The Greatest Crime

UNO: 01:00

"THE GREATEST CRIME"
01:00 (She)

TWENTY YEARS passed. The pain is still here in my heart. Paano ba malilimutan ang isang bagay na nagpabago sa buhay mo? Paano mawawala ang sakit? Kahit ilang taon ang dumaan sa buhay mo, kahit maghilom pa ang sugat mo, may mark pa rin na nasugatan ka na magpapaalala sa 'yo kung bakit iyon nangyari. I am six that time, everything changed in just a snap.

Paano ako nakaligtas?

Paggising ko nang mga araw na iyon, isang puting kuwarto ang bumungad sa akin. At the hospital. Two foreigners saved me. They adopted me and love me like their own child. Am so lucky to have them. But I refused living with them at America when I turned 13. Too young, right? I chose to live here at the Philippines just to catch the goon I saw that night. I'm sure that he's the culprit. He'll pay!

Now, at the age of twenty-six, the Keisha Santiago is gone. Let's welcome Keisha Lionheart, the brave and intelligent policewoman. Sa edad kong ito, hanggang ngayon marami pa rin akong tanong, kagaya ng: "Bakit kailangang mangyari ito sa amin?" Science and/or education can't explain and answer that sht. What the hell is wrong with me? Bakit kailangan itong mangyari? When I was six, I really love watching Disney's and fantasies, specially happy ending stories. Well, those stories and movies are works of fiction, it's impossible in real life. Yeah! Yeah! Right! Just like the ending-happy ending exists only on a fairytale.

But... that night is not the ending, that night is just the beginning of my story.

"Lieutenant Colonel Lionheart, still with us?", ani General Defensor. I just nod and look at him, and as usual, emotionless. Jolly Keisha is gone. She's frickin' dead. "Okay, then." Nag-uusup kami patungkol sa isang kasong ireresulba namin. Wala naman talaga akong interest sa pagiging police. I just want to make the goon or culprit I saw that night suffer. I want to give justice for my parents. Hindi ko alam kung bakit hanggang ngayon, iba ang kutob ko sa lalaking nakita ko. Una, may dahilan kung bakit kami nabangga sa puno. May sira ang kotse, it's either may gumawa or sadyang nasira. Pero for me, may sumira.

Nang sinundo ako nina mommy, iniwan nila ako sa labas malapit sa parking lot. My teacher wants to talk to them. Then while waiting, I saw one suspicious man. He went to the direction of my father's car at parang may ginawa siya. And also, I asked the two foreigners to know kung ano ang nangyari and they knew na may sira ang kotse.

Pangalawang kutob, dahil may sira ang kotse... malamang na may nagplano ng mangyayari. Gusto nilang mamatay sina mommy and daddy, and me. What the hell is their problem? May nagawa ba kami?

I sighed heavily. The pain is still here. Masakit 'pag inaalala.

"Lieutenant Colonel Lionheart?"

"Y-yes, sir?", I replied. Ano na naman kayang sasabihin ni tanda? Kung ano-ano na naman sasabihin niyan. I know him, ako ang lagi niyang pinag-iinitan. He's so disgusting.

He sighed muna then said, "Mahahati sa tatlo ang inyong grupo. Ang Lieutenant Colonel ang pinakamataas ang rank na ipadadala namin. Ang unang grupo ay kay Lieutenant Colonel Lionheart...", napatango ako "at kay Major Captain Domingo." Napatingin ako kay Domingo na nakatingin din sa akin. He's handsome guy but a weak one. Well, sorry for that term but for me he's weak. It's okay, at least he's a good friend and a great leader. That's Tyler Domingo "Pangalawa ay kay Lieutenant Colonel Dominador at kay Major Captain Apiag. At ang pangatlo ay..." Hindi ko na pinakinggangl ang iba pa niyang sinabi. Tumingin na lang ako kay Zafara na masama na naman ang tingin sa akin. Zafara Apiag is feeling jealous again. I don't care kung may feelings siya kay Tyler tapos mas close kami ni Tyer at laging magkasama. Selos na naman, as if may relasyon kami ni Tyler or may feelings kami sa isa't-isa. We're just friends. Baka nga si Tyler ay may gusto sa kaniya, e.