The next morning, Janine's phone kept on ringing. Mas maingay pa sa bunganga ko kapag kinakausap ko siya. Inis akong bumangon para pulutin sa bedside table ang telepono niya.
"The fuck?" Nagsalubong ang kilay ko nang makitang 67 missed calls 'yon.
There was something unsettling about it. It was almost sour... just the idea of anyone wanting to talk to Janine. It wasn't jealousy, I know for sure. More like irritation.
"Janine," sambit ko na sakto lang ang tono para magising siya. I'm slightly patting her bare arm, too.
Nang muling mag ring ang cellphone niya, ginising ko na si Janine with all my power.
"67 missed calls tapos tumatawag ulit. Who's this? Joshua pala, ha..." I stated with a bit of judgement.
Walang pagdadalawang isip na inagaw niya ang cellphone. Parang naranta pa siya. Hindi na bumangon at sinagot ang tawag sa harapan ko.
"Yes, Josh?" She untucked herself from the comforter. "Where? Pwede mo ba siyang dalhin dito?" Tumayo siya at dumiretso sa balcony.
She picked up a cigarette, turning it slowly between her fingers, but made no move to light it. Nakatalikod sakin pero alam kong ramdam niya ang pagsunod ko ng tingin. Ngayon ay humarap siya sakin pero nakasara ang dalawang mata nang madiin.
The cigarette remained unlit. It didn't look like she needed it. More like a habit that she cannot let go of.
Masyado siyang maraming sinasabi at hindi ko mabasa ang bibig niya. She looks frustrated and calm at the same time. I don't know what to believe in those two actions.
Binitawan niya ang sigarilyo at nilapag ang cellphone sa gilid ko. She fixed the strap of my silk top and left me to enter the bathroom. Nang lumabas siya, papasok na rin sana ako sa loob pero hinalikan niya ko. Kumalas ako agad pagkadikit ng labi niya sakin. I haven't brushed my teeth yet.
Sino kaya yung kinausap niya? Ang lala nung calls. 68 in total. Ex boyfriend? But she's into girls since then... or at least that's what I know.
Is she on a fixed marriage?
Dating manliligaw?
She's an only child kaya malabong kapatid 'yon.
Classmate?
Ugh! This is frustrating me!
After doing my routine, lumabas ako para hanapin si Janine. Sa kusina ko na siya naabutan. Napatagal yata ako dahil patapos na siya sa pag gawa ng pancakes. May iba roon na gawa na.
Tinignan niya ako pero agad ding nag iwas para ilipat ang hotdogs sa mesa.
"Who's Joshua?" I curiously asked. Hindi ko na rin kasi talaga mapigilan.
Napahinto siya ng bahagya at napatingin sakin, "Daddy ni Reese," she looked away. Isang malim ba buntong hininga ang pinakawalan niya.
"Is everything okay?" Parang may kung ano kasi sa tanong ko. She seems so uneasy.
Janine froze for a moment, her eyes darting away like she'd just been caught off guard. The question hung in the air, heavy and unwelcome, and though she tried to compose herself, something in her posture shifted, like she was suddenly too aware of how exposed she felt.
"Uh, someone tried to get Reese." She paused, took a deep breath, and started talking again. "She's with her father. I expected him to take care of Reese. Tatay siya! Alam niya dapat yon!" Pinatay niya ang stove.
I was shocked but I didn't say anything. Tumayo ako at lumapit sa kanya. Tinulungan sa ginagawa.
She made her moves so sharp and harsh. It was as if she could literally unalive someone by the looks of it.
BINABASA MO ANG
CAPTIVATED
General FictionEMPIRE SERIES #1 How do two hearts that once beat the same find their way back after everything broke? And if you're already okay now, living fully without them, is going back still worth it? This is a story of what stays, what fades, and what love...
