That One Mistake

Chapter 8: The Monster In Me

THREE days have already passed but I'm still locked in his mansion. Don't mention about escaping because God knows I tried my very best in it. It's just that I couldn't get my ass off this place!

Walang araw na di kami nagkakasagutan ni Jeserr simula nang dalhin nga ako rito. I always fight for my freedom but he always rebutt me with threats about my father's company.

Alam ko namang walang silbi ang mga pananakot nha dahil isang hamak na bar owner lang sya pero hindi ko pa rin maiwasang mag-isip.

What if he is more than just a bar owner?

Looking around this huge house, imposibleng katas lang ito ng bar business nya. Also, with the amount of men in black circulating his property, I must be a fool if I think he is just a mere bar owner.

"Winey, iha, maayos na ba yang bewang mo?"

Manang Fel has been kind to me ever since the day I came here. She treats me like a guest. Nakakapagtaka lang kung bakit sa kabila ng pisikal na bangayan namin ni Jeserr ay di nya ako minsan tinulungan.

She's just gonna say, "makinig ka na lang sa kanya" or "wag ka nang makipagtalo". I have this guts of mine whispering to my ears that this old woman knows something.

And I need to know that something.

"Okay naman po, manang."

As usual, nandito na naman ako nakaupo sa hardin sa likurang bahagi ng mansyon.

Nag-iisip. Nagpaplano.

"Heto ang meryenda mo. Kumain ka muna."

She placed a cup of coffee and bread and butter on the table.

"Thank you po."

"Tumawag si Jeserr, uuwi raw sya nang mas maaga."

My forehead knitted.

"Bakit daw po?"

Jeserr always comes home past 12 midnight. Anong meron at uuwi syang mas maaga?

"Sa pagkakaalam ko, may emergency out-of-the-country meeting sya."

A light bulb flashed on my mind. Ito na ba ang pagkakataong makakatakas ako sa kanya?

"Ah, ganoon po ba."

I played with my fingers while thinking of ways I can escape him.

Manang Fel noticed it.

"Iha, hindi ko alam kung bakit ka dinala ng alaga ko rito pero 'wag mo nang gawin ang binabalak mo."

The light that shone in my mind slowly faded when I heard what she said.

"Manang, Jeserr and I are not friends. He held me captive. You know that he dragged me with force in this place. Bakit parang kinukunsinti nyo pa po sya?"

Disbelief all over my face.

"Maniwala ka iha. Mabait na bata yang si Jeserr. Kung anuman ang nagawa nya saiyo, hindi nya iyon sinasadya--"

"I doubt that, manang Fel. He is a living monster. Masamang tao po yang alaga nyo. If not, bakit kinukulong nya ako sa bahay na ito?"

"He has his reasons--"

"Wag nyo na pong ipagtanggol si Jeserr kasi hindi nyo po maiaalis sa akin na matakot sa kanya. I want to get away. Gusto ko nang bumalik sa kaibigan ko. I am not comfortable with him being around."

Hindi nakasagot si manang Fel. Nagpatuloy ako sa pagsasalita.

"Hindi nyo po ba nakita o nagbubulag-bulagan kayo? You saw how he dragged me here. You saw how he threw those glasses on me. Nakita nyo kung paano nya ako sigaw-sigawan na para bang isa akong tauhan nya. Nasaksihan nyo ang di-makatarungang pagbabawal nya sa akin. I can't watch television. I don't have my own phone. I can't even borrow your phone. Ni ang lumabas sa bahay na ito para bumili ng sarili kong gamit ay di ko magawa. Tell me, manang Fel, tama pa ba itong ginagawa ng alaga nyo? I am not his person. Hindi nya ako pagmamay-ari."