Behind The Bars

Chapter 2

It is 7 in the morning. I woke up at 5. This is the ussual time I wake up since I have to do household chores before going to school. Currently, I am sweeping the floor. As I put back the broom in it's place, I heard footsteps feom the stairs. I looked and saw Joshua. He looked at me confused.

"Why are you still here? I told you that you may go back to your home." He said as if he was scolding me.

"I-I know." I responded. "But, I..."

"You what?"

"I... I chose not to?"

"Why?"

"Um... aren't you hungry? I-I cooked breakfast."

He seems displeased. He went down and sat on a chair in front of the long dining table.

"Have you eaten already?" He asked.

I shook my head. "I just finished cleaning the house."

"Then eat with me."

I stood still at my place. He started to dig in the food I prepared. I went in the kitchen, took a plate, got food, went on the sofa and ate. We stayed silent until we finished eating. I stood up and took his plate while he was drinking.

"Y-Your name is Joshua, right?" I asked.

He looked at me puzzled. "Yeah. How did you know?"

"I heard from the people knocking on the gate yesterday." I answered and he nodded.

"Your name's Six, right?"

I was confused as well. How did he know?

"Yes. How did you know?"

He chuckled. It was a "well, I'm a genius" kind of chuckle.

"It was written on your notebooks and books." He replied.

Ohh yeah. I forgot that you messed up my belongings. *sigh* *eyeroll*

I took his glass then went into the kitchen to wash the dishes.

"Here. Take these." He said holding a towel and clothes. "After washing the dishes, take a shower. You smell already."

He hanged the towel on one of the chairs and went to the sofa and watched tv. I don't know if I should feel angry, but he's right. I do smell already. I put the washing of dishes on hold and took a quick shower. Even the bathroom looks luxurious. It's unfortunate what happened to Joshua. I really hope I could know more about him.

It did not take long until I finished taking a bath. I went into the laundry room to put my used clothes and saw a mountain-ful of used clothes. Oh boy, he does not know how to do the laundry as well. I went back to the kitchen and continued washing the dishes. There was a knock on the gate. Those people from yesterday was back. Joshua let them in and they were all noisy. There were three of them: one chubby man wearing a black cap. He's the noisiest of them all; one was tall and slim and has dark complexion; and the last one was pale and wearing eyeglasses. The one wearing eyeglasses noticed me.

"Hey, who's that?" He pointed at me.

They all looked at me. Suddenly, I felt nervous and stood still petrified on my place.

"He"s just a friend of mine. Don't mind him." Joshua replied.

"Friend? Since when did you have a friend besides us huh?" The fat one joked.

"Hey shut it. And you." He pointed at me. "Go back washing the dishes."

I turned around and went back washing the dishes. It seems like Joshua is the alpha of this pack. He's like the 'cool guy' of the group which kindda suits his character.

"Hey, are you sure we're going to do this with him around?" I heard the voice of the tall one.

"Yeah. He don't mind. Just bring it out."

I glanced behind me. Drugs. I knew it. I looked back and finished washing the dishes. As I wipe off my hands on a dry towel, one of them called me.

"Hey! Get over here." The chubby man said. He seems high on drugs already.

I slowly walked towards them. I feel very nervous now. He dragged me down the sofa to sit beside him. My heart is racing crazy fast.

"Don't dare tell this to anyone. Got it?"

I nervously nodded my head.

"We don't want to hurt you. So be nice okay?"

I looked at Joshua as if I was asking for help.

"Hey, Keanne. Enough already." He said.

Keanne let go of my hand.

"Go up and fix my room, Six."

"Y-Yes." I responded.

I rushed upstairs into Joshua's room. I locked myself inside and rested my hand on my chest. My heart is beating fast. I calmed down and sat on the bed. God, his room is a disaster. I started to do what he instructed me to do. I picked up the pieces of trash lying around, fixed his bed, and arranged his things. Done. It looks better now. I sat down his bed and looked at one of his portraits. You did that to protect me from Keanne, right? Thank you. I laid down and rested.

I woke up few hours later. I went to the staircase and peeked downstairs. His friends are not there anymore and Joshua still lies on the sofa. I went down to clean their mess. I fixed the coffee table and carefully dusted it off.

"Help me get up." Joshua said as he raised his hands.

I helped him get on his feet and supported him as we make our way upstairs. I helped him lie down on the bed and fixed his position. I looked at the clock. It's 11 am already. I went back downstairs and cooked for lunch. After cooking, I took a tray and put a dish on it. I went upstairs in Joshua's room and brought him the meal. He is currently massaging his head. Might be a side effect of using drugs.

"I brought you your food." I said.

He lifted his head and looked at me.

"Put it beside me." He said and I did. "Could you bring me the mint stick in the cabinet downstairs? And also, bring your plate here. Join me here."

I was shocked about what he said. I nodded and went downstairs. I searched for the mint stick and took my plate then went back upstairs. I gave him the stick and he inhaled on it.

"Ugh, better." He said.

"Um, why did you ask me to eat with you?" I asked.

"I just want to ask questions." He replied.

"Ah. Um, so what is it about?"

He stared directly into my eyes. I felt my chest tighten as if the oxygen inside this room is being depleted.

"Why did you not leave me?" He asked.

I looked down on my plate and played with the food on it.

"Answer me." He insisted.

"I... I want to know you more." I answered.

He moved closer to me.

"And why do you want to know more about me?"

"I feel like... you're not really a bad person. Personally, I want to... to help you, to understand you. And... that is why I chose not to leave."

He leaned back.

"And how are you going to help me?" He asked.

"I... don't know." I replied. "You tell me."

We stared at each other for what feels like hours.

"Let's just eat."