His Innocence…

 

BOOM!! CRASH!!

The sound of slamming doors erupted as soon as I find myself tasting the concrete pavement and blood in my mouth. Left cheek now fairly swollen, my left palm caressed it to ease the bubbling ache that started to build up around the swell.

“Get out!! Get out of my way!!” he bellowed, slamming the window shut as well.

I did not risked suffering another assault just to get chased away like some vermin, but I had no intention of suffering his insults any longer. All I asked for was some unwanted glass bottles or tin cans. For my begging rounds. What use could that overfed cook can do with them? He won’t be able to get a decent price with an attitude such as his.

How?? How…in the world things get to this??

The pain hadn’t subsided at all, and I could still feel his knuckle up my cheek, his tightly clutched fingers still clearly etched upon it. Well life’s tough these days; everybody’s worked up and tensed. Richmond’s might have more leftovers tonight. Whole damn restaurant was fully booked for some feast. Picking up my thin frame off the ground, I started making my way to my new destination.

Better luck this time, I hope.

Better luck. Of course I’ve seen better days, had lived in better times. For what’s left nobody could have known that I used to earn big bucks. Probably not as much as the corporate dudes do, but I was doing well, until…

…she came.

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First it was the scent of Autumn Crocus. Perfume?? Deodorant??

“There!! You’re another day late!! I needed you to get your report done last week,” half-frowning half-smiling, I took the folder out of her hands.

She was trying to say something, but I didn’t afford her the leisure to put her thoughts into words. Swiftly turning around, I got back to my marking.

“Now thanks to you, I’ve lost another weekend to make up for loss time that YOU caused. Did you make sure to inform Miss Heathing about your late submission?” Sensing no reply, I turned around.

She was there, just standing like a statue, immobile. As if some words were caught up in her throat, she fluttered.

“Maybe…I…I…make it up…to you??”

Then she looked up, hopefully. Wasn’t entirely sure what she meant, I put on a puzzled look, intending her to explain more.

“Here,” in the swiftest manner possible she thrust an enveloped into my hands and fled like the bird fleeing from it’s hunter. Gently un-creasing the badly crumpled enveloped, I removed it’s content and sought to quench my curiosity as to why she was acting in such a manner….

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“You’re early, dude,” a voice shot from the front. It was Edgar’s bartender. “Way too early…feast ain’t over yet,” he was leaning against the lamp post, trying to lit up the cheap cigarette stuffed between his lips.

“No, I don’t smoke,” I declined him as courteously as possible as he offered me a smoke. “Thanks for the gesture,” I added, trying not to make him feel offended.

If anything, he is always a life-saver that I cannot afford to offend. Word goes around that he was once in a pretty bad pinch himself, until they found out that he has a way with liquor and cocktails which got him employed, plucking him out of obscurity and poverty.

“Rough night?” he asked, while puffing out the smoke towards the streets. Several teenage girls were chuckling and giggling as they make their way to the clubs across the streets. Mini skirts and showing lots of cleavage. Free show.

But it is all too common for me. I’ve seen silly teenagers wasting their lives doing drugs and losing their virginity in the alleys. Some even had the guts to ask me if I wanted to get high and join in the orgy. Too high and drunk to see that I’m broken.

“Nothing other than the usual,” I replied. “…apart from a squabble with the Porky over the 78th street,” I explained the bruise on my cheek. “Owh, that miser? Once a few of my homies roughed him up just because he has a god-forbid-foul-mouth.”

"That’s life when you’re down in the gutter; not gonna complain,” I tuck both hands into my pocket, and started to look for stars amidst the city lights. I could barely see the moon, less so any stars.

“I can’t get you anything now, but what they have in excess in every party…is booze,” putting on an evil grin, he gave me a pat in the arm and walked back into the bar.

So much for being the gentleman. Now I’m living on scraps.

Returning my gaze to the sky, I remembered that fateful night. The night where all changed. I’ve always known I would have to disappoint her as some point, but certainly the circumstances could have been better…

*********************************************************************

Walking down the hallway, I was busy arranging the words in my head. Certainly I didn’t see this coming, not in a million years. She’s a brilliant student. But lately she seemed to be troubled. Troubled by what, nobody actually knows. Made a few home visitation and the institution found out that she lives with her grandmother. The only living relative she has left is almost never at home, out in the world striving to earn a living for the both of them. A fate so cruel and unfair.

Brilliant, but troubled.

She never had many friends, but I noticed there’s this guy who’s always with her. Walkers?? Or is it Hawkins?? Another problem child, but he wasn’t mine to lose sleep over. My clientele, as of that moment, was her.

How in the world things get to this?

I quickened my pace, as I made my way to the laboratory. Then I wondered, why the laboratory? Institution grounds are automatically restricted area after hours. The guards could appear at any moment when they’re on their rounds.

I better get this over with ASAP and get her out, or she’ll land into trouble. Again.

It was then I caught scent of something. Flower-ish. Stopping in my steps, I turned around, trying to look for the source of it. It was leading to the laboratories, but the stench was stronger here in the hallway. There’s no mistaking it, it’s the scent of Autumn Crocus.

“Hello?? Who’s there??”

Hello…Hello…Hello…Hello…

There was nothing else but the resounding echoes.Not wanting to miss my appointment, I ignored the warning sounding in my head. Something felt out of place. Soon I was at the laboratory, but I was not prepared for what happened next. A nightmare.

There was nobody there. Flicking on the switch, all I saw was the room was bare, apart from a small box resting on the table. Looking around for signs of human presence, I noticed again the lingering scent of her perfume.

She was definitely here.

Curiosity ALWAYS kills the cat. Upon confirming that I’m the sole living being in the room, I moved towards the box, examining it in my hands. Giving it a shake it produced thumping sounds; something was inside it. I opened and drew out its contents. The horror that came along the realization of what was in my hands froze me in my place…

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BOOM!! CRASH!!

“Sorry dude, this is all I can get…for now,” resurfacing from the dark abyss, he shoved a half-bottle of Jack Daniels into my arms, pulling me back into the present. In his eyes were genuine look of sympathy. Sympathetic that he couldn’t be of more help to me as he usually was. I’m having none of that so I took hold of his arm and gave him my usually shake to indicate my gratitude. Without a word I turned around and started to walk away.

From afar, I heard him shouting, “Come back again later!!”. Perhaps he was expecting for some form of acknowledgement, but I didn’t offer him any. Hopefully he doesn’t interpret that as me being offended; he shouldn’t be, but I just didn’t feel like talking.

My stride was interrupted by the sound of the door re-opening. But I heard no sound of the door crashing. Not him. He’s too good a guy for that. But I’ll never forget the sound of the…

*********************************************************************

BOOM!! CRASH!! FREEZE!!

It was so fast that I cannot explain what was happening. Within seconds my hands were behind me, face pressed onto the carpet, multiple limbs pressuring on my body. Before I could even shout, a firm voice was reciting my rights.

“…right to remain silent. Anything you say will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney…”

I couldn’t remember whether the voice ever finished reciting my rights, but the next blow on my head landed me in the hospital for the whole week. I wasn’t allowed any visitors. By the time I was no longer disoriented, my lawyer informed me that they were going to charge me in court.

For possessing pornographic materials involving minors.

They arrested me with a box containing undergarments. Children undergarments. A search in my apartment further yielded a truckload of child pornographic materials. They told me that I’ve committed crimes that I know I have never committed. In the end all I knew was that I was framed, and I maintained that stance in court.

What followed next was a nation-wide scandal. Teaching license revoked. Criminal breach of trust. I could never work with kids or children ever again. My face and name appeared in the major cable news and throughout the mass media. Soon the verdict was passed, me jailed, and gradually people began to forget that I had ever existed…

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Now back to my favourite spot in the garden, I rested my body horizontally facing the sky. Sip by sip I drained the whiskey from it’s casing, just as how my life was striped bare from it’s former glory.

Of course I never explained why I ended up with a box of dubious contents at the school laboratory at such a time. To divulge more than what the investigators have theorized will tear her life in shreds. I wouldn’t do that. They wouldn’t have believed me either. I have always known I’m innocent, and withholding some truth seems to yield me some sense of honour that the juridical system of this country had deprived me of.

I gave the empty sky a smirk as an act of defiance, cushioning one arm beneath my next, another hugging the nearly empty whiskey bottle. In nights like these, Johnny Walker’s my only true friend. Shutting my eyes, thrusting myself back into the days where I had seen better days…Suddenly I jerked my eyes open.

It is the scent of Autumn Crocus.

Frantically looking around trying to identify the owner of the scent, my eyes caught the sight of a silhouette approximately 20 feet north-west from my bench. Screwing my eyes into focus, I was trying to identify my uninvited guest. Then a sudden epiphany rushed into my head, clearing it from all the alcohol I’ve just abusively consumed in my depression. Now finally seeing the whole picture, I uttered with all the resentment I can muster…

“YOU!!”

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