MIONG: And the Sublime Paralytic

Balita

They sat in front of the televsion.

There was intense silence.

Miong is seated on the sofa beside Appy’s wheelchair, staring at the young boy whose eyes were angrily fixated on the news.

The news ended, but that made Appy a lot angrier.

“Just nine seconds.” Appy breathed, clenching his fists. “A total of six children died in front of me only. Fifty plus children suffered hellish pain for more than an hour until the drugs made them sleep. Some hospital staff were crying, some parents passed out… but they only showed that in the news for nine seconds… not even reporting about the casualty. They made it look like a simple drug poisoning. No. Miong, it wasn’t.” There were tears streaking down the boy’s cheeks. It was the saddest Miong has seen from Appy, even sadder than the moment he heard he is paralyzed from the waste down.

“I know.” Miong said in equally melancholic voice. “I was there, too.”

“Miong, no justice has been served! It’s so unfair! Who did this?” Appy almost screamed. 

He reailzed he was being unreasonable; shouting at Miong about an issue he doesn’t know and care. He’s just a law student, an ordinary citizen who can’t be passionate about social issues they cannot do anything about. “I’m sorry.”

Miong accepted Appy’s anger though not directed to him. It’s a righteous anger –  a kind of anger that will never be sated by students like them who have no power to bring justice. So assumed.

The man stared at the little emotional boy who’s trying to stop his tears. It was really a traumatizing sight for someone like Appy, he figured. Miong breathed deeply, his glare serious.

“Appy, it seems… there was a pharmaceutical company conducting human drug testing to the dirt poor."

Appy gasped. “Where did you learn that?”

“I have sources.”

The boy’s brows are furrowing, getting suspiscious of the guy. However he remembered how the guy literally can have everything he wants; maybe his family has some rich connections or something.

“So if you know about this, of course the president has, right? I’m pretty sure your network…”

“…My network has nothing to do with the government, nor do I care about them. And according to my sources as well, this news is so controlled it hasn’t reached the president. Not even his cabinets. Maybe some of his cabinets and senators, but they’re keeping it from him.”

“But why?”

“Money, probably. They were silenced by money.”

“But… but those chidren… how could they… no way. How can men be like that?” Appy was too displeased to form a sentence.

“Appy.” Miong called calmly. “Not everyone’s as righteous as you. And not all men can think rationally.”

“But why…” his voice trailed, crackling from all that crying.

Miong stayed silent. He let the boy cry for a while, until he’s tired and ended up just sniffling. That event became too traumatizing, it seems. Calling it hell for innocent children could be an understatement. They were all dying. God knows if the remainig chidren would live long.

“I want to sleep.” Appy declared.

Miong nodded, and picked the boy up from his wheelchair.

“You know, I can do something.” Miong started as he carries the boy in his arms.

“What do you mean?”

“Tell me what you want to happen about this issue, and I will do it for you.”

He laid the boy down his pillows. Appy continued staring at him in blank unreadable expression. “You can?”

“Yes. And I hope this makes you forgive me?”

They both smiled, of the plan or of the humor, only they know.

[Balita = News]