CHAPTER 14

                                    

                                          
I was just staring blankly here in this room where I'm locked up. He locked me here because I tried to escape early this morning.
 
"Is this what you meant when you said not to be angry at Mateo... Kung maka alala ako?" I said when Mom entered the room. I'm in Mateo's room, locked up because I tried to escape this morning, but I was caught. Only he and Mom are allowed to enter this room where he locked me up.
 
I have right to be angry with Mateo. Because of them, I don't even know my mother. 
"I'm sorry, Ija. But I can't do anything. You're his obsession, but please don't get mad at me for being silent and not telling you about this. I tried many times to tell you this, but he kept blocking me," Mom apologized. I was stunned by what she said. Mateo is obsessed with me.
 
I can't bring myself to call her Mommy. I can't take it.
 
"You should have told me sooner. So I would know what to do from the beginning. Nalayo ako sa Mama ko, at alam niyo ang nangyayari... but you chose to stay silent," I cried, not knowing what to do.
Pakiramdam ko tuloy pinag tulongan ako ng nga taong nakapaligid sa sakin. 
"I'm sorry. I have to lie. I have no powers like my son and husband," she said, shaking her head, her voice choked with tears.
 
"Mommy Majika, please help me escape. Please," I pleaded, on the verge of tears. She smiled sadly.
 
"If only you had told me earlier, I would have understood," I said, my voice cracking with emotion.
 
It's been weeks since I've been locked up here. It's hard for me to call her Mommy now, hindi ko masikmuraan ang mga nangyayari. 
Hindi ko alam kung hanggang kailan ako makukulong dito.
"I can't. Mateo is powerful. He's a known dangerous mafia. He can do whatever he wants with one order," she said. Tears fell from my eyes. So that's why he has guns? If he can kill people, that means he can also kill me in a snap.
 
"Please, M-Mommy. Help me. I don't want to be here anymore. I want to go home to my Mom. I want to see my Mom. I want to see her," I pleaded. She hugged me.
Kailangan ko gumawa ng paraan para mapapayag siyang tulongan ako. 
I sobbed. "Hahayaan mo po ba akong manatili rito at makulong sa anak mo? He doesn't know me, and he's not my husband," I said, starting to manipulate her. "My Mom is all alone. She's miserable, kailangan ako ng Mama ko para may kasama siya" I added. Crying. 
 
I see sadness and fear in her eyes. Poor her. She's dragged into her son's wrongdoings.
 
"I'll help you as much as I can. Get out at 2 a.m. Just promise me you won't be mad at me if we ever see each other again," she said. I cried even harder at what she said. I nodded. We both turned towards the door when someone knocked.
"Mom, are you still there? What takes you so long?" He was banging on the door. Mom Majika quickly got up and opened the door. I quickly fixed myself.
 
When the door opened, Mateo stood there, his brow furrowed. He entered and looked back at Mom Majika.
 
Mom Majika looked back at me and nodded before leaving the room. I turned back to Mateo when he spoke.
 
"Did you eat already?" He sat on the bed, and I stepped back. I shook my head several times.I started crying upon seeing him here.
"Paalisin mo na lang ako, please. Hindi mo naman ako asawa," I pleaded, my voice trembling.
His brow furrowed at my words. "What do you mean? You're staying here. You're mine."
I shook my head desperately. "Ayaw ko na rito... hayaan mo na akong maka alis," I choked out, tears streaming down my face.
He rose from the bed and approached me, his gaze intense. I flinched back, but he only stopped a foot away, towering over me.
"You think you can just leave?" he hissed, his voice low and menacing. "You're trapped here. You're mine, and you'll stay that way."