"Ate, it's horrible in there." Umiiyak na sabi ko. Good thing I had one of those minty vapor rubs in my pocket. I dabbed a little under my eyes para hindi na ako mahirapan mag-iyak-iyakan. "There were lots of roaches tapos may mga naglalaro pang daga sa tabi ko kanina. Paano kung kagatin ako ng mga yun habang natutulog ako? Paano kapag nagka-leptospirosis ako?"
"You have to face the consequence of what you did. Mama and Dad have already had enough of your antics. Kaya hindi ka nagtatanda dahil alam mong hindi ka namin matitiis but not this time." Ate sighed heavily. "You're already twenty-four, Ronnie, and you still act like a kid."
"Ugh! Ate, stop. Na sermonan na ako ni Mama, Dad, Kuya Coco, at Kuya Miggy. Pati ba naman ikaw?" I rolled my eyes. "Akala ko tayo ang magkakampi?"
"You need to stop all these." She shook her head. "You were locked up in jail for leading a protest at Sybarite's cover party. And then you covered Mr. Lazaro's mansion with pig's blood. Ngayon naman ay tinapunan mo siya ng sperm ng kabayo. Sperm ng kabayo, Veronica! Who in the right mind would do that?"
"Dapat naiintindihan mo ako at ang mga pinaglalaban ko, Ate. If we're not going to stand up for ourselves then who will? Wyatt Lazaro and his company are devaluing us women, they are objectifying and sexualizing us. The Sybarite mansion is literally just a glorified whore house. Ginaya pa nila yung Playboy mansion." I snorted in disgust.
"You have to understand that some things are not going to go your way no matter how bad you fight for it. Wyatt Lazaro is laying a serious charge on you. Noong mga una, napapaki-usapan pa siya ni Dad but now he doesn't even want to talk to Dad. This is going to go on your permanent record, do you know that?"
"If fighting for women's right is a crime then I am guilty."
"Here's your things. Mama and I packed this for you. Nandyan na yung mga damit mo at toiletries mo." Ate Drey handed me a small travelling bag. "Pinabibigay ni Mama yan kasi sabi niya hindi niya kayang makita ka sa ganitong sitwasyon. This is for your own good, Ronnie."
"Are you serious?" I looked at her, unbelievingly. I felt like my whole world had collapsed on me. "Huwag ka ngang magbiro ng ganyan. May bail naman ito! Hindi naman ako nakapatay ng tao!"
"Take care of yourself, okay?" Ate Drey kissed me on the forehead.
"Ate, huwag mo kong iwan dito. Promise, if you bail me out of here forever na akong magiging Yaya sa mga anak mo. And I'll walk Ringo every morning." I wrapped my arms around Ate's waist. Ringo was the boys' chocolate labrador.
"Ronnie..." Ate Drey pried my arms from her waist. "You're not going to learn kung palagi ka naman pagbibigyan. You'll just do this over and over again."
"Ate! Ayokong makulong!" I faked crying. "Please, don't leave. Wala na ba talaga kayong pakialam sa akin? Hindi niyo ba talaga ako mahal? Alam mo iniisip ko minsan, totoo yung tukso niyo sa akin noon ni Kuya Coco, na ampon lang ako. Bakit ba ganito kayo sa akin?"
"Ronnie, kilala kita. Hindi mo ako madadaan sa mga ganyan mo." Ate sighed, rolling her eyes. "The boys' are waiting for me. I need to go."
Wala na akong nagawa habang pinapanood ko si Ate na umalis. The police ushered me back to my cell and I sat on the corner, hugging my bag.
Wyatt Lazaro sat on the seat across from mine, a smug smile playing across his lips as he looked at me. I wanted to lunge at him and claw his face off. My fingertips twitched at the effort to stop myself from doing so.
"How's life in here so far?" He asked.
"Why are you even here? Ano'ng kailangan mo sa akin?" I cocked a brow, crossing my arms over to my chest.
