Autumn of May

CHAPTER 9: Repetition of Bad Events

The people are staring at me while I was sitting at the bench. The fire has gone down already but not the fire in the eyes of my neighbors. Some of them are holding pails and barrels and some are gossiping like crazy.

"Mabuti nalang napatay kaagad ang apoy. Naku! Dikit dikit pa naman ang mga bahay dito" one old woman said while glaring at me. They're gossiping as if I can't hear them clearly.

The girl who bring me to their house, I don't know her name is talking with the firefighters and the guy, I think the barangay captain. She is the only witness of the fire that is why they are interrogating her. After a minute, isang lalaki ang lumabas sa bahay ko and speak to the captain.

"Natrace na namin kung saan nanggaling ang pagputok na kung saan nagsanhi ng sunog cap" he said to the captain guy. "Sigeh, maaari mo bang sabihin sa amin" the captain guy said while tapping the firefighter guy na nanggaling sa loob.

"Naiwan ang oven na nakasaksak sa bahay habang bukas ito. Based sa aming imbestigasyon, medyo luma na ang oven at marami na itong dents sa wirings kaya nagsimula ang sunog" the firefighter guy said to the captain and the captain nodded. Tumingin lang sa akin ang babae with her unexplainable expression in her face, that is she's worried or sarcastically happy or disappointed.

"Naku! Kaya nga hindi kami bumibili ng mga hi-tech na gamit sa bahay eh" one woman said in the crowd. "Alam mo Maribel, ang anak ko galing sa States, eh binilhan kami ng stove, ayun hindi namin ginalaw" another woman in the crowd said. Everyone else in the crowd nod their heads agreeing to the woman.

"Hijo, meron ka bang matutulugan na bahay o relatives dito sa isla?" the captain guy asked me. I shake my head and said, "No, I don't have". Well, I don't have the energy to argue or even speak because everything that happened to me in this island is f*cking draining my energy. Eversince I started to came here, lahat nalang unfortunate. I wanted to breathe for a while. I am so f*cking tired and helpless. All of my life, I enjoyed the luxury. Everything I want, I own. All of my daily events, I can control and I can even manipulate people. But here, it is different.

"May dadating na officials sa kabilang bayan at sa bahay sila titira pansamantala kaya pasensiya na hijo dahil magiging puno ang bahay namin ngayon. How about your family hijo? Can we contact them and tell them about what happened here?" I immediately shake my head and said, "I don't have family anymore".

Hell no. I don't want them to know about what happened because for sure they will spit on my face how stupid I am, how useless I am. They only recognize praises and success. "How about sa mga kababayan natin, mayroon bang may bukal na puso riyan na bigyan ng matutuluyan ang ating kaibigan?" the captain guy announced to the crowed.

Everyone shake their heads and some even walked out. Well, I guess everyone hates me and their doors are not open for me. "Baka bahay namin ang susunod na sunugin niya" one person said and everyone agrees while saying oo, kami din, tama.

I just looked down on the ground. I know what it feels like to have no one in your side during your worse times. I grew up bearing that feeling. But, having no money and even property? Bruh, it really sucks. Just wait and see. If I can stand back at mabawi ang company, I will buy everything in this island.

"Cap, ako nalang po bahala sa kaniya" I heard a familiar voice speaking in front of the crowd. I slowly raise my head and saw that girl staring at me pitifully. "Pwede po siyang tumira sa amin pansamantala" she said softly.

"Iyon. It is settled then" the captain guy said. "Okay, everyone back to their houses. Abbi, maraming salamat sa iyong kabutihan" the captain tap her shoulder slowly and leave the place with his people.

The people started to walk away from us. The firefighters are still in my house checking everything while she is currently standing in front of me. "Tumayo kana diyan at umuwi na tayo" she said.