I'll Tell You A Lie

03 // Triggered

03 // Triggered

"A trigger is the connection between the conscious mind and a buried painful memory."

***

For an abducted person like me, I consider myself lucky to be locked inside this spacious and cozy room.

Inilibot kong muli ang paningin ko, the walls were painted cream and it's so refreshing to the eye. There's a king size bed in the middle, a bathroom, a dining table, a walk-in closet and a balcony. I know, I could use the balcony to escape but that was impossible. Masyadong maraming nagkalat na armadong lalaki sa mansyong ito.

Napatingin ako sa orasan. It says 1:30 PM.

Kaya pala nagugutom na ako. I have never eaten anything for breakfast and now, for lunch. Sinubukan kong humingi ng pagkain sa dalawang lalaking nakabantay sa labas ng kwartong ito ngunit hindi naman nila ako pinansin.

Napagpasiyahan kong libangin na lamang ang sarili sa pagtingin sa labas. Binuksan ko ang pinto papunta sa balcony, lumapit ako sa railings at humawak dito. I let my eyes admire the sight before me, despite being locked up in here...somehow, seeing the flowers, the trees, the fountain and the hectares of rice fields from afar makes me calm.

"If you're planning to escape by jumping, huwag mo nang ituloy."

The calming silence was broken when a high-pitched voice spoke from behind. I turned around and saw a tall girl wearing a plain red dress with a black belt in the middle. She looks intimidating in that outfit plus her kind-of bitch aura.

Inilapag niya ang dalawang paper bag sa kama. Kasunod niya, pumasok ang dalawang katulong at mas lalo akong nagutom nang maamoy ko ang bitbit nilang pagkain.

"Ilagay niyo na lang sa table ang pagkain, then get out."

Agad na sumunod ang dalawang katulong sa iniutos ng babae at nagmadaling lumabas ng silid. The girl, on the other hand, carefully made her way to the dining table.

She noticed that I am still standing, and right, I did not move an inch from the moment she entered the room. She raised her right eyebrow at me, "If you want to starve yourself, you're free to do so."

"Sino ka?" sa wakas ay nakapagsalita rin ako. Masyado akong nagulat sa pagdating niya kaya napatulala ako ng ilang saglit.

"Oh, nagsasalita ka pala. Akala ko pipi ka," tila nang-aasar na tugon niya. "I'm Elira Marquez, Axis' personal secretary. I will be supervising you when he's gone, kaya mabuting huwag kang gumawa ng anumang bagay na ikaiinis ko."

Marahan aong tumango sa kaniya.

"Good. Now, eat or you'll die."

***

Nang matapos akong kumain ay sinabihan niya akong maligo, aniya'y nangangamoy na raw ako. I tried smelling myself, hindi pa naman.

She shoved the two paper bags at me and pushed me inside the bathroom. I locked the door and I almost gaped when I saw the whole bathroom. Pakiramdam ko'y nasa isa akong hotel, kumpleto ang banyo nga iba't-ibang high tech na kagamitan-bath tub na pwedeng i-adjust ang temperature, toilet bowl na automatic at toiletries na galing pa sa ibang bansa.

I spent an hour inside the bathroom and when I'm done, I stared at the girl wearing a mint green floral dress in the mirror. Matangos ang ilong niya, maputi ang balat, mamula-mula ang pisngi, at may mahabang pilikmata pero malungkot ang mga mata niya.

That's when I realized that I'm looking at my own reflection.

Mag-iisang araw na ako rito. Hindi ko alam kung ano na bang nangyayari sa labas, pero sigurado akong nag-aalala na ang mga magulang ko sa akin. I can't help but recall what happened yesterday, it was supposed to be a fun night but it turned out like this.