Chapter 4 - Girlfriend

Third person’s point of view

“Maddox girlfriend happened.”

“Girlfriend—what? Kuya doesn’t have a girlfriend?” Lowe giggles at what Sariel has just said.

“He’s a crazy asshole,” she mumbled with a scowl as she stood up, but dahil nahihilo pa nga siya, kaya matutumba na sana siya. But before she could fall, a pair of strong arms came up behind her to keep her standing..

“Hey, what really happened?” Sariel shrugs her shoulder. Inalalayan naman siya ni Lowe papunta sa kama niya para paupuin.

“Wait, kaninong kwarto ‘to?” Tanong ni Sariel kay Lowe.

“Oh, kay Reinn,” napangisi si Lowe sa sagot niya kay Sariel.

“Reinn? Who’s Reinn?” Nagtataka na tanong ni Sariel kung may babae naman pala siya bakit dito pa siya dinala sa kwarto ng ibang babae niya? Pero kakasabi lang niya na wala siyang girlfriend.

“’yung dinala ni kuya rito kanina sa kwarto mo, hindi mo na agad maalala?” Mas lalong naguguluhan si Sariel sa paputol-putol na sagot sa kanya ni Lowe, nadagdagan pa ‘yung pagka hilo niya. Dinampot niya yung unan at ibinato kay Lowe.

“Tangina mo, deretsuhin mo nga ako,” Sariel shrieks at him. Contemplating to throw another pillow at Lowe.

“Sh*t, ito na nga. ‘yung ball python na dinala ni kuya kanina dito sa kwarto mo. Siya si Reinn,” Lowe exclaims at Sariel. Napanganga naman si Sariel at biglang napatayo. Naibalance lang niya ‘yung sarili niya para hindi siya matumba sa pagkahilo.

“Are you kidding me? Si Reinn? ‘yung ahas na dinala ni Maddox dito kanina?” Lowe nods at Sariel.

“Yups, hindi ba kayo magkasundo ng pet ni kuya? Ang cute kaya nun,” Lowe spats, then bursts out laughing, like a moron.

Dahil sa pagtawa ni Lowe ay nainis si Sariel sa kanya. “I’m going to go out here right now, whether you like it or not!”

“Damn. Hindi pwedi, ako malalagot nito kay kuya,” Lowe snapped nervously, preventing Sariel from leaving the room. For the reason that Maddox left him to watch over Sariel, she should be unable to leave the room Maddox has set up for her.

“Ahhh, talaga ba? Kailangan kong makita si mommy kung okay lang ba siya.”

“No, hintayin nalang natin si kuya kung ano yung desisyon niya,” He demanded Sariel. They knew that Sariel’s a stubborn woman, so it’s very difficult for him to stop her from her plan to escape.

“Bitiwan mo nga ako, kailangan ko na makita si mommy ngayon din,” Sariel said it firmly and kicked Lowe in the knee, causing the man to let go of him.

“Damn. Girl. Are you human or a robot? ” Sariel ignored Lowe’s complaint. She turned her attention to the door to get out.

But before Sariel could even get out, someone stood in front of her—none other than the person she had hated so far. But who is she fooling? Because no matter how merciless the man in front of her is, she will still adore him.

“Get out of my way,” Sariel threatened Maddox.

“And who told you, you could command me with those puckered, shivering lips?” Maddox asked, amused.

“I can do whatever I want, so move,” Sariel warns Maddox, but he just laughs at her. He tilted his head to gaze at her sideways.

“Maybe if you can behave right now, I’ll let you meet your mother for the last time.” Sariel rolls her eyes, forgetting that she is physically hurt. If she could fight Maddox to see her mother, she would do so with all of her strength left.

“You kidding me right?” Sariel’s jaw twitched.

Maddox shrugs. “Naahh, I’d never been kidding in my whole life, and I’m no joker.”

“So, what do you want me to do right now?”

“Just behave, that’s all.”

“Just don’t bring your pet into the room with me,” sabi ni Sariel na lumalalim na ang hininga.

“Okay, fine, sleep well. We’re going tomorrow.” Sabi ni Maddox at tumalikod na.

✧✧✧

THE NEXT DAY, Maddox really granted Sariel that he would let her meet her mother for the last time. They were situated across from Sariel’s house. They’re just inside the car.

“Kailangan kong makausap si mommy,” Sariel snaps.

“Naah, you said that gusto mo lang makita ang mommy mo. Wala sa usapan ang pakikipag usap mo sa kanya,” Maddox grunts. Shoving back Sariel at her seat.

“Kahit ilang minuto lang.”

“No.” Biglang nataranta si Sariel nang may lumapit sa ina niya na lalaki.

“Wait, baka kasabwat ‘yun ni tito,” Sariel breathing hitches.

“Shhh, stay at your seat,” Maddox murmurs.

May ibinigay na sobre ang lalaki sa nanay niya at nginitian lang nito ang lalaki at umalis naman kaagad. Napahinga ng maluwag si Sariel ng wala namang nangyari sa ina niya.

“Please, kahit sandali lang. I promise I’ll be on my best behavior just this time,” Sariel said with a sigh. She’s hoping Maddox will agree to her request.

“Fine, but I’m watching you. Once you make a stupid move, I’ll drag your mom with you,” Maddox warns Sariel.

“I promise, I won’t,” are the last words Sariel says at pinababa na siya ni Maddox.

She didn’t waste any more time and quickly started walking towards her mother. When she got close to her mother, she immediately hugged her. She felt her mother freeze. But when her mother realizes that it’s Sariel, she hugs her back.

“Hey, what happened? Bakit ngayon ka lang?” Nag-aalalang tanong ng ina ni Sariel sa kanya.

“Mommy are you okay? Wala bang nangyaring masama sayo?” Sariel asked as soon as they were able to let go of her mother’s hug.

“Wait, ako dapat ang mag-tanong niyan sayo. Anong nangyari sa ulo mo at may benda ka?”

“Mommy it’s a long story, but I’m fine.”

“Hindi ba umuuwi si tito dito? I think mommy you need to magpakalayo-layo muna. Mag-bakasyon ka muna, I’ll wire you the money that you’re going to use,” Sariel is unable to determine whether she is okay since she Is more concerned about her mother and fears that her uncle will return to her at any point.

“Wait, I don’t think I understand you. Pwedi isa-isa lang muna?” Her mother snaps, confused at Sariel’s outburst.

“Mommy, please. I’m in a hurry.” Sariel wanted to cry because of her anxiety running all over her body, but she kicked it out, trying to be strong in front of her mother so that she wouldn’t be worried about her.

“Sandali, una sa lahat. Hindi pa umuuwi ang tito mo rito, pangalawa bakit naman ako magpapakalayo at bakasyon? Pangatlo, meron pa naman akong pera,” bumuntong hininga ang mommy niya at tinitigan siya ng mariin.

“Tapatin mo nga ako? Ano ba ang nangyayari? Make it short,” Her mother stopped her from saying what she was about to say. Sariel’s mother is well aware of her uncle’s nasty behavior, she has nothing to hide from her mother. So she is not afraid to admit that her uncle has slain another victim.

“Mommy, nakapatay na naman si tito at ako yung kabayaran ng mga kasalanan niya, and I need you to take a vacation malayo dito sa Philippines,” Sariel says while she puckered her lips.

“Sino ‘yung napatay ng tito mo?”

“The Ventura’s couple, mommy, you knew them as the former owners of Ventura’s Tower,” Sariel explained. Her mother’s eyes went wide.

“But, how about you, anak?”

“Mommy, I can handle myself. Mana ata ako kay daddy?” Sariel chuckles to ease her nervousness.

“Fine, text mo ako palagi para kapag alam kong safe ka hindi ako babalik ng Pilipinas,” Her mother hugged her again. From the moment they parted ways, someone honked from the car Sariel came out of earlier.

“Mommy, take care… okay? I love you, I’ll text you later, when I get back to their house.”

“I love you too, anak. Mag-iingat ka okay?”

“Yes, Mommy,” Sariel says bago nakipaghiwalay ng yakap sa ina niya at ganon din ang pagbusina ulit sa kanila ni Maddox. She waved at her mommy before she turned and walked back to Maddox’s car.