Behind The Bars

Chapter 3

It has been a week and a couple of days already since I met Joshua. It is 6 in the evening and he hasn't gone home yet. I just finished cooking for dinner. I went inside the bathroom to take a quick shower.

Nothing new happened these past days. Whenever I ask him about his past, he just either keeps silent or get mad. For that reason, I just kept my mouth shut. I don't want to anger him more. What I know for sure is that he is kind deep down. I don't know why he became an addict or even commited murder. But I know that it has something to do about what happened to him in the past. I am not scared of him anymore. I even forgot he is my kidnapper and a murderer. I guess I don't want to jump into conclusion so fast.

I did not try to leave him or escape this house. Not only because I want to help him and understand him more. I feel like there's something much bigger that holds me back. I went out of the bathroom rubbing my hair dry. Then I heard a loud thud in front of the door. It was Joshua. I rushed towards him and checked what had happened. Then I smelled a foul odor from him. He's drunk.

"Bring me upstairs." He said in a drunken voice.

So much for my effort of cooking for him. *sigh* I grabbed his arm and carefully escorted him upstairs towards his room. I threw him on the bed. I must change his clothes or else the stench will stick on the bed sheets. I crawled on top of him and started taking his shirt off. Midway, I felt a stinging sensation on my left cheek and found myself lying on his side. Did he just punched me?

"What the fuck are you doing huh?!" He said as he grabbed me by the neck and pinned me down against the bed.

I struggled to get off of his grip. I pushed him away and rushed towards the entranve to his room. I held my sore neck as I gasp for air.

"I was trying to change your clothes!" I shouted out of anger. "I have no intention of doing anything with your filthy body."

I walked out of his room and slammed the door shut. I rushed downstairs and drank water to calm myself down. What the fuck did he think I was doing? I put the dinner I prepared inside the refrigerator, turned off the lights, and laid down on the sofa. I closed my eyes and slept away the pain I felt on my left cheek.

~~~

Footsteps broke the silence of the morning as I was laying down today's breakfast. Without looking, I knew it was Joshua going down the stairs. As he made his way towards the dining area - where I currently am -, I rushed inside the kitchen and pretended to be doing something. I don't want to see his irritating face. I would just feel the urge to punch him as payback for what he did to me last night. It still hurts as hell! I could just barely manage to ease the pain. I couldn't even eat.

"Bring me a glass of water and eat with me." He commanded. How dare he command me? How dare he act as if nothing happened last night? I took a glass from the cupboard and a pitcher from the refrigerator. I slammed bith of them in front of Joshua. To be honest, I felt nervous as I did that for I could break the glass. But I pretended to be confident and wlaked away into the living room.

"Hey! What's the matter with you?!" He angrily said. What's the matter with me? I'll ask you that, what's the matter with you last night? Ugh this is frustrating.

"Hey! I'm asking you." He shouted. I kept silent but my mind is raging right now. I want to shout at him, curse him, and just rage out of frustration but I rather not to. I calmed myself and went into the laundry room. He called me again but I did not bother looking back at him.

I set up the washing machine and arranged the clothes by color. Suddenly, the door at my back openned. I had just a short glance and turned back to what I was doing.

"What's wrong with you, huh?" He asked in a demanding and intimidating tone. I still did not bother to answer nor look at him. Suddenly, I felt a force pushing me against the wall. My heart started to race faster. Joshua has his grasp at the collar of my shirt. He looked at me fiercely.

"Why won't you answer?!" He shouted. I wasn't able to answer this time not because I don't want to, but because I felt scared. My hands started to shake as I grasp his arm that holds me against the wall. He then shifted his eyes towards my left. He grabbed my chin and turned my face to the right.

"Who did this to you?" He was pertaining to the bruise he caused last night. Finally, I was able to compose myself. I pushed him away from me and fixed my wrinkled shirt.

"Do you seriously cannot remember what you did to me last night?!" I shouted. I felt a sudden surge of energy flowing through every part of my body.

He stood still confused as I rushed out of the room. I sat on one of the chairs in the dining area to calm myself down. Minutes later, Joshua came down with a different shirt.

"I'm going out." He said as he approach me. He sat down on the seat opposite to me. I turned away.

"Hey, I'm sorry." He said in a surprisingly humble tone. "I'm sorry for whatever I have done to you last night. I swear I did not mean to do that. I was drunk when that happened, right? But still, I'm sorry."

I was surprised and touched with his words. I couldn't believe he could be this sincere.

"I'll be back by 7. Please prepare dinner when I get back."

With no other words, he left. I was left in awe with what he said. I still couldn't believe that words like that could come out of his mouth. Well I guess you could never judge someone by looks.

Time passed and I was preparing dinner when I heard the gates opened. Shortly after, the door opened and Joshua came in with a paper bag.

"Here. I bought you something." He said as he place the bag in front of me. He sat down on a seat in front of a plate I prepared for him and started to eat. I openned the paper bag and pulled out an ice pack.

"Put it inside the freezer to cool it." He instructed even though I clearly know how to use this. I couldn't believe it. He does care for me after all. I did what he told me to do. I sat down in front of him and ate with him. We've been like this - eating together - since last week. I still don't know the reason why, but I don't question it neither.

"Thank you." I said. He then stopped eating.

"For what? The ice pack?" He asked and I nodded. "That's nothing."

We continued eating. He sat on the living room and watched the television as I wash the dishes. After I finished washing the dishes, I went to the dining table and wiped the table clean.

"Why is your bag down here?" He asked.

I turned around as I wipe my hands dry with a clean cloth.

"Um, what's wrong?"

"Get yourself a room upstairs. Bring your things there."

"I'm fine sleeping on the couch." I insisted.

He looked at me, stared at me for some seconds. Somehow, I felt intimidated. He went back and faced the television and turned it off. He took my bag and started going upstairs.

"Hey, where are you taking my bag?" I asked.

He said nothing. I followed him upstairs inside one of the rooms. He placed my bag at the side of the bed.

"This is where you sleep now." He said. "Make yourself feel comfortable."

He walked past me, went out, and shut the door behind him.