Charmaine's POV : Where are you, Clara?

In just one week I will graduate from college and I will soon be able to be with Clara, my older sister. She is the reason I work hard in my studies, and she's also my only inspiration because she is the only one I have.

No matter how hard it is to live alone here in England without enough knowledge and money, I insisted on graduating from college so that I can return to our home with honor and achievements.

After our graduation, I immediately packed my things with the medal and diploma that I will show her as proof that I have graduated.

I can hardly wait to see her and hug her so tightly. I'm excited to hang my medal on her and see the reaction on her face.

A week later, I was able to return to the Philippines. While I was walking out of the airport, I kept looking around and my eyes were just looking for her.

“Charm!” I quickly turned to the voice I heard. I thought it was Clara calling me, but I realized it was April, my cousin, and close friend. She urgently ran to me and hugged me so tightly that I could hardly breathe. Therefore, I pushed her away with a smile on my lips.

“Why are you alone? Where is Clara?” I immediately asked her, but she didn't answer, instead, she turned her gaze to the three suitcases I was carrying.

“Wait a minute, why do you bring so much? Aren't you going back to England?” She said that's why my attention turned to something else.

“Yes because I've already graduated,” I responded as I showed her the medal I received. Her eyes widened in amazement, and she immediately took the medal from my hand and bit it to find out if it was made of gold.

“What are you doing? That's mine.” I said as I snatched the medal from her and put it back inside my pants pocket.

“I'm so proud of your cousin. I didn't expect you to be able to live alone in a faraway place without your sister, Clara.” She said that Clara came to my mind again.

“By the way, where is she now? Why aren't you with her?” I was curious, but she just ignored what I told her as if she didn't hear anything. Therefore, I didn't mention Clara to her again and I just thought that maybe she was busy with work, or perhaps she was preparing at home to surprise me.

We immediately took a taxi and I thought we were going straight to the house, but I was very surprised when we stopped at their house. I was about to ask her, but she immediately went inside carrying two suitcases. Therefore, I just quietly followed her until I realized that they were all waiting for me inside, while there were decorations and welcome back signs hanging on the wall.

“You did well, hija. We are very proud of you.” Aunt said to me, April's mother, she hugged me and gently caressed my back. Until one by one, they came to me and hugged me as tightly as April hugged me earlier when she saw me at the airport.

While they were happily talking about something else, I kept looking around at each of our relatives, but none of them was the person I expected.

Clara wasn't there. My sister is not there. Where is she? Doesn't she know that today I will come? Or maybe she just went somewhere for a while?

I kept peeking at the door and hoping to see her there, but as the afternoon passed, she still wasn't there. No matter where I look, I can't see her, or her shadow.

Where have you been, Clara? Why are you so late? Why are you still not here?

Until the night came. I am still waiting for her arrival. I was just sitting near the door with my medal in my hand and excited to hang it on her immediately when she entered that door. But I'm getting nervous and worried about her even more because she still hasn't come home yet.

When April suddenly passed in front of me, I called her and grabbed her left arm. She stopped and turned to me.

“Why, Charm? Do you want something to eat?” She asked, but I shook my head.

“Do you know Clara's phone number? What time is it, but she still hasn't come? Do you think she's okay? Or maybe she's just busy with her work?” I asked her, but she suddenly became quiet and looked around us, where they were all looking at the two of us.

“Why? What's wrong? Did I say something wrong?” I asked but no one answered them even April avoided looking at me which made me even more nervous then I stood up.

“What's going on, April? Why don't you talk about it? Why is it that every time I mention her to you, you seem to avoid answering me? Is there something I should know?” After I said that, she slowly looked up at me with tears in her eyes, which made me even more curious.

“Charm the true is… Clara is gone. She's been dead for four years.” She replied as her voice trembled, and her eyes filled with tears.

I was dumbfounded by what she said, and it was as if I became deaf suddenly that couldn't hear anything.

What she said was clear to me, but I was unable to accept it. I can't accept it. It will not accept this kind of lie.

“You're just kidding, aren't you? What you're saying isn't true. Maybe you're pranking me and there's a hidden camera pointing at me right now, right? You thought I wouldn't know what you're up to, April.” I said as I looked around when our relatives are staring at us with a trace of sadness on their faces.

“You know I can't fool you, especially when it comes to Clara. Everything I say is true, Charm. I'm not lying. I'm not just making up a story or some kind of prank video. Clara is gone. She's been dead a long time. She died while you were in England studying, and that's the truth.” After she said that, I held my forehead and I didn't know what to do. Suddenly, I felt dizzy and tight in my chest.

I have to get it all out now, or I might get sick.

I forgot that there were adults with us there. Furthermore, I just lost my mind and screamed while my tears flowed non-stop. Whatever I see around, I throw them on the floor, even if I'm not in my own house.

“Charm stop it. Calm yourself down and drink some water first.” April's mother approached me as she handed me a glass of water. That's when I got even angrier, and I poured everything I felt into her.

“What did you say? Do I need to calm down? Do you think it's that easy? I've been gone for four years, and I've been waiting in this chair for almost a night for nothing. But none of you dared to tell me the truth. Do you know how I feel right now? I feel like you're playing with me. I feel like a fool sitting here waiting for a ghost. If you were in my position, would you be able to calm down?” I said that they were all shocked because it seemed that I had exceeded my limits and I no longer respected her as older than me.

“Don't talk to mom like that. Maybe she's too coward to tell you the truth, but she has no intention of keeping Clara from you.” April said that's why I turned my gaze to her, and at the same time, I grinned.

“Then it's still my fault why I'm like this now and why I'm angry? Don't I have the right to speak the truth?” I replied that his mother came to me and was about to hold my hand, but I immediately avoided her.

“Don't touch me or come near me. I would rather not see you all. I want to be alone.” After saying that, I carried all my things and left their house. April chased me and kept calling me, my name, but I didn't stop or even turn for her. A taxi happened to pass by, so I immediately stopped it and got in it. I noticed that she was still calling me, but I just ignored her.

I turned my head for a moment while my eyes were full of tears. Furthermore, I was ashamed to show the taxi driver my puffy eyes and I didn't want him to notice that I was crying, so I just kept my head down until I got home.

After I got off the taxi, I raised my head for a moment to observe our house. It's not that big, and it's just enough for two people. But for Clara and I, it is already big and just right for us to call it our home.

My hands were almost shaking with so much anger after knowing everything. I don't know if I can live alone in this house that is full of happy memories of both of us.

“Clara, I'm back home. Your sister Charmaine is here.” I whispered as I watched the outside of the house. My lips are almost trembling, and my tears won't stop. “Why didn't you wait for me? Didn't I promise you that I would come back?” At the same time, I bowed and bit the bottom of my lip.

“I believe that what they say that you committed suicide is not true. I will find out the truth behind your death, and I will make sure that the people who made you suffer for it will pay for it. I will never forgive them. Furthermore, I will crush them in my hands and bury them alive. I promise you that I will take revenge on you. All the people who oppressed you and hid your death will pay for what they did to you.” I whispered while clenching my two fists tightly.