Captivated

Chapter 5: Satisfaction

Satisfaction

"Go ahead," ani Rigel.

Kinagat ko ang labi ko habang nakatingin sa camera ng laptop niya. Him, together with his men surrounded me. Nakaupo ako sa harapan nila at ako lang ang kita sa camera. Nasa likod ang mga kamay ko. It has no strings or handcuffs. On the video, it may look like I have one.

The plan is to send my parents the idea that I've been kidnapped. Ayaw ko na sana itong gawin pero gusto ko ring malaman kung anong gagawin nila once they knew.

"Come on, bitch."

I gasped. He has no basis and yet he likes calling me b***h!

"Let's prove how irresponsible your parents are."

"They're not!" I shouted because I know the truth. "Once they knew I've been kidnapped, they will surely be here a minute after they watched the f*****g insane video call!"

In a swift move, Rigel was once again holding my jaw tight. Masyado siyang pikon! At kung makapanakit sa akin para akong hindi babae!

Bago ko pa man mahawakan ang braso niya ay marahas na niyang hinampas ang kanang kamay ko. Sobrang rahas ay naramdaman ko na lamang na namanhid pagkatapos tumama sa trosong inuupuan ko.

"Princess, do not curse."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. If he's not holding my jaw, it must have dropped. What does he mean? I mean... Damn! I don't know why but my heart unusually skipped a beat in an unusual way.

Ngumiwi ako nang mas diniin niya ang paghawak sa panga ko. Napansin ko si Matt na tumayo ngunit hindi naman nakialam.

"Now do it." Bumalik siya sa kanyang pwesto. Sinulyapan ko si Matt at inirapan. If he's thinking I needed his help now, he should think again.

Dinungaw ko ang likod ng palad ko na kumikirot. May gasgas iyon at namumula.

Rigel pressed the button on his laptop. The red light showed up, sign that the call is on. Next to the laptop is pocket wifi.

Matagal bago iyon sagutin ni daddy. Isa-isa kong tiningnan ang mga lalaking nasa harapan ko at nasa likod ng laptop. Pero hindi ko pinagtuunan ng pansin si Rigel. Kagat ko ang labi dahil sa kumikirot kong palad. Wala akong natatandaan na nakaranas na ako ng ganito. Mom will surely be in stress if ever.

"P-Princess."

Namilog ang mga mata ko sa laptop. Mom's voice is shaking but still soft.

"Oh god! Princess!" Dahil sa pag hysterical niya ay sumilip na rin si Daddy. He's also in shock.

On their background, I knew they are in dad's office. Are they too preoccupied with business matters to ever think of me?

"Princess," dad called. He rarely called me Princess. But his voice remains cold. It's as if he's assessing my situation just by looking at me on the screen.

"Mom," my voice cracked. I bit my lip to refrain from crying. I won't give Rigel the satisfaction of seeing me and my family in misery.

"Where are you? God, Princess! Are you safe? Are they hurting you?" sunud-sunod na tanong ni mommy. I can see a glimpse of tears on the corner of her eye. Kaya dapat na kontrolin ko ang sarili ko. If I cry, Mom will surely too.

"You..." I loudly shallowed. My throat suddenly dried. "You know I've been kidnapped." That's a pure statement. I want to shout it but my voice remains soft, almost a whisper in a cold breeze of air here.

Sandali silang natahimik. "Of course! Of course, we know!" Mom says.

"Then why I'm still here?" I shouted although my voice still sounds like a whisper. "Couldn't you track me again?"

"Stacey," Dad called, in his usual tone. As if we're not in this situation... I'm not in this situation. "Your bag? Necklace and earrings. Where are they?"

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko. Is that more important than me? The things they gave me?

Nag angat ako ng tingin kay Rigel. Nakataas ang isang kilay n'ya sa akin. At si Matt ay tumatango ng wala sa sarili... And that ring a bell.

"Are there trackers in there?" mahinang tanong ko. Though I know everyone here hears me. 

They are all silent and intently listening to us.

"Where are you? A forest? Mountain?" Dad asked instead. "Do they tell you what they need?"

"You know I need nothing, Mr. Yanes."

My parents froze in Rigel's deep and cold voice. Mom's eyes went wide and suddenly couldn't utter a word.

"Hell you Ruskin!" sigaw ni Dad na nagpatalon sa akin.

Ruskin? He knew my kidnapper and yet they aren't making any moves!

"Dad, Mom! Why? Who are they? What did they need from me? From us?" nag aalalang tanong ko. Nagtataka ako, at the same time,  natatakot.

What really happened between them?

"Don't worry Princess. We'll do everything to get you back--"

"But the media knows nothing! You could have asked for help on media but you choose to lie!"

"Your voice Stacey," Dad sternly warned. Mom caressed his shoulder to stop. I bite my lower lip.

"Princess, dear don't worry." I looked away when Mom started crying.

I looked up at Rigel and damn it! He's smirking!

"Stan." Dad was about to say something but he froze when he heard me say Stan's name. "Did he really died in an accident or these people--"

"Yes!" Kasabay ng sagot ni Dad ay ang pagtayo ni Rigel. "That wasn't an accident. He killed your brother!"

Mabilis na nakalapit sa akin si Rigel at sinakal ako. Hindi s'ya natatakot na makita sa camera kung makikita s'ya. Nakatayo s'ya kaya kalahati lamang ng katawan n'ya ang kita.

"Oh, God Princess! Santy our daughter!" Mom cried.

Nag-aalalang tumingin sa akin ang mga tauhan ni Rigel. I want to push him but I didn't try. Instead, I wiped the little amount of tears in the corner of my eyes that threatening to flow down. 

"You know the truth f*****g Yanes! And your Princess will pay!" Nanginig ako sa takot dahil sa galit sa tono ni Rigel. He's looking in condemn on the screen at my parents.

"Stop it! Stop it!" Mom pleaded while gripping Dad's arm.

Stan once said that he'll give anything rather than to see the two women of his life cry. And now I feel him. But I can't do anything. I can do nothing because I'm the reason why mom's suffering.

I closed my eyes. "Mom." I tried to call her though I barely heard my own voice.

Rigel's grip loosened a little. Iminulat ko ang mga mata ko. He's blank face becomes in anger again and he tightens the grip on my neck once more.

"Yanes stop it!" Dad roared in anger. Kung ako ang sinigaw n'ya ay baka nagkulong na ako sa kwarto ko. And Rigel didn't care at all how he's pushing my dad to his limits.

Kinuyom ko ang mga kamao kong nanginginig sa hita ko. He's hurting me and I f*****g want to stop him! But I know I can't!

I wish he would take my life so easily but no! I wanted to know what really happened to Stan.

As always, sa marahas na paraan ay binitawan ako ni Rigel dahilan para mapaluhod ako sa lupa.

"Princess dear!" Mom sobbed.

Hinawakan ko ang leeg ko at sinubukang punuin ng hangin ang baga ko. It's hard and I can't breathe properly.

Muli akong tumingin sa laptop. And for the first time in my life, I see Dad's face. His unusual worried face. While Mom's face was full of tears. Just like how I saw her many times after Stan's death. He looks like Stan. I look like Stan too but the only difference is our eyes, which I got from our father.

"Mom please," I plead. "What happened to Stan?" tanong ko kahit na hirap pa rin akong huminga. "Is that accident--" Pero bigla silang nawala sa screen after Dad turned off the call. "No! Dad! Mom!"

I tried to reach for the laptop but I'm too weak to even move.

Why? Why they couldn't answer me? Why they ended the call that keeps us in contact? Why?

Hindi ko sila naiintindihan. Bakit hindi nila ako masagot ng maayos. Alam naman nila na alam kong aksidente ang nangyari kay Stan. Kung iyon ang totoo, bakit kaylangan pa nilang umiwas sa tanong ko?

Pagkatapos umalis ni Rigel dala ang laptop n'ya ay tahimik na ring umalis ang ilan. Apat lang ang naiwan.

"You okay?" tanong ni Rex, sa tabi n'ya ay si Matt.

Sandali akong tulala bago nag angat ng tingin sa kanya. "What happened to Stan? Did you kill him?" mahinahong tanong ko, though my fist already turned into a ball.

Whoever killed Stan. Whatever their reason. I'm sure in hell I will never forgive them.

"You okay?" tanong ulit n'ya. Akmang hahawakan n'ya ako pero agad kong tinulak ang kamay n'ya at pilit akong tumayo.

He too couldn't give me enough answers!

"Obviously, I'm not!" sigaw ko bago sila tinalikuran. I don't know where to go. And I don't want to go inside Rigel's tent yet. I hate him so much!

Walang pumigil sa akin sa paglalakad pero alam kong nakatingin sila sa akin. Mas lalo pa akong lumayo. Wala sa isip ko ang pagtakas dahil alam kong imposible iyon. My parents knew who kidnapped me. If they, themselves couldn't do anything, how am I suppose to do even?

Sa di kalayuan ng gubat ay nakita ko ang ilog na sinasabi ni Matt. Lumingon ako sa paligid. Nakatingin pa rin ang ibang mga villains sa akin pero masyado na silang malayo. Kampante sila na hindi ako makakatakas dito.

I watched the water continuously and slowly flowing. At the far end was the edge and I know there's falls in there. Bigla ko tuloy gustong makita ang falls na iyon. I haven't seen one in my entire life.

Tahimik akong umupo sa ilalim ng isang malaking puno. Sa katabi lang nito ay isang open nipa hut pero mas naging komportable na ako rito.

I silently wondered how my life becomes like this. Ang akala ko ay nakakainis na ang pagiging over-protective nila Daddy na hindi ko maintindihan noon. Pero mas nakakainis pa pala ito at sila Daddy, bakit nila masabi sa akin kung ano talaga ang totoo?

I felt my tears flow down my cheeks. Yumuko ako at niyakap ang tuhod ko. I feel so alone. I have no one to be with. I miss Stan too much. If only he's here...

Ilang sandali lang ay may narinig akong kaluskos at yabag mula sa likuran ko. Hindi kaagad ako gumalaw kahit pa alam kong narinig na ng kung sino man ang paghikbi ko. Nakakainis na pinigilan ko na nga ang pag iyak ko kanina sa harapan nila tapos ngayon may nakakita pa sa akin.

"He's too much right?" That's Matt's voice. Umirap ako sa kawalan dahil alam ko na ang dahilan kung bakit s'ya nandito. "You shouldn't be crying. We should start making plans together."

Nag angat ako ng ulo sa ilog. I saw him on my peripheral vision. His hands were in his pockets. Nakaharap din s'ya sa batis.

Marahas kong pinunasan ang luha ko. "I'm not crying," I lied, "and I'm not making plans with anyone." Agad kong sinabi bago pa n'ya kontrahin ang pag iyak ko.

"I'm willing to help you out since your parents can't help you anymore."

Huminga ako nang malalim nang maisip ko ang nangyari kanina. "They will if they have way. They just don't have any idea where the hell to find me."

"With all their money? Hindi ko alam. We're still here in Philippines. Kung gugustuhin nila, they can find ways to find you. Alam lang nilang mahirap kalabanin si Rigel."

My head snapped up at him. He looks at me and I narrowed my eyes. "If you really are willing to help me, then tell me what's between my psarents and that man." hamon ko.a

Nagkibit balikat s'ya. "I don't have an idea, really. At dahil sa video call na iyon, siguro naman ay mahahanap na ako ng magulang ko."

"That's impossible. Lahat ng ginagawa ni Rigel ay pinagpaplanuhan n'yang mabuti. And Rex is a great hacker."

Umirap ako sa kawalan. "Bakit nga ba gusto mo akong tulungan? Are you a victim here also and you wanted out?"

Umiling s'ya at tipid na ngumiti. "Yes, no? I'm a victim but unlike you."

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko. Bago pa ako makapagtanong ay nagsalita s'ya.

"I'll get your phone back if that could make you trust me."

"He has my phone? I thought there's a tracker in there? And you'll do that? You can? How?" sunud-sunod na tanong ko not minding what he said earlier.

"I said I'll try. At narinig ko na naayos na nila ang cellphone mo. Hindi ko lang alam kung bakit kaylangan pa n'ya iyong kunin."

Nagtaas ako ng isang kilay. "If that so, I can do that myself. We're sleeping in the same tent. I can look there my own." tumayo ako at inalis ang dumi sa suot kong shorts.

"Hindi n'ya iyon itatago sa lugar kung saan pwede mong kunin. Give me time and I'll give that back to you."

Tinitigan ko s'ya mula ulo hanggang paa. "I don't know. Better see before I believe in you and besides, whether you got it or not doesn't mean I'll trust you that easy." I sarcastically smiled before leaving him.

Hindi pa ako nakakalapit ay nakatingin na sa akin ang mga villains sa paligid. Rigel and Rex are nowhere. Ang tanging lalaking naghihintay sa akin ay ang lalaking laging nag uutos sa akin. Minsan na nilang nabanggit ang pangalan n'ya, nakalimutan ko lang. On his side is a dirty bin.

"Hi, Princess." He smirked.

Umirap ako at lalampasan na sana s'ya.

"Here." sabay hagis n'ya noong dirty bin sa paanan ko. Tumumba iyon at nalaglag ang ilang mga damit. Nagsalubong ang kilay ko dahil mga gamit ko na iyon. Napansin ko pa ang red brassiere na sinuot ko. Rigel gave those to me on my second day here.

"What will I do with that?"

"You'll wash?" He smirked wickedly again.

"In your dreams man!" Kumuyom ang kamao ko sa inis. Bahagya kong sinipa ang dirty bin para makadaan ako at tuluyan na s'yang nilampasan. Ngunit hindi pa ako nakakalayo ay binato n'ya ako ng isang puting damit.

"What!?" inis na sigaw ko.

"Sabi ko lalabhan mo yan."

Nagtaas ako ng kilay at bahagyang natawa. "Of course not. I'm not--"

"Of course you will." Rigel's harsh and cool voice sent fear to me. I feel terrible with him and it worsens after what happened earlier.

Hindi ako nag-abalang lingunin s'ya. Mula sa likuran ko ay lumapit si Rex sa dirty bin at inayos ang mga damit doon. Inilagay n'ya iyon sa paanan ko. He's looking at me with gawin-mo-na-lamang-para-walang-gulo look. Umirap lamang ako sa kanya.

"Matt where did you go?" Rigel asked still from my behind.

Nag-angat ako ng tingin kay Matt na kadarating lang. Nagbalik-balik ang tingin n'ya sa aming lahat at sa dirty bin sa harapan ko.

"Binantayan ko s'ya. Baka makawala."

"Hindi na s'ya makakawala, Matt," ani Steve. Yeah, I remembered his name.

Seryosong nakatingin sa kanya si Rex. There's something in the way he looks at him. Umirap ako sa kanila at yumuko para kunin ang dirty bin.

"I'll start washing then." diretso akong umalis doon without looking back or even at Rigel.

I know he is doing all of these for his own satisfaction.