JINX

EPISODE 29 [pt.3]

Joseff's never been more excited to get home and see her parents. Besides that, he also has a plan on his mind as soon as he gets to his parents. After watching the torture that Briar has to endure last night, he was quickly given just two hours to rest as he didn't have anything to bag or prepare before leaving because he came there empty-handed.

He patiently sits at the passenger seat with blindfolds on for him to not locate where he came from. With the assurance of his safety, he peacefully leans his head on the chair's header as his back relaxes on the soft chair. Joseff stays in that position for almost half of the travel since all he could do is sleep to regain his strength, even if he knows that he will be feeling exhausted when he gets out of the car.

Coincidentally, he wakes up the moment he feels the car pull over. He then stretches his hands as if he's on a typical trip with his family. . . But this is not an average journey, especially after what Joseff has to face for the past few days.

"We're here, kid." The man manages to say the words in English, making Joseff understand what he means. Joseff nods as the man beside him open the door and grab him by his shoulder to guide his way out. And as soon as Joseff steps out of the vehicle, he immediately sniffs the air to fill his lungs with the familiar scent of their town.

"This smells just right." He mumbles before feeling the man pulling him to continue walking. The doorbell rings next that in just a matter of an estimated five seconds, Joseff could hear the gate opening.

No words escaped from their mouths as Joseff wonders what is happening. Suddenly, Joseff feels another cold hand pull him that makes him continue walking. His heart is now palpitating as his skin reacts to how icy the hand gripped on his arm.

They continue walking as Joseff sniffs again, now recognizing the person behind him. "Mom?" He asks, but the person holding him didn't reply. That made him feel curious but at the same time, sorry starts to build in his heart.

Their footsteps, the closing of the metal gate, few birds chirping, the slow breathing of the person beside him, and the opening of their wooden entrance door is the only sound he can distinguish.

"Mom? Is that you? What is going on? Why aren't you talking?" Joseff insists on finding the answer, but the person remained silent. . . And as soon as he steps foot into the tiled floor, he can already feel the shifting of atmosphere. . . He doesn't feel the familiarization of the place.

A pair of hands suddenly wraps around his head as the person holds the cloth and pulls it slowly. And as soon as the blindfold falls, Joseff blinks fast to adjust his sight. When everything is clear, his eyes widen to see the first person he wished to see.

"Mom!" He exclaims as his mother uses her hands to cover her opened mouth. Frozen in that position, Joseff took the initiative to close the gap and give his mother a tight hug. Soon, he feels his other's hand wraps around her torso.

"Oh, Joseff, honey." His mother sighs in relief and starts to sob as she gently caresses his back.

"I'm home, momma. I'm finally home." He exhales as he starts crying as well. They stayed in that position for more seconds until his mother, Lucinda, decided to let go of him. Lucinda then stares deeply into her son's eyes as she pulls a strand of hair into the back of his ear.

"You've become thin and pale. . ." She sighs at the pain of seeing how much her son changed in a short time. She then giggles with relief that it made her kiss her son's cheek.

"And you seem sleepless, momma." Joseff shows concern as he noticed dark circles around his mother's eyes. "And I'm sorry because I worried you too much." He starts to feel guilty. Joseff looks down as he continues crying, a bit ashamed to see his mother's situation.

"Don't be sorry, Joseff. You didn't do anything wrong, you understand? I didn't like this; you didn't like this." Lucinda encourages her son, not wanting him to blame himself for everything that has happened. . . Because she knows the only person to blame.

"I'm surprised that you're still alive, son."

The dramatic moment Lucinda and Joseff share at the moment got quickly interrupted as the rich voice of his father weighs so much sarcasm rather than being grateful.

Joseff turns to his father with furrowed brows. His gaze reeks disgust and irritation, now that he's been used to how his father treats him.

"You really hate me that much, no?" Joseff asks. "Can't you just filter your emotions for one second—"

"Just like how you filtered yours? Don't f*ck with me, Joseff. We both know what you've been hiding for him, what knows how long! You think I'm stupid!?" He asks with the same temptation to burn his son alive with his flaming words, crawling immediately into his bare flesh.

"That's enough, Dexter—"

"I just got here, dad. . . I've sacrificed ENOUGH just to get here! I've don't so much just to see you guys again!"

"But we're you true to letting your true self?"

Joseff couldn't respond immediately after that. . . He knew his father is right; he wasn't ready at all to give up everything yet. That is why she turns to her mother in hopes of her saving him. But even her mother is expecting something that won't disappoint her.

"Yeah. . . That's what I thought too, Joseff." He sighs as he turns to Lucinda. "You see what happened to your son! He's a trickster because he couldn't f*cking commit to what he is bound to do!"

"You've been just too harsh on your son—"

"HE IS NOT MY SON! How many times do we have to discuss this? I. DON'T. HAVE. A. SON who is gay, do you understand!?" After Dexter yells, Lucinda turns to her son as she tightly squeezes his arms.

"Go pack your bags because we're leaving, okay? I'll wait for you by the doorstep—"

"Joseff is not going anywhere, Lucinda." With a deep voice, Dexter takes a step forward that makes Lucinda cover her son.

"And you're not touching Joseff. HE IS MY SON. You've already told yourself that he's not." As she turns to face her husband, her eyes widen in fear. With a gun in his hand, Dexter manages to curve his lip into a creepy grin.

"And I'm still responsible for your bastard." He retorts back as he puts his pointer finger on the trigger.

"Dexter, you don't have to do this—"

"Of course, I do. Why? Because you TWO deserves to be taught a lesson. . . Now, let me ask you again, Lucinda. . . Where is Joseff going?"

Both of them were frightened, not because of the man before them, but because of what he might do when they don't follow him. That is why they decided to nod without another word.

"He's going inside his room, Dexter. . ."

"RECITE THE WORDS, Lucinda!" He demands as he steps closer, now the gun an inch away from Lucinda's forehead. Joseff couldn't do anything yet, as he needs to follow him and not get in contrast with him. . . Or he'll have to regret everything that's going to happen after.

"Joseff will stay inside the house and will not get out until he realized that forgetting the secret he has will be for the greater good."

Joseff is more surprised to hear what his mother just recited. It caught his attention that he immediately turns his gaze to his father after giving his mother a confused look.

"I thought you forgot about it, Lucinda. . . Now, it is your turn, little lamb." This time, his father turns to him, now the gun pointed at him.

"Dexter, don't—"

"Recite what I want to hear, you bastard. . . Or I'll have no doubt pulling this Motherf*cking trigger." He says that makes Miguel groan in frustration.

Yet, in the end, he has to play along.

"I'll stay inside the house. I won't get out nor escape. . . That's what you want to hear, huh? Is that it?!" He angrily asks that makes Dexter grits his teeth but keeping the grin steady as possible.

"Now, run along, little lamb. . . Because I'll be watching you. . . The walls have ears too."