roommate is getting on my nerve. So I make out a reason and stay on the infirmary for the whole day. I know that escaping class will not solve anything and it is bad for my image also when it is just my second day in here.

A two people talking at each other woke me up from sleeping in one of the bed there. "You're awake", said NiNa. I didn't answer her and turn to the person sitting beside her. "Ahh… she's Lina, my classmate and friend", she said. "Ah…hi", said this Lina. I woke up and greeted her back. "Are you sure you're okay? I heard from your classmates that you didn't attend the class for the whole day and stayed here. If you are not feeling well then you should've stayed in the dorm. "No, I'm okay" I said then she helped me stand. Her friend wave goodbye when we left the building. NiNa helped me go back to dorm thinking that I was really sick. She helped me lie on my bed then leave again because she said that she had to finish an assignment on the library.

It is already past ten in the evening and NiNa is still not home, she already past the curfew hours. I forgot to get her number so I can't call her, it makes me worried what happened to her, and she's still my roommate. I know that she's not a type of girl who will stay out late at night, is the library still open on this time? I keep on walking back and forth on the room biting my nails thinking about her when a knocked on the window shocked me a little. I thought it was just the branch of a tree hitting the window through the wind but when I heard a voice calling me from the window that is when I immediately opened it to realize that it was here. "How did you climb up there? This is the second floor" I said while watching her climbing in then closed the window. "Sssshhh", as she put her pointing finger to my lips to shut me. I removed her finger out of my lips and asked her if she's drank. "I just drank a little" "I thought you went to the library" "I am not drank" she said as she lost consciousness. I looked up and sighed, then helped her go to bed. I thought NiNa was an innocent girl, it was just our second day as roommates and I already discovered this about her.

I was about to go to bed when she suddenly woke up and rushed on the bathroom. I followed her and saw her vomiting on the toilet bowl. I kneeled beside her and slowly pat her back. When I noticed that she's not already vomiting of the food she ate but she's already vomiting a blood and soon to be her intestine will come out of her mouth. I…I don't know what to do, it is my first time experiencing this kind of thing. Should I stop her from vomiting? Her eyes are already turning red. I stand and went out of the room to ask for help. Each rooms start turning on their lights and get out of their room with those sleepy eyes. A teacher came to me to ask and I told her about NiNa. When we went to rescue her, there were lots of blood in the floor until to the toilet bowl and NiNa was lying on her own blood, not breathing anymore. All of our eyes widened seeing her corpse. The teacher immediately dialed the hospital number or 911. While the other girls still can't believe what they are looking at. When I turned around, I saw NiNa standing at the back of the girls looking at me straightly with those big creepy eyes then she slowly smiled at me then start to walk away. I excused myself to follow her. When I went out of the room, she's already nowhere in sight. The corridor is quiet and still little bit dark even the lights are on. I was about to go back when I heard someone laughing at the end of the corridor so I look back yet I can't see who it was. I slowly walked towards where the laugh is coming from. "NiNa?!" I don't know why did I mention or called that name when I know that she's in the bathroom. As I get nearer and nearer, the laugh is getting louder and louder. Chills start to run all over me. The girl from the room in front of us called me to say that the ambulance is already on their way. So I just nod and answered, "Okay" When I go back, the laughter is already gone. When I turned on the light, no one was in there. I look around but the only thing in there is the silence. The teacher called me so I ran back to our room.

It is only just my second day in here and the two roommates I had died one after another. I just moving on from the dead of my first roommate when this happened. I bet no one wants to be my roommate anymore. I am still adjusting and my mind is still filling on the present. I will be again the talk to school. Arghhh… why is this happening to me. Is it just a coincidence? Then why my roommates of all people.

It's been two weeks since I transferred in this school and yet I don't have friends yet nor roommate. Well, no wonder, two of my roommates already died. They must be thinking now that I am cursed or I killed them. They act like I don't exist just passing by at me. What if, I drop out of school and transferred out or will go back to where I was before. Ugh…what to do.

After a month, a new student transferred on the school. She doesn't know the history of my roommates. I didn't told her both because she might got scared and chose the other room. It is not that I am afraid to lose a roommate or no one wants to be my roomie anymore, I better off alone. But I want to change my image or how people look at me that I am not the person they think. I am not cursed nor a killer, it is not my fault that they died or chose to end their life. It has nothing to do with me. I know that she will learn about it sooner or later yet I will still choose to not talk about it.

"There are a lot of other vacant room, why did you chose here?" I asked as I watched her unpacking her things. Do I look like stupid on what I just asked? "Honestly", she said as she put aside what she's doing and sit on a bed in front of me. "I am afraid of the dark, I am afraid to be alone so it makes me feel relieved and I can sleep tight at night when I know that someone is with me" I want to laugh on what she had just said, but I am trying to hide it cause it might insult her. If she want to have someone with her in her sleep or when it gets dark then why don't she befriend with a ghost, it will surely never leave her alone and will make her always feel that she's with someone. I look like crazy trying to stop myself from laughing. "Are you okay?" she asked innocently. "N…Nothing", still trying hard not to laugh.

"Are you going to sleep already?" she said sitting on her study table with the lamp on her desk as her light when she saw me lie on my bed. "Hmmm… yeah?! I need to wake up early tomorrow because I have an exam on the first subject. I was about to cover myself with blanket when she talked to me again. "I need to stay up late to review on the lessons I missed" "Aaahhh…Okay…" I said then covered myself up. "Ahmm…I know it's too much to ask this but…can you stay with me until I finish this one, just one subject. Promise" with matching raise of her right hand to promise. Ugh… I really want to sleep already. Can I tell her that she's already a teen ager, she's a grown ups now. Why don't she act like her age, what a spoiled brat. But instead of saying that, I chose to said, "Aaahhh okay, I am not really sleepy. Maybe this is already a sign that I need to study more for my exam tomorrow. I really want to sleep though, this past few weeks. I also stayed up as an all-nighter catching up with my class. I want to finish all my notes before exam. This is my chance to sleep tight and complete my eight hours, but I guess this is not my night. I get out of my bed again and went back to my study table, opened the lamp beside me and start reading my book. "Ahmm… can you tell me about the history of this school if you know?" she asked turning to me still seating on her chair. Did she just want someone to tell her a story that is why she want me to stay awake? "I just transfer in this school a month ago so I am not familiar or I do not know about the history of the school. Why don't you go to the library, maybe they have a book there that might help you. Why are you asking that anyway? Your assignment?" She turned her back to me. "Nah, I just have a hobby of knowing the history of the school where I'm at. Hmm…to others it might be boring and sounds nerdy but to me it was fun and it makes me really belong to the group" "I…I don't know how to react. I want to say that you are weird yet I found it amazing at the same time. You are something else" She giggled.

I didn't notice that I fall asleep while studying on my table last night. Oh, when did I have a blanket on me? My new roomie might be brat or weird, she's still a good person. Wait, what time is it? I checked the time and shoot, I'm already late. I immediately ran to the bathroom. I am running going to school with a loaf on my mouth, all the days, I can't be late right now. Why didn't my roomie wake me up? Did I forgot to set my alarm? The teacher just entered in the room when I get in.

I am sitting alone in the cafeteria for lunch when someone put a tray of food in front of me. When I raised my head to see who it is, it was just Angie, my new roommate. She smiled at me as she sit in front of me. "Can I eat with you?" "Hmm Go ahead" "You came here first before me, why do you still don't have friends" "Someone with many friends spoke" "It is my first day here so no wonder why I don't have friends yet" "Hmm okay" "You, why are you alone, where are your friends?" "I know that once you learned the truth, you will also avoid me" "What, are you a criminal, ex-convict? Did you slap the principal on the face or did you curse at your teacher" "Of course not", I said while laughing and she laughed with me.

"Can we talk" She said as soon as she arrived in the dorm, she was so serious that it makes me wonder what she want to talk about. "My classmate saw us together in the cafeteria during lunch break", she said as she pull the chair and sit beside me. "I already know. I know what happened to your past roommates" "Do you believe them? That it is me who did it?" "I…I don't know" feeling confused. "It is also hard for me, I just transferred in this school then the next day, I saw my roommate lying on the ground in the school. She jump to the rooftop and people look at me with pity. It was my first day that time then people already think that I am the reason of her dead. I just met her the night before my first class, I didn't even talked to her that much. Then NiNa transferred here on my room on my second day. I didn't attend the class on that day because I am not feeling well so I stayed on the infirmary the whole day, she even accompany me to go back to the dorm because she feels that I am really sick. Then after she lie me on my bed, she go back to school because she said that she need to go to the library and finish something. At ten that evening, she was already passed the curfew so she climbed to the window and knocked. When she entered, I thought that she was just drunk because she is swaying lures but what disturbs me is that, she don't smell liquor. If someone is drunk, you can smell it in their clothes or in their breath but to her, she don't smell anything. I didn't mind it and went to bed yet after a couple of minutes, she ran to bathroom and keep on vomiting. When I noticed that the way she vomit isn't normal anymore, I mean she's already vomiting blood and it likes her intestine will come out of her mouth also. I didn't do anything. Who am I to hurt my roommate? If I have intention to do that then I would have killed my roommate also on my past school a long time, we are always fighting and shouting at each other. But it never came into my mind that I would kill her. Do you believe me?" my long explanation to her. "I…I…I do" then hold my hands. I want to believe her, I want her to believe in me yet why her eyes does says that she don't. Her arms reached me then hugged me. "I believe in you", she whispered. I want to say that she's lying, I want to get off her but then again, I chose to be silent.

That night, I woke up from the sound of a cry. And I realized that it is coming from my roommate. She might be having a problem. I don't want to interfere and say to her that everything would be okay. It might be her first time going out of her comfort zone, my be she already misses her family. She makes me remember about my past self. I was like that also for the first time I live alone, although it is me who decided to live that way. It is still feels different when you are used to living with you love one. It feels different that your place feels empty. No one is waiting for you when you got home or no one will take care of you. "It is okay. I will going to get use of it and I will also forget everything", those are always my comfort keep telling to myself. Until now, I still keep on asking myself with so many Ifs or what might have been. What if I didn't tell dad that time that mom is cheating with him, will he still be alive today? What if I live with mom and his man, will I going to have a different life? Every time I make myself hate my life, those questions will play on my mind. I know that she also feels the same, I experience the same so I know yet I am not any of help for her because I don't know how to comfort her except for telling her that it is okay. The sounds of her sobs makes me guilt especially that she's trying to not make a sound. It makes me guilt that she have to deal in a roommate like me when it is just her first time having one. I pick my headphone and play some songs as I continue my sleep. I thought that it was just for that night but I can't sleep for she's like that every night. The last time, I promised to myself that I will talk to her about it the next day, but the next day for her didn't come. She never woke up from her sleep.

I am all alone again in my room this time, for the third time in a row. Every night the hair on my skin stand and I got goose bumps for I can still her voice crying at night. I can still hear everything even I put my headphone on like the music sounds like her cry. I can still hear her voice all over the room. For all the roommates I ever have this is the first time experience this way. For the first time in my life someone believes in me, even it is not true but at least she didn't judge me nor accuse or hate me because of the rumors going around.

Until there is this time that I slept with my headphones on like it was already a hobby or I can't fall asleep without these. I woke up in the middle of the night to pee when I saw someone lying on the bed next to mine. I removed my headphone and call her name. She's not turning back to me and still continue crying. I called her name again then asked if she's already awake. She slowly get up of her bed then faced me, she don't have an eyes and coming from that blood is flowing on her face yet she's still crying. I want to shout that time yet no sounds are coming out of my mouth, I can't even move from my spot as she move slowly towards me. Her blood are already dropping on my face and still my eyes can't get off her. From crying, she start to scream. it is so loud that it broke my eardrums. I closed my eyes and my covered my ears. When I feel that the surrounding is already silent, I slowly removed my hands from my ears and open my eyes. I look around and she's not already in the room. After that night, I start sleeping with the lights on.

I am walking on the way to the dorm while eating popsicles when a tall girl get off the taxi. She's tall and her brown curly hair like a wave on the sea. From her looks, she's a girl growing up joining in pageants. She's tall, skinny and flawless, a perfect girl to wear the crown. She's wearing a black boots and fitted jeans matching her black sports bra. As soon as she gets off, she stared the whole building. The other girls passing by looking at her and whispering to each other like she's some kind of a celebrity. I start going back to my room and also she is when I noticed that we are going on the same room. "Do you live here?" she asked to me when I opened the door of my room. I nodded. "Hi, I'm Alisha. I will be your roommate", she said as she handed her hand. I also introduced my name and shake her hand. This moment is the same as when I first met NiNa.

"Did you just transferred here?" "Actually nope, I went to join and compete on the pageant with the other schools so I am not here for a couple of weeks and I just came back now. I actually live on the room next door but the teacher called me that a student just began living in a dorm wants to stay there so it is me who adjusted and they said that this room is free" "Are you okay with that? Do you think it is rude?" "I actually don't mind. It is okay with me. I also not really like my roommate there. I hope that we can get along" I just flashed a weak smile. "I heard that NiNa used to live in here also but she died even the first student who lived here jump on the rooftop. I saw it in the school group page and all those dying starts when they became your roommate" "Are you not afraid?" "Did you kill them?" "No!! Of course not" "Then we are settled I will stay in here. NiNa is my best friend, she's the only thing I had. She's like a sister to me. She always remind me to take my medicine, eat on time and looks out on me so that I will never forget to look after my figure. She's my number one supporter. It is sad that I didn't attend her funeral. I agreed to stay in here because I want to know how she died. She always complain to me about her roommate so when she got the chance, she volunteer to change room. I never know that this will happened. I didn't saw this coming. I am hoping that when I go back, she's standing in front of the dorm waiting for me then greet me with a hug as she congratulated me. NiNa is jolly, a charming and a healthy person, so why would she die so suddenly, there might have a great future waiting for her" Will she going to tell me their life story of NiNa? Why do I think that she's blaming me on her death even she's not saying anything but her tune of voice tells so.

Having a beauty queen as my roommate makes me conscious. By just watching her applying too many products on her face makes me feel that I am ugly. I thought that a soap and a warm water is enough to say that I am taking good care of my skin. It never came into mind that it takes too many products to maintain that kind of skin. She even brushes her hair thirty times before sleeping, I know because I always hear her counting. Her wardrobe is full of dresses or sexy outfits that I never imagined myself wearing them especially that they are bright colors, so girly. If I will going to wear those kinds of clothes then that person is not me anymore. Watching her doing her everyday routine to maintain her body and looks makes me doubt if I am still a girl not doing those kinds of things. What hassle me the most is that the flowers, teddy bears, chocolates she receives from her suitors stuck on the room. A little more then the room will look like a garden already, but she throws them anyway, even the teddy bears even how big or small that is. If she doesn't like, she doesn't like. But what I like is that, she gave me the chocolates she receives. She don't eat them because it will make her fat so instead of throwing them. Well, you see, I love chocolates so it makes me happy that I always had a free chocolates hehehe.

There is this one day that I am one of the cleaners of the day in the class. I am assigned to throw the garbage at the back of the school when I saw her having a fight to a guy. The guy is trying to hug and kiss her but she's refusing. She looks very angry shouting at the guy. Then the guy slap her. Without thinking I drop the trash bin and came to her rescue. I slap the face of the guy back two times harder as he slaps her. Huh?! What did I just did? My heart beats fast when I saw his angry face. If stares can kill then probably I am dead now. She's stopping me holding both of my arms at the back. He was going to slap me. I closed my eyes and waiting for his hand to touch my face. Why is it taking long, I half opened my eyes then opened them slowly. I saw her standing in front of me, she's the one who take the slap instead of me. "Why did you do that?" "Let's go" as she grab my hand then run. "Whatever you do, I will still come to you!" shouts the guy.

"What was that? Who is that guy? Why did you cover for me?" I asked continuously when we went back to the room. She sigh before answering. "He's my boyfriend. We are dating for almost two months" "Then why is he doing that to you. If he loves you, he will never hurt you" "It is my fault. I had a boyfriend already and yet I am still entertaining other suitors" "Even though, it is still not right to raise his hand to you. Is he the one who gave you those bruises?" She shyly hide those bruises in her arms. "If he says that he is doing that because he loves you then that is not already a love. Why don't you break up with him" "But…I love him" "You are beautiful, there are other guys out there who deserve you better, who will treat you better. Don't go crazy over one guy who doesn't know how to treat you right. You are not a martyr"

Oh shoot, it is already late. I have to rush to the dorm before the curfew. I was running when a guy popped out in front of me. It was her boyfriend. Wait, is he drunk? "It was you right? It was you who tell my girl to break up with me" His eyes is all read, it scared me, like I am talking to a devil right now. "It was because of you Alisha left me!" then he punched me in the face that makes me fall to the ground. Woah that hurt so much. I don't remember when the last time I was punched was, I thought I was going to die. I immediately stand and get over that punch then faced him like it doesn't hurt me. "What?! Did I say something wrong, I just did what is right. She deserve better. She doesn't deserve you who is just hurting her" Gosh, I will not reach the curfew if this will take any longer. Oh my gosh, he looks really angry now. I was about to ran away when he caught my arms. What is it this time? Can't he move on already? He looks like a playboy, I'm sure that someone will play with him. "Waah I am hurting already" I said trying to get his hands off mine. He was holding my arms so tight and dragging me somewhere. Where are we going?

"I lose my girl because of you, you should pay for this", he said so close to me. Pay? Pay for what? I have a bad feeling about this. He start moving forward staring straight at me. He move one step forward as I move backward. He slowly pat my head and hold my hair. Is this going to be the end of me? He start moving closer and smelling my hair. My hands are shaking, I want to fight back but why does my hand doesn't move?

Alisha and I are going to the school together the next morning when we saw ambulances and a police car entered in the school. Because of curiosity, we went to take a look on what is going on. It shock me and Alisha even more to see who the guy they are carrying is. How…How this happened? I left him alive last night? How did it end to this? Yes, I hate that guy for hurting his girl but not to the point that I want him dead.

He move one step forward as I move backward. He slowly pat my head and hold my hair. Is this going to be the end of me? He start moving closer and smelling my hair. He stopped when we reflect a flashlight coming to us, it must be a guard taking his round. When his attention is on that, I kicked his center and ran as fast as I can while he was struggling in pain. Thank goodness that I still made up on time. They are already closing the main door in the dorm when I arrived. Alisha asked so many questions when I arrived late that night, if something happened to me, where did I go or I am okay, that kind of questions. I just answered that I am rushing a requirement and I forgot the time which is half true. So if I ran that night and leave him still breathing, then the question now is, who killed him?

Alisha spend the week crying on her bed. She's blaming herself on what happened to that guy. I kept on telling her that it is not her fault, it is the killer whoever that is. She don't have to be guilty, she didn't do anything. The fact is, she's also a victim here. Her boyfriend keeps on hurting her so she brake up with him but it doesn't mean that she broke up with him she already killed him. I just met Alisha but I already know because I feel it that she's not that type of person.

I already done everything I could to comfort her or convince her that it is not her fault. It is not what she wants. What is left is to give her time. Give her time to forget and to move on. Sooner or later she will forget about it even it is not that easy and she will be back to her old self. "I already give a thought about this, maybe I will go home to my parents for a while to unwind and to forget", she said to me one time while I am studying with tears on her eyes. Looking at those eyes bugs and red eyes, that is not so her. I flashed a weak smile then say, "Okay, if that what you think will help you then it is much better to stay with your love ones for a while, so that they will also comfort you and cheer you up" I said. "And one more thing is I already know who killed NiNa. I'm thinking to tell it to the police because I have the evidence" My hear skip a beat after hearing those from here. She know the killer? Who is it? is that person just around here?

Alisha left the next day, I didn't get to see her off because I have a class that time but I already wished her and say goodbye in the morning before I go to school. I sighed in the afternoon before opening my room. I guess, I will be alone again, but not so long because I know that someone will go back to be with me. Is what I saw just a mirage? I closed the door then opened again. Oh no, this is not a mirage. It is really Alisha hanging on the ceiling. I immediately went to ask a help from the teacher or to the elder that was near that time. They slowly bring her dead body down. This will again fill the news on the school. I am just starting to clean my image and this happened, wait, did I just think of my image? Alisha is dead, I must think more about her this time. I must think of who will be my next roommate is if any one still want to be. When they placed her body down on the floor, her eyes are closed then it suddenly opened and looked at me. They are big round eyes and it looks angry. I got startled and look around if anyone noticed it but I guess it is just me because they show no reaction about it. When I look back to her she hold my feet and said, "You will be next", with a scary tone of voice. I screamed that time trying to get her hands off my feet when the teacher came in and hold me and asked me what's wrong. My hands are shaking as I point her. She was still, her eyes are closed and not moving. "I know that it is hard for you on what happened to her. She's been a good student to us also so we are also feeling the same as yours", said the teacher thinking that I was just lonely of her lost. "She might gone crazy witnessing of the death of her roommates", whispered the students. I know that I am not imagining, I really saw her eyes opened and look at me as she grab my feet telling that I am going to die next. Come to think of it. All of my roommates who died, I saw them like a live person on the moment they died like it was their twin, it was the other. Or my third eye are just open so I am seeing things like this.

"I don't want to do this anymore. People are already suspecting me. Why do we need to kill them one at a time and why of all people are the tenants in room 17?" "They deserve to die wahahahaha. Those evil sluts, they don't deserve to live, their kind meant to burn in hell" "Why do you hate them that much. I can't take this anymore. I don't want to kill more people" "If you will not going to listen to me and continue being stubborn then I will kill you also".

Top news in the school: a young woman was found dead in her own room in the dorm inside the school. A string was marked on her neck that was believe she was choke to death.