ONE SHOT STORIES

CHILDHOOD SWEETHEART

Tragedy

“Raven! hi, laro tayo!" It was challe.
The little girl who's always bugging me.
Everyday she will approach me on the park with a cheerful smile on her lips.

“No, I don't want to.” I coldly reply.

“P-pero kahit ngayon l-lang Raven.” She said still smiling. Inilingan ko siya at nilagpasan. Every day she keeps bugging me to play with her. It sucks.

One day, nakita ko siya sa park. She was sitting under the tree where i used to sit.
She was sitting alone. I thought She will approach me again. Smiling wide. But she didn't. I sat on her side. Waiting for her to talk. She was so silent so I looked at her.
Her little hands were shaking, her lips twisted and her eyes were swollen.

“Are you okay?” I ask worriedly. She looks at me gently. She tried her best to smile.

“R-Raven, a-andyan kana pala? Laro tayo.”
She ask again, This time I didn't refuse nor reject her. I think she needs comfort.
I found myself smiling and laughing with her when we plays. She's funny, stupíd and cute. Since that day, we get closed to each other. Months and months came. She's getting pale, Her brown skin turned white, her pink lips turned gray. I didn't know anything because I was seven years old that time.

“Challe! Umuwi kana! Kong saan-saan ka nalang napupuntang bata ka!” sigaw ng isang ginang kay challe.

“M-ma, n-naglalaro lang po kami ni Raven.” she said.

“Kahit na! Kabata-bata mong tao nag-lalandi kana!” sabi ng ginang na ikinaangat ng kilay ko.

“Ma'am, we're just playing.” singit ko.

“Wala akong pake! Tara uwi na!” sabay kaladkad ng ginang kay challe. Challe sadly waving at me. I have a bad feeling about this so I followed them secretly. And there I saw a barong-barong house.
Nakita ko kong paano saktan ng ginang si challe, that's why my hands flinch.

“M-mama! A-aray! H-hindi na p-po mauulit!” She cried. My heart broked into pieces.

‘How dare they hurt her!’

Paulit-ulit pinapalo ng ginang si challe.
“M-mama, h-hindi ko na kaya.”

“Kasalanan mo kasi ‘tong nangyayari sa buhay ko t4ngIna ka! Kong hindi ka lang nabuhay hindi sana ako iniwan ni Edgar!” Saad ng ginang habang sinasabunutan si challe. I want to run and help her, But I can't at this age.

“M-ma, hindi ko kasalanan k-kong bakit nabuhay a-ako m-ma.” Challe voice broked.

“Oo! Kasalanan mo! Bakit ka pa kasi nabuhay! Wala kang kwenta!” Then the ginang slapped her. She fell into the ground, Hindi ko namalayang kanina pa pala tumulo ang mga luha ko. I was so hurt seeing her like this.

Walang makakakita kong pano inaalipusta ng Ina ang batang si challe dahil sa liblib at walang kapitbahay.
I ran out and go home with my eyes full of tears.

“Aw, what happened to my son?” my mom asked me.

“I'm fine, mom.” I answered. The next day. After school I hurriedly walk to reach the playground where we used to play. I saw her again, But this time. Her skin was full of bruises and scratches. Her chubby cheeks was red. Pero kahit na gano'n ang itsura niya she was smiling at me while approaching.

“Raven! Laro tayo magdamag!” She smiled.

“Okay ka lang ba, challe?” Mas lumaki ang ngiti niya.

“Wow! First time kong marinig ang pangalan ko sa ‘yo ah!” I smiled and hug her tightly. She hugged me back. That day we spend our time playing together with a smiles on our lips. And I know that smile was just a temporary on her.

“Raven, Kailangan ko ng magpalaam sa ‘yo. Kasi uuwi na ako. Baka mapagalitan na naman ako.” She chuckled. I feel bad on her. I can't do anything to help her. I was just a minor.

“Mag-iingat ka ha?” I said worriedly and hug her tight as I kiss her forehead.

“Sige po, ay Raven sa ‘yo na ‘to oh!”sabi niya sabay hubad ng bracelet niyang mumurahin. Isinuot niya ito sa akin.

“Bigay ‘yan sakin ni Papa joel. Sabi niya ingatan ko raw. Ibibigay ko na ‘yan sa ‘yo, ingat mo ha?” sabi niya at nagsimulang maglakad.

“Bye-bye!” She wave at me cheerly. I smiled then cares the bracelet on my hands.

“I will treasure this, challe.” I whispered.

The next day, I was smiling while walking
on the road. Nilibot ko ang paningin ko ng umabot na ako sa playground. I didn't see her even her shadow. I didn't expect this. Akala ko ay may lalapit sa akin ng may malaking ngiti sa labi.

“Challe! Challe!” I called her name expecting she wilk show her self or she was just playing head and seek.

“Challe! I know you're there! Come on show your self!” I shouted like cràzy. I started thinking of what might happened to her. That day, I didn't leave the tree. Even when it's getting dark. Until mom and dad came and ask me to go home.

Day by day, I was waiting for her to visit the playground. But She didn't show up.
Until the day we we're leaving. Sabi ni mommy doon na kami sa states titira.
Umabsent pa ako sa klase ko no'n para lang mag-hintay sa playground baka sakaling pupunta siya. Pero hindi, She didn't come.

“Challe! Asan kana ba!” I ws crying like a baby infront of the tree we used to sit together. Hindi ko alam na huling paalam na niya ‘yong araw na ‘yon. It hurts so much.

“Challe, It's been 18 years. How are you?” Tanong ko habang pinapagpag ang puntod niya. Yes, She died dahil sa sakit na leukémià at sa pang-aabuso ng Ina niya. Na sabi ito sa akin ng isang investigator ng pinaiimbestigahan ko ang pagkamatay niya. The investigator said, matagal ng sinasaktan ng Ina ang bata. Kahit na nasa tiyan pa ito. Ayaw ng ina na magkaroon ng responsibilidad. At na-diagnose na si challe kahit na bata pa ito, nasa dugo na daw nila ito.

“I'm okay now, challe. Even though I can't still moved on, on what happened to you.” Lumabo ang mata ko dahil sa nagbabadyang luha.

“Patawarin mo ‘ko, challe. Hindi man lang kita natulungan noon.” My tears began to fall.

“Sana masaya kana d‘yan ngayon, Ah challe may maganda akong balita sa ‘yo. Naka-pasa ako! Abogado na ako challe!” I smiled, Even tho my tears are falling in her grave.

“Gagawin ko ang lahat para mapasok sa kulungan ang may gawa sa ‘yo nito challe, kahit ina mo pa siya. Pasensya na hindi ko mapigilang ipakulong ang iyong ina.” Sabi ko habang pinupunasan ang luha ko sa mata. Naramdaman ko ang malakas na simoy ng hangin na para bang niyayakap ako nito. Ipikit ko ang mata ko at dinamdam ito.

“Paalam, Challe. Babalik ako ulit para bisitahin ka.” I said. Then bid my goodbye to her.

✍🏻 01/28/23
—LazyLitterateur