Mirage

twenty two

Bang! Bang!

Mira was surprised by the sudden noise. It sounded like a gunshot. "What the?" She quickly went out of her room.

Bang!

"Ma?!"

The smell of burning wood enveloped the air. She saw smoke coming from downstairs.

Bang!

"Ate? Kuya!"

She was panicking. There were loud and multiple gunshots and then there was smoke everywhere. Mira quickly tried to go to the living room. But everything was collapsing.

Mira coughed and tried to walk out from the house.

All she could see was the color of flames everywhere. She tried to open the door but it was stuck.

Adrenaline rushed inside of her as she kicked and lunged towards it.

When she pushed herself to the door, it opened and she fell outside. Her clothes and skin were burnt but she tried to stand up still and look for her family.

But when she tried sitting up, her vision was blurry.

One thing she saw was, a boy running towards a car with a gun on his hand.

Mira mumbled something before finally losing consciousness.

The girl could feel her heart beat irregularly. She can't believe she was going back to that place. Why would someone ask for a revision of parole?

This can't happen. No, please.

She hugged her knees to her chest and tried to calm her breathing.

Mommy, I don't want to go there.

Tears fell on her cheeks as she bowed her head.

Snap Click Snap Click

Mira's vision was clouded by flashes of multiple cameras, the media. Her hands were in cuffs as a police officer was dragging her to the station.

She was expressionless, she looked like a mess.

Her mind was in the gutter. In no way she has the capability of thinking for herself when all of her family was gone.

Everyone was labeling her crazy and she couldn't understand it. Why was she crazy? She's crazy because she lost her family is that it? Then yes, she was going crazy because yesterday they were just celebrating then the house was burnt, she's alone, and being taken to prison.

What did she do?

"Yes officer. Sobrang nakakalungkot ang nangyari. Hindi ko alam kung pano niya nagawa yun."

She heard a man talk when they entered the station. That voice was familiar, she looked at the person.

"Tito."

The guy looked at Mira with a scornful expression. He looks disgusted.

"Pano mo nagawa yon Mira? Sarili mong pamilya? Pamilya natin!"

Anong ginawa ko? She thought.

Kasalanan ko ba? Kasalanan ko.

Kasalanan ko kung bat wala na sila.

"Kasalanan mo to!"

Kasalanan ko.

"Sam kanina pa nag riring phone mo." Joanne said.

"Hayaan mo dyan, si mommy yan aawayin nanaman ako mamaya kasi di ako umuwi."

"Nasan na ba sila Aliyah, lalamig na ung pagkain." Mayu said.

"Ano kaya nangyari, bat may kausap na pulis si Mira?" Cielo asked.

"Puntahan na kaya natin sila Aliyah?" Guia suggested.

But Aliyah came in looking worried and sad.

"Ate Liyah! Ano nangyari?" Stella went close to her.

Aliyah shook her head. "Hindi ko rin alam, pero hindi okay si Mira ngayon."

"Nasan siya?" Sam asked.

"Nasa unit niya, mukhang ayaw ng kausap."

Aliyah sighed and sat on the sofa.

"Padalhan na lang natin ng food?" Joanne told them.

They all agreed so Mayu and Guia started prepping in the kitchen.

"Ugh, ang kulit naman ni Mommy. Sorry guys, mauuna na ako kinukulit na ako ni Mommy eh." Sam said as she get her things.

"Paupdate na lang kay Mira ha."

"Sure Sam, ingat ka." Aliyah said.

"Tara hatid na kita sa gate." Joanne stood up and went to Sam.

They went out of the compound and Joanne waved at Sam. "Ingat."

Sam looked at her, "Sorry about yesterday."

Joanne smiled. "Okay lang I get it."

"You know you're my best friend, right?" Sam stared at her.

"Of course, I know. Alam ko Sam, best friends tayo."

Sam nodded and turned around.

When she got home, the television was running on the background and her mom greeted her with an angry face.

"Samantha Rose."

She scratched the back of her head. "Wow ma may pa full name."

"San ka nanaman nag sususuot? Kanina pa ktia tinatawagan."

She put down her bag first before answering. "Diba nga po nag overnight ako kela Joanne. Bakit ano meron?"

Her mom sighed. "Dumaan dito si Emmanuel."

"Sino?" Sam furrowed her eyebrows.

"Emmanuel ung tatay mo."

"Pinapasok mo?!"

"Aba syempre!"

Sam groaned loudly. "Ma naman! Iniwan na tayo non, wag mo na papasukin ulit."

"Tinatanong ka lang niya. Tatay mo parin siya hindi ko naman pwedeng ipagkait yon."

"Ako pwede ko ng ipagkait yon! Wag mo na siya papasukin ulit."

She stopped being angry when they suddenly heard her father's name on the T.V.

"The business tycoon of 5-star hotels, one of the richest man alive, Sir Emmanuel Sevilla announced his heir to the empire. His daughter Samantha Sevilla—"

She turned off the T.V.

"Ma?!"

"Kaya nandito tatay mo dahil don. Hindi ko siya mapigilan kahit sabihin kong ayaw natin."

Sam slumped herself on the sofa and buried her face on her palms. "Omygod."