Camille Syanna

When Cindy Crawford said that even she doesn't wake up looking like Cindy Crawford, I become a little more confident in waking up with my hair all over my face. But I never had to wake up next to someone. Another but, it's just ZA. I don't need to look pretty for him.

"Good afternoon, sleepyhead." He said in a loud annoying voice.

I groaned, covering my face with the pillow. "Go away! And for the record, you make the worst afternoon ever!"

Well, expect him not to listen. He pulled the covers off my body. My legs were instantly exposed. "You have a freckle on your left butt cheek."

Mabilis akong napabangon kasabay ng pagsinghap, kinuha ko ang unan atsaka iyon ibinato sa kanya na agad niya namang nasalo bago pa bumagsak sa sahig. "Ang bastos mo!"

He made a face, throwing the pillow back to the bed. He motioned the paper bag over the nightstand, like a chess board of black and white. "Nagpunta ako sa palengke kanina, binilihan kita ng tatlong t-shirt, pati shorts."

Inabot ko iyon atsaka tinignan ang laman, plain shirts in black, white, red, and matching shorts and sweatpants. I put them back inside the paper bag and looked up at ZA. "Until when are you going to hold me captive?"

"Hanggang sa hindi mo na hilingin na iwan 'tong lugar na 'to." He said flatly, he stared at me for a second before he walked towards the door.

Oh, my God, that's his stretched version of never. I closed my eyes because I so wanted to cry. "I swear, I'll sue you for kidnapping me!"

"Suit yourself,"

"I hate you!" I hissed and shot him a glare.

He held the door open, looking back at me over his shoulder, grinning. "Tell me something I don't know."

"A millihelen is the quantity of beauty required to launch just one ship." It's an automatic response. I'm still mad at him. Like SUPER! All-caps with an exclamation.

Amused, his brows raised. He didn't know that. "I hate you, too."

"Tell me something I don't know."

"The female opossum has thirteen nipples."

"Wow, good for her. She makes a lot of babies in one birth."

"Yeah, now haul your freckled ass off the bed," he started exiting the room. "Lunch is ready."

My heart is breaking as I put on the cheap sweatpants. Karl Lagerfeld's words echoed in my ears. Sweatpants are a sign of defeat. You lost control of your life. And as of the moment, it looks like it. ZA is now in control of my life.

When I went downstairs, I saw ZA preparing our lunch. He's wearing worn-out jeans and no shirt. ZA is of great stature with an athletic build. Everything about him is right, not too beefy, not too scrawny.

"What's your job, ZA?" I asked. I don't really know him, and I'm curious about where he got his physique. He doesn't look like someone who'll spend the whole afternoon lifting weights at the gym. No, he's not vain. "I figured if you'd hostage me here, better if I know who I'm with. And that's you."

After placing the plates on the table, he lifts his gaze to me. "I'm a soldier,"

That's his only response before he went back to preparing the food. I continued watching his every move. Now, that's an explanation. I walked closer to the table, still studying his naked back. It's not as flawless as his light skin. Yes, his skin tone is just a few shades behind mine. The scars on his back were unusual.

"Camille, let's eat." He cut off my thoughts, motioning for the food.

I looked at the food in front of me and pulled a chair to take a seat. "How many calories are in that chicken? You should've at least tried a citrus soy recipe for a healthier version of this one."

He shut his eyes for a couple of seconds, inhaling an air before he opened his eyes back. Umupo na siya sa upuang katapat ko, pinagmasdan niya ako gamit ang pagod na mga mata. I get that a lot, people around me seem to have very little patience with me. I'm not sure I could blame them though. "Kumain ka na lang, pwede?"

Tinignan ko ang kanin na nasa aking harapan, ako naman ang malalim na napabuntong hininga. "ZA, I don't usually eat white rice. Do you have any red quinoa? Because that's what I eat."

He gave me a pointed look but didn't say anything. Instead, he began eating—poor me. God, I never thought I'd use the word poor as an adjective for myself. Seriously, I've never felt this poor and helpless. Please save me.

By his silence, I guess he doesn't have what I'm looking for. And so, I'm forced to eat what's in front of me. I noticed him looking at me when I started touching my food. Again, I'm defeated. I hate sweatpants!

"Aalis ako sandali, may pupuntahan lang ako sa kabilang bayan-"

"Oh, no! You can't leave me here all by myself, Zayn Andrei!" Agad kong protesta. "Have you ever heard the saying that no man is an island? Take it figuratively and literally!"

"Hindi naman ako magtatagal, Camille. Atsaka, pwede ba? Huwag kang maarte dyan. Walang isang kilometro ang layo ng mga kapitbahay, hindi ka nag-iisa sa islang 'to kung iiwan kita." Walang kwenta niyang paliwanag, walang kwenta dahil pinili kong huwag iyon pakinggan. All I understand is that, he will leave.

"I don't care! You're the one who brought me here. That makes me your responsibility. And clearly, you can't just leave your responsibilities behind!" I argued.

"How old are you again? Twenty-three? Twenty-four?" Irritation is written all over his face. "Act like it. Stop exaggerating things that haven't happened yet. Stop overthinking, and most importantly, stop overreacting. I'll be gone for an hour or two, three at most. I just have to run some errands, but don't worry, I'm here before you even miss me."

"Which is never," I rolled my eyes. Oh, my God! Is this going to be my daily routine? Hourly? Minutely? Accept my defeat and sigh my resignation? "You're gonna lock me up?"

His eyes lifted on me. I couldn't read what he was thinking. All I know is that I'm scared. I don't want to be locked up in here like a prisoner of this shithole. He slowly shook his head.

"I might escape?" My fear worsens. "What? Are you gonna tie me up and tap me with explosives? That's not cool, no thank you."

"Seriously, how much time do you spend watching TV?" He finished his food and emptied the glass of water beside his plate before he continued. "That's old-school kidnapping. You're not Michelle Renee, so you can calm your shit down. I'm not locking nor tying you up or wasting plastic explosives on you. I'm leaving, and I'm leaving the door and the windows open. Pongo is outside, I know you wouldn't risk your pretty legs being bitten in an attempt to escape. That's not you, Camille."

Damn. He's right. I hate that he's right. "What do you know? Maybe I'm Beatrix Kiddo."

"Are you?" He tsk, standing up with his plate and glass, turning his back on me, and ending the discussion.

"I hate you so much," I whispered with so much anger and frustration.

"Tell me something I don't know,"

"Horses can't vomit." Now that I mentioned vomit, I don't think I can go back to eating. And I'm not even half done with my food. "Okay, I lost my appetite."

Nilingon niya ako at itinuro ang plato. "Ubusin mo 'yan, maraming taong nagugutom. Hindi ka dapat nag-aaksaya ng pagkain."

"They're not going to get full if I eat it all." I rolled my eyes. "They will still be 'gutom' so it's pointless."

"Have you ever felt what it's like to truly starve? No matter how loud you cry and how hard you pray, no food will come up?" He started walking over, pulling the chair next to me. He sat there and studied me for a while. Then his eyes went to my hair. "Do you have any idea how and why the world's hunger is getting more and more ridiculous? There's more fruit in your shampoo than in some people's plates. Not everyone is born as lucky as you are. I wasn't. So you really have to learn to stop complaining because it's slowly getting on my nerves, Camille."

"Are you threatening me?" I faced the challenge he set in his eyes. I know he's making a point, but I don't particularly appreciate that he's accusing me of something. "Spare me with your lectures. It's not my fault I was born on this side of the wheel, and you and some people were on the opposite. That's life, ZA. That's how it's made. We don't have a choice-"

"You could at least stop acting ungrateful."

"I am not! I thank God every day for what a wonderful life I'm living. I tell my parents how much I love them and how much I appreciate their generosity that they didn't just put a roof over my head, they made sure it's slate and is both fireproof and virtually invincible in most inclement weather." I tried to push my chair back, but he held it with his steely arm.

"Finish that."

"It's too bad I'm staying here against my will," my voice cracks. I'm pathetic. "Don't make it worse by making me do things I don't wanna do."

"Oh, no, Camille." He leaned closer, reaching his lips on my ear. I winced when I felt his breathing on my skin. "As I see it, it's not that you don't want to eat. You don't want to lose this argument with me. You want to prove your point that is, by the way, pointless. Now, eat. Finish your food and stop acting like a five-year-old kid, or I'll be forced to treat you as one."

And again, I hate him even more when he's right. True that I lost my appetite, but finishing my food isn't much of a big deal either. I don't want to do it and please him. He'll rejoice, and that's the last thing I want to happen.

I was determined to stand my ground when he picked up my spoon and touched the food for me. He started feeding me like a papa to a preschool! WTF?!

"What the hell?!" I shrieked, pushing his arm away.

"Kakain ka o papakainin pa kita?"

Gabi na nang mapansin kong wala pa rin si ZA. Buong araw siyang nasa labas, ang sabi niya'y sandali lang siyang lalabas. Naisip niya kaya na mag-isa lamang ako here?

I closed the Pablo Neruda sonnets I was reading and stretched my arms. Medyo hungry na rin ako cause gabi na. I tried to watch tv kanina kaya lang my eyes couldn't take the picture. Sino pa ba naman kasi ang walang HD tv ngayon? I rolled my eyes. The things in this house are older than my grandmother.

Mabilis akong napatakbo pababa nang marinig ko ang pagbukas ng pinto. Oh, my God! I feel like his Pongo waiting for him to come home!

"Z-" nabitin sa hangin ang akmang bati ko sa kanya nang makitang he's not alone.

"Why don't you have dinner here?" Sabi ni ZA doon sa babaeng kasama niya.

I gave the woman a once-over. Maayos ang pananamit nito, nakaipit sa magkabilang tenga ang mga buhok at may magandang ngiti sa mga labi. She's not ugly, but she's also not pretty.

"Camille," ZA finally notices me. Busy kasi siya kay girl!

Tinaasan ko siya ng isang kilay. Why did he have to bring his girlfriend here? Need ba may witness pa ng misery ko?

"Si Charlene nga pala. She lives in the next town, and her car broke down. Kaya sumabay sa akin," paliwanag ni ZA bago pumasok sa loob at lampasan ako.

"Hello," bati nito sa akin.

I gave her a forced yet polite smile bago ko sundan si ZA sa loob ng house. "Andrei, may I borrow my phone?"

"No,"

"But I behaved all day. I swear I didn't try anything funny,"

"Camille Syanna,"

"Zayn Andrei,"

"Don't push it," sabi niya bago simulan ang pag prepare ng food.

During dinner, I hate that I sort of looked like an idiot. ZA and Charlene were having a nice conversation, tapos ako listening lang sa stories nila. I felt annoyed na ZA could be kind naman pala kausap pero if it was me, he was always rude.

What does he liked about her? Bakit kay Charlene mabait siya at sa akin ay masungit? Are they like boyfriends and girlfriends? No, I didn't think so. She wouldn't be so cool about my being here if they were.

"Ang tagal mo rin na nawala rito, ah?" Charlene started mentioning about the past. "Ang akala ko nga'y nang mawala si Lola Tisay ay hindi ka na muling titigil pa rito."

"So many thing came up, and I got busy with work." Simpleng sagot ni ZA sa sinabi nito.

"I understand," tumatango-tango nitong nginitiang muli si ZA. "I'm just really happy that you're back,"

I rolled my eyes. Oh, if she wasn't stating the obvious! Halata naman na happy siya with ZA's presence. Need you say?

"Ouch!" I snapped and shot ZA a glare when I felt his hand on my thigh, gently squeezing.

He gave me one warning glare to let me know he saw how I rolled my eyes. Oh, my God! Was I a prisoner here? I couldn't even react freely to bullshits?

ZA and Charlene went back to their conversation. Ako naman, I was trying to get rid of ZA's hand on my thighs, but I just couldn't. The bastard wouldn't let me!

"No, I had places to be and things to finish," sagot ni ZA nang tanungin siya nito if he was staying here for good.

Napasinghap ako nang ma-feel ko na gumalaw ang hand niya above my thigh! Umangat iyon!

I tensed. My eyes widened. I could feel the heat of his palm on my thigh as it went higher. What was he doing?!

"ZA!" I hissed and turned to him.

"Hm?" He gave me an innocent look kaya mas lalo akong na-annoy!

I stood up and left. I went straight to the room and sat on the bed. Obviously, ZA did that on purpose. He did that so I would leave the two of them alone.

If he wanted so much to have an alone time with her then why didn't he just let me go?

Thirty more minutes had passed before I heard ZA's jeep came to life. Marahil ay ihahatid niya na si girl. Naiinis na humiga ako sa kama at ipinikit ang aking mata. That was their business. Wala na dapat akong pakialam sa anuman ang gusto nilang gawin.

Two hours later, ZA still hadn't come back. Hindi ko rin alam bakit hindi ako makatulog, na para bang waiting ako for him. I closed my eyes again. So malayo pala ang next town.

Ilang sandali pa ay narinig ko na ang pagbalik ng kanyang sasakyan. Ten minutes later he was in front of me. I didn't pretend to be asleep like I should've, kaya naman nagulat siya na makitang gising pa ako.

"Why are you still up? You were supposed to be asleep,"

"What took you so long?" I asked.

ZA didn't answer. Instead, he turned into the bathroom. He reeked of alcohol. So, that was what took him so long!

A couple more minutes later, he was back. Fresh from the shower, ZA wore nothing but a pair of boxer shorts. Humihikab siyang naglakad pabalik ng kama at nahiga sa aking tabi.

"God, you stink!" Reklamo ko nang kumapit na sa kanya ang amoy ng alak na ininom.

ZA didn't have the energy to engage in another banter with me. He closed his eyes and didn't say anything.

I was about to turn my back on him and let him rest when he pulled me closer to his chest. And before I could even react, ZA trapped me in his arms.

I froze.

He was embracing me!

Gusto ko sana siyang itulak ngunit mas hinigpitan pa niya ang yakap niya sa akin.

"Just for tonight,"