I woke up from the ring of call. It was six in the morning on Sunday.
“Love, your phone,” I whispered as I gently tapped his chest. I heard him growling softly as he tried to reach for his phone on the side table. He’s half-naked and just wearing gray sweatpants, while I’m wearing white lingerie. We slept early in the morning because we had a really good time, so I was so tired and I didn’t want to get up.
When he answered the call, I shut my eyes again and embraced him. I was lying on his chest comfortably.
“Good morning… Yes, speaking.” I could feel the vibration on his chest with every word he said. Gosh, I never thought I would be this clingy, but I want to cuddle him forever. Is this going to be my future when we finally get married? I cannot wait.
“What do you mean?” I was startled when I heard Ismael’s voice tone increase slightly. He met my eyes, and I could see his awake mind because of what he heard in his conversation. “It was her brother?”
I gasped. It was as if I had a context for who was calling him this time and what they were talking about. It was about the updates on the burglary at my house.
“Alright, I’ll be there.”
He glanced at me when the call ended. “They say it was your brother who went to your house and stole your money,” he reported to me. My breathing became shallow. I never expected that Joth could do that to me. “I’ll take care of it. You just stay here.”
He stood up, but I stopped. “No, Ismael. This is a family matter-no, I mean…” I sighed as I realized what I had said. “I’m s-sorry …” I stooped to see that he stopped from what I said. “Let me go together with you,” I shuddered.
“Alright.”
He rubbed my shoulder before going to his closet to get some clothes. Mercy has evolved in my heart. I shouldn’t have said that. It looks like I hurt him because of what I said. He just doesn’t show.
“Come here. Let’s take a shower,” he greeted me. I pouted as I gave him a tight hug to compensate for what I had done.
“Sorry, Love.”
*****
Ismael and I arrived at the police station. I immediately saw Roxsielle in front of the police complaining while Joth was busy yelling while holding the railing in jail. I never expected that I would witness such an event. He saw me and didn’t hesitate to scream at me.
“Are you really going to do this to me? I am your brother!” he shouted as his eyes were striking at me. Is he on drugs?
“My brother? But you don’t even call me your older sister,” I said as I approached him. The police greeted me and Ismael. We were sitting down while Joth was still crying, so a police officer told him to shut up.
Roxsielle was looking at us as if wondering why this guy was with me again.
“Sister Jothea, please don’t take Joth to jail. I’m begging you,” she pleads. I noticed that her face and body are not skinny anymore. She looks so healthy. It was as if she had never just been thin.
“I need to know why he did that,” I replied before looking at the police, who seemed to be waiting for my attention.
“Miss Alvandra, your brother was caught in a hidden camera planted on your cat,” the policeman began as he showed at the same time his laptop, where Joth’s footage was stealing my belongings. I’ve heard him threaten my cat, so I felt worse.
I saw how he desperately opened my vault. Roxsielle and I saw my brother, and even she was stunned by what she was witnessing.
“How can he do this?” I couldn’t believe my eyes were seeing Joth swiftly put my money in his small bag.
I bit my lip as I tried to maintain my composure. “Do you really have no money to steal from me?” I turned to Roxsielle. “Didn’t I lend you money last time?” I asked.
“What?! You lent Roxsielle money? When?” Joth answered before looking at his wife. “Why don’t I know about it, Roxsielle?”
“I told her to keep it a secret from you. The money is for your children!” I shouted back.
“What? Why?” Joth’s annoyed question before turning his attention back to his wife. “Roxsielle! You told me that my sister didn’t lend you! I thought she pushed you away and humiliated you.”
I breathed a sigh of disbelief and couldn’t take my eyes off Roxsielle. She looked away because she knew how my eyes could kill by just staring. What the hell? Did she fool me?
“What does this mean, Roxsielle? Did you lie to me?” was my angry question. “I considered helping you, even if that’s all I have left! Why did you do that to me?!”
She stared at me. It was an evil look that I didn’t think she would throw at me. She stood up to face me. “Last money left? Hah! Then why do you have a lot in your vault?”
I scoffed and stood up. “That’s my savings! How dare you even get that?” My lips trembled with anger. If I could just slap her or hurt her because of how she acts in front of me, but I was holding back. I don’t want to push her anymore; that will lead to hurting her.
“Why not? Don’t be selfish and greedy! What are ten thousand-twenty thousand to you? The guy with you is rich, isn’t he?!”
I was blown away by what she said. How could she tell me that? Even if Ismael is my boyfriend, his money is not mine!
“Then you should be in jail instead. Your attitude doesn’t seem to ask for forgiveness,” I said sternly.
I looked at the police, and as he witnessed our dispute, he seemed to know the action here.
“You’re so arrogant!”
I was surprised when Roxsielle pushed me and tried to slap me when Ismael stopped it. “You can be sued for assault, just in case you didn’t know, miss,” Ismael stated in his terribly serious tone, and even I became scared of it.
Roxsielle immediately took back her hand. I didn’t think that this was her true color. I thought my brother was fooling her. But look at what we have now; she was a huge liar, which pushed my brother to rob me.
“Jothea! What’s the meaning of this?” We all heard from the doorway and saw Mom next to Dad walking towards us. Dad quickly went straight to me and even gave me a strong slap. I had never received the slap from Roxsielle earlier; now a stronger and more heavy hand wakes up the silent tiger inside me.
“Why are you going to imprison your brother? Are you really doing nothing but to embarrass our family? Are you fucking kidding me?” Mom shouted in a strident voice, making everyone’s attention point to us. The police immediately suppressed them.
“I apologized, ma’am. Can I ask how you are related to this case?” the police replied.
“We are their parents,” Mom replied.
But never been one to us.
Especially to me.
“Alright, Mr. and Mrs. Alvandra, we have solid evidence that points out her younger brother stole Miss Alvandra’s money when she was away from her home,” police explained.
“Then it should be settled in our house privately. Why will it come here to the police?” Dad asked as he held his cane and pointed around. “Do you really like to ruin our lives, Jothea? Do you need such attention?” he added.
My breathing was heavy. I’ve done nothing wrong, but why am I being at fault? Am I wrong that I called the police because a traumatic event even happened to me? I didn’t even know my brother was the culprit! Isn’t it right for me to ask the police for help, because at least one of them will not help me?
“I’m sorry to bug in, but Jothea is the victim here. She has the right to call the police for help, and she also has the right to put him in jail because the evidence proves that he’s guilty,” Ismael commented, who made my dad smirk. Dad put his cane on Ismael’s chest.
“And who are you again? Who are you to speak for my daughter? Are you her boyfriend?” I gulped. I see the madness on my father’s face. He never appreciated me as his daughter. Now that someone is giving me value and defending me, he is angry, and they are. “You’re just her professor, so mind your own business. This is a family matter,” dad continues as he puts his attention on his son, now behind bars. “Aren’t you going to release your brother, Jothea?”
“Why would I do that? Not until he gave me money back to me!” I answered. I used to hold back my tears because I didn’t want them to see me weak. Now that Ismael is here with me, I need to feel better-at least act like I am.
“You’ll finish this ridiculous show of yours, Jothea! Now!”
My fists are clenched. I sighed and turned to the police. Why, even if I want to fight, I can’t? Why do I still value them so much, even if they don’t bring it back to me?
“Miss Alvandra,” the police called me, as if he could do anything to help me as long as I said it.
But I have done nothing but been forced to neglect the case. They released my brother. What was the twenty thousand that my brother stole that I am defiling our family name? I almost laugh in disgrace. What kind of family is he talking about? I never felt it. I was at a disadvantage, but still not get the favor I deserved.
“I think you should at least apologize to your sister.”