1 Trial 1: Charcoal Sunset

"Alaine, I'm sorry, papa can't make it home anymore. Listen; don't ever lose the pocket watch I gave you when mama left. That's right! Mama isn't dead. One day, you two will meet again. Use the ATM cards that I put in your phone wallet; the PIN codes for each are written on the white piece of paper in there. On the same paper is a written address; move and live there from now on. Remember, Papa loves you very much!"

"Papa, No!"

Explosion grows louder and consumes everything.

"No," screamed a sweaty me.

I woke up from the dream and pondered, "It's that day again. And, it's been seven years since that day and yet I still have not met Mama again."

I sigh as I got up and checked the time.

The clock reads 6:45 am.

"Oops! I only have a little more than an hour. I got to hurry up otherwise our presentation will be late."

I entered the bathroom and took a quick shower. Afterward, I proceed to get dress fast; pack chilled foods for breakfast and lunch, then run out of the house for work.

I arrived 30 minutes before 8:00 am, so I used that time to eat breakfast; brushed my teeth after; and applied some light makeup.

Meanwhile, just in the nick of time, I got everything ready with my team. The presentation of the event plan to the event committee and client's representative proceeded with no issues. Once again, the event planning and management team led by me was commended by the head of the event committee.

Soon after that, my team heads to the function hall to start implementing the plan.

"So, for the flower reservation and arrangement, I am assigning Liza. As for the food, Giselle and Christie will manage. As for the hall's setup and the rest, it will be on Bianca and me. We are officially permitted to ask assistance from the other hotel staff so feel free to do so if needed. Let's do this," I detailed.

"Yes!" came their reply in chorus.

Some hours later, lunch came. At lunch, I ate by myself instead of the usual. The rest of my lunch break is spent reminiscing a certain time when I was being sent to school by my father.

"Papa, why do we have to move out almost all the time? Can't you just request from your boss to let you stay permanently in one branch?" asked the sixteen-year-old me.

"Why? Don't you like that? You get to travel from one place to another," answered my father.

"It's not traveling at all. It's changing home every time as though we're gypsies. Changing schools is tiring too," I reasoned.

"Alaine, I'm sorry that you are having such a hard time with this, but please, understand Papa. I just need some more time. One day, I promise, there will come a time when we don't have to move out anymore," came an apologetic reply from my father.

"Okay, papa. That's a deal then. I'll bear with this and do my best. Don't worry; I am not angry at all. I am just getting tired of having to meet a new school environment, one after the other, but it's okay as long as you won't disappear too," said an understanding me.

"I know you're still sad about mama, but you know, even if mama isn't here with us anymore, she is looking after us especially when you play the piano. Speaking of piano, how is your practice for recital going?"

"It's going smoothly, papa. As usual, I enjoy playing it because I can feel mama's presence with it. I'll continue playing and improving. I'll give another best recital even though, it's sad knowing that you can't personally watch me perform as always, but I'll send you a video clip of my performance so, be sure to take time and watch it."

"Again, please forgive papa for being unable to watch your live recital," apologized my father.

"It's alright Papa, I understand. You're working so that I can have healthy meals; beautiful and comfy clothes; and good education."

"I'm thankful to have this understanding daughter."

"Well papa, that's only because you and mama raised me righteously."

"I guess you're right."

Both of us laughed then.

"Look at what you told me then, papa. Just two years later then, you disappeared as mama did without seeing my last piano recital in high school even when you had a chance. It's even sadder when your final words to me weren't spoken in person. You said mama is alive, but where on earth is she? I sometimes think you were lying back then to prevent me from harboring a grudge on mama. A year later following your death, I began thinking that mama had forgotten about me long ago and had lived happier with another family that's why she disappeared when I was seven. And that pocket watch; just what's with that?"

It was then that I realized I forgot the pocket watch under my pillow since the item wasn't in my pocket.

I sighed and told myself, "It's not like someone will break into my room and steal it."

A minute later, the clock chimes; signaling the end of lunch break.

I head back to the function hall.

My team spends the rest of the working hours to continue with the preparations. Everybody worked productively until the end of their shift. Then, everyone went home. Bianca's house and mine are just in the same direction so as usual, we walk home together.

As we are getting closer to home, we notice a thick dark smoke ascending to the skies.

"Alaine, are you seeing that?" asked Bianca

"Come on, that's a huge smoke to get unnoticed by anyone," came my reply.

"Right; it seems that the fire trucks had only arrived a few minutes ago. But you know, if you look at the pattern of the smoke, the source appears to be coming from the direction of your place," added Bianca.

To which I replied, "Yeah, I think so too. Wait! What? In the direction of my place?"

Bianca just nods her head.

I dash off to my place to confirm the smoke's source.

"Hey, Alaine, wait up!" exclaimed Bianca as she tried catching up with me.

Upon my arrival at the street where my house is, I confirm that the source of the smoke is coming from my burning house. Fire trucks are surrounding the area and the firefighters are doing their best to get the fight under control, but alas, the fire's huge that it takes more than just efforts to stop it from consuming my house.

The sight reminded me that my pocket watch was left inside my room earlier so I approached one of the firefighters and inquired, "Can someone come inside my room; it's at the right corner of the house, in the direction of the back door? I just need to get something really important; I accidentally left it under my pillow. "

The firefighter retorted, "Ma'am, that's insane! It's suicide to try to get inside when the fire is this colossal."

I reply, pleading, "But sir, I need to retrieve that; it's the only keepsake left by my late parents."

Despite my plea, the firefighter barked back, "Ma'am I understand your sentiment, but a person's life is surely more important than a keepsake, is it not? As you can see the fire is not yet under control so my apologies, but we cannot go by your request."

I yell out, "I'll get it myself then." And I proceeded my attempt to break in but was stopped by Bianca who loudly elucidates, "Alaine, it's not safe so don't go. I understand where you're coming from but please, don't risk it. I know it's selfish of me, but if you get harmed, we'll be in trouble. Besides, your life is a priority."

I start crying and say, "If I had not overslept, I would not have left it. It's the only keepsake I have and yet, I let it disappear like that."

Bianca hugs me and calmly says, "I'm so sorry that I can't do much except to comfort you with words. But, you know you can stay at my place for the night or for as long as you want until your place gets fixed."

After thirty minutes, the fire goes under control; unfortunately, though, everything but some of my clothes was ravaged by the fire.

About a quarter later, I was taken to the office of the town's fire protection bureau and there, I was interviewed. A little while after, I was escorted out and was told by the officer that a further investigation is needed to identify the true cause of the fire since the CCTV footage they found before the fire started was all blurry.

Just outside the office shows Bianca who begins asking, "So, were they able to tell you how the fire started?"

I shook my head.

"I see. It's not that late yet, don't you want to have a milkshake? We can sip on it while we walk to my place," suggested Bianca but again, I only shook my head.

Bianca continued, "Alaine, I don't understand how you are feeling right now since I've never been in your position, but I know you're shaken. Even so, you must keep going. It's not much but I am here for you; the whole team is with you on this. I already informed them of what happened, and they all expressed their willingness to help you. So, come on and let's go to my place and sort things out, okay?"

I reply with a nod.

And we walked our way to Bianca's place. Upon arriving, Bianca starts cooking soba noodles and toppings for dinner. When the dinner finished cooking, both of us settled and ate. Right after, we cleaned up our mess and headed to bed. The atmosphere between us remained silent until I break it, "Thank you and pardon the intrusion."

Bianca smiles, then replies, "You're welcome. And, you're not intruding; you're a guest. It's an emergency and I'm sure if the same thing happens to any of us in the team, you will do just the same. So, I think I finally returned you the favor?"

The last remark causes me to release a soft laugh. I respond, "You still think of that time as a debt?"

"Well, if not for your intervention back then, I would have faced humiliation and lost confidence leading to resignation. Since then, my impression of you had changed. I thought of you at first as a stuck-up and arrogant senior, but you proved me wrong when instead of you writing an incident report about my submission of my unapproved, unsophisticated event plan, you covered for me and told the committee that you gave me the wrong disc drive out of nerves. Thanks to you, I am, we are still in the company. To show our appreciation, let us be of help to you."

With a soft smile, I reply, "Thank you, really; that made me feel a bit better than earlier. Now, it's getting late, let's just sleep."

Bianca agreed. And, the day ended with a 'good night' remark from the both of us.