Light Up The Sky

Chapter 27

TW: Depiction of a car accident involving hit and run, murder and abandonment, and sexual assault

"The case for her alleged involvement in the felony hit and run remains strong. Inilahad na ni Vincente Manansala ang buong katotohanan ukol sa pangyayari noong gabing iyon. Hinihintay na lang ang utos ng korte—"

Natigil ang isang police officer sa pagsasalita nang magsalita si Dad, "That was not the whole truth! Mali ang isinalaysay niya! Hindi kasalanan ng anak ko na inabanduna at tinakasan ng hampas lupang iyon ang krimeng ginawa niya!"

A week had passed but the court has not yet filed the case against me. Hindi ako mabigyan ng parusa dahil wala pang matibay na patunay na ako ang may sala. Ang tanging basehan ng pulisya ay ang statement ni Kuya Vincent kung saan idiniin niyang ako ang may kasalanan sa lahat ng nangyari noong gabing iyon.

Kalat na sa balita ang pag-aresto sa akin sa Palawan, maging ang exclusive interview kay Kuya Vincent kung saan nadawit ang pangalan ko. Kaya sobrang inaasikaso ni dad ang proseso ng kaso. Ngunit kahit anong pag-asikaso niya, kahit wala pa namang desisyon ang korte, nanatili ako sa detention cell ng police station dito sa Manila.

Kuya Vincent swore the authenticity of his statement but dad and our lawyers kept insisting that the prosecutor must evaluate the testimonies from both parties to determine if there's sufficient reason to file charges before the court. That's why I am here, attending the first preliminary investigation.

"As per the initial investigation, a case of murder and abandonment will be filed against you, Ms. Amontillado."

I remained silent for the whole week. Dahil hanggang ngayon nasasaktan ako. Naaalala ko lahat ng nangyari noong gabing 'yon, 'yung katotohanang ipinagkait na ilahad ni Kuya Vincent sa statement niya.

Ngunit hindi dapat ako manahimik lang at hayaang manaig ang kasinungalingang nakabalot sa katotohanang inaakala ng lahat.

I am done with that. May namatay nang hindi nabibigyan ng hustisya dahil sa pananahimik ko.

Hindi ko hahayaang ganoon pa rin ang mangyari ngayon.

"Narrate, in detail, what happened that night, Ms. Amontillado," the prosecutor said. His hands were resting on the table as he stared at me, waiting for what I was about to say.

My chest was heaving as I look back at that night. I tried hard to rack my mind, to remember everything in detail about that night... the night when Kuya Hans died.

"You know what, Kuya, bahala ka na. Keep it to yourself. Go, die if you want!" I shouted out of frustration and anger.

Dali-dali akong lumabas ng study room, hindi pinakinggan ang ano pang sasabihin ni Kuya Hans. With locked doors, nagkulong ako sa room ko at umiyak magdamag. Because I'm so afraid about him yet I couldn't do anything about it, because he won't let me know what's happening to him.

Sobra akong natatakot sa kung ano mang masamang mangyari sa kaniya. The whole night, I just stayed in my room. I was overthinking. I was so anxious.

Kinakatok ako sa room ko para kumain pero hindi ako lumabas. Hanggang sa makarinig ako ng pagpa-panic mula sa baba. It was already midnight when everyone in the house was filled with fear. They were all alarmed. They were all crying.

"Ate Yaya, what happened po?" I asked as I felt the tears in the corners of my eyes.

Kahit alam kong mugto na ang mga mata ko mula sa kaiiyak kanina, nagsisimula na naman akong humikbi dahil lahat sila ay umiiyak. Mabilis na gumapang ang takot sa sistema ko dahil kahit anong lingon ko sa paligid, hindi ko makita si Kuya Hans. Even dad and mom were not around.