Facing Fears

1

Tiffany

Walang katulong sa bahay ni JC, it's because he lives alone. Hindi ito ang bahay ng pamilya nila, he's rich enough to buy for his own.

Mayroon lamang all around maid na nagpupunta rito tuwing friday or saturday upang maglaba, or maglinis if needed.

Si Manang Selis na pinaka pinagkakatiwalaan sa mansion nila.

Mula noong maparito ako sa bahay, it's like I'm living in my most uncomfortable zone. Hindi ko maintindihan ang ugali ni JC, ni hindi ko nga alam ang full name niya. He's a public figure, yet what people know about him is surface level, or maybe I wasn't indulged enough to know. 

There are rumors saying it's John Carl, or Jake Carlos. At meron pang gumagawa ng meme na baka Jordan Clarkson ang meaning ng 'JC'.

JC Devereux is so mysterious in many ways, he's only funny and has an out-going personality around his friends and family, but I say he's jerk and an asshole. Maraming babae ang nahuhumaling sakanya by just staring at them.

No doubt me, a party goer na hindi basta basta nahuhumaling sa lalaki ay nabundat niya.

"Hmmmm, Hmmmm, Hmmmm" I am humming for my Zain, he looks so peaceful when asleep, he loves being carried by me.

Nang makatulog si Zain ay naisipan kong kumain, it's late and I haven't eaten yet because I was so focused on Zain. It's not weekend so Manang Selis is not here, and it's not like I can demand for a housekeeper or a nanny here, it's not my house and I have no right.

"Ugh, yes. Like that, moreeee"

I was stunned when I heard that, he's watching porn?

"Oh my god" gulat akong napatakip sa bibig nang bumungad sa'kin ang hindi kaaya-ayang pangyayari.

It's like I was frozen in my spot, who wouldn't if you see the father of your child fucking another girl carelessly inside his house?

"What the hell!? Are you going to stand there and watch us here? Stupid" malamig na sabi ni JC.

"You heard him? Shoo!" The bitch said.

Agad akong tumalikod at naglakad pabalik sa hagdan, nawala ang gutom na ang gutom ko. I tried to smile to mock myself but I ended up sobbing.

"Let's continue baby" I heard the girl say.

I went to Zain's room to see how peaceful my child looks, he calms me.

Nang medyo gumaan ang pakiramdam ay naghilamos ako at inayos ang sarili.

My phone suddenly rang and I am glad I'm done crying when I saw who the caller is, it's Claire.

"Hello, sis!" panimula niya, she sounded historical.

"Hello, what happened? are you okay?" I asked, worriedly.

"Si Troy" she said between her sobs.

Don't tell me...

"Bakit? Nambabae ba si Troy? Ano sugurin ko na ba diyan?" I said trying to lighten the atmosphere, but it's funny how I can ask these things na para bang kaya kong sumugod talaga, e sa sarili ko ngang...

"Sis, hindi yun naiinis ako kase kinain niya yung Strawberry ko!" what?

I sighed, "Claire, you're being shallow" I said. Sometimes, I envy their relationship, these trivial things are the only reason they fight. I can't say it to Claire's face though, alam ko naman na iba iba tayo ng nararamdaman, and she deserves all of those after what she'd gone through.