Clueless

Chapter One

The sun were about to set, yet still it managed to torture the town of San Sebastian with the scorching heat it emits. Whilst everyone is having a busy day, mang Mando, on the other hand, takes the opportunity to dry his sacks of palay that he just got from the last harvest. Sweat is profusely dripping down from his forehead while his clothes are starting to soak it. He hardly stops to rest and only does when he’s about to faint from exhaustion. Tired he may be from the previous day’s harvest, but his diligence were not shaken. Well, it may seem that he were about to, but don’t be fooled. He can’t stop now, after all, he had no one else to expect to. His wife’s wages barely reaches the minimum that the government has set since it was just a part time job in doing laundry for their neighbors from time to time. As for his son, he wasn’t set to order him around doing what is not connected to studying, because what he wanted for them was to finish their studies and succeed in their chosen fields, while his daughter was obviously way out of the question.

“Mando! You’ve been there for hours! Your death won’t be just taking its time if you won’t take care of yourself!”

“Let your children do the thing! They are old enough to do this.”

“Why are you spoiling your children? They are supposed to help you or let you have your siesta now at your house.”

“Children nowadays don’t respect their parents.”

It was indeed a small town, mang Mando thought smilingly.  The town folks seemed to feel so entitled in meddling with their family affairs by starting it with a statement such as “not to be rude, but I think you should…”

It’s a total circus of chaos in this small town. But in spite of these, people turn out to admire him with his comical replies to every passerby that fail to mind their own business. 

“Don’t you worry, I won’t die soon. I might even witness the grandchildren of my grandchildren from my children. Won’t you even wish me luck?” 

The people around them are openly showing their admiration with some favors. It could have been an offer for any political position, but mang Mando’s aloofness toward this matter were beyond the money they would need if ever he decides to do so. He would often lightly brush it off with a mournful look stating that he really can’t do something or even decide just for himself when his diabetic wife and young children are dependent on him, and ten years was long enough to forget it.

He could have been a good one.

He could have been better than those who are sitting on the position.

After he finished off his work with the palay, he immediately carried the sacks of palay by his shoulder and bring it to their storehouse. Fortunately, it did not rain, otherwise his harvest would just amount to nothing if ever the water had soaked in every sack. It was just a year ago when he lost all the money he invested after a storm in their town. If not because of the loan he got from the nearby rural bank, he would have not been able to catch up with his losses. It was a gamble for him, but he took the risk anyway for his family and for their future. 

It was when he just left briefly for some errand and as mang Mando went back, what was left was the few grains of palay scattered completely covered with dust that turned into mud after the rain’s heavy pouring. Which made him much careful after that experience.

“Oh dear, you’ve already arrived! Then we’ll have our dinner now, the food is served anyway. Your children have been waiting for you,” his wife, Karen. She’s always waiting by the window after she finishes cooking the family’s dinner.

“Just wait dear, I’m just going to fix something in our storehouse. It won’t take long. You can eat with the kids now.” He quickly finished what he was doing and went up to their house right after.

“Children, your father is here. Go to your father and meet him,” aling Karen ordered while sitting on their bamboo chair, mang Mando had brought from last year’s downtown fiesta. 

Claire and Carlo enthusiastically went to their father and took his hand and put on their foreheads for respect.

“Bless, father!”

“Bless, father!”

Aling Karen cooked fried squid and boiled some vegetables for their dinner. Some of their food are often harvested from their backyard garden. It was the only heavy work she can do aside from some extra laundry works at their neighborhood.

“Finish your foods quickly and get ready for bed. You need to go to school tomorrow and the best you can do is not be late and get there sleepy,” mang Mando reminded his children. Though they were not supposed to wake up early since its holiday the next day, they did not say anything.

“Father, we don’t have a class tomorrow. Have you forgotten? It’s the National Independence Day,” Carlo tried to explain to his father.

“Oh really? Sorry, I was a bit lost with the dates nowadays. It feels like every day is just the same with what’s in it the past year.I guess I am having Alzheimer’s like my father after all. Hmmmm..forget about it. We can do something tomorrow together then?” No one had noticed the change of tone of mang Mando. It seems like something ticked him off. Or maybe the kids were too young and aling Karen was just too preoccupied at that time. She was thinking about something.

“We’re going to do something for our finals.”

“I’m busy with my college application.”

The next morning, the youngest, Claire got up pretty late. The harsh nine o’clock sun glare straightly went on her face causing her to squint. She went straight to their kitchen and saw her father pouring hot water in his cup for his coffee.

“It seems like someone had a goodnight sleep. Coffee or milk?” Her father was trying to put out the tensed vibe between them, but both parties were too shy and awkward to admit.

“No need. Where’s everyone?” Claire asked while looking at her feet to avoid eye contact.

“Umm.. they’re at the market, they should be here by now. Why don’t you wait there at our porch?” mang Mando offered a suggestion.

“Not really. Can I go to our neighbor’s house? Tessa? My classmate…” when she saw the confusion from her father’s expression she explained further.

“The one with short black hair with fre—“ her father interrupted her.

“I know her, I am just confused why do you need to do it now?

“Can I go? I have to get my math notes from her. I really have to go” She asked with a begging tone not because of her math notes but because she wanted to escape from her father.

“Sure.” 

While she was strolling for a walk to her friend’s house, she suddenly remembered what happened that rainy night of June last year. She wanted to erase it from her past, but it seems like it has been trying to occupy her present as well.

“TESSA! TESSA!?” She screamed calling out her friend’s name as she noticed her walking towards the paddy fields. She should be in her schedule for looking after the palayan from the birds.

Tessa may have a blurry vision but she sure can recognize who’s who from their voice and silhouette which makes Claire even more familiar.

“Claire..it must be the notes right?” She quickly picked up the reason Claire visited.

“You can say, it is part of the visit, but just the half one.” Claire hesitantly confessed.

“Then what’s the other half then?” Tessa questioned.

“It is father… I know you’re aware that we’re not that really close.”

“Yeah, same charges are expected to repel and it just happened that you both have negative charges,” mockingly looking at her with her lopsided lip.

There is no use denying it.

“You’re completely mad. I was sharing to you about why I ended up visiting you here and then you reached on that conclusion? You’re really something.”

“Your paleness is what’s something, come inside with me. I’ll get you some rice cakes to eat. You must be tired from walking.” She quickly grabbed Claire from her elbow and led her through their front door. 

“No need, I’ll just get the math notes from you. Your parents must be home.” She hesitated agreeing to eat on someone’s house. Besides, her father could be waiting for her now or her mother and brother could be home by now.

“Wait for me here dear, I’ll just prepare what we’ll eat.” She pretended not hearing what Claire said. She was worried after seeing the paleness of Claire’s face. She must be tired or just haven’t had breakfast.

There are cluttered plates at their sink as Tessa and Claire went into their dining area. The whole dining area seemed to depict a ransacked place caused by some band of thieves. 

Her parents are probably not at home. That reassured her, the thought that she doesn’t have to talk with anyone, just with Tessa.

Tessa rightly went to the stove and looked picked some rice cakes for them and put it in a serving plate. It was a ground uncooked rice steamed with sweetened coconut filling.

“Eat here first, then we’ll find your notes later. Okay?” Tessa spoke. She’s been Claire’s friend for ten long years and have been caring for her with apparent reason based on her observations. Tessa’s been having a huge crush on Carlo, Claire’s brother. But the attraction is just clearly one-sided since Carlo is too focused on his studies right now. He can’t afford a divided attention away from his studies when their family is expecting a lot from them.

 “You know Tessa, I may love you so much but you can’t have my brother literally.” Claire laughed   hysterically knowing how Tessa would react and how accurately she predicted it. She felt like an oracle at that time. Those weird types in Greek mythology who spout something that seem nonsensical and would turn out to be true.  But before she could finish her thoughts, Tessa pinched her in her face.

“No worries C-L-A-I-I-I-R-E!!!!” Tessa seemed to take no offense of Claire’s remarks regarding her chance to her friend’s brother. It has been a common knowledge for all of them who are involved, if that could also be counted as involvement of her friend’s brother despite of the one sidedness of it.

They laughed and talked about the stories Claire would not even dare to share to just anyone but Tessa. She has confided almost everything to her from the worst to the best but carefully leaving her nightmare that night behind at the back of her head.

Claire may want to stay that day as much as she wanted to but she know that she has to come home soon. Her parents could be worried by now.  After they finished off their food she hastily asked Tessa for her math notes.

“Tessa, I really have to go now. My mother and Carlo should be home by now. I should get going and before I forget the math notes that I was supposed to pick up awhile ago.” She looked at her friend as Tessa nodded and looked for her notes at her room.

After a minute, Tessa came back with her notes smiling at her.

“Here’s your notes. Thank you. I hope that we could do it again some other time.” 

Claire waved her hand at Tessa as she walked further. 

She was just at their front yard when she felt something eerie. The chill reached her spine when she finally saw her father walking towards her direction wearing a dark expression. The father that has been aloof to her since that night. His smile just disturbed her, not until she fixated her eyes on what his father is holding--- a machete and worse a bloody one. She wasn’t able to be move from her spot not until her father talked first. 

“My dear, don’t be afraid I was chopping the meat your mother had bought from the market. Come, let’s go inside. I have prepared something for you.”

She has no idea what happened. What could have happened after that breakfast at her friend’s? What could have happened after an hour? She must know. She just followed her father’s back as he guided her at the dining table. It was what she thought of and not expected to happen in reality. It was her mother and brother lying on top of their Narra table, with their blood soaked clothes. Her mother were inflicted the most with slash wounds on her neck, arm and abdomen.  While her brother has some stab wounds on his legs and abdomen. It could be the pain that had caused him to lose consciousness. 

She could not speak. Even her voice doesn’t have the courage to utter a single word. She could not cry. She could not read what her father might do to her, so she remained calm in appearance. 

“Father…”It was best she can do.

“Yes? Are you happy with my surprise? Do you want to go next??”

Her legs grew numb as she noticed the distance between them are slowly decreasing. She ran at her parent’s room and locked the door. Mang Mando was not able to keep up with his daughter’s pace due to his old age. He slashed the door until he could see his daughter.

It was fortunate that the gun her father had told them about to look for when there is an unexpected mishap, was still there. She loaded the gun and cocked it while pointed at her father’s direction. 

And as soon as mang Mando was about to run and slash her head, she instantly pulled the trigger. It was the loudest sound she have heard in her lifetime. From that moment she knew that she would not forget that sound. It was five consecutive sounds. She had to be brave. She needed to. She went straight to her nearest neighbor, Ka Estong. She was hesitant with her decision, but she has to give her trust to someone. 

“Ka Estong!! I need your help please.” She pounded the door nearly getting it collapsed by her incessant poundings. The frustration and fear are dominating in her mind right now. Everything that she had been holding dear for years are all now gone. Her thoughts, her future, her life, they all seem unrecognizable to her now.

“Ka Estong, my father is dead, and my mother were slashed with a machete. I beg you to not call the police. We need an ambulance. Please we really need it now.”

 Claire was still in shock when people began to thicken. They were all curious as to what really happened and she know that before they can even know the truth, they already reached a conclusion. They are and will obviously suspect her. There were no question to it.

Thankfully, her brother were directly sent at the hospital, while their parents were pronounced dead on the spot by medical examiners that arrived 30 minutes ago. It was just half day, yet she knows her whole life has been change and would never be the same again. 

“CLAIIIRE!!! I’m sorry. I heard what happened. If you need anything I’ll be just here on standby.” Tessa hugged Claire, aware that what she needed the most now is lots of it. These things are lot to take in for a eighteen year old. Upon hearing the news about her friend while she was looking after the rice fields, she ran quickly from her post.

“Claire, can you tell me what happened?” she talked to her while she wrapped a blanket around Claire’s shoulder.

Claire just nodded. She was still shocked and wasn’t hearing anything that her friend was saying. The police officers who were investigating the scene could hardly believe what they are seeing in front of them. They were acquainted with mang Mando for a while, especially for some occasions. They could barely remember any event that the man picked a fight, got home drunk, smoke cigarette or even swear. He was the epitome of an almost perfect man for residents of San Sebastian. It may seem like an exaggeration, but that how they see him. They could not believe what the evidence are laid in front of them, leading to suspect mang Mando as the prime suspect. But the fact that he would not be able to defend himself, leaves them to wait for the result of further investigations.

“Chief! Do you believe that mang Mando killed his wife and harmed his son that could die any moment? That part looks hazy, right? It could be his daughter, Claire. How old is she again?” Police officer Hiro bombarded his chief with questions. He was one of those people that mang Mando helped in the past, which made him pretty adamant regarding the ongoing investigation. 

“She’s eighteen years old, kid. Do not accuse the child unless you have a concrete evidence. Someone might have done this mess, but there’s only one thing I can say, I would not believe a thing that points mang Mando as the prime suspect.

Even the residents have already reached a conclusion that Claire did it. News even spread that there is a big inheritance that was secured by mang Mando for the children and it seems like she wanted it all for her to squander. Details even tell that she planned it for three years.

Claire were not able to come even to her parents’ wake while tending to her bedridden brother, which made the suspicions to escalate. Their town mayor paid for all the funeral expenses and hospital bill of the family which lessened the problem Claire is facing. But is seems like her brother recovery would not be coming very soon that is why Tessa comes at the hospital to assist her from time to time. 

“Claire! You’ve got to fix yourself and be strong for your brother. Hey girl! I know I am in no position to tell you to be strong, but I want you to. Don’t let their judgments weaken you. They are using this opportunity find a loophole in you.”

Her answer was just another cry. She had been crying for days which evidently shows in her tear stricken face and swollen eyes. She could not stop herself from crying.

Meanwhile, at the nearby place where Claire’s family resides, people can’t keep themselves from talking about the case. It has stirred every gossip that should have been brought up to light on that dreadful day. They were even adding up unnecessary information to the case; Claire was witnessed to be having a problem on her mental health even when she’s in primary school. Frankly speaking, she is mad, crazy and lunatic. They’ve called her names that would surely make someone who’s eavesdropping to raise their eyebrows. Some even claimed to be witnesses on her lunacy.

“I would not be surprised if I hear a news that she is the real suspect. “

“When we were in primary school, she’s too timid. Even if you yell at her she would not even budge an inch. Crazy bitch.”

“I pity the father, just take a look at the mother, right? She did not even try to guide her children. That should have been easy since it is the only thing she can do.”

It was like a feast of fake news outside the sari-sari store.  Everyone seem to have their opinion has their own versions.

The often reaches Tessa, but her trust and friendship with Claire would not wane and in spite of her parents’ disapproval.  She can’t leave her now. She’s the only one she can depend on. She promised that she would never abandon her friend. She knew her too well to suspect her of killing, attempting or even plotting against her family or even an animal.