"I don't want to go back in that cage again. Please don't put me back in there. I'm sorry, please." Zaffire begged, tears falling into her eyes.
Zaff, wake up, please," I said while shaking her, but nothing happened. She keeps crying and begging, making my heart ache.
"Wake up, please, Zaffy." I kissed her forehead, caressing her face until her eyes opened.
She looked at me, begging, "Im sorry," she whispered before getting up and hugging her knees like a kid.
"It's okay, I got you," I softly said while caressing her back.
"U-uhm, uuwi na muna ko, sorry, naistorbo ata kita." Mahinang sabi niya, she was about to stand up, but I pulled her to lay down and hugged her tightly.
"Tell me what happened. I'm listening," I said as I hugged her tight. She hugged me back as her sobs got louder.
"Why are you saying that you don't want to be in that cage? Who caged you, Zaff? What happened to you in that cage?" Tanong ko ulit.
"I-it was... m-my parents." I felt rage after hearing that.
"What did they do to it? I'll return it to them."
"I-i w-was put there because I refused to be an idol like what they wanted... They caged me in a s-small room with no lights or furniture; it was just pure darkness. I don't know how long I've been there, b-but t-they-"she stops as she gasped for air"-only g-gave me water so I would su-survive. I begged for food, but they didn't care. My mom would go there and s-slap me when she's angry, and my dad would just watch while I... p-passed out. They say that I was useless, and that's the only thing I can do to repay them for feeding me and raising me, pero hindi ko sino m-masunod-sunod."
"Those... hits and hunger that I felt in the cage are still running through my head every time I see my parents. That's why I decided to leave their house and live by myself instead. Kuya Kai helped me get a small apartment while I took the gigs in dancing so I could pay the rent. I also took part-time jobs while studying until Kuya Kai asked me to be one of her backup dancers, and that gave me a huge break to the point that I and my crew got the chance to join the SWF." I caressed her back as I listened to her story.
"You're safe here, Zaffy. No one will hurt you, no one will cage you. You can have all the food that you want, and there will be no more darkness," I said softly, caressing her head until her breathing went heavy, indicating that she was already asleep.
I carefully removed my arms around her before leaving the room.
"Anong nangyare okay lang ba siya?" Lusher asked, and they all looked worried.
"Can you contact Lee Jung and tell her to come over? Look after Zaff; I'll be back." Sabi ko bago dire-diretsong Lumabas.
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