what the- ?

So. talk about creepy.

A couple hours ago, Mike was about to leave my place, having paid me a visit (I called in sick for work - cough, cold, headache, much like everyone else I know... even my dad, who RARELY gets sick, IS sick). We were standing near the gate when I hear footsteps outside. I peek into the peephole through the gate and don't catch a glimpse of the passersby who just passed my house, as I hear from their fading footsteps. Instead, I see a man right across our gate, sitting on the sidewalk, looking right back at me.

I don't mind the guy, thinking he's just some tambay passing the time/getting some fresh air, whatever. Mike and I engage into some conversation - I don't even remember what it was about - before we say our goodbyes. Out of nowhere, I see this face peering in from under the gate ten inches from my feet.

"Pu****, sino 'yun??" I exclaim.

Mike turns to look but the head was already gone. I wasn't able to open the door quickly enough, as I was still a bit stunned. When I did manage to open the gate, Mike peers out and sees no one.

"Nakita mo ba?" I ask him.

"Hindi. Anino lang."

Good. At least he saw something. That means I wasn't imagining things...

Mike steps outside to have a better look. "Ambilis naman n'ya mawala, baka nagtatago lang 'yun sa likod n'yang kotse," I point to a car parked in front. He peeks around the corner, as well as in some other places he might have hidden, but sees nothing. He proceeds to scan the neighborhood for about five minutes before coming up to me.

"I-lock mo 'to pati 'yung likod n'yo ha," he says.

"Naninilip lang siguro, 'kala n'ya nagme-make out tayo.. Kita n'ya kasi mga paa natin sa ilalim ng gate. 'Di naman siguro nagmamanman sa bahay namin 'no?.."

"'Nde."

"Bwisit, sira ulo, kinabahan ako.."

He scours the neighborhood again for a few minutes before saying goodbye.

"Sige, abang ka na taxi, intay kita makasakay," I say.

"'Di na, sara mo na 'tong pinto n'yo, dun ako sasakay," pointing to the end of our block.

"Bakit?"

"Dun ako mag-a-abang, gusto ko siya makita e.."

"Bakit pa? Wala na 'yun, umalis na." Then, gripping his shirt and with his face inches from mine, "Lalake, mga forties. Maitim, naka-jeans. Dark shirt, navy blue or black, na may stripes na light colored."

"OK," arranging his shirt.

"Sige uwi ka na."

"Bye."

Even after I closed the door, I was still feeling a bit uneasy.. I kept stealing glances at my back while unplugging the TV and locking up the doors. Without thinking, I turn off the light in the room I'm in before turning on the light in the next room. Sh**! Where's that switch?? Fumbling, I finally flick the light on. F** it, it's just some weirdo, he's not inside your house, you idiot. Climbing up the stairs, I hear a faint footstep and the bathroom door creak a little. I switch open the light on the stairs and a split second later, decide to let it stay switched off, as I didn't want to alert mom to my presence and of the time, as it was quite late already.

Stepping into my room, I switch on the light. It flickers a while before dying down completely. Great. Don't panic, you schizo! There's your lamp.

After turning on the lamp, I settle into my bed and stare at the ceiling with eyes wide open. I hear every creak of the house, every footstep outside, and every bark of the dog from 12 kilometers away.

So thanks to you, creepy thin man (that's what I started calling him minutes ago), it's now four in the morning, I have to wake up in a few hours, and I'm WIDE AWAKE as hell... I couldn't be more alert if I just downed four pitchers of caffeine..

Thanks to you I'm not dreaming about some beach somewhere with four seasons in my hand and some friends in tow. Instead I am writing. And holding my pee for two minutes now.

Oh I do so hope your wife grills you tonight with questions about where you were and why you came home just now, so you'd be as wide awake as I am now. Creep.