Grade 9 Survivors: 15
Section 1:
Mavis B. Ronquilo
Kei Hiro D. Yoru
Ashley M. Blodanger
Lorelei Leiah Q. Dela Dia,
Arantxa Huxley A. Rivera

Section 2:
Vinn Zanxx Assyda
Geoffrey Carlos G. Dela Cruz
Danlive A. Santos
Clarissa Jasmine J. Son

Section 3:
Logan M. Quinto
Joridyl Ara R. Castro
Zalleah Fena Queva
Miracle Amillia C. Reyes

Section 4:
Azrette Izabelle B. Decena
Richabel C. Gabiana

3rd Person's POV
"So, saan na tayo ngayon?" Tanong ni Mavis. Kei smirked, "I knew something like this would happen--" "Alam mo mangyayari ito?! Ba't di mo sinabi?" Pinutulan kaagad ni Logan si Kei.

"Sira ka talaga 'no?" Biro ni Mira sabay batok kay Logan, "Di mo man lang pinatapos si Kei magsalita." Dagdag niya. "Thank you, Mira." Kei said and cleared his throat, "I mean, if ever something like this happened, like an earthquake and etchetera, prepared ako and I know a place where we can stay." He explained.

"Bahay mo ata yan 'no?" Tanong ni Zalleah. "No. Something better. Pero kailangan natin ng masasakyan." Kei replied as he pulls out his phone from his pocket.

"Anong gagawin mo?" Tanong ni Vinn habang akay-akay si Richabel. "Grab." Sagot ni Kei.

"Hah? May magpapasakay ba sa atin na ganito ang itsura?" Tanong Lorelei. Kinamot niya ang ilong niya at tumingin kay Zalleah na halos pinapaliguan ang sarili ng pabango.

"Anong ginagawa mo?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Lorelei. "Covering the scent of blood with perfume, duh? Para ang excuse na gagamitin ko'y paint lang itong mga pula sa uniform ko." Zalleah explained.

"That's actually smart." Geoff complimented. "Hehe, thank you." Sabi ni Zalleah habang nakangiti.

Inabot ni Zalleah ang kanyang pabango sa kanila maliban kay Kei at ginawa rin nila kung anong ginawa ni Zalleah.

"Naka-book na ako ng van. Papunta na siya dito." Sabi ni Kei. Biglaan siyang ini-spray ni Mira si Kei ng pabango ni Zalleah.

"What are you doing?" Kei asked. "Wag mo ako ma-english ngayon. Nakakatamad magsalita ng English. Pilipinas ito." Sagot ni Mira, "Atsaka, ginagawa ko ito para di mabaho ang amoy. Excuse natin ay pintura itong nasa damit natin." Dagdag niya.

"Maiba ako, may pambayad tayo ng Grab?" Tanong ni Mavis. "Of course." Kei answered as he takes his wallet out of his bag and opens it. He takes out a yellow golden card.

"This is my credit card. I just withdraw yesterday." Kei bragged and kept his credit card to his wallet and back to his bag. He takes out a cheque. "We can use this cheque as well for cash payment." He said.

"Amp, nakakanosebleed." Sabi ni Vinn. "Show-off." Bulong ni Arantxa. "Buti nalang nandito ka, K-Kei." Sabi ni Ashley na nahihiya sabihin pangalan niya.

"Yes, praise me more!" Kei said. "Ang conceited mo. Tumigil ka na." Sabi ni Mira.

After a few minutes, dumating na yung binook nyang van. "Wag itapat sa akin ang aircon at sa tabi ako ng bintana please." Sabi ni Mira sabay sakay.

Umupo si Kei sa may tabi ng driver. And just like Mira wants, she takes the window seat. Tumabi sakanya sina Danlive at Clarisaa at sa extra seat ng 2nd row ay si Arantxa, kalong kalong si Joridyl . Sa 3rd row, kinuha ni Geoff ay window seat doon, tumabi sa kanya si Zalleah. Tumabi sakanya sina Ashley at Lorelei. Sa likod nama'y sina Vinn, Logan, Mavis at Azrette and Richabel.

"To Grand Night's Hotel, please." Kei said to the driver. Tumango naman ang driver at nagmaneho na papunt sa sinabing hotel ni Kei.

Mira's POV
Sinandal ko ulo sa balikat ni Danlive. Kakasakay ko palang, hinang-hina na ako.

"Clarissa, yung...yung aircon wag mo itapat sa akin." Sabi ko sa kanya, nahihingal. Tinapat ni Clarissa sa kanya ang aircon.

"Okay ka lang, Ami?" Tanong ni Vinn. "Oo, okay lang ako." Sagot ko, well, it's a lie obviously.

"Mira, I have some candy here. Do you want some?" Alok ni Kei. I shook my head. "Then, what do you need?" Kei asked while looking at me through the rear mirror. "Unan. Meron kang dalang unan dyan?" Pabiro kong tanong.

"No, but I can use my jacket to make you a pillow." He replied as he pulls out his mint green jacket and starts folding it. He stuffed the folded part into his jacket's hoodie and gave it to me. "Here." He said.

Lah, sineryoso ako.

"Thank you." I replied just riding with it and received it. Nilagay ko itong supposed pillow sa may headrest ng upuan at sinandal ko ulo ko sa may unan. Niyakap ko ang bag ko ng mahigpit. I heaved a sigh of relief.

"Malayo pa ba tayo, Kei?" Tanong ni Danlive. "A bit." Sagot ni Kei.

"Mira, kaya mo?" Tanong ni Danlive sa akin. "Baka." Sagot ko. "Tulog mo nalang yan." She responded.

Kei's POV
I never knew Miracle Amillia gets carsick. If only I knew it from the start, then pauupuin ko sya dito sa tabi ko since may extra space din sa passenger's seat.

I pulled out my phone and checked if there are any new messages.

None.

Wala ring messages galing sa parents ko.

Umasa pa ako.

"Manong, wait. Can we stop for a bit?" I requested to the driver, "Ililipat ko lang ng upuan si Mira." I explained.

The driver nodded and stopped the car at the side.

"O ba't tumigil tayo?" Tanong ni Vinn.

"Mira." I called to her. "Ano? Natutulog ang tao istorbo eh." She responded. I sighed, "Lipat ka dito sa tabi ko. And don't worry, di ko itatapat sayo ang aircon." I ordered.

"Ha? Seryoso ka?" Mira said.

"Para di ka mahilo, dito ka na maupo. Diba ang mga nahihilo ay umuupo sa harapan. Lumipat ka na." I explained as I hop down the car and opened the door to their row.

"Sige na, Mira." Danlive patted her back for assurance.

Mira sighed and gave in to my request.

I first hopped on the passenger's seat as she sits beside me. "Di ko akalain na kaysa tayo dito." She said as she rests her head on my jacket that I turned into a pillow.

I shook my head and signalled the driver to go.

After a few more minutes, we soon reached the hotel. Finally, sobrang tagal na ako naghihintay.

I looked at the back, "We're here." I said and looked over to Miracle Amillia whose asleep, "Wake up. Nandito na tayo." I shook her shoulders.

She opened her eyes. "Ano? Andito na tayo?" Tanong niya. "Yes. Kaya, bumaba na ikaw." I said.

Bumaba silang lahat maliban sa akin. I gave the driver the payment atsaka bumaba.

"Nice. Ang grande ng hotel niyo ah!" Logan exclaimed. "Yes, indeed." I said with a smile.

"Tch, show-off." Arantxa said. I rolled my eyes.

"So tatayo lang tayo rito? Di tayo papasok?" Tanong ni Mira. "Pasok na tayo. Excited na ako!" Sabi ni Zalleah. I rolled my eyes, "Come on. Everything will be free here since you guys have me." I said.

"Oo na, thank you." Sabi ni Mira at pumasok na sa loob. I sighed as I adjust my glasses.

"Let's go everyone! The best talag si Kei!" Zalleah cheered as she runs inside. Everyone follows her inside except for Arantxa.

"You did this to impress her, huh?" She asked with a smirk. "Yes." I answered, "Is there any problem?"

She snickered, "Yeah." She said. "And what's your problem?" I asked. "I didn't say it was my problem. I just answered your question if there's a problem." She said, "You're the one who has a problem." She added.

Arantxa starts walking inside.

I clenched my fists.

Matagal na ako naiinis sa babaeng yun.

Mira's POV
After checking in and deciding the rooms, I immediately took a bath.

"Dab on them!" Sabi ni Zalleah, "Roommates tayong apat." Dagdag niya. "FYI, ka-room niyo rin ako. So lima tayo." Sabi ni Arantxa.

"Oo na. Whatever." Sagot ni Zalleah.

Rinig na rinig ko pag-away nila sa loob ng banyo. Lumabas ako ng banyo habang nagtutuyo ng buhok gamit ang tuwalya.

"Yes naman, tamang-tama ang size na pinabili ni Kei sa kanya." Biro ni Danlive.

Umirap ako at tiningnan sarili ko sa full body mirror. "Medj malaki ang shirt na pinabili niya. Pero tama lang yung pyjamas." Sabi ko.

"Maligo na kayo." Sabi ko, "Maglalakad lakad lang ako sa labas." Sinuot ko yung tsinelas na provided para sa amin at lumabas ako ng kwarto, nakapatong ang tuwalya sa balikat ko.

"Um, excuse me po." Tinawag ko yung isang babae na in-charge sa fifth floor counter habang nilalapitan ko.

"Yes?"
"May terrace po kayo dito diba? Besides sa rooms po." I asked.
"Ah yes po. Dun lang po. Diretso lang po kayo at lumiko po kayo ng kanan sa end of the hallway." Sagot niya sabay turo sa daanan.

"Thanks po." I smiled as I followed the directions.

I soon found the balcony. I held onto the handles as I look up. I sighed in relief.

"Tahimik rin sa wakas." Bulong ko sa sarili.

"You shouldn't leave your room alone." May nagsalita biglaan.

Tumalikod ako at nakita si Vinn. "Anong ginagawa mo rito?" Tanong ko. "Checking on you like what I did to the others."

"Wow, nagtatrabaho ka rito?" Biro kong tanong. "Pwede rin." Pabiro niyang sagot. I shook my head.

"Well, babalik na ako sa kwarto." Sabi ko. "Agad-agad?" Gulat niyang tanong. "Kung hindi ka dumating baka hindi ako bumalik kaagad sa kwarto." Sagot ko. Nilagay niya ang kanyang kamay sa dibdib niya at nagmukhang nasaktan at sinabi, "Ang sakit."

"There you two are!"

Tumingin kami kung saam nanggaling. It was Kei. "Ma'am Cruz is here." He said.

We all gathered at the food court of the hotel where Ma'am Cruz is currently at.

"Andito na kayo lahat?" Tanong ni Ma'am. Tumango kaming lahat. Yung iba sa amin umupo, yung iba hindi.

"Ma'am pa-explain po yung nangyayari." Paki-usap ni Richabel. "Yes I will. But first of all, ilan kayo sa bawat section." Ma'am Cruz said.

"Section 1 has 34 students." Kei said. "Section 2 and 3 has 37 students." I said. "31 students sa section 4." Azrette said.

"So 15 out of 139 students of Grade 9 natira." Sabi ni Ma'am, "I see. Okay, now to explain your situation right now."

Sana nama'y may sense itong sasabihin ni ma'am.

3rd Person's POV
"Somewhere." The girl whispered as she looks at the glassed window, seeing her reflection a bit.

She looked at bloody wrinkled uniform.

"Somewhere." She whispered once more.

"Somewhere." Someone whispered this word as well.

"Bakit hindi sila nakinig sa akin? Kung sila'y nakinig di ito mangyayari." Sabi ng isang matandang lalaki habang nakatingin sa labas ng bintana ng kanyang kubo.

Naglabas siya ng sigarilyo at sinindihan ito. Umubo siya ng konti. "Mga pasaway na bata." Binulong niya sa sarili.