Through the Window

Chapter 5 - Interrogations

Instead of willing herself to be sucked into a black hole of abyss, Jho took a moment to steady herself, preparing for the inevitable interrogation from her friends. They waited patiently out in the hall as Jho rid herself of the blanket and threw on some old jeans and a t-shirt. She chanced a quick look over at Bea's window only to find her no longer there. She didn't know if that made her feel relieved or uneasy.

"Okay na, nakabihis na ako. Pwede na kayong pumasok."

Her two friends opened the door and entered her room, managing to avoid all eye contact with her. A silence hung in the air as they all stood there, not knowing what to say. Sati looked at Carly, who looked back at her. Carly then looked at Jho, who was looking between the two of them. Their game of visual volleyball continued for another moment before all three girls simultaneously burst into laughter. They roared until their stomachs hurt and their faces turned bright red, unable to control the laughing fit.

Once it finally died down to a few chuckles and snickers, Jho broke the ice.

"So...anong bago?"

Carly and Sati snorted in laughter once again. "You tell us, Jho."

"Oo nga," replied Carly. "May rason ba kung bakit na nakahubad sa kama mo na parang handang handang makipagbakbakan sa kama?"

Jho threw her head back dramatically. "Ang OA? Tsaka kayo naman ang sobrang aga dumating ah. Bigla bigla na lang kayong pumapasok sa bahay at sa kwarto ng may kwarto nang hindi man lang kumakatok."

"Eh lagi naman namin ginagawa 'yon ah. Never nga lang namin kang naabutan ng gano'n," protested Sati.

"Hindi naman para sa inyo 'yon," admitted Jho.

"So kanino?"

"Nagpapa...tuyo lang ako. Galing akong shower."

"Ginagago mo kami," exclaimed Carly.

Jho knew there was no way to get out of this without some hint of embarrassment. She couldn't exactly pass this off as her just lounging around her room. Not when she was in the position Carly saw her in.

"Okay, fine. I was...having a moment...with myself."

"You were jerking off in the middle of the day? Nang hindi man lang nanonood ng porn? Grabe, ga'no ka kahorny?" Only Carly could turn Jho's delicate words into something so blunt.

"Alam n'yo, 'wag nalang natin pag-usapan. For my own sanity. Please."

"Okay...for now." Sati nodded in agreement as something caught her attention outside Jho's window. She looked closer to see what it was. "Oh my gosh, Jho. Yung kapitbahay mo, sinasara kurtina n'ya."

Carly ran to the window. "Gaga, Jho! Kailangan mong mag-ingat. What if nakita ka n'ya? I mean, baka nakita ka n'ya. Lalo na at mukhang ngayon n'ya palang sinasara yung kurtina."

Jho knew fer face was bright red. There was no way she could hide it.

"Guys, it's fine. Hindi n'ya ako nakita. Wala kayong dapat ipag-alala. Kumain na lang tayo, tara."

Carly conceded. "Fine, pero hindi pa tapos 'tong usapan na 'to. Hindi kita hinuhusgahan, kung ano mang ginagawa ng isang babae sa loob ng kwarto n'ya ay business na n'ya 'yon. Kahit pa ba alam n'yang pupunta ang mga kaibigan n'ya..."

"Not for another two hours!"

"Whatever. Ang sinasabi ko lang, baka pwedeng isara mo naman ang mga kurtina ng bintana mo. Unless..." Carly's eyes looked as though a light came on inside of that complicated, wildly inappropriate head of hers. "Unless you're trying to get her attention."