Becoming Human

THE upbeat music reverberated inside the club. It was not even ten in the evening yet it was already packed. Despite not liking the loudness of the place, Janni pushed her way in between the throng of dancing people to get through the bar area. Not waiting for an apology every time a body collided with her, she continues her descend. She released a sigh the moment she exited the moving bodies from the ground floor. “What can I get you, Miss?” The smiling bartender asked before Janni’s ass could touch the tall chair in the bar. “A very cold iced tea please.” “With a twist?” “No. Just plain and boring iced tea please.” The smirking bartender turned to the woman with a tall glass of the drink. He pierced the paper umbrella on the sliced of lemon attached to the lips of the glass. “Thank you, Marvin. You’re a lifesaver.” “There is nothing I can’t do for a pretty woman like yourself.” “The sweet mouth of yours can get any woman you like.” “Except you.” “Except me and my family.” The bartender chuckled. “I stand corrected.” Marvin went back to work when more people approached the bar. Janni went undisturbed since she chose the rear part of the bar that was almost plastered at the wall. Often, on a Saturday night, Janni is in the confinement of her apartment staring at the numbers on the laptop screen. However, through the persuasion of her ‘good’ family members, she has to leave the warmth of her humble abode. She heaved another sigh. She sipped on her glass. She missed her bed and the softness of her blanket in her skin. She was halfway done with the iced tea when something collided on her back that made the juice spill on her front. She almost whistled when the chilled temperature sipped into her clothes down to her skin. “Oops, I’m sorry.” Janni did not bother to turn to the person. She grabbed the paper towel from Marvin’s hand and wiped her front. She could hear the commotion behind her. She paid it no mind since she was busy minding her own shirt. She felt wet and sticky. If there was one thing that she was thankful for, the drinks did not reach her lap. However, the cold drink soaked into her white shirt that making her black brassiere became visible. “I have an extra shirt at the back.” Marvin offered when he noticed her predicament. “She’s fine. I can take care of my girl.” Janni stilled. The hand that wipes the wet shirt stopped moving. Her eyes went to the person who spoke. A fair-skinned tall woman with long and wavy hair looked back at Janni. A serious-looking woman stood before her. Her dark eyes tensed unexpectedly when their eyes met. Janni’s heart thumped, too. The woman’s black orbs contradicted the chestnut mane that adorned her head. “Leonel!” Their staring contest ended when they both turned to the other woman who touched the arms of the woman named Leonel. She is a black woman with a petite but very curvy physique. Her beautiful, curly hair was dyed copper blond. However, her eyes were sending territorial glared in Janni’s direction. Her hand that touched the tall woman’s arm tightened. “Leave me alone, Kate. We’re done.” The woman named Leonel declared but her eyes were on Janni’s. “You can’t do that.” “I just did. Ciao.” Leonel detached the scowling woman’s hand from her. Kate humped before her right hand moved. It made contact with the chestnut girl’s cheek. It created a solid slapping sound that sure made a statement. “Don’t call me again when you need a booty call. b***h!” “Don’t come to me when you need bucks to pay for your spending.” Janni watched the woman walk away without another word but a deep scowl on her face. “That went well.” She muttered under her breath. She jumped from her seat and nods at Marvin. She threads to the direction of the exit. She did not look back despite hearing someone calling for her attention. She knew that it was the Leonel woman. The cold air hit her face. The drenched shirt made everything colder. She waved at the oncoming taxi. “Where to, miss?” “On the fifty-first street.” Her eyes went to the ongoing traffic but her mind was left at the bar. Dread entered her thoughts. From the start, Janni already knew that she is not normal. She clamored to be normal though. Before she could dwell on her thoughts, the familiar street appeared before her. She told the driver to stop after a couple of minutes. She entered the apartment complex. All the while, she was hearing her mobile phone ringing. When it stops, a notification sound came in. Janni touched the knob of the front of the door of the unit she rented. It opened quickly. Not bothering to glance back when she crossed the threshold of the one-bedroom apartment. She walked past the living room. She heard the door close gently. The locks moved on their own before Janni’s sneakers disconnected from her foot. With a wave of the hand, the shoes went to the rack. The bag zoomed to the chaise. Its zippers opened and the mobile phone flew into her hand. She pressed the screen. Her eyes blinked a few times when she saw the notifications. Ten missed calls and fifteen text messages. The social media apps were not included. Her eyes went to the landline on top of the side table. Beside it was a small pad and a pen. Half a minute later, its ring reverberated in the small place. “Hey, I’m busy at the moment. Please leave a message.” “If you’re at the apartment, please answer the phone. Do it or I’m going to call Aunt Mira.” Janni groaned when she heard Cane’s deep voice. Thumping her feet on the wooden floor, she approached the telephone. She pressed a button. “I’m here.” She said in an almost whiny voice. The man heaved a sigh. “It wasn’t too hard, right?” “What do you want?” “Are you okay? Marvin told me.” “A spilled juice won’t kill me, Cane. Please tell everyone else that I’m fine. They have been pestering my phone.” “We’re coming to your place.” “No! I have no beer nor wine here.” “We can bring them to you.” “No!” “Have a life, baby girl. You have been camping in your place for two weeks now.” “That’s because I’m working. It’s called work. Not camping.” She responded with exasperation. “But you have been hiding. We missed you, baby.” Janni pouted. Among her friends, Cane was the one closest to her. He understood when she wanted to be alone and when she wanted silence. However, it was different when his twin sister come into the picture. Belle is the carbon copy of her mother, Aunt Solana, who did not know what personal space mean. She is also a mean b***h when she has to and she exercises it very well like her other mother, Aunt Villel. Thirdy is another story, too. Their squad is composed of three men and three women. Janni is the youngest and the baby of the group at twenty-four while Twain is the oldest. He is thirty-seven years old and Thirdy’s big brother. The twins were twenty-eight years old like Thirdy’s. The other guy is Charlie. He is thirty-two. Suffice it to say, they became friends because of their parents who were also friends. Well, they were more than just friends. They were family. They are not bound by blood but they treated each other as family. “Baby girl.” “You have to bring me Aunt Solana’s lasagna.” “Of course. She already packed them when she heard that I’ll be seeing you.” “Fine.” “I’ll see you later. I love you, Janni.” “Szeretlek, Cane.”