CAPTIVATED

Chapter 6

The next morning, Janine's phone kept on ringing. Mas maingay pa sa bunganga ko kapag pinagagalitan 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.

"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..."

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 a cigarette up but didn't lit it. Nakatalikod sakin pero alam kong ramdam niya ang pagsunod ko ng tingin. Ngayon ay humarap siya sakin pero nakasara ang dalawang mata ng madiin.

Masyado siyang maraming sinasabi at hindi ko mabasa ang bibig niya. She looks frustrated and calm at the same time. I don't 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 to enter the bathroom. Nang lumabas siya, papasok na rin sana ako sa loob pero hinalikan niya ko. Kumalas ako pagkadikit ng labi niya sakin. I haven't brushed my teeth yet. Madaya.

Sino kaya yung kinausap niya? Grabe yung calls. 68 in total. Ex boyfriend? But she's into girls since then.

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.

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 seem so uneasy.

"Uh, someone tried to get Reese. She's with her father. I expected him to take care of Reese. Tatay siya, eh! Alam niya dapat yon!" Pinatay niya ang stove. Madiin pa ang pindot niya don.

I was shocked but I didn't say anything. Tumayo ako at lumapit sa kanya. Tinulungan sa ginagawa.

I was about to place the pancakes on the table when i felt Janine's embrace from behind.

"I'm scared," she said. Almost voiceless.

"Hey," malambing na saad ko at pumaharap sa kanya. "Don't be scared. She's safe now, right? Aalagaan natin si Reese," I gave her an reassuring smile.

Her hug was too tight. Ramdam ko ang tibok ng puso niya.

"They can't take my child," she covered her face using the both of her hands.

"Baby..." it was almost a whisper.

She looked at me. Shocked that I called her that way.