Page 32

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Breakfast
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A while ago, I was staring at the ceiling as if I didn't hear the sound of the alarm clock on the side. It's only six in the morning, and I've been woken up by the chirping of crickets and birds. I haven't been to bed yet, but I feel like I want to lie down all day.

Nakakapagod. Parang gusto ko na lang manatili sa kama at buong araw na mag-isip nang malalim patungkol sa mga bagay-bagay. Pero wala, eh? Kailangan ko rin talagang gumalaw para sa buhay.

I immediately did what I do every morning, such as take a shower, put on my uniform, and groom myself. When I finished, I immediately went downstairs, and as usual, mom, dad, grandma, and Claveria ang naabutan ko sa hapagkainan habang kumakain ng agahan.

I smiled at their presence and immediately grabbed a hotdog.

"Oh, Kuya Claxera, papasok ka na naman na hindi ka mag-aagahan? Lagi ka na lang ganyan." Claveria scolded me as she took a bite at the wheat bread she's holding.

I scoffed, "Xera, I need to rush. Late na ako sa school, 'tsaka kumakain din naman ako sa school, ah."

"Neknek mo!"

"Xera, language during the meal, ah."

"Sorry, mom!"

Binelatan ko ito at sinukbit ang bag ko palabas ng bahay. I even heard her yell and shout at mom because I didn't eat breakfast.

Ako kaya ang papaboran ni mama sa aming dalawa, kasi ako ang kuya! Natatawa na lang ako sa aking mga pinag-iisip.

As soon as I reached our school, I was surprised to notice the murmuring of the students. Alam kong ako ang pinag-uusapan nila kahit hindi man nila sabihin.

At home, I am free as I am. And here, I can't figure out what's wrong with these people. I feel out of place here. If I'm a bird out of the cage at home. At school, I'm a bird trapped in the judgement of the people around me.

Gustohin ko mang hindi sila pansinin but I can't, especially since I'm a very fragile person.

I just continued walking, trying not to pay attention to the people around me.

When I entered the room, I couldn't take it anymore when I saw my chair; the desk was full of vandals, and the leg of the chair was also broken.

Kumirot ang dibdib ko sa kaisipang, hindi man lang nila pinalampas ang aking gamit dito sa eskwelahan.

Wala sa sarili akong dinala ng aking mga paa paalis sa loob ng classroom. Naninikip ang dibdib sa sobrang sakit ng mga nangyayari. Pakiramdam ko tuloy ay hindi ako nababagay sa lugar na 'to.

While running, a word registered in my mind that I could not accept. 'Killer'.

I ended up in the forest area behind the school, which is not visited much by anyone.

I looked far into the distance while wiping my cheeks because of the tears flowing down them.

The world is fair, but the people are not. It is very difficult to live in a situation where you know you are innocent, pero patuloy pa rin nilang pinagdidiinan ang lahat. That hurts a lot, because in everyone's eyes, you are the one who is wrong. .  .  is always wrong.

I just stared at the trees while deep in thought. After that, I left and went home again with a heavy chest.

I went straight upstairs and slept.

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Nagising ako nang may maamoy na hindi ko mawari. Para bang sunog na may kasamang amoy patay na daga. Mabilsi akong bumangon at napatakbo pababa ng hagdan.

My eyes widened when I saw the appearance of my family. They were all sitting and having breakfast, but what was even more terrifying was that their bodies were burning, but they had no reaction to it.

I covered my mouth in shock and sat down because my knees were shaking.

"Xera!" It was mom's voice. It's so deep. "Xera! Ano ba?!"

Napamulat ako ng mata at una kong naburangan ang nag-aalalang mukha ng aking ina. I looked around and noticed that I was in my room. Alam kong gabi na dahil madilim na sa labas at naririnig ko na ang ingay ng mga kuliglig.

"Ikaw talagang bata ka! Kung hindi ka pa aalugin, hindi ka magigising. Halika na, kakain na tayo ng hapunan. Bilisan mo na riyan. Huwag mong pag-antayin ang grasya!" Saad nito at tuluyan nang lumabas ng aking silid.

So weird! What did I dream about? Why is that? Does it mean something?

I just dismissed that from my mind and prepared for my dinner.

And once again, I stopped my step on the stairs when I noticed something I didn't expect.

This is where I realized . .

All this is just part of my imagination. I sat down on the step of the stairs and leaned against the wall when I noticed the empty table.

It was full of dust and cobwebs. I looked at the whole house. Only then did the fact that I was hallucinating in my mind.

I gently touched the household items and remembered the bitter past that I was trying to forget.

Because that breakfast was the last meal we had together. The morning was full of fun and laughter but ended in tragedy for my family.

I was the only survivor, and they all left me. This was the reason why I became the centre of bullying: everyone thought I was the one who set the house on fire.

What they didn't know was that it was one of mom's plans because she was tired of my father's nonsense, but unexpectedly, I was already far away from the house when it exploded because of the gas that was neglected.

It's just tragic because Grandma and Claveria burned alive with my father and abused mother.

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