Weeks before All Soul's Day, we've observed traces of breaking-in attempts around the dorm. Footsteps in the porch, unfamiliar knife lying near the back window, etc. We immediately informed the landlord hoping he could tighten our security. To our great disappointment, he left for the U.S. without taking action. Thus, we had to do the necessary steps ourselves. We've put additional latches and locks on the doors, strict implementation of curfew, and hanging of men's underwear at the laundry area (our lame way of deceiving the bad guys that we have hunks in the house).
Still, it happened. We woke up one morning with doors wide open, jalousie windows broken, missing gadgets and wallets, and a terrifying sight of a knife left on the dining table. We called the police and they came looking like they were forced out of bed to do the investigation. Thumbs down. They said they've been after this young and unprofessional group of thieves who's been very active for months now. We're the 5th victim so far. "They've been after this YOUNG AND UNPROFESSIONAL GROUP OF THIEVES." Another thumbs down.
In my last year of staying in a dorm, it wasn't exactly a dorm but a house I rented with two co-teachers. One night, while we were staying up late talking and laughing, we heard a commotion outside. Our neighbor, a teenage boy who was using his laptop at their porch that night, was hit in the head with a clay pot and instantly lost his consciousness. Laptop stolen. We started calling him "Clay Pot" or "Paso" since then. Days after that, it was the water tank of another neighborhood that was taken. We can't help but be anxious that we might be next.
One morning, I found one of my co-teachers, Vrinda, restless at the door. All her clothes she hung outside were all gone! We were very quiet during breakfast (which was very unusual). "I know who did it." Vrinda said in a voice that suddenly broke the prolonged silence. "That mentally retarded guy who lives across the street, he always stares at our house like hell. He freaks me out." "Maybe he's just really in love with you, Ma'm.." I said just to lighten the dense atmosphere. "..to the point that he had to steal all your clothes, an obssession!" (I call her Ma'm since she was my former high school teacher.) We laughed and were able to go through the day as if nothing happened. Although throughout that day, I really thought about what she said.
The guy she was talking about is in his 20's. He really is freaky at times due to some mental problems. He greets anyone he meets with a bright smile and I always see him working in the garden. I thought he was more of a mellow and harmless guy. But yes, looks can always be very deceiving...
Before bedtime, I suddenly remembered that I forgot to hang my clothes I washed that morning. "My clothes might get stolen too if I hang them tonight. I'll just rinse and spin-dry them tonight and hang them tomorrow." I thought. After rinsing.. "Oh my God! Ma'm! Ma'm!!!" My two co-teachers came running from their room. "What happened?" They asked with wide worried eyes. "I found the burglar! I found who stole your clothes!" "Who?" Ma'm Vrinda impatiently asked. "The spin-drier." I said, with a big big smile. She turned around, went back to her room and we endlessly laughed that night.
Thus ends the story of "Paranoia and False Judgement."
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