I'm Innocent, I did Nothing (SOON TO BE PUBLISHED UNDER CLP)

Chap1- Two years ago

Fire. Smoke. Ashes
Combination of a suffocating atmosphere.

"Mom? Dad?" napaubo ako at napakapit sa mesa dahil sa kapal ng usok na lumalamon sa buong kabahayan. Sobrang init at pakiramdam ko ay naluluto ang balat ko, ngunit kailangan kong iligtas ang pamilya ko dahil nasa loob sila.

I forced myself to stand and go upstairs where I heard some cries, the familliar cry of my little brother. Pagkaakyat ko ng hagdan ay mas lalong tumindi ang init ng paligid, amoy na amoy ko ang gasolina na nagpapalakas sa hinala ko na sinadya ang pagsunog sa bahay namin.

"Ate..." nanlaki ang mata ko at nilingon ang isang kwarto sa likuran ko na may glass door. Kitang-kita ko ang kahindik-hindik na itsura ng mga magulang ko.

Tagaktak ang pawis ko habang sinusubukan na pihitin ang doorknob, ngunit nakalock iyon at wala na sa safety box ang susi no'n.

Lockpicking. I took my hairpin and tried to pick the lock, "Ali just hold on please. You'll be safe." Ngunit tanging malalim na hinga lamang ang natanggap ko mula sa kaniya. My poor little brother's alreadh catching his breathe, I can't help but to feel helpless as my sweats are coming out from my glands while picking the lock of the glass door.

Nabuhayan ako ng loob nang may tumunog sa doorknob, tanda na malapit nang mabuksan ito. Finally, maliligtas ko na....

*Krriiiiinngg* *Kriiiiinnngg*

My sweat. My tears. My rapid breathing.
"7am," stupid alarm clock. Para sa'kin, normal na ang paggising ko na tagaktak ang pawis at basa ang pisngi dahil sa luha. I already normalized it.

"Ma'am Leissandra, bumaba na raw ho kayo sabi ni Sir," si Manang Rosie.

"Okay ho, maliligo lang muna'ko," sagot ko sabay pasok sa CR and did my morning routine. Today would be my first day back at school. I realized that education is important, at hindi matutuwa sila Mom and Dad once na hindi ako makapagtapos ng pag-aaral. At isa pa, nahihiya na ako kay Uncle dahil pakiramdam ko batugan na ako dito sa bahay niya.

"Oh, ija upo ka na dito," anyaya Uncle Henry. He has no wife and child, in short matandang binata. Inuna niya kasi ang sariling buhay niya at ang kompanya kaya hindi siya nagkaroon ng oras para sa romantical thingies. He's the owner the worldwide known Paper company and top at paper industry, Writ Company.

"Are you ready for your Grade 9 journey, ija? I'm trusting you dahil alam ko naman ang kakayahan mo, you're a genius," he complemented. That's uncle, he never failed to comfort me. "So, kahit di ka nakapag Grade 7 and 8, I know you'll surpass this. Fight." dagdag pa niya saka sumimsim ng kape.

Yes, hindi ako pumasok ng Grade 7 and 8 matapos ang pangyayaring iyon. I bespent my two years in grief, maturity, and preparation. I prepared myself on that two years, I joined a martial arts team wherein they taught me how to fight physically. I consulted a psychologist that taught me how to fight mentally and emotionally. They became a big help on me to overcome the trauma on what happened to my family two years ago.

Two years ago, I was clueless and helpless, I'm purely innocent and I did nothing to save them.

Hindi ko naman talaga kayang iligtas sila eh, dahil bukod sa mahina ako’t lampa, hindi ko kaya na labanan ‘yung masasamang loob na ‘yon. Masyado silang marami at halos lahat ay lalaki, kaya ano’ng laban ko?

I was frail that time, an innocent girl who couldn't save even my family from those monster killers. They're not a literal monster, but that's what I could see on their auras.