Chapter 1

It was 11:45 and my fingers wouldn't stop fidgeting. No, not only my fingers, but my entire body. I was squirming in the chair and noisily tapping my fingers on the desk as I counted the minutes down to twelve midnight. I even willed myself not to blink because I couldn’t afford to lose this week’s online book auction on Stephen King’s The Shining. It’s a classic!

Okay, you’re probably thinking that I should just get a copy from the book store or place an order on A****n and have it delivered right to my doorstep. But you see, this is not just any book. This one is signed by the legend himself with a secret handwritten message on the 217th page of the book, referencing the haunted hotel room in the story’s Overlook Hotel. Now, do you get why I can’t just let this go?

Geeky. I know.

I took a sip of coffee as I waited. I could see my palms sweating. I’ve always been a huge fan of Stephen King and his works, and The Shining is one of my absolute favorites. So, I couldn’t let this one slip away from my fingers. The book is going to be mine and I’m claiming it!

Eight minutes.

I put my hands together in a praying position as I stared intently on my laptop screen. Eight more minutes, I thought. And just when I was about to calm myself down, believing that no one would care to place a higher bid this late, another bidder entered the playing field. The next thing I knew, I was outbid by someone with the username jackson101.

Who the heck was this jackson101?

Being the competitive person that I was, I raised my bid and now outbidding the newcomer. To my surprise, it only took him seconds to outbid me again. This newbie was relentless! But I wasn’t going to lose this book, not to him, not to anyone. I placed an even higher bid, yet it only took him seconds to outbid me once more. Yet this time, his bid was too high for me to buy-off.

On the chat box, I sent him a message.

ladyvera: are you seriously going to keep bidding now? we’ve only got five minutes left.

jackson101: yes :)

Okay.

It was not the one-word reply that pissed me off, but the smiley. You can’t “smiley” me in this — you can’t “smiley” your way into this. Not when it’s just six more minutes!

ladyvera: i’ve been keeping tabs on this one for days. find another book and give up jackson101: no can do.. sorry!

ladyvera: give it up!!

jackson101: ;)

A wink? He gave me a wink.

ladyvera: ok, does this seem like a joke to you?

jackson101: of course not, ma’am..

ladyvera: i’m not a ma’am

jackson101: oh! sorry.. no offense.. and LOL, you really want this book so much

ladyvera: offense was taken seriously! but i’ll let this one go if you give up on the book

jackson101: the shining’s not that good. why do you want it?

ladyvera: excuse me?! it is one of the best books ever written by Stephen King!

jackson101: let’s just say we have different tastes..

ladyvera: i don’t care about your tastes. give it up if you don’t like it anyway. why bid?

jackson101: it’s fun :)

ladyvera: give it up

jackson101: only if you say please

ladyvera: what?!

jackson101: come on, be kind to a stranger :)

There was only 2 minutes left, and I was losing. He’s going to win this, and I have to do something. Say “please?” Come on. Are we in kindergarten? Besides, I had no time to have a conversation with a stranger.

jackson101: the clock is ticking by the way

ladyvera: fine!

ladyvera: please let me have this. PLEASE.

jackson101: you lack so much in the sincerity department.. -_-

ladyvera: i already said please!

jackson101: okay :) happy book auctioning!

To my surprise, this jackson101 really withdrew his bid, leaving me on the top spot.

Oh my gosh. That was it. I got it!

“Yay!!” I stood up from where I was sitting and I danced across the room. I got it! I won!

It only took me a couple of minutes to complete the transaction. The book was to be shipped right away and voila! It’ll be on my doorstep in no time.

It was then I felt guilty for being rude to the stranger who actually withdrew his bid for me. Reading our conversation again, I was, indeed, mean. Before I closed the site and logged out from my account, I left him a message.

ladyvera: hey, i’m sorry if i came out as rude. it’s just that i have been waiting for this and you popping in last minute got me panicking. so i’m sorry. really. and thanks.

There. I pressed “send” and stood in front of my shelves filled with books of different genres. I brushed my fingers on the spines, from hardcovers to paperbacks and from sets to singles. Smiling from ear to ear, I did a small victory dance. My excitement was off the roof.

I’ve always loved books. I was practically alone my whole life, and books kept me company. I’ve got to live thousands of lives, experience a wide range of emotions from book characters, and travel to different places in my imagination.

One day I was Harry Potter, and on the next day I just discovered the entryway to Narnia.  Reading kept me sane and alive, and my imagination is my sanctuary. And that’s how I became a writer.

My parents passed away when I was only five years old. They died in a car accident. Ever since that, I had lived with my grandmother who raised me as her own. She got me through college, and lived only up to my graduation day. And that was a year ago from today.

I have always been alone. I got a job at publishing, but I didn’t get to make friends because of the pandemic. Also, I’m not good at making friends, so there’s that. I’m awkward and self-contained. The closest thing to a friend I have right now is Nelson, from next door, who’s an even bigger bibliophile than I am.

It took me quite some time to get used to living alone in the house my grandmother had left me. On most days, I feel lonely. I feel like all my life has been about holding myself together with tape and glue. Every day I’m trying to keep myself from falling apart. So things like online book auctions, reading, watching horror and thrillers and writing — these things take my mind off the loneliness.

While I was drowning myself in thought, I got an iMessage from Nelson.

Nelson: you got it, right? the shining?

Me: I DID! I almost lost it, but I got it.

Nelson: ?!?!?! you almost lost it?

I filled him in with the details of tonight’s little bidding war. Nelson was all “oohs” and “ahhs”, but he was more curious of the bidder, jackson101.

Nelson: i bet he’s cute.

Me: oh shut up

Nelson: looks like he could be my type

Me: no, i don’t think so

Nelson: theoretically, he could be. ;) he’s playful and cute and CONSIDERATE!

Me: you call that considerate?

Nelson: come on, give him the benefit of the doubt. he could’ve really wanted the book. but he gave it up. so i say, he’s kind.

Me: he’s not! are you on my side or what?

Nelson was the only person I could talk freely to about anything.

I plopped to my bed with a very satisfied heart that night. Feeling grateful yet conscience-stricken, I covered my face with the sheets. But I already said I was sorry. Besides, I don’t even know the guy.

I heard a ping from my laptop but I was too tired to check it out. It didn’t take long for me to drift into my unconsciousness. When my eyes closed, my body immediately gave in.

The sun’s rays danced their way into my room, hitting my eyes and making me snatch the sheets to cover my face. I groaned as I remembered not closing the curtains last night. Grumpily, I stood up. And just like how my daily routine goes, I went to check on my e-mails first.

Most were e-mail confirmations from my boss telling me the publication dates of my articles online. Yet there was one that stood out.

An e-mail from Jackson Young.

From: Jackson Young <jackson101@g***l.com>

To: Vera Lee <[e-mail]>

Subject: Hey :)

i got your chat and figured you were better than i thought. i hope everything went well with the book transaction, or whatever you call it. enjoy the book! sincerely hoping it arrives earlier than schedule.

i’ll be on the lookout for any deliveries, neighbor ;) might beat you to it this time

I had to re-read his e-mail. It was eight in the morning and my brain was still catching some Zs. My whole body was practically sleeping still.

Did he just call me neighbor?

I left my room and got myself some coffee from the kitchen. I toasted some bread, and even fried bacon. But I was too tired to boil an egg, so I went back to my room carrying a small plate and a coffee cup.

Neighbor, neighbor.

And then it hit me.

This Jackson Young is THE Jackson Young from next door. He’s my neighbor.