Chapter 7: Earthquake

September 18, 2020, The news about the odyssey was still lingering, but the exaggerating remarks of every tv station drove many people afraid of going out.

At a peaceful municipality in the Philippines, the people shrugged off and ignore what the odyssey had prepared. The fact that there is an intergalactic terrorist that will invade their planet but they were excited to see the intergalactic instead, especially the teens.

They were bragging about what methods they will used to defeat the so called Odyssey mockingly, typical behaviour of a child.

It was in June. Underneath the tranquil cumulus clouds, the soothing breeze coming from the wind. Kleirra get up from her bed and went beside the window, looking at the flatten rice fields infront of their house.

It's been two months since she doesn't attend in her online class. Her reason?

Simple, she don't wants to see anyone. She was just lazying around the house.

Even though she enrolled herself for this year's term, yet she has no intention of coming back. The infamous corona virus was still around the corner, hunting weak immune system as it prolongs.

It was said that this month is the revelation of the vaccine for the Covid-19. but, no matter what the scientist created, it was proved futile.

Good thing that Kleirra hasn't infected yet. Despite her frail and weak body, she hasn't stepped outside of her home, moreover she was in her room all the time, locked herself up.

It's been two days since her parents went to manila to get some documents. But her mother had stated that she and the others will only stay there for two days. "They must be on their way home right now"

She stood up and began to stretch her arms. "Today… I wonder what will I do today…" She asked herself just like her usual self.

Day after day, she doesn't know what to do since she has more free time than anybody else. She already considered herself as a shut-in kid when she started on not attending her online class.

After a series of mental fight at her mind, she jump into her bed and cling to the nearest pillow. She looked at the ceiling, thinking what to do. Out of sudden, three heartbeat sound can be heard.

Her phone vibrates as the ringtone played. She got up and grabbed her phone. It was today's forecast. Not only that, she saw the time and date today…

"September 18… 9:35," She says as she looked at her phone.

She was guilty of not attending her online class… she experienced many sleepless nights and her sudden panic attacks made her feel unsafe. She did not want anyone regarded her as a failure.

More than that, because of what happened before just confirmed her resolution of not seeing them again. The people who branded her as the one who instigated the poisoning.

Amidst of her conflicting thoughts, Then a new news popped out in a small window on her phone. There, she felt the unexpected change for the first time.

'#CancelKorea…'

She read what she saw in the newly popped out screen. It's been a few days since she haven't knew new news at all. All she did was sleep, eat, eat manga or manhwa, bathe, and repeat.

She wanted to question her parents why they're aren't saying anything.

As curious as she is, she slide the popped out news and begin to understand the situation. At first glance, you will say, oh what happen to korea. But as you dig more, this #CancelKorea thing is an online war between Filipinos and Koreans.

The start of this conflict was when koreans saw a rising sun tattoo in a certain tiktok star and started to bashed her. Not only that, the koreans generalized that all Filipinos are short black people, non-educated and slave country, making the filipinos to strike back by creating this #CancelKorea tweets on tweeter.

A soft laughed soon escaped on Kleirra's mouth as she keep scrolling down on her phone. Why didn't everyone informed her about this?

Is she all alone all this time?

Even so, not knowing current affairs is not either a good thing. Her complete absence of current affairs is okay. She seemed not interested either.

After twenty minutes of scrolling down on her phone, she decided to went outside in her room and prepare her breakfast. She went to the fridge, bring out the box of milk, toast two breads in the toaster and after that, she arranged it to her liking.

"Thanks for the food" She stated as she intertwines her fingers into each other before eating. This was her habit before eating since she was watching japanese anime through her childhood.

A cup of milk and two toasted bread was her standard breakfast.

Not because it is fast to prepare, she was used to this. All alone in this home. Her parents was very busy in their current affairs, not knowing what is Kleirra state. They even didn't know that she was suffering in panic attacks and has mental illness.

That's right.

Kleirra is not your typically seen open-to-your-parents girl. If she has a problem, she would keep it to herself. She'd became quite drastically, not even talking to her stepfather was a usual thing for her.

After eating, she extended her arms as a form of exercise before standing up. She stand up from her seat but then, she suddenly felt a slight vibrations from the ground. She looked around only to see the pans slightly shaking from the racks.

The cup on the table was no exception too.

The vibrations grew wilder, to the point that the cup from the table fell down and break into pieces.

Kreuk! Kreuk!

The ground started to shake relentlessly. Kleirra went under the table and grab the legs tighter. This is the first time that she will experienced.

"This is definitely an earthquake." She says as if she was talking to herself. The endless shaking of the ground. The pans started to fall down from the rack. Even the big fridge is starting to move.

"i need to go outside" She said with determination. She looked around. The pans that fell down. The broken cup that broke earlier. If she's not going outside, she might die in here.

And so, she held up her head, ran quickly to her room to grab her phone, before going outside, right infront of her house. She breathe heavily as she ran outside, clinging to her phone while on her way.

Bugsh! Bugsh!

A violent sound of falling down reached to her ears. She peeked at the back while running, only to see her house break into piece. Her safe haven was gone. The car that her late father used to drive was stuck by the roof that had fallen over.

The strong vibrations that she felt earlier didn't last long.

But it was enough to make her house go into ruins. When she arrived at the flattened rice field few meters away, she panted as she was catching her breath. Her hands was was shaking as placed it on her knees. She was surprised that she was alive.

Good thing she ran very quickly earlier despite her frail body.

Who wouldn't had thought that there'll be an earthquake right after she finished her meal. What if she was still sleeping? Her vision darkens at the thought of that. God only knows what will happen to her if she was still sleeping peacefully right now.

She looks down. In all Honesty, It would be better if she would die right off the bat.

"Kleirra…?"