Captive

Chapter 9

Rebel's POV

I closed my eyes as I welcomed the cold wind in my skin. The sunlight is in my face, embracing me with his hot yet comforting light.

What a good start.

I smiled and just felt the moment. Itinaas ko ang kamay ko at hinayaan lamang ang hangin na tangayin ako. If I can fly, I will spread my wings and explore the world. I will fly and find the missing pieces of my memory. I will fly and find myself.

I opened my eyes and looked at my coloring book. This time, I'm coloring a butterfly. I'm still thinking about what color suits her. Umupo ako at saka hinawakan ang kulay purple na Crayola.

For me, it's my favorite color. And for me, purple means love, purple means happiness. I just love the color of it, maganda sa paningin. I was about to start coloring the butterfly when I heard a cry.

What is that?

Kumunot ang noo ko at tumingin sa itaas ng puno. Dahil doon nanggagaling ang iyak. My eyes widened when I saw a little cat!

It's a kitten!

Umiiyak ito at tila hindi makababa. She seems lost, it's like she lost her way home.

Just like me...

Mabilis kong binitawan ang color at saka tiningnan ang kawawang pusa.

"Aww, you're stuck?" I asked her.

I smiled.

"Don't worry, I'll come and get you, little one."

Little one...

Just like what Sin loves to call me. I wonder why but upon seeing this cute cat, I know now. Maybe he also sees me like how I see this cat. Lost, weak, incapable. Maybe I'm just like this kitten, maybe I don't even have the strength to jump and face what's waiting for me... so I cry and wait for someone to save me.

What a harsh truth.

I sighed at sinimulan na ang pag-akyat sa puno. Medyo mataas ang mga puno rito sa bakuran ni Sin and I wonder kung paano ito nakapanhik sa itaas.

"Ssshhh, don't cry anymore. Malapit na kitang makuha."

Napangiti ako nang mahawakan ko na ito. Hinaplos ko ang balahibo nito. It's a white kitten, her eyes are blue and it's enchanting.

"Gotcha," I whispered. "Are you scared? Don't be, I saved you now."

"Tsk, what the hell are you doing up there?"

Nanlaki ang mata ko sa gulat dahil sa boses ni Sin.

"What the!"

Hindi ako nakapagsalita nang madulas ako malalaglag na sa mataas na puno ito. I closed my eyes and hug the kitten so she can be safe in my arms. I waited for my downfall and waited for the pain but... someone catch me and the kitten.

Dahan-dahan akong nag-angat ng tingin only to meet Sin's green eyes. I-i was in his arms.

Nakatingin lamang ako sa berdeng mga mata nito. Like before, it's still beautiful. It may be cold but h-he feels warm now. And his warmth is nothing compared to Rouxe, Selene, and my other friend's warmth. His warmth makes my heart feel safe and at ease.

There's something on him that I can't explain.

"Meow,"

Mabilis ako nitong ibinaba. Ngumuso naman ako nang mabilis na tumalon ang kuting at tumakbo palayo.

Eh?

"Huh? W-wait!" Hahabulin ko sana ito when Sin stops me.

"And where do you think you're going, young lady?" Naniningkit ang mga mata nito.

Hilaw na ngumiti ako.

"S-sin, t-thank you for saving me," I whispered at tiningnan pa rin kung saan pumunta ang kuting.

After I save her, will she leave me?

"Tsk, trying to save that kitten and not minding yourself, huh?"

I just smiled at him.

"That kitten, she seems lost. I'm thinking if she also lost her way just like me. I'm wondering if she also feels alone." I whispered.

Nanatili lamang itong nakatingin sa akin. Ngumiti ako at saka pinulot ang mga coloring book at crayons ko. Iniwan ko na ito sa labas at pumasok na sa loob. Tuloy-tuloy lamang ako sa pagpasok hanggang sa makarating ako sa kwarto ko.

I sighed at pagod na umupo sa kama.

I don't know what's wrong with me ngunit tiningnan ko ang wedding ring na suot ko. These past few days, Sin and I are getting okay. I mean, unlike before, I'm not scared of him anymore. Hindi na bilang ang kilos ko, hindi na ko natatakot na baka may gawin na naman ito sa akin. Suddenly, deep inside my heart, I was hoping that our relationship gets better.

I can't wait for that.

Inabot ko ang camera ko sa bedside table at napangiti ako when I saw the picture that I took secretly. It's Sin, he's busy looking at the sky in his veranda. Malalim ang iniisip nito, malungkot ang mga mata. During that night, I was secretly looking at him. That night, he's so near yet so far. Para itong langit na hindi ko maabot. He's like a dream, he's too distant.

But I know he's also in deep pain. His green eyes tell a lot. Hinaplos ko ang mukha nito sa camera.

"Sin," I whispered.

Why are you sad? Am I the reason for it?

Cairo Sin Montelevan. He's full of mystery, he's like a book, too many pages and hard to read. It's like I need to read more to get him more. He's so mysterious but my heart wants to connect with him. I don't know him or if he's saying the truth about us but, unti-unting nag-aadjust ang sarili ko sa kanya. I'm starting to love the idea of me and him being husband and wife.

------

"You! I know you're the one who stole my wallet!"

"M-ma'am, h-hindi po ako ang kumuha."

"M-ma'am, wala po talagang kasalanan si Aling Rosie."

"Shut up, Karina! This old woman is poor, of course, she's the one who stole it!"

Kumunot ang noo ko nang makita si Aling Rosie, na nakaupo sa sahig at nasa harap nito ang babaeng sumisigaw. Umiiyak si Aling Rosie habang nagpapaliwanag sa babae.

What is happening?

"H-hindi ko po magagawang magnakaw, Ma'am." Aling Rosie whispered.

Karina is comforting her.

"Don't lie, I will make sure that you will lose your job!"

Umiling si Aling Rosie at hinawakan ito.

"M-maawa po kayo, Ma'am."

My eyes widened ng itulak nito si, Aling Rosie.

"Y-you! You old hag, look, nadumihan na ang damit ko!" She was about to slap Aling Rosie when I stop her hand.

Natahimik ang lahat dahil sa ginawa ko. Karina and Daniel's eyes also widened in shock.

"A-and who are you?" Usal ng babae noong makabawi.

Mabilis nitong hinila ang kamay sa akin at dinuro ako. She's looking at my uniform.

"Tsk, don't tell me kasabwat ka ng matandang 'yan!"

Huh?

"Hindi magnanakaw si, Aling Rosie. Stop your wrong accusation." Saad ko at saka dinaluhan si Aling Rosie na umiiyak sa sahig.

"H-ha! Ang kapal ng mukha mo, don't you know me? I'm one of the managers here and I can pull some strings just to fire the two of you," pananakot nito.

Tsk, what is she saying?

"Then pull some strings now,"

I don't know but I suddenly wanted to strangle her when I saw how she acted. When I saw that she pushed Aling Rosie, I wanted to push her too.

Napasinghap ang mga nanonood sa amin. Sa isang iglap ay hawak na nito ang buhok ko.

E-eh?

"I will teach you a lesson, b***h! You and that thief!"

"R-rebel!" Karina and Daniel called me.

Napaigik ako dahil masakit ang ginagawa nito. Nagdilim ang paningin ko and I easily twist her hand.

"O-ouch!" Daing nito.

Nang makawala ay eto naman ang tinulak ko.

I just look at her.

"Never call us thieves, you don't even have any evidence." Kalmadong saad ko.

"H-how dare you? You're just a janitor here! How dare you do this to me?"

I was about to speak when someone interfered.

"What is happening here?"

Patay.

Nanlaki ang mata nito at ganoon din ako. Lumingon ako sa lalaking nagsalita and it's Sin.

"I repeat, what is happening here?" He asked at tiningnan ang babae na nasa sahig at hawak ang kamay.

Tumikhim ito at tumayo.

"S-sir, these janitress are causing trouble. This old lady stole my wallet and this girl is her acquaintance."

I want to slap here, tsk.

"I told you to stop accusing us when you don't even have the evidence. At hindi tamang manulak ng nakakatanda sayo, Miss."

"W-what?" She asked.

"Did you really steal her wallet?" Sin asked Aling Rosie.

Lumunok ang matanda at umiling.

"H-hindi ko po magagawa 'yon, S-sir."

Sin looks at the woman in front of me.

"I will investigate about this. At kapag nalaman ko na mali ang pinagbibintangan mo, I'll make sure to kick you out of here." He said at tumingin sa akin. "You, come with me."

I sighed.

Tiningnan ko ang babae na ngayon ay namumutla na. Dinaluhan ko si Aling Rosie.

"Ayos lang po ba kayo?" I asked.

Tipid na ngumiti ito.

"S-salamat, iha. Salamat sa pagtatanggol sa'kin."

I smiled.

"Rebel,"

Mabilis akong tumayo ng tawagin ako nito.

"I'll be right back, take care of Aling Rosie." Saad ko ka'y Karina at Daniel.

Tumango naman sila at inalalayan ang matanda.

"What are you doing? Are you tarnishing my reputation?" Wika nito.

Ngumuso ako.

"P-pero Sin, how can I tarnish your reputation when they don't even know that we're related?" Sagot ko.

Sumimangot ito at akmang magsasalita when someone laughed.

"Well, well, looks like she's starting to disobey you. Hi, Rebel."

Kumunot ang noo ko sa lalaking kakapasok lamang.

"Damn, what are you doing here, King?" Sin angrily asked.

The named King wink at me.

"Me? I'm just visiting, kakauwi ko lang galing sa mission."

Mission?

"Woman, look at me and not that jerk."

"Huh?"

Tumingin ako ka'y Sin na ngayon ay nakasimangot na.

"I'm asking you why you push the supervisor?"

Uminit ang dugo ko nang maalala ang babaeng 'yon. I still want to strangle her.

"It's because she's delusional. She's accusing Aling Rosie of wrong things." I hissed.

Bahagyang kumunot ang noo nito.

"Interesting looks like she's going to be a lioness soon. Good luck on that, Montelevan. She's going to eat you." Tumatawang wika ni King.

"Shut the hell up," inis na sigaw nito sa lalaki. "But you just created a freaking commotion because of that."

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko.

"Are you saying that I'm wrong? She pushed an old woman, accusing her of the things she didn't do and most of all she pulled my hair!" Inis na paliwanag ko.

What's wrong with him?

"Are you shouting at me?"

"I'm not, I'm just explaining my side." Tipid kong sabi.

Mainit ang ulo ko at naiinis ako ngayon ka'y Sin. That woman, I want to strangle her and Sin. Tsk, I don't understand myself.

"Wow, she's now my crush," King whispered.

Pareho kaming tumingin ka'y King dahil sa sinabi nito.

"What did you just say?"

"What is a crush?"

Sabay naming usal ka'y King. Tumawa lang ito at saka ngumisi.

"Hmm, you don't know what a crush is, Rebel?" He teases.

I nodded.

He smirks at lumapit sa akin.

"Don't you fudging dare, King!"

"Crush is like, you find someone handsome or pretty. Crush means you like that person." He explained.

C-crush?

So that is the meaning of crush? If you find people handsome or pretty.

Ngumisi ako.

"So, you're my crush since I find you handsome?" Inosenteng tanong ko.

Napanganga ito at natigilan.

"What the hell, woman?" Sin shouted in anger.

I looked at Sin and smiled at him.

"And you're my crush too, Sin?"

He stopped and cussed.

"Hmp, here I thought I'm just your crush," King whispered.

Nag-isip pa ako kung sino ang tingin ko ay gwapo. Nanlaki ang mata ko at ngumisi.

"Oh and Rouxe too!"

"Damn,"

"Fudge,"

They both said in unison.