Got Me Captive (Got Me #1) | ✓

17

"Have you called Mamma?" I asked Ria.

She's currently doing yoga. Dinamay pa ako dahil daw ayaw niyang lutang ako pagdating ng birthday ni Xanti. She noticed it and I was not myself for the past days. Kaya ito at ilang linggo na kaming nagyoyoga at tingin ko'y kahit papaano ay nakakatulong naman.

Kahit hindi ko aminin ay halata sa kilos ko na binagabag ako ng nakita kong iyon. I can take pictures of them by how they look so perfectly bonded. I can envisage a picture of them in one frame and it feels like a final destination to me. 

It's all in our minds. . . that's why she said I needed this and I guess she's right. She said you can cut off or remove all that's what's bothering us and I guess again she's right on that, too.

It's all in our heads and we can cut it all off.

The attachments, I can cut that off. . .

. . .Though I'm not sure if it's all in the mind.

Iwinaksi ko na iyon sa isip ko at nagpatuloy nalang sa pagsistretch pag pagmemeditate. Marami akong ibang bagay na kailangan pagtuonan ng pansin.

"Not yet. . . She's busy with her flower shop given all the business partners of Papá were all ordering from her. Linggo linggo ba naman may kailangang paglamayan, e."

"She's old, she's supposed to have someone managing it."

Her face contorted. "At sino? Ako na naman? Marami lang akong gamit pero iisa lang ang katawan ko, ikalma niyo," sagot niya pa.

I smirked. "Hire a manager, that's what I was suggesting, Ria."

Marahas siyang bumuntonghininga. "I told her that! Sabi ko ay mag-hire na lang siya but she said she has nothing to do in our house. Hayaan daw natin siya dahil hindi naman daw namamanhid ang pwet natin kakaupo. . . Part of me agrees with her dahil sino ba naman ang hindi mabuburyo kung puro pakain lang sa mga hayop na ligaw sa tapat ng bahay ang gagawin sa buong maghapon, 'no?!"

Napatawa naman ako sa sinabi niya. Our mother is really a nature enthusiast. She was a florist and a naturalist when she met our father. She was so modest and demure that she wants us to take over the things she will leave behind.

"Let's call her on Xanti's day. It's New Year as well. . ." saad ko.

Pumayag nalang siya nang sabihin ko iyon. Umangat na rin ako nang ilang oras na kaming tumagal roon.

Habang naglalaro si Xanti sa sala ay naligo na muna ako at nag-ayos ng sarili. Nasa bathroom ako nang marinig ko ang ingay na nagmumula sa kwarto ko.

"Ria, answer the phone, please!" sigaw ko mula sa banyo.

Patuloy pa rin ang pagtunog niyon. Malapit na rin naman akong matapos kaya ilang sandali ay binalot ko na ang sarili ko at panay pa rin ang tunog ng telepono.

"God! That woman is deaf . ." bulong ko sa sarili habang palabas ng banyo. "Xantelli speaking."

"I cannot reach your phone."

Hindi ko alam kung pinaglalaruan lang ako ng tadhana o talagang wala itong awa.

"I'm sorry, who's this?" maang-maangan ko pa.

"Are you busy?" I heard his hoarse voice from the other end.

Rinig ko ang mabigat niyang buntonghininga bago iyon sabihin. He sounds so frustrated and tired. Upon hearing his voice, I felt a stinging sensation on my chest.

"Yes. So, if you don't mind, I've got something to d—"

"What happened?"

Sa boses niya ay tila may pumiga sa dibdib ko. Hindi ko alam kung normal iyon sa kaniya pero iba ang hatid niyon sa akin. Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit siya tumatawag ngayon.