Trigger and Bullets

bullet 2 - losing grip

I sat back at the chair and folded my arms on my chest. Lahat ng tao sa conference room tumingin sa akin. "I think no one is going to believe me. Ni hindi niyo nga inilista iyong nakita kong baril."

I connected with everyone's eyes... Oh God, the murderer could be in this room. Pwedeng front lang iyong pagkabasag ng bintana at unang putok.

"Ms. Fronda, what we need is evidence. Hindi porket isa kayong Fronda ay papaki--"

That made it. "Shut up. I. Am. Not. Using my bitch surname to prove what I saw!" I swear I saw him gulp. My tone ignited a deafening silence. The President of the school showed up at the door, making us all turn to him.

"We called your guardians and explained this situation. The management prefers you stay put here with the police. I requested them to personally pick you," he said. My face soften when I heard that. Ang anak nila naging witness sa isang pagpatay, inisip kong magkakaroon sila ng oras para sa akin.

But hope was a hot rod--nakakapaso. Ang pumunta para sunduin ako ay ang driver ng ama ko. I walked out the room feeling damaged as my classmates eyed my fetcher. Siguro ni-expect din nila na makikita nila ang ama o ina ko. Sana hindi na lang siya nag-abalang mag-utos dahil kasama ko naman si Dana. Again, I set my hopes far too high.

Nahagip ng mga mata ko ang dalawang itim na matang nakatingin sa akin habang naglalakad papunta sa pintuan. The chewing gum guy was not chewing a gum anymore. Wala akong makitang emosyon sa kanyang mukha habang tinitingnan ko siya. I swear for the second time, that I chilled when I walked past him. Para akong nakaramdam ng takot nang malapitan ko siya. I looked over my shoulder para sulyapan ulit siya at nagsisi ako. He was still looking at me.

I revved the engine more and glimpsed at the side mirror. Kawawang taxi. Ibinalik ko lang sa normal na takbo ang sasakyan noong binabaybay ko na ang daan papunta sa condo ko.

Images of the dead man flashed in my mind habang pumapasok ako sa underground parking lot. This was not good. The images were like a venom penetrating my memory, I had to do something to stop it.

I spotted my space, sa tabi nito ay may sasakyang pamilyar. Binasa ko ang plate number, 'Margareth’. Sabi na nga ba, sa kanya iyon. Instead of using the usual letters and numbers sa mga plate number she chose her name. I focused at the red convertible and banged my foot at the accelerator. I loosen my grip on the steering wheel.

Bam!

The emergency balloon bloated in front of me. I heard sirens from both of the cars.

I managed to get off the balloon and Dana ran to me, akala niya yata nasaktan ako. I smiled. "Sh*t!" Dana hissed as we stared at the cars.

"Venice, hindi libre ang pera sa mundo. Alam mo ba kung magkano ang sinira mo?" she scolded me. Ipinatong pa niya mga kamay niya sa kanyang bewang. I fished a black card from my purse. "Unlimited iyan, buy me a new car. I want a black Hummer. Hayaan mo iyang isang sira diyan, mas bagay na sila ngayon ng mayari." I said. Umiling siya habang nakatingin sa dalawang sasakyan.

***

"Hi, Venice!"

"Get out."

"Your Dad has a meeting with the board members, kaya ako na lang ang pumunta dito."

I snapped,  "Bakit? Ikaw ba ang nanay ko? Secretary ka lang ng ama ko." Tiningnan ko siya nang masama, mula ulo hanggang paa. She was wearing a corporate attire na masyadong maikli. She is Margareth, unnaturally blonde and tanned.

She sighed at umupo sa malapit na sofa. "I am more than just a secretary, and you know that."

Para na rin niyang binuhusan ng gasolina ang naguumpisang baga. I was doing good managing my temper until I saw her.

"Oh! Mabuti ipinaala mo. You are my Dad's wh*r* na tanggap ng Mom ko! You really are more than just a secretary," I countered. Her red lips twitched into a slutty smile. Uh! Nakakagalit siya, ang kapal ng mukha niya. I pressed my temple dahil pakiramdam ko sasabog na ako sa pagka-peste sa araw na ito. Hindi na ako makapagantay na makita niya ang ginawa ko sa sasakyan niya.

This day should had been a beginning to me. New school, a normal school—hindi iyong lahat ng estudyante ay anak ng mga politicians and elites—new faces. But what I got were four gunshots, a sl*t in my living room, my parents failing me AGAIN, and being told I was wrong when I knew I was right. What an enticing beginning!

I got to my room and shut the door loudly. Dumiretso ako sa kama ko and dive in. I tried very hard not to think. When I closed my eyes I saw a pair of black eyes staring at me, beating the darkness.

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