December 1999

. . .

Trigger Warning: mentions of death, killings, DID, brutality. If you can't take stories like this, feel free to leave kasi po hindi talaga 'to light. Pero kung gusto mo talagang subukan, just remember that you've been warned.

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It was Sunday afternoon when I decided to answer my unfinished activities so I wouldn't miss a single score the next day. I was pre-occupied with what I was doing when I heard footsteps heading to my direction. Seconds later, I felt a presence standing in front of me so I dropped my pen and raised my head.

A tall man with a lean body greeted my sight, Arthur Ylañza, my father stood proud in front of me. "Son," he called.

"Yes father, how may I help you?"

"I'm just wondering if you have seen my favorite pair of shoes?" my father asked which I only answered with a shrug. He nodded and was about to walk away when I called him again.

"I am not sure, father but I can recall the helper saying that she had put your favorite pair beneath the cabinet in your room," I stated. But instead of receiving a "thank you" from him, he eyed me suspiciously while his forehead is creased.

"Who the h-ck is the helper you are talking about?"

"Uhh, Ate Minda? Father, we don't have any other helper aside from her."

"Who the f-ck is Minda, kid!" he shouted, making me jump in surprise.  I was perplexed by that . How is it that he is unaware of our helper, who also served as my nanny for so many years?

"Father, what is wrong with you? She is our helper—" my sentence was cut off when he shouted my name and glared at me with his eyes filled with emotions I couldn't determine.

"Alfredo! We don't have a helper in this house!"

What? Seriously what is wrong with my father today?

"But aren't you the one who hired her? It was you who let her work inside this house, father!" I snapped back, but he just shook his head and appeared to be very dejected in my eyes .

He continued to shake his head and whispered some things to himself that I couldn't hear clearly.  A few seconds later, his voice became louder and I can now hear what he was saying.

"Arminda Villaluz..." he started. "...is the only helper I let inside this house."

Yes! That's her!

I was about to tell my father that Arminda is the person I was talking about, but what he said next sent shivers down my spine.

"But she's dead. She's long dead."

F-ck. My eyes immediately watered and body started to shake.

"H-how could you say that? I j-just saw her a while ago!" I still manage to say despite the trembling of my voice. But he didn't answer. He just stood a few meters away while his back is facing me.

"Father, answer me!"

"And guess what, Alfredo. . ." he slowly turn to my direction and I had a full view of his face making me scream in horror. My tears instantly fell in so much fear and confusion after seeing the blood gushing out from my father's forehead. He looked like he has been shot.

"You were the one who killed her." My eyes widened in surprise. How dare you accuse me of that, Arthur!

"I didn't kill her!" I shouted in protest but he only smirked at me.  I felt so weak that I couldn't even stand up properly. I keep on stepping backwards to be away from him 'cause I am so scared right now. He doesn't look like he's still my father. He looks like someone who could kill me in an instant using his bare hands.