Don't Cry for Me Argentina (Part 1)

"Flash report, As of 7:50 AM, Thursday. There have been 9,828 recorded fatalities, 2,240 are in critical conditions, written 15,893 Injuries and the numbers are still rising as the deployed forces continues the search.

"When did you comeback?" The television is rather blooming this morning across the silent living room to the busy dining.

"Expert says that the 8.7 magnitude Earthquake that caused tsunami with catastrophic impacts in Visayas region made an approximately 150B direct economic damages and was the largest in the Philippine history. The Malacañang Pala—"

Argen peeked inside the kitchen where her mother has been making a mess in the early morning. She looked back at the bags were piling up in the living room, ready to go.

"'Nak! I was so worried about you!" Her mother kissed her forehead and rush out to assemble the stacked-up containers in the bag.

"Papa and I can't get through. The roads collapse, before we knew it, they already sent helicopters to deploy doctors on different areas…" Argen noticed how her mother's hand quiver. So much for the drill. Argen sense there's something different with her mother that day.

Ironic enough, she didn't look like the woman who's been fighting in the front line for three days in a row, just a vulnerable mother who's afraid for the sake of her children. Which you could say quite surprised the young lady even more.

She faces tragedy each day… but dear, time is indeed a scary opponent.

Argen leaned on the counter. "Don't worry, I was fine. We're fine here. It was not that shaky here. Kuya Cy also rushed to pick me up after."

"If I could call the Chief---"

"Nah…"

Argen turned her before her mother could even react, clearly knows where the conversation would go. Too much for this melodrama-ish morning.

The news is still very devastating to hear, everywhere rather. People who lost their years' worth of hard work in a snap, people who lost their loved ones, people who lost a part of them, people whose fighting in hospital beds hoping for a better future, people that left with nothing but just their worn clothes and lives… damn lives, others didn't even make it.

"They need those helping hands, that's what you've been telling me."

Shrugging before turning to get a water in the refrigerator, "You didn't raise weak children." Her mother stare at her for a moment, eyes filled with unexplainable emotion. Argen then clasped her hands. "Beside I'll also be out. My prof called me. They're asking for volunteers. Why not right? I'm tired of lying around, maybe I could also get merits with that."

The mother sighed. Defeated. "I know… I know… but I've been having this terrible dream lately." Argen scoffs, "Really Ma? You, out of all people I know well believe in those now?" But her mother's face remained the same.

Her brow raised, interesting. "Dreams are opposite of reality. Maybe occurrence of nature, I don't know. What's the worst that can happen?" She shots, eyes lingering. It's somehow… somehow really weird hearing that from her mother. Bizarre indeed.

"What is it even all about in the first place?"

Her mother's expression became baffled, "That's the problem, it's about---" but she was interrupted with loud honks outside. Argen stretches her head and look outside the window, black cars are waiting.

"It's the service."

"I'll--- I'll just tag you along with me, go pack your clothes." Nudging Argen and spouting nonsense.

The amazed daughter giggles. "Ma, are you even serious? I'm already 19, not 7. Geez, get going now before the whole neighborhood complain." Argen puts both of her hands on her mother's shoulder, like how children play choo-choo train, sending her off in a trance.

"Argentina!"

Passing her the bag of food, Argen cuts the endless nagging.

"Ma, I'll be fine. How many times I would assure you? I'm fine, really. I'll go to Kuya's office don't worry."

"Eat three times a day and stay in your brothers pad or, maybe I'll just call them to spend the time here… Anyways, always call me or Papa if an---"

"Ma! You've been repeating that same thing for God knows how many times. How could I even forget now?"

The mother sighed. Raised both hands, surrendering.

"Just… Just be careful, okay?"

She then hugs and kiss her daughter's forehead before rushing to the service that have been waiting just for her. Took her a while since she doesn't really want to leave her only daughter alone.

It feels like a slippery slope.

Looking at the departing vehicles, Argen was once left with silence. A comforting silence this house could only give.

She could shake her head and took a deep breath. She was indeed curious, truthfully thoughts we're flooding. What could that dream be that even her always composed mother start believing nonsense like that.

But then all again, it's all the same.

Chuckling to herself, "Yeah right, what's the worst that could even happen…"

______

Malacañang Palace – Presidential House of the Philippines.

Visayas – One of the three principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Luzon and Mindanao.

Anak/'Nak – Child.

Kuya – Older Brother.

Mama & Papa – Mother and Father.