CAPTIVATED

Chapter 7

Nakabihis na ako nang magising. It's 2pm, says the alarm clock. Shit. Nag tanghalian siguro sila kahit wala ako.

I immediately went inside the bathroom to fix myself. Paglabas ng banyo, nadatnan ko si Janine na nakaupo na sa corner ng malaki niyang kama.

She smiled and looked at me. "Kumain na kami. Masyadong mahimbing tulog mo." She then tapped her side. Telling me to sit beside her without actually saying it.

"Ginising mo sana ako." Sambit ko habang umuupo.

"I did. Sabi mo 'eeh, wag mo kong gisingin ayaw ko pa!'" She said. Mocking me. Tumawa pa siya nang sabihin 'yon.

"Liar." I stated. Madali akong gisingin!

"You asked for five minutes multiple times." Tumayo siya at tinignan ako. "Bumaba na tayo. You need to eat your lunch."

Tumango lang ako at sabay kaming naglakad. Wala mang nagsasalita, I'm still comfortable.

Yumakap sakin si Reese nang makita ako.

"Mama, I tried waking you up. You said you'll follow me but you didn't." Pacute na sambit nito habang nakakapit sa hita ko.

"Reese," Janine tried to pull Reese away from my leg. "Go back to your coloring book." She strictly said.

"You need to loosen up. Masyado pang bata si Reese. Let her be a kid and act like it." I suggested when we both sat down.

"Yeah. Nandyan naman na si ate Judith para bantayan siya. Kung hindi kasi sasawayin, mawiwili." She sipped her coffee. Coffee sa ganitong panahon. Ang init-init!

"Do you even know what does your kid really wants? Masyadong mahigpit pakikitungo mo sa bata. She's only four years old." Malumanay na sambit ko.

I don't want to sound rude. Ayaw ko rin namang mag mukhang nangengealam. I just really don't like the way she treats her child.

"I'm sorry. There's just too much stress. Hindi rin basta-bastang bata si Reese. Everything under my name will soon be under her name too."

With that explanation, I suddenly realized how complicated things are.

"Our life is a chaos. And now that you're in it, kasama ka na sa lahat ng happening. The way I protect my child will be the same way to you."

Hindi na ako nagsalita. Itinuloy ko ang pagkain. I washed the dishes and went to Reese.

Nakatulog si Reese habang nanonood ng cartoons. Kinukwento niya kasi habang pinapanood ang Lilo and Stitch.

Janine carried her and let her sleep on her own bed. Hinalikan niya rin sa noo bago kami bumalik sa kuwarto niya.

"She's a jolly kid," I broke the silence. Hindi na kasi kami nag usap after nung sa dining kanina. I just don't feel like talking to her.

"She is. Kahit pa may times na napapagalitan ko."

"Let her commit mistakes. Little mistakes are fine. Just let her be herself." Ngumiti ako at sumandal sa balikat niya.

"I will. Bagay ka talagang mama ni Reese." She smiled proudly. As if nakikita ang future at sigurado sa mga sinasabi.

"It's too early to say that. You still can't tell." Matter of fact na sabi ko.

"Yeah," ibinalik niya ang tingin sa tv. "But I'll make a way. Hindi pwedeng hindi tayo."

Sinabi niya yon na parang wala lang. Kailan lang niya ko nakilala. Hindi pa rin siya makakasiguro.

"You don't know much about me..." mahinang sambit ko.