I was soon able to buy lots of stuff I wanted and save some in my new bank account. At 18, having 5,000 dollars after doing some odd jobs wasn’t so ...ad.However, seeing that I was near or in their (really large and expensive) house most days meant I was also privy to what happened in their personal lives. Like the fact that they argued whenever they were in the same room for just 10 minutes. And that days argument seemed especially vicious. At the very least I got some new good swear words in. Joy: You are getting us a house? Yes?Me: I did. It is done.Joy: Then we will be spending money on that. So, we save for the house.They knew I had money, but they were being careful with it. It was my turn to laugh and I did. I told them we would go to the house tomorrow.Joy: When we go?Me: Bakit? (Why?)Joy: We have surprise for you tomorrow.Me: What do you mean surprise?They laughed and Joy repeated: When we go?Me: After breakfast.Joy: It is far from here?Me: No. It is about ten minutes by. “Why haven’t you ever said anything?” she asked.“Because I am married, and I didn’t want to complicate things for either of us,” I replied.“But you are here now,” Evelyn replied.“Yes, I am,” I replied.“What has changed?” she asked.“We aren’t neighbors any longer,” I replied.“Okay,” Evelyn replied. “I think I can understand that.”“Look,” I replied, “If we had hooked up before, it would have been dangerous, living next to each other.”Evelyn swayed back and forth, looking directly at my chest. She. The stairwells didn’t smell to great and the odour of urine was quite strong on the bottom floor in the doorway so I seemed plausible that our entrance was often used as a toilet. Fiona and Alice stepped out into the street both in short skirts, tight blouses and high heels looking not much different to hookers.I looked around and noticed little groups of youths hanging around, smoking and drinking and the odd lone man shuffling about keeping his head down. The atmosphere was considerably more.