Through The Looking Eyes

Clouds crowd up the sky as it thickens to gray. The morning sunlight slowly fading in the background. I hesitate to leave my spot on the park. This is my favorite place in the park, under the big Mango tree that has never once bear fruit since I found it a few years back. I was trying to isolate myself from the people crowding by the front part of the walkway one day during the City’s Annual Founding Celebration. As strangers starts to line up just before the fences put by the City Organizers, I hurried to the back after I took some shots of the Parade getting closer to the main park hallway. The voices soon getting louder in my head even louder that the blasting trumpets and drums, so I moved passed the sea of strangers not bothering to take my eyes off the ground as I slice my way through each one of the figures, small, frail, young, old, strong and tall. I didn’t dare make eye contact despite the push and pull of bodies, sweat and scents mixed in the air. For a good minute I was able to exhale good air and lessen the noise in my head. I make my way to the inner part of the park which was a ongoing renovation of what would be a public garden as said by the large banner hanging from the old rusty iron gate. The music coming from the parade and the voices of people soon fades in the background as I walk through a muddy path shielded by long tall Palm trees and just at the center of a 10 minutes walk an old big Mango tree was standing with leaves scattered all over it and fallen branches hanging on the sides. Ever since that day this has been my go to place when I need to be isolated from the world.

Since that day this has been a perfect spot for me to just unwind and somehow be a little close to nature. It has been perfectly cleaned and some plants have been added. Flowers are blooming from either sides and the trees has been trimmed since then but people seldom visits this place aside from it being too small and a little too crowded that sunlight can't really penetrate through the overgrown trees, there is barely no green grass that you can sit on and since its the rainy season the ground is barely dry and the path is mostly muddy all day long. That’s why I always have my rain boots and waterproof mat with me in my car because I tend to come here most of the days when I’m out so its always a handy to have them in the car.

The rain was slowly pouring in as I start to clean my thrash and gather my stuffs. The Mango tree is really big and is a good shelter from this small rain but I have to hurry out now before it starts to rain down heavy. I was looking for my folded umbrella when the rain abruptly stop and cool wind blew through the trees making the leaves sway back and forth. I put on my rain boots and didn’t look for my umbrella any more but started to walk out of the garden and then the rain just showered in seconds as I reached the now matted black iron gate and started to run as I held my bag closer to my chest. I dashed towards the small open phone booth by the corner. “Nice, now I’m totally wet” I muttered under my breath as I opened my zippered bag and look for a handkerchief and my umbrella but unfortunately none of it was there. “Great!” I uttered in defeat then slowly shivered. Its only an hour pass 11 in the morning but its a bit dark already and the park is totally deserted. The rain was pouring heavy along with strong winds here and there. I was planning to run through it now since I’m wet already but as I take a step out of the booth I remembered I parked my car by the Capitol Building which was 2 blocks away from the park. “Damn it, why did I even park there?” I uttered to myself. It is Tuesday today and the parking space by the Market Place was all taken as well as the ten slots by the City Justice Building. I wasn’t sure why but three Police cars and a SWAT team were parked by the entrance of the City Justice Building. “There must be a big case” I muttered unconsciously as I lean by the glass booth. A few minutes later the rain slowly eased from pouring heavy and without thinking I made a run for it clutching my bag tightly under my armpit with my other hand over my head hoping to shield my eyes from the rain drops. I slowly made a turn by the Clock post standing at the center of the intersection when I slumped hard something and fall hard on the tiled ground. “What the” I hissed under my breath as a look up to see what it was but it slowly walked away not bothering to say anything or even help me. I push myself up feeling the ache on my right wrist not bothering to grab my bag I turn towards the person grabbing its black waterproofed raincoat. “Hey!” I shouted as I pulled hard the raincoat by its left arm making the person turn abruptly towards me. The hood fell from his head soaking its already wet medium length hair even more. I was about to say my piece when I stop shutting my mouth tight when our eyes met. 

“No! Please! don’t!” a guy pleaded as he kneeled down on the mud. One eye bruised and half way close. Blood dripping blending with the tears and rain. Both of his arms are tied on his back. He was totally soaked from head to toe. “Please no!” He begged again almost stifling a cry. He was about to say more but was stop by a hard blow from his temple. 

I shut my eyes tight in reflex with my hands up my face as if it was me who was about to be hit. I heard the sound of footsteps slowly walking away and that’s when I opened my eyes and saw the man walking towards the garden entrance. I didn’t say a thing nor was I able to move from my place as I look straight on the man’s back. I scanned his sides looking for the bat. But he wasn’t carrying anything nor was it visible in him or was his raincoat just a bit loose. “What the heck was that?” I asked to myself “Did I...” I stop myself as my knees suddenly felt soft and I fell on the ground. “That was” I said in a whisper “a murder” I finally said. My eyes was still staring at the garden entrance but the man was no longer visible. I stayed seated on the ground until the rain poured down again.