I was standing in a huge crowd and the noise has made me open my eyes. Nagtaka ako kung paano ako napunta rito when seconds ago, I was standing in front Mr. Sarmiento's murderous eyes. Kinikilabutan pa rin ako kapag naaalala ko kung paano niya nagawang manakit ng tao nang gano'n gano'n lang. He was not afraid because he knew he could buy justice to be in his side with the snap of his fingers.
Hindi ko napansing umiiyak na pala ako. I can't even find my phone anymore. I must've dropped it somewhere. I don't understand anything anymore.
Nagpapanic ang buong sistema ko. Hindi ko alam kung kanino ko sasabihin ang mga nakita ko o kung papaniwalaan ba nila ako. Napahawak ako sa aking dibdib at pabagsak na napaupo. Humagulgol ako kahit na may mga nagsisitatalon na tao sa tabi ko.
_She's dying. _
No one will find out if I don't say something. Yet I'm scared. Natatakot ako na baka ako lang rin ang mapapasama sa huli. Umiyak na ako ng todo. I've never seen violence before my eyes. The way blood rushes from Ms. Arcilla's head. Nanginginig ang mga kamay kong hinagkan ang sarili.
What have I done?
Suddenly, the lights went off and a video flashed on the big LED screen.
Napawi ang ingay at napalitan ng katahimikan ang paligid sa kanilang napanood.
"Si Mayor Sarmiento ba 'yun?"
"Sino' yung kasama niya?"
"Why is Ms. Arcilla with the Mayor?"
"May relasyon ba sila?"
Halos mapuno ng bulung-bulungan ang paligid. Nakita ko kung paanong sumama ang tingin ni Denmar kay Patricia na halos hindi makapaniwala sa napapanood.
He said something to her that made her run away from the stage. Natapilok pa ito at wala man lang nag-atubiling tulungan siyang makatayo. They were all engrossed by what they were watching.
"Ash, are you alright? You look pale." Inalalayan ako ni Neil na tumayo.
I stopped him and told him to stay with me. I want them all to see the bad in the truth. That who they were siding with was a monster and a murderer all along.
Namali kayo ng pinanigan. You were all deceived.
I heard loud gasped from the crowd when they saw how the Mayor banged Ms. Sarmiento's head on the wall. At kung paano rumagasa ang dugo sa ulo nito. Laizar was trying to stop the video from playing because it may be traumatic to watch.
"I can't believe it," someone said in disbelief.
The rest were crying while some are in disbelief. Some are trying to block their sight to prevent them from seeing someone violate the rights of a helpless person. The rest were on their phone, filming the record. This is reality.
And I'm glad I was able to tell the truth to them.
Hindi ko na nasundan ang susunod na nangyari dahil nagkagulo na ang lahat. Someone called the police, the others called the ambulance. Others went running towards the hotel probably to check up on Ms. Sarmiento.
Pinabalik na rin kami agad sa hotel. They will probably let us go home because of the incident. Inalalayan ako ni Neil patungo sa kwarto ko. Nakita kong tinutulak nila palabas si Ms. Sarmiento na nasa stretcher at walang malay. Hindi ko napigilang mapaiyak.
If I would've have done something sooner, hindi sana iyon nangyari sa kanya. The guilt is overwhelming habang nakikitang pumapatak ang dugo mula sa stretcher na kinahihigaan nito.
"Ash? What happened? Bigla ka na lang nawala sa crowd and when I found you, you're crying like this. Ano ba ang nangyari?" Maririnig sa boses nito ang pag-aalala at di waring may parte din sa kanyang natataranta.
BINABASA MO ANG
Hello Doom
Fantasy[ON-GOING] When Asha Buenavella turned 18, she could only wish for one-- to finally end the days of her life. She was fed up with being unlucky and what life had in store for her, sufferring. Will she finally able to achieve peace now that Doom, th...
