i was almost sent to jail!!

---it was Sunday afternoon. i went to the mall alone. i was so bored at home that's why I decided to leave. I wore my favorite black shirt, a pants and my chuck. I don't really go out that much but atleast I know how to make myself happy even by myself alone. i rode a nice jeepney with an unfortunately stubborn driver. He always overtook a lot of cars and he was really driving so fast. I was then praying so hard to get rid of accidents. At about half an hour, I reached the mall. Being there made me feel overwhelmed for reaasons i don't understand.

I don't know where to go exactly. should i watch a movie, buy myself clothes or just walk around till i feel tired? i have a lot of things in mind during that day. i was worried about my studies, my parents and my messy room. but what ocupied my mind the most was my parents. they were always on a fight, shouting and blaming each other for the problems that they have encountered. i hate seeing them like that.

i was drinking an iced coffee when a stall of jewelries caught my attention. aah! i really find myself crazy over such things. i like buying a lot of them even though i don't really need them that much. i've seen several rings that i liked and want to buy but don't really know which to choose. i saw this one ring with a diamond on top, it fits me perfectly. but duh! it was really expensive. i pulled my wallet out of my pocket just to be disappointed realizing that my money wasn't enough to buy this precious ring. it made me a little more gloomy. but i suddenly smiled remembering that my mother's atm card was with me.

i was about to leave the stall and withraw some money when the buzzer(or alarm i think) rang after i passed by the exit. nagulat pa ako. i really don't know what's going on, i even saw two fat security guards approaching me. oh my God! what have i done wrong? i can't move. i closed my eyes and covered my face with my trembling hands (because all of the people there were looking straight to me) and got astonished of what i just discovered. F***! i was still wearing the ring that i was planning to buy! my heart beat faster. i don't know what to do next. i was really so nervous and ashamed that i wanted to shrink! i pulled the ring and tried to give it back to the beast-looking guards.

"sir sorry po, nalimutan ko pong tanggalin 'tong singsing."--i said while pulling the ring. my voice was shaking.

"hindi, dun tayo sa taas magusap."--he said with an emotionless face.

shit! i hate myself for being such an idiot! my God! i committed a crime unintentionally. i was sweating tremendously while on the elevator for i dont know what will they do to me. i was even crying while explaining to them that i'm not a thief and i didn't intend to stole the ring. but they doesn't spoke any word.

we were already at a room i don't know how to call it, but it was full of pictures which were labeled as SHOPLIFTERS. i was still crying when someone asked me of my name, my address, parent's phone number and my age. i managed to answer it all and explained the same explanation i told the guards a while back. but they all seemed deaf. i don't know if they were already used of hearing the same reason that they haven't given any attention to what i just said.

they are, i think, calling my mom for they said that my parents will soon be here with me. i cried harder. i know my father will scold me. i really don't know what will happen next. the guard hold me so tight that i can't even move. i feel like a criminal. but i really haven't done anything wrong! i was afraid what these bad guys might do to me. they just told me that i will be sent to jail!! omg! imagine that? a 3rd year nursing student would be sent to jail?. how could i continue studying?..

i was wiping my tears when three loud knocks were heard at the door. i stood up after seeing it was my mom. i was about to run to her but the guard gripped my arm tighter. my mom looked very angry. i thought she would be worried but i was wrong. it made me cry harder again. doesn't she love me anymore? i was looking for my dad but he wasn't there. she was approaching me with an angry stare. i can feel her anger even with a distance. she was about to slap my face when i closed my eyes----it would be the very first time she will hurt me. but why now? now that i need her, above all, to save me from this mess?

countless tears run down my face, but i haven't felt a slap yet, i felt vigorous shaking instead, and someone calling my name. i didn't open my eyes for i was afraid to see how angry she was to me--i wiped my tears with my eyes still closed--and there, my mom finally slapped my face. it wasn't that painful but it tears my heart. i still didn't open my eyes. i felt another slap, followed by another, and another. i even heard the guards when they told my mom that i will be sent to jail afterwards. i shouted to them:"i hate you all! i haven't done anything!!". my mom slapped me again, it was more painful than the rest. i was now very angry so i openned my eyes. i saw my mom's face, not anymore angry but worried. i looked for the guards but they weren't there anymore. i asked my mom where they were. my mom looked more worried, wiped my tears and answered,

"anak, nananaginip ka."