Your Lies Aren't Loud

Chapter 13

nothing left

The sun has now risen and so is the fire.

How does it feel the first time you experience something you have never had before? To meet the new dawn as you wake up not from a sleep but from the slumbered senses caused by the explosion. The first time you hear forthcoming wails from a firetruck after previously hearing the sound of an ambulance, which is then followed by police sirens, followed by early awaken people coming from the village. It is also my first time witnessing a catastrophe in a place which I barely know of.

'First times' are strangers. And you become a total stranger yourself for a moment without even noticing. 

"The sun has risen." Walang emosyong saad ni Pat habang nakatitig sa apoy na ngayon ay unit-unting lumalakas kahit na pinapatay na ito ng tubig mula sa hose ng bumbero.

Ford sighed. "And so is the fire."

I stared at the scorching store that is now slowly being devoured because of the blazing fire. Every bit of that structure is blistering in the air, particles vanishing unhurriedly, leaving nothing but cinders and ashes as the cold water disperse around the area.

Umalis ako mula sa pagkakasandal sa bench at binalot ang mga kamay sa aking braso. Fires are supposed to bring heat yet, I feel the opposite. Maya-maya ay may naramdaman akong pagpatong ng malambot na tela sa aking likuran. Nilingon ko si Khael.

"You're freezing." He said after placing his denim jacket on me. 

"Thank you." Ngumiti ako. I pulled the hem of his jacket and wrapped it tight around me. 

Patricia pouted. "Sana all. Nilalamig din ako Khael." Pagbibiro niya. 

"Edi dun ka sa apoy." Singhal ni Ford at tinuro ang nagliliyab na toy store.

"Putain de merde." She whispered a curse.

Napatingin ako sa jacket na suot ko. I bit my tongue when my nose got a sniff of his scent. My eyes soon darted from Khael's jacket to Pat's uncle who is now walking towards us.

Tumayo si Patricia. "Les mises à jour? What caused the fire?" Sunod-sunod na tanong niya.

"I already talked to the police." Panimula ni Uncle Primo. We waited for his next statement. "They need to undergo further investigations. We still have no answers."

Dismayang napaupo muli si Pat matapos marinig ang parehong pangungusap na sinabi sa amin kanina. Ilang oras palang naman ang lumipas at natural lamang na hindi agad masasabi ang pinagmulan ng apoy.

"Desole, Uncle Primo." Paghingi ng tawad ni Patricia. 

"No apologies, Patricia. It's not your fault." Ani Uncle Primo. "However, I assume that this is not an accident."

Kumunot ang aking noo. "What do you mean?" 

"I have a feeling that the Play Castle has been vandalized." He continued, glancing a sight of the fire from afar. Vandalized?

Binalik ko ang aking tingin sa apoy na ngayon ay humina na. Soon, everything will be gone. The secrets, Throne Room, projectors, toys, clues and answers. Nothing will be left here but ash.