MW - 2

—

"What a shame! She even stole my earrings, oh my gosh!"

I never thought that a day could be this so long. I'm inside of a crowded and stinky cell, sitting in the corner. I can hear the woman accusing me for stealing her jewelries, the woman who once took everything from me— Doña Colleen De Luca.

"Look what she has done!" I really know them very well that I can even recognize them by their voices. I'm pretty sure he's Don Raul Lee De Luca, the Mayor in this city. "Really a shame on her."

"Hey, what did you do?" I have a thought on my mind and suddenly two guys come to me, definitely to ask. "You must be strong, huh? Steal De Luca's car and wreck it? Haha! I'm proud of you!"

I look at them without showing any other reactions, just my always empty blank face and messy hair.

"You didn't know how nice that was?" The shaved head guy asked. I have to cease my eyebrows for it is the only thing I can show them. I don't know if they are just trying to make a move or they're here to annoy me. I didn't give a word, and that's when they look at each other like they're thinking the same thing.

"Oh, I get it. I get it. You're deaf, haha." Tss, that somehow offends me, ouch.

"Ballares?" The officer catches my attention as she calls my name. I look at her, waiting for words to come out in her mouth, just to find out that Doña and Don De Luca are now standing in front of me. They look very angry, as if jewelries and car that I stole are great lost to them. As if they're really the victims here.

"So, you're Ballares," Doña Colleen looks at me ruggedly. "The thief."

"Hija, how could you do this to us? I mean, we're famous and known for being rich, obviously. How— how could you? Tsk tsk," he shakes his head in disappointment and looks at me disgustedly. "Crazy."

That really offends me. One of the major injustices women face. Women are constantly ridiculed by men, society, and even other women. But when they are dare to fight back at the aggressors, they'll get labelled as crazy. Women are expected to just lay down and take whatever is thrown at them with a smile. Women must smile through insults and injury then once they react, they're emotional? That's fuck! 

"What a sinful woman," Doña Colleen said. Woah, is she referring to herself? Tss.

I don't have a word to say. I already lost a sister, even my parents too. All I still have is my dignity and pride. I'm going to protect it no matter what.

"You're really like that, huh?" They laugh. "What a mad woman you are."

"You made me like this," surprisingly, I let myself say something I want. "Shall blame your family."

"What?!" Doña Colleen has a voice that can really hurt your eardrums. "You're freak! What are you saying?"

I walk closer even though I'm inside of the cell. "What else did you expect me to do after you screwed me over?" I smirk. "I'm going to fight back."

"Hey, she isn't a deaf," I heard the two guys whispering to each other, probably about me but they immediately stop when Doña Colleen widen her eyes at them.

"What do you mean?" Tss, threatened enough? I really want to tell them the truth, the fact that they killed my sister, and they took my parents away. I don't even know where are they now. I'm dying to see them, indeed.

The ring bells, maybe it's a sign that visitors and people that shouldn't be here need to go. "Doña and Don De Luca, you need to leave now. You can talk to her the preceding day," the police explains which Don De Luca does agree with. Before he goes, he left a word.

"Crazy," you call me crazy, then I get more crazy. Simple.

When they're already gone, I let a heavy sigh out of my lungs. I just couldn't take it anymore, but I can do this. I know I can so I will, that's how life works, right?

Sorry not sorry De Luca, money can't buy satisfaction.

"Yo! I'm Bryan," we're currently eating lunch in a long table. A guy who named Bryan sits beside me and introduces himself. "And he's shit, hehe."

The guy who Bryan's referring to sit as well beside me, so now I'm in the middle of them. "You fuck," he says to Bryan. "Uh, hey. I'm Jeore," then introduces himself to me.

Somehow I realize that I need some people to talk to while I'm still here yet at the same time, that may not be important 'cause I swear, I won't stay any longer here. "Otep," I said.

They smile in surprised. "Thought you were a deaf, hehe." I drink my water.

"How's your case?" Jeore asked. I look at him and at Bryan, they're waiting for an answer. "Do you have a lawyer?"

"No. I can let myself outta here," I said confidently.

"What?" They look at each other, confused. "How?"

I put the fork and spoon down, look in front and speak. "Wanna come with me?"

"Oh my goodness. Bless me father for I will sin, amen." Jeore and I both look at Bryan, he's doing a cross sign and even praying. What the hell is he thinking?

"What's that for?" Jeore asked.

"She just told us to cum with her!" Now I understand, tss. I sigh and stare at him, me too father, bless me for I will sin, can I just— shoot him right now?

"You fuck!" Jeore even pats him on the head. "Pardon her, Otep. He doesn't know what he's saying."

Instead of getting mad, that made me laugh for a minute. They're making me calm without them knowing, I guess that's just how it all begins— friendship.

"If you want to be part of my plan, better keep yourselves next to me," when I said that, I have to stand up and put my plates in the kitchen I used for eating. The moment I knew, Bryan and Jeore are standing and following me wherever I go. So I have to stop, I turn my back at them and raise my eyebrows as a sign of asking.

"What are you doing?"

"Y-You told me to keep ourselves next to you, right?" When I heard that, I have to supine my head to lessen from aching. Ugh, God why are you giving me such fool people?

And the night comes, everyone is now at their respected beds and prolly sleeping. I just realize how dirty their work is for not separating men and women cells. But never mind, I can protect myself at all cost. I dare them to not have a sleep for I'll share my idea of fleeing. Yeah, I will run away.

"The heck?" It's Bryan.

"Shh, lower your voice," I command.

"Otep, are you serious? That's dangerous!" It's Jeore.

"I know, so we need to be careful."

Silence prevails over us as one police walks in the hallway, we have to pretend we're sleeping. When he walks his ass away, we sit down and back in the making of plan. It's really hard to speak because people inside of this cell wake up when feel pee, so we really have to pretend we're sleeping, we're even planning under the blanket. Yeah, disgusting.

"When are we doing this?"

"Tomorrow night."

As we all agree with the said plan, we quickly go back on our beds and sleep, for real. As we wake up this morning, everyone's getting their breakfast while the three of us are still lying on the bed.

"Pst, get up!" I whisper, trying to make them awake. They even groan and snap their bodies before standing up. We got a good sleep anyway.

"What time is it?" Jeore asked.

"10 AM," I answered. I look at them like I'm telling to get ready. We eat breakfast, we take a bath, of course not together, then time comes for lunch.

We met by mistake but as the day goes by, it's becoming right.

"You ready?" I asked them. Bryan looks nervous so Jeore mouths things he needs to hear, that works though because after that, he volunteers to be the one who'll get the keys at police's pocket.

"Ready."

We waited for several minutes. And now's already 2 PM, everyone's taking a rest, even the police officer we will be stealing keys later on.

"Go, be careful." Jeore and I have to remind Bryan. He nods and go on with the plan. What Jeore's task is to prepare ways and memorize the directions we will use in fleeing. While me, ugh I know it's frustrating for me to make talk to everyone, but I'll do it for the sake of the plan and for Jeore and Bryan.

"Do your thing now, Jeore," I command. He gives a look and nods. As he's leaving the cell, I take a look at people who are doing their businesses. I guess, it won't be that hard to do my task at all.

I sigh heavily before walking towards them. I don't know what topic should I make a talk but whatever, I'm just hoping succession for the two guys.

After an hour of sharing bad and good stories with these people, that I obviously made by myself, I finally see Bryan and Jeore walking back to the cell. They're looking at me and I can say that they succeed because of their smiles. Very good.

"Are they trying to flirt with you?" Julie asks, one of the girls I've been telling stories for hours.

"Yeah, but I don't like them." I lied.

"What? Why? They're really handsome! Especially, Jeore!"

"No! Bryan's more attractive, Julie!" Rina argues. Whatever.

"Uh, hey. I'm gonna go back to the cell, I'll be back tomorrow. I heard, Gerald has a crush on you." I said, which made Julie blushed. Tss, Julie has been accused for murdering his husband, he had an affair. I hope I heard the right thing. Whatever, I don't care.

"Oh my God, really?! Please tell me more when tomorrow comes, okay? That's quite exciting! You know what, I'm thinking to crush him back. What do you think?"

"Go, grab the chance!" I chuckle, but getting uncomfortable deep inside. I walk closer to her and whisper, "Make out with him now."

She gives me a 'great-idea' look. We said our goodbyes to each other and finally, I can go back inside the cell. Ugh, talking is somewhat my hidden talent, I guess. As I'm walking towards the guys, they take a step even more closer and give the keys to me quickly. We smirk and have to act normal.

Gotcha.

"Fuuuck," Bryan stretches his whole body. "That was quite exciting, huh?"

"Hey, quiet."

"What time?"

"2 AM," I whisper, it will be the time that everyone's surely asleep. They nod.

Afternoon, while eating snacks, I have a thought of asking them. "What will you do after running away?"

Jeore is enjoying his cup noodles when he answers me. "Find my family, I guess." That made me frown. I look at him out of curiosity that he somewhat understands in a bit. "I've been here for 3 years. Ever since, I never heard a thing from them."

"They didn't even bother to call you?" I asked, he just shakes his head. I know he's into tears, I feel sad for him.

"After what I did? I knew they wouldn't give time for me." I really want to know why is he here, what did he do?

"It was a daring robbery." I nod.

"What about you?" I look at Bryan, turning the question to him.

"Uh, get jailed again?" We laugh at his joke and shakes our heads. "Gonna live my life. What about you, Otep?"

I eat the remaining noodles in my cup before I speak. "Justice, revenge," I think even more. "See you in jail again."

There's a water jag in the middle of the table. As we poured water into our glasses, we make a toast. "Here's to our 2 days of friendship!"

As far as I know, I've never been this comfortable with people I just met. Later on, we will part our ways but I believe that true friends are never apart, maybe in distance but never in heart. It does not end on how long or short you're going to see them. It isn't about the times you've been together or how promising your friendship is, but maybe it's about how your group made you better individually.

I look at the wall clock, it's 1:49 AM. I peek out the window and all I see is darkness, that's when I knew that we need to move now.

"It's time."