Chapter 2

[Phraea's POV]

Hindi ako makagalaw sa kinatatayuan ko. Ang tanging naiisip ko pa rin ay ang walang buhay at duguan na katawan nung maid. S-she's dead... she's dead!

"Hey, Phraea." I was pulled away from my thoughts when Rowena called me. Nanginginig ang labi ko siyang tiningnan habang patuloy pa rin sa pagdaloy ang mga luha ko.

"You need to get change now. You need to accept everything. The sooner, the easier your life will be. Maligo ka na at magbihis, we can't waste any seconds."

I obediently followed what Rowena said. Lumilipad pa rin ang utak ko at pagpasok ko ng banyo ay agad kong nakita ang mukha ko sa salamin.

My eyes were bloodshot and puffy, I couldn't identify the beauty I had. I stepped into the shower, hoping that the cold water would make me feel at ease... but it didn't.

Nagbihis ako at ang damit na nasa kama ko ay kaparehas din nung kay Evelyn at Rowena.

Yakap-yakap ko ang sarili kong lumabas at agad na napalingon sa akin ang dalawa. Tipid silang ngumiti bago ako nilapitan ni Rowena at hinawakan ang kamay ko.

"Let us all seat as we wait for him."

Halos mapatalon ako sa kinauupuan ko nung marinig ko na naman ang tunog na nanggagaling sa mansion. Parang pinaghalong tunog ng trumpeta at ambulansya dahilan para kumalabog ang puso sanhi ng ingay at kaba.

"He's coming."

So that sound gives us signal that he's coming. That guy... the embodiment of peril.

"H-he has maids right? Why do you guys even need to cook for him?"

"He wants us, his women, to personally cook the meals for him. His maids are only ordered to take care of the mansion, buy our needs and clean the island."

Magtatanong pa sana ako pero nanigas ako sa aking kinatatayuan nung bumukas ang pinto.

"Master, ready na po yung breakfast." Evelyn sweetly smiled at her. How can she fucking smile?!

Mahigpit akong napahawak sa dulo ng damit ko dahil sa kaba. My legs are tingling as I watch him starts walking towards us with a smile stitched on his lips. They are all insane! I need to fucking leave this island.

He stand so tall, he has firm and precise muscles. He looks dashing wearing a button-up shirt, I just noticed that he's handsome and hot but it doesn't change the fact that he's a criminal... the one I already despise a lot.

"What do we have here?"

"We cooked mushed potatoes and steamed dumplings. Hope you'll like it," said Rowena.

I don't feel like breathing as I watch him sat on the seat opposite to mine. Our eyes met and he smiled at me.

"Let's eat? Phraea, darling, feel free to eat as many as you like."

No, thank you. I looked down and started eating even if I don't have the appetite. I just don't want to be dead in the next few seconds.

"Thank you for the meal, ladies."

"It's our pleasure, Master," they both said in chorus. Why do they sound so happy?

"I got to go. See you tonight." Tumayo na siya at bago umalis ay nagulat ako nung kinuha niya ang kamay ko at hinalikan ang likuran ng aking palad na ikinabaligtad ng sikmura ko.

Pagkaalis na pagkaalis niya ay agad akong tumakbo patungong banyo at mabilis na hinugasan ang parte kung saan niya ako hinalikan. Bumubuhos ang luha kong hinugasan iyun.

I badly want to puke. I'm disgusted. How can he smile and even give me a kiss after what he has done earlier? Wala ba siyang konsensya? Mapakla akong napatawa. He obviously doesn't have conscience. Abducting innocent women, killing people heartlessly and still have the guts to fucking smile... he's the real devil.

.

Nakatulala lang ako habang abala sina Rowena at Evelyn sa paglilinis ng bahay. Masakit ang mata ko dahil sa sobrang pag-iyak.

"Phrey, you need to accept it. Garen is not that bad." Napalingon ako kay Evelyn na nasa harapan ko na at may hawak na mop.

Hindi ako makapaniwala sa mga katagang lumalabas mula sa kanyang bibig. Is she dumb?!

"Not bad? What he did earlier is evil! Ikaw din ang nagsabi na pinatay niya rin ang iba mong mga kasama pero may gana ka pang tawagin siyang hindi masama."

Evelyn deeply sighed before sitting beside me. "They died because they badly want to escape. There's no escaping now, we only need is to survive. Kailangan nating kalimutan ang mundo para mabuhay tayo."

"M-may pamilya ako. Hinahanap na nila ako, Eve."

"No... they're not looking for you. No one would look for us, that's why Garen decided to take us here dahil alam niyang wala namang mag-aalala at walang hahanap sa atin."

Napaawang ang labi ko at parang sinampal ako sa kanyang sinabi. What about Mom and Dad? Si Kuya?Si Almer? Tiyak kong hahanapin ako ni Almer!

"No, no... it can't be! Hahanapin nila ako!" Humahagulgol na sigaw ko habang panay iling ko ng aking ulo.

Binigyan lamang ako ni Evelyn ng malungkot na ngiti at para akong mababaliw nung hindi siya sumagot. Ba't parang sinasabi ng mukha niya na wala ng pag-asa? Na hinding-hindi kami mahahanap?

"Garen provides what we need, treats us like a family... something that we would never experienced in the outside world."

Iniling ko ang ulo ko sa sinabi ni Rowena. "Pwes, ibahin niyo ako. I might be treated like trash pero may pangarap ako and I won't lose hope."

I know it's almost impossible, but a part of me seeks hope. Hindi ako dapat mawalan ng pag-asa.

Evelyn told me that we are only allowed to leave the house before breakfast. The rest of the day will be spend doing household chores. I helped them clean the bookshelves and furnished the floor.

"He'd hurt us if he sees a single dirt. He wants us to clean every edge and corner... just like what a proper woman should do." That's what Rowena told me. Garen Jermaine Dela Cerna is a psychotic idealist.