Chapter 7

P I E R C E
(flashback)

"Pierce, I'll let you organize a meeting with the other team leaders from the other department regarding the upcoming Intramurals. Keep me posted."

"Yes, Coach." Matapos ang saglit na meeting ng basketball team ay iniwan na kami ni Coach Dasel para mag practice pa saglit. Only a few went back to playing while the rest, including me, decided to rest for a while.

"Look, may transferee ata oh," sabi ng isa sa mga ka-team ko habang nakaturo ang nguso niya sa kabilang dako ng court.

The coach of the badminton team was there together with an unfamiliar student. She's about my height, a little shorter, maybe. Hair's tied up reaching a shoulder length and a look that's fiercer than expected from a transferee.

"Athlete din?" tanong ng isa pa sa mga ka-team ko na sinagot naman ng isa pa.

"Oo yata, baka from badminton team." They just kept on talking habang ako naman ay nakatingin lang doon sa babae.

And then she looked at me.

One second.

Two seconds..

Three seconds...

Five.

"What?" she mouthed. With a raising eyebrow.

And for some reason, napatawa ako dahil doon.

"Pierce! Halika rito," the coach beside her called for me. Lumapit naman ako kaagad.

"This is Pierce, he's the captain of the basketball team. You'll see him a lot dito sa court pati na rin sa field. You'll also probably be coordinating with him a lot since siya rin ang president ng sports committee."

"Pierce," I extended my hand pero tiningnan niya lang ito.

"Amihan." She said without bothering shaking my hand kaya ipinahinga ko na ito.

"I'll let Pierce tour you around since may klase pa ako, see you later."

"Okay, coach." Then the coach left us two.

"Where should I tour you?" I asked, not even expecting a kind answer from her. I don't know, she gives off a vibe of someone who doesn't really give a damn.

"I don't know, school ko ba 'to?"

See? But still we proceeded walking.

"Why did you transfer? Two years na lang graduation na." I initiated a conversation since ang awkward maglakad nang walang nagsasalita.

"We just moved and this school happened to be the closest school here. Also, my best friend is also here."

"Cool, is she also an athlete?"

"He's an archer."

"I see."

And then silence. It's always like that everytime we talk. Small talks, sometimes with sense, sometimes just randomly. Most of the time tungkol lang sa sports event. She would sometimes volunteer to help the basketball team in our tournaments as a first aid responder. That's when I knew she actually wanted to be a doctor if not a professional badminton player.

I'm not the type to make friends with other people. I never even attempted to ask her to be my friend, it just so happen that we spend time together because of sports. We were also classmates since she transferred so I got to observe her more. Not that I do it intentionally but I always happen to look at her unconsciously.

Because of that, I learned how just like me, she's not so friendly. Most students misinterpret her because she rarely smiles. She never ate with the rest of the class. She would never initiate a conversation unless needed. Although she talks to our classmates, she's not as talkative as the others.

But she's talkative in front of Arc. She smiles a lot when she's with him. She always eat with him. She's always with him.

She also cried a lot because of him.

And as someone who's not her friend but has always been there, I witnessed everything. And I still feel sorry because I'm part of the reason why she had to get hurt.

B E L I N D A
(present)

"Malamig na ang cup noodles... Hindi pa ba tayo kakain?" Alixe asked, followed by a growling sound coming from his stomach.

"This is Amihan's house... The foods as well. We should wait for her as respect." I replied, looking at the cup noodles which is no longer steaming hot.

I badly want to eat now as well. I did not take my lunch and all the saved energy I had from this morning were all used up from the runnings and all.

Pero hintayin muna dapat namin si Amihan bilang respeto.

"Mas hindi matutuwa si Amihan kung hindi tayo kakain." We turned our eyes to Arc who just spoke with certainty.

I saw how Keva's eyes rolled. She must have felt offended with what Arc said despite it being plain words only.

Iba na talaga kapag immature.

Arc knows Amihan so well so I answered him with a simple nod and gave them chopsticks and forks.

Amihan gave us clothes to wear. Mga damit niya mula sa badminton team at pinahiram naman niya kami ni Keva ng maayos na pambaba. She made sure we are all wearing comfortable clothes. Comfortable enough to run just in case something happens.

I did not dare to ask Arc about what happened and who the girl is. But I am more than half a hundred percent sure that's Aloha Morgan.

If what my colleague said is true, I'm sure mas doble ang sakit at kaba na nararamdaman ni Amihan.

And imagine seeing your friend turn into a monster, getting shot with an arrow on her forehead and watching her die feet before you... That's enough to make you go traumatized.

I know that so well.

"Amihan, Pierce." Nilingon namin ang dalawa nang marinig ang pagtawag ni Alixe.

Pierce's arm is no longer bleeding. Bumalik na rin ang dugo sa labi niya dahil hindi na rin ganoon kaputla. Pero kabaligtaran niya si Amihan.

She looks so pale and weak. Hindi niya rin maiitago na umiyak siya. Her face shows it all.

"Amihan, nauna na kaming kumain. I hope it's okay with you." Tipid siyang ngumiti saka ako tinanguhan.

"Hindi tayo mabubusog kung tatayo lang tayo dito." Puna ni Pierce sa kasama niya pero umiling ito.

"Kumain na kayo. May kailangan pa kaming gawin. Arc..." Mula sa kanila ay nabaling ang tingin namin kay Arc na mukhang nagulat din nang marinig ang pangalan niya mula sa bibig ni Amihan.

This is the first time I heard Arc's name from Amihan. At least since they broke up.

"What-" Bago pa man maka-alma si Keva ay inunahan ko na siya.

"Stop being immature, Alixe." Alixe was about to put another fork of noodles inside his mouth when he looked at me with confusion.

Nakabukas pa ang bibig niya at gulat na gulat dahil sa sinabi ko.

I'm sorry, that was not meant for you.

Keva just smirked in disbelief at wala nang nagawa nang sundan ni Arc si Amihan. Pierce, on the other hand, sat down beside Keva.

I'm not really sure if that's intentional or not.

"It's their friend. Stop being immature." Pierce bluntly said without looking at Keva.

Now that's intentional, for sure.

Until now, I still wonder why and how Keva and Pierce had a thing. They do not click, they're a complete opposite, the type that would definitely not attract each other. Maybe one of them is attracted to the other one but I don't know. Pierce is just not the type na papatulan si Keva.

And if my hunch is correct, I would say it's more likely Pierce would get along with Amihan more. I wonder what really happened...

Alas-nuebe na ng gabi at it stayed peaceful both inside and outside our "hideout". Binigyan kami ni Amihan ng mahihigaan at mga unan na inilatag namin dito sa sala.

Wala na rin ang katawan malapit sa banyo kanina. Maybe that's what they did earlier.

All the windows, doors and curtains are closed. The lights are also off aside drom the chargeable lamp Amihan gave us.

"I'll just use this couch." Sabi ko kay Pierce na halata namang mahihirapang humiga sa sofa.

"I'm wounded pero hindi ko naman hahayaang babae ang humiga rito." Kung mga babae yata sa school namin ang makakarinig noon mula kay Pierce, baka nahimatay na sila sa kilig.

But my flat affect did its job as usual.

"I won't sleep. I'll appreciate it more kung pagbibigyan mo ako." Walang emosyong sagot ko sa kaniya.

"But-"

"Thank you." Hindi na niya natapos ang sasabihin nang magpasalamat ako. He took his pillow saka nahiga sa foam na nasa sahig katabi ni Alixe... Ayon, tulog na.

Keva's asleep also as well as Arc. Si Amihan naman ay nasa kwarto niya.

Everyone already found peace on their sleeps while I remain sitting on the couch not even trying to lure myself to sleep.

"Thesis." Kinuha ko ang bag ko saka naglabas ng papel at panulat mula rito.

Ideas are really best to come out when it's silent. Alam kong hindi dapat ito ang oras para rito but I still proceed on writing whatever I have in mind in the piece of paper I have.

"Belinda?" Saktong kakatapos ko lang magsulat nang lumabas si Amihan mula sa kwarto niya.

"Bakit hindi ka natutulog?" Tanong niya na sinagot ko rin naman agad.

"Insomnia."

"A-ah..." Nalipat ang tingin niya sa baba kung nasaan ang mga kasama namin. Tulog at may humihilik pa.

A sad smile curved across her lips as she looks at them kaya napatingin din ako sa kanila.

"They will wake up after hours and will think everything was just a nightmare..." Napabuga na lang kami ng hangin.

"Anong sinusulat mo?" Tanong ni Amihan saka lumapit sa akin. I gave her space to sit beside me. Kinuha niya ang papel mula sa maliit na lamesa at binasa ito gamit ang mata niya.

I saw how her eyes narrowed, she's probably confused why I wrote that.

"This was supposed to be a thesis team. But instead of research paper, naging mga halimaw ang kalaban natin." I explained while her eyes remained fixed on the paper.

"Hopefully when this shit ends, we can defend that. What do you think?" Nag-angat siya ng tingin at mula sa nagtatakang ekspresyon ay napalitan ito ng kahit papaano ay may kaunting sigla.

Pinaghalong takot, kaba, at pag-asa.

"Hopefully.."


A M I H A N

"Amihan.. Amihan.."

Ramdam ko ang bigat ng ulo ko nang marahan kong imulat ang sariling mata. Unti-unting luminaw sa paningin ko ang itsura ni Pierce na siyang gumigising sa akin.

Anong ginagawa ni Pierce sa bahay ko?

"Anong-"

"Ssh." Hindi ko na naituloy ang sasabihin ko nang pasimple niya akong pinatahimik. Marahan akong bumangon mula sa pagkakahiga at nakita sina Arc, Keva, at Alixe.

Napatingin din ako kay Belinda na nanggaling mula sa kusina at hindi maganda ang ekspresyon sa mukha.

Shet na malupet.

Sabi ko na nga ba dapat hindi ako natulog! Umasa lang ako na panaginip lang ang lahat...

"Amihan." Muli kong nilingon si Pierce.

"We have to get out of here."

"Ano?"

"They are coming."

To be continued...

[ Belinda's writings ]

Members:
Diez, Amihan
Garces, Arcthur
Joe, Pierce
Linville, Alixe
Martina, Keva
Vios, Belinda

Thesis Title:
Amidst Havoc: A Study About Survival and Undeads

Date:
October 2020

Date defended:
Unknown

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