Lost In Time

One

Lost In Time
©Tala_Haraya

Trigger warning: Emotional Abuse

C H A P T E R  O N E
♕

K I A R A

"End violence against women!" I shouted back at the policeman who stood still in front of us while trying to push me into the crowd using his riot shield. Nakaramdam ako ng kirot sa 'king dibdib nang sinubukan niya pa kaming itulak.

"Sh**!" I cussed as I stumbled back. Sunud-sunod na rin ang pag-apak sa 'king mga paa ng mga kasama ko sa protest. I tried to regain my balance and took a deep breath. My vision has suddenly become blurry while I try to grab anyone beside me to prevent myself from falling.

I was cussing inside my head when I noticed that our crowd is getting mobbed by the policemen. I saw my companions stumbling back as well from behind.

"Ate Edna!" I tried to grabbed her before she falls off the ground. Kinuha ko ang placard na hawak niya at inalalayan siya sa pagtayo.

"Mayroon kaming permit dito!" Sigaw ni ate Edna nang makatayo siya nang maayos.

"Wala ho kayong permit dito sa kalsada!" Sigaw pabalik ng isang police sa likod ng barricade. "Doon kayo sa freedom park magprotesta!"

Nagsigawan pabalik ang mga kasama ko at iginigiit na mayroon kaming permit para magprotesta. Ate Edna looked furious as the protest she had envisioned quickly escalated into what could become a riot. This was far from what we had planned. We initially protested peacefully inside Freedom Park, but then Ate Edna urged us to move onto the sidewalk. It started calmly enough, but everything changed when we saw the police forming a human barricade right where we were legally allowed to demonstrate, as agreed with the local government.

It was scorching hot. My hat couldn't even protect my head from the heat of the sun. Halos nanunusok na rin sa balat ko ang sinag ng araw habang kami ay nakatayo sa ilalim ng araw. Everyone shouted our demands from the government – reduce the pay gap between genders, improve facilities and laws to ensure protection of women and children against violence, and increase minimum wage to all workers.

"Ate Edna, please let's go," I tried to persuade and calm her down. "Before pa mag-escalate ito at may masaktan pa, ituloy nalang natin 'to sa Freedom Park."

Ate Edna shot me a glare full of anger before turning her attention back to the policemen. "Itaas ang minimum wage para sa mga manggagawa!"

Everyone shouted back and raised their placards. Ate Edna used her megaphone and encouraged everyone to continue the protest while I stumbled back feeling uncertain what to do. Hinayaan ko lang ang katawan ko na mabunggo ng mga kasama kong umaabante papunta sa police barricade.

I found myself out-of-breath and sweating intensely – trying to protect my head from placards and push everyone back to avoid clashing against them. This is my first time joining a protest with this movement, which advocates for the rights of the underprivileged and marginalized. I met Ate Edna at a volunteer expo, and I was immediately drawn to her sincerity and passion for fighting against the mistreatment of minorities, defending women's and children's rights, and supporting her other causes.

I volunteer to organizations I know that advocates the rights of women, children, and animals. I also contribute donations, whether monetary or otherwise, from every penny I save from my allowances. I am committed to doing whatever I can to help because it makes me feel truly...

Human.

Protesting in public spaces is one thing I am curious about. Kaya nung in-invite niya ako na sumamang magprotesta, pumayag ako. Akala ko magiging peaceful ang protest namin dahil sa simula palang ay organized na ang lahat at siniguradong legal ang gagawing protesta.