The Witness

Chapter 4 - Stigmata

Her mother didn't let her in right away. She leaned against the frame of the door, blocking her path. "So you've decided to return."

Behind her stood her mother's brother, her Tito Geoff Luciano and her eleven-year-old brother Miguel, clad in pajamas. Miguel looked sleepy but curious. Her uncle was smirking. Rosa's heart started beating fast again, and she clenched her fists.

"Go upstairs," her mother commanded. "What you did was not funny, Rosa. There are dangerous people out there!"

Saying nothing, Rosa walked past her mother, brother, and uncle, then climbed upstairs to her room. She wasn't fooled. If her mother truly cared about her safety, she wouldn't put Rosa and her uncle under the same roof.

Rosa tossed her bag to her personal desk and sat on her bed. Any moment now. Her uncle would be telling her distraught mother that Rosa needed somebody else to talk to first. That it was better for Rosa to talk to him. That he was the only one who could understand. Then the door would open.

Just come and get it over with already, Rosa thought, glaring at the door. There were no locks in the house.

True enough, voices flooded the hallway.

"Rosa needs understanding. She needs to feel God's love through those around her."

"I'm doing my best, but she just won't listen!"

"Don't stress about it, Ate Raquel. Think of your heart! Go to bed now. I'll be the one to check on Rosa."

Tito Geoff entered Rosa's room and gently closed the door behind him. His eyes gleamed. Rosa just looked up at him. Fighting was useless. She was the only one who knew his true colors.

Tito Geoff was a businessman as well as a writer of religious devotions. He was known in the country for both. He even owned a highly successful publishing house for annotated Bibles, prayer books, and biographies of saints. Numerous churches nationwide were subscribed to his publications, and almost all major Catholic schools used his company's textbooks for their religion subjects. Including Rosa's school, St. Maria Goretti International School, where Miguel also studied.

In other words, most people believed in Tito Geoff. More than they believed in God.

Rosa's mind took over, protecting her as usual in the hour that followed. Her mind clouded and drifted away. She did not respond to her uncle's threats, nor did she feel his skin against hers. She barely felt anything, and he took this as an invitation.

Then he was done. He slipped out of Rosa's bed, put on his clothes, and went out. Rosa remained in her underclothing, looking blankly at the ceiling. Slowly, as the night eased to dawn, her mind returned. Sobbing silently, she realized that safety was something she hadn't felt in years until she was in that church with Joaquin.

And she didn't help him.

***

"You look terrible," Miguel teased.

Rosa rolled her eyes at her little brother. They were all seated at the table, eating breakfast like a normal family. Miguel grabbed another serving of his mother's champorado. Mrs. Torre took a sip of coffee from her mug and motioned Rosa to sit on the empty seat beside Tito Geoff. Tito Geoff gave Rosa one of his sick grins after wiping his mouth with a paper napkin. Don't tell anyone.

"You'll be late to school if you don't hurry up, Rosa," her mother said. "You too, Miguel. That's your last serving."

"Your champorado is the best, Mama."

"Nice try. Don't forget to brush your teeth."

Rosa had no appetite, but she didn't want to show her uncle that he had won. So she added a few scoops of champorado to her bowl, added some powdered milk, and forced herself to finish it.

Rosa thought of herself as someone who was at least blessed with the rare ability to put things behind her, and she was indeed successful in hiding many of the thoughts than even dared to bother her. On the ride to school with her mother and Miguel, she had completely forgotten about everything that she had seen last night. At least, she had forgotten that it was real, not some nightmare mixed up in the clouds of faintness in the recesses of her consciousness. Reality came rushing back when she stepped into the high school building of St. Maria Goretti International School.

Students were gathered in small groups, hugging each other, crying. Whispers were everywhere, and hushed tones, and looks of disbelief. As usual, no one took notice of Rosa. Instead, it was she who noticed everything--the fear and distrust, the blanket of gloom that hovered over the entire high school. Everybody was shocked. This was the sort of thing that happened to characters in books and movies, and Sylvia Francisco was someone they knew and loved.

It's real, Rosa thought. It really happened.

There was a wail. A terrible, pitiful sound that broke through the stillness. Sylvia's best friend, Maddie Goro, was inconsolable. "No, no, no!" she wept, pushing away her other friends, who had tried to hug her despite also being in tears. "Oh no, not Sylvia!"

The bell rang. A bit too early, Rosa thought, or maybe it just seemed like it. Either way, the high schoolers fell into place in the open yard: the freshmen in two rows, the sophomores in the next two, then the juniors, then the seniors.

Rosa took her usual place at the back of one of the senior lines. Everybody appeared downcast, or at least stunned. Several girls were in tears. Maddie held the hand of one friend tightly, unable to stifle her sobs. Rosa turned away. Then somebody stood next to her at the second senior line.

Sherwin Martinez.

Rosa flinched and turned away. Did he see her there? Did he know? Act normal, Rosa, she told herself. It's safer that way. Pretend! But it was hard to pretend to feel safe standing right next to a murderer.

Rosa kept her eyes to the stage. Her heart was pounding again. She had to remain calm. She pursed her lips as she watched the principal, Rupert Clavio, bowed his head. When he spoke, it was in a tone of sorrow and respect.

"This morning, we received the news that one of our students is no longer with us," he began. "Sylvia Francisco, of Class 4B, was found shortly before midnight, on the 18th of January 1999, as confirmed by the Manila police and her parents. She'd been stabbed to death. Reports say that she'd been raped, beaten, and strangled before that."

The girls wailed louder. Rosa avoided looking at Sherwin.

"Her corpse was found in Agoncillo Boulevard, right across St. Martin de Porres Parish, near the Manila Bay. An altar boy is the primary suspect, and praise the Lord he was caught in the act. Let us pray for justice and the repose of Sylvia Francisco's soul. Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord..."

Rosa bowed her head along with everybody else. By now, more students were crying, or at least holding back tears. Rosa herself choked, tasting once more the god awful feeling of helplessness.

"...and may she rest in peace. Amen."