Chapter 2

Chapter 2

"Is that you, Theresa?"

The door was one of those old apartment doors, made entirely of wood and offering no soundproofing at all. Even though Theresa's voice was low, I could hear her clearly.

Yolanda teased, "Who says you don't get along with your neighbors? Theresa is visiting you this late at night."

I hesitated, "Maybe we were too loud and disturbed her."

From what I knew, Theresa wasn't someone to mess with. She lived downstairs with her grandson. I lived on the fifth floor, and she lived on the fourth. The soundproofing in the entire building was terrible. Theresa often came up to scold us for disturbing her precious grandson.

"Can you people keep it down? You're disturbing my grandson's sleep!"

"If you keep making noise, I'll make a mess at your door!"

I often heard her shouting such things. I didn't open the door immediately but looked through the peephole with some caution. I was afraid she might actually throw something unpleasant.

Theresa was indeed holding a basin, but it wasn't filled with anything harmful. It was filled with edamame.

"Speak of the devil," I muttered in confusion. Although she didn't seem to have any ill intentions, I still didn't want to get tangled up with this old lady. She spoke up:

"Jorge is sick, Louise."

"Please try to keep it down."

"It was my fault before. I know you like beer, so I brought you some edamame."

Only then did I open the door. The sight of Theresa's gray, pallid face startled me. I couldn't help but say:

"Auntie, you should see a doctor."

"You look like you haven't slept in days."

Theresa handed me the basin. "Eat, it's fresh." Then she chuckled, "Maybe I haven't slept well these past few days taking care of Jorge."

I took the basin from her, somewhat reluctantly. The edamame did look fresh. Just as I was about to thank her, Theresa had already disappeared. I muttered to myself, she sure moves quickly for her age. I turned and closed the door.

Theresa had been coming to my door frequently, rummaging through the trash bags I left outside for cans. She often left a mess at my door. She probably collects the cans for recycling money. So, eating a plate of her edamame seemed fair.

Yolanda had somehow appeared behind me. She spoke up, "This plate of edamame..."

I swallowed nervously, "What about it?"

Could there be something wrong with the edamame? I knew Theresa could be spiteful; she might have done something to it. Yolanda suddenly picked up a piece and put it in her mouth.

"Ah... it's delicious."

I didn't have time to stop her. The young girl's soft sigh made my heart race. I suppressed my feelings and said seriously:

"Don't eat the edamame."

"I had a bit of a conflict with Theresa."

"She might have done something to it."

Yolanda picked up another piece and put it in my mouth. Her fingers were as cold as the edamame. I barely chewed before swallowing it instinctively.

"You..." I felt a bit embarrassed. A man in his thirties, so easily charmed by a young girl.

Yolanda, unconcerned, continued eating one piece after another, praising, "It tastes really good."

"Why would she do anything to it?"

I briefly explained Theresa's bad behavior and mentioned our argument.

"That day, I was so angry that I threw an entire bag of trash at her door."

"It caused quite a mess."

"Theresa yelled at my door for a long time, but at least she quieted down a bit."

Yolanda's round, black eyes turned as she asked me:

"Xander, you don't have surveillance at your door, and your life is turned upside down day and night."

"How do you know it was Theresa?"

"It could have been another resident in the building."

I was eating the edamame and replied naturally, "No, it was definitely Theresa."

"The neighbors told me and even showed me pictures."