CHAPTER 2

I wake up at exactly seven in the morning, I thank the Lord for giving me a goodnight's rest, even though I struggle so much.

This is the day to go to the chapel, I need to be there to secure or check everything, again I don't want to eat breakfast, I just called my maid to bring me upstairs my hot chocolate drink.

While waiting, I go to my bathroom to take a shower and prepare myself. I decided to stay a little bit longer in my bathtub, to think about everything, to answer some stupid questions, but still, I can't answer any of them.

After I went from the bathroom, I go to my walk-in-closet, I get my black sleeve, and white jeans, I fold my sleeve up to my elbow, and I get my sandals after that I directly go to my bags section, to get a small bag, to put everything that I need.

After a few minutes, I drink my chocolate drink, and I go downstairs, I give some rules to my maids, and I call the driver to drive for me.

"Where will we go, Miss?" My driver asked me.

"Chapel please..." I said to him. He just looks at me from the back and smiles, so I smile back too.

After a couple of minutes we arrived at my auntie's chapel, she owned so many chapels here in the Philippines, and not just ordinary chapels but an expensive chapel.

When I entered the main entrance, an Old middle Lady approach me.

"Ceriya, is that you?" She asked, and I just nodded at her.

She came to me and hug me, so I hug her too. After that, I remove my arms around her.

"Condolence, honey..." she said, and again I just smiled at her.

She bring me to the second floor of the chapel, and I saw some open wide doors, and I saw some coffins and people inside the chapels/rooms.

"Here's the chapel Iya, I hope you'll like it." she said.

"Thank you, auntie, I appreciate it." I said.

Everything is fine, everything is perfect, all of my requests to do, are here.

"You're welcome, and call me if you need something okay?" She paused, "Condolence again." she said.

I went inside the chapel, and my tears started to burst when I saw the coffins of my parents, here we go again. My heart is melting, breaking into pieces. My knees are shaking, and I use my palm to cover my mouth so that I prevent making a loud cry sound, and I didn't notice that I'm already kneeling on the floor.

It's so hard to be an orphan at this young age, I thought I can stand on my own feet, but I'm wrong, I can't live without them, I want to go with them, but still, I'm fighting, to get that justice we deserved, all the investigator said that its suicide, but I know its not suicide, they will not do that, they will not!

It was ten in the morning when some of my friends arrived, and say Condolences, and I saw my uncles and aunties with their own families, when I saw them, I felt so down because their families are still complete, while mine is? Not anymore.

Every one of them will come to me, and hug me and then say 'condolence' I appreciate their presents but it's not enough to fulfill my sadness. Every one of them gives me pity, but I don't need that!

"Iya, are you okay?" My uncle Freno asked, my Mother's younger brother.

"Yes, Uncle I'm okay and need...to be okay... That's... My only....choice right?" I said and then my tears started to fall again.

He just hugs me, and I cry again like a baby.

Every time flies, many people are still coming, to see my parents, and give me condolences. I just saw some people who are not close to my parents, but I appreciate their presents too.

"Ceriya, we need to go, Condolence again honey." The business partner of my parents said.

"Thank you for coming, I know that my parents will be happy about your coming," I said.

It's six in the evening, but I'm still here staring at my parent's coffins, while staring at them, I heard a manly voice beside me.

"Ceriya, I will be your guardian from now on, it's that okay?" Uncle Tonio said.

I just nodded at him, I don't care who will be my guardian, I'm fine and I'm okay with that.

"And Iya, we need to go too, but we will come back tomorrow, promise!" He said.

"Thank you, uncle Tonio," I said, After that, I hug his Wife of mistress to be exact.

I don't want to go home, I just want to stay here, and stare at them, I'm fine with that.

"Iya?" I heard a voice from my back, and I turned my head to see her.

"Yes, auntie?" I asked.

She walks and sits beside me, "It's quarter to seven honey, why are you not still going home?" She asked, but I just stare at her.

But after a few seconds, "Auntie, I don't want to go home, it's just flashing back all the memories we had, I'm so hurt, so sad, I can't stop crying, because every side of the house we have many memories!"

She just nodded at me, and then kissed my cheeks, "Okay then, I'll call one of my staff, so that they can assist you. I have rooms from the sixth to the ninth floor, for those who want to stay here." she said and I just nodded at her.

"Thank you, Auntie," I said, and then she left me alone.

It was eight in the evening when I decided to call the staff who will go to assist me.

"Ms, where's my designated room?" I asked her.

"Follow me, Ma'am," she said.

We go to the ninth floor of the building, and we walk in the hallway, it's so many rooms here, I just observed the sixth to seventh floor is for the middle class, and the eighth to the ninth floor is for the high class just like us.

"Here we are miss, just call on the telephone if you need something, thank you," she said and I just nodded at her.

She leaves me alone and then I lay down on the soft huge bed, it's so comfortable, so relaxing and the sheets of the bed, are so clean.

I didn't notice that I fell asleep Gosh! I have a good night's sleep, I'm so really tired that's why.

I get my phone beside me and then I received so many messages, saying condolences.

I don't have much time to answer them one by one so I decided that I will post a short message for those who greet me with lenses.

I just want to say, 'Thank you for messaging me condolences, and thank you for coming to my parent's burial, they will appreciate all of you. Thank you and God Bless!' then I click the post button. To be honest, I'm not thankful, I'm not happy in my parent's burial. I'm just showing them that I'm okay but it's a no, I'm NOT okay!

After I post, I call the staff who are assigned to assist me, to bring me breakfast, Although I don't have any appetite to eat, I'll just eat so that my parents will not get too sad about me, although they are already gone, I'm still thinking of them, They're always in my heart.

After that, I took a shower, thanks, God! I bring extra clothes, I wear my white shirt and above the knee skirt, and I just comb my hair and put some light make-up on my face, yes I need to put on some make-up, because I look so awful, like a real zombie, after I fixed myself, and when I'm satisfied, I directly go in the small table to eat my very early breakfast.

I finished my breakfast so slow, cause I don't have the appetite to eat! But I need to, for my parent's sake! It was morning when I decided to go downstairs. When I'm at the front door, I'm started to cry again, Mommy and Daddy I miss you both! Please come back to me, please!!!

I can't take this anymore, I'm so really tired, I don't want to live without you both, please I want to come with you. Please!

"Ceriya?" A manly voice called me.

"Yes, Uncle Tonio?" I asked.

"Are you okay? Did you sleep last night?" He asked.

"Of course, uncle, thanks for the concern, I'll go ahead, then I'll go inside of the chapel and sit in the front.

The days passed, this is the day that I don't want to happen but I don't have any choice.

I'm here in my room, standing in front of my Huge and tall mirror in my walk-in closet, I wear a white dress, and sandals, I let my hair down, and put e light-make up and I bring my shoulder bag.

I go downstairs and I saw my maids, bodyguards, and our caretaker they are waiting for me. They all wear a white t-shirt and pants for boys, and a white blouse for girls, they are very uniform, clean and neat.

"Condolence, Ms. Fountes." They said, and give me a small smile.

I just nodded at them and I directly go outside, I'm crying, I can't come to my parent's funeral, I can't see them, bringing down their coffins to the ground.

I feel more alone, more pain, I feel so sad, so broken. I can't feel any joy, it's full of sadness, and pain.

I ride in my car and we directly go to my parent's chapel, I requested to do the traditional way, we will walk from the chapel to Cemetery.

"Iya? Still fine?" My Uncle Tonio asked.

"No, I'm not." I said and then I leave him alone.

While walking, so many flashback moments, those memories, come to my mind, we laughed, we talked, bonded, everything. Those memories are only memories, that's the end, but I'll continue my life for them, I will live for them, I will bring their love, everywhere I go.

I know also that God will not leave me alone, I know that God will help me to get the justice we deserve, only God can help me to overcome all of this, that's what my mommy taught me, always believe in Him.

Fifteen minutes of walking before we reach the cemetery, so this is it. They're already gone.

The father gave a short ceremony, and after that, the father sprinkled holy water on my parents' Coffins, and I sprinkled too, and some important relatives of us, and then one by one we will put down a white flower while they were putting down the coffins.

After everything, our relatives, and friends, just give me a comforting hug, and then they leave.

"Iya, let's go." my uncle said.

"I'll stay!" I said full of sadness.

"Okay, I'll let you do what you want, but text me if you want to go home, okay?" He said. and I just nodded at him.

I just stare at my parents' grave and let myself flashback all of our memories.