Chapter 14

I have no clue what could be the outcome of this crazy idea but I wanted to share this moment with Zane. If it's going to be the last thing I got to enjoy my whole life, I'll better do it now. Baka pagsisihan ko pa kung hindi ko gawin. And I mean, meeting Zane is unexpected, knowing that he's not totally shed by this bizarre condition, he was kept to act like a human.

And it's not hard not to care when he's showing the same thing to me.

I don't care if anyone in the bunker was looking out there for me, I know they just want the best for me. Gusto lang din nila ako iligtas sa kapahamakan. Matapos ang masalimuot na pagtanggap ng pamilya namin na wala na si Troy, it would be hard for us to keep on going. I maybe losing hope... mayroon pa nga bang pag-asang magbago ang mundong ito?

When we finally got into the lake. The same one where we left him plunging to the water, I was left scared at that time per ngayon, I need to fulfill that thing na matagal ko nang gustong gawin. 

He might not be the same Zane Carlingford I know. But what I do know, there's still a little part of him residing inside this disgusting form. He could be there trying to figure out what the fuck is going on.

Nakatayo lamang kami sa lake. He tried to sway me out of the lake. He keeps nudging me to leave. Alam ko kung anong ibigsabihin niya no'n. Ayaw na niyang mangyari ulit ang nangyari sa kanya noon. It was something I can't watch all over again. But this time, we'll make something new. We'll just move forward.

"Zane..." usal ko habang hawak ng mahigpit ang wrist niya. He even has no heartbeat. "Do you want to swim in the lake?"

He groaned, resisting. Not wanting to do what I want. Ramdam ko iyon dahil hindi siya nagpapakita ng emosyon. Based on his actions, he's trying to leave the lake pero nanatili ako sa posisyon ko. I know he doesn't want to stay but fear terrified us. And I should be scared of him but he doesn't terrify me at all. Kasi nga kakaiba siya sa nakakarami. He's not just a corpse. He's one of a kind.

"Are you ready to jump, Zane?"

To my surprise, he shook his head.

Napasinghal pa ako sa ginawa niya. "You won't be dead, as if naman 'di ba? You're just gonna jump with me. And this time, hindi kita iiwanan. Hindi kita bibitawan. We'll jump together, okay? Nothing will ever happen to both of us... we'll just have fun. And like you used to with your friends. I've been wanting to do this for a long time and I guess the right time, situation to do it."

I started taking off my protective suit. Naghihintay pa ako ng magiging reaksyon sa katawan ko pero walang nangyari. Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga bago ko tinanggal ang gas mask sa aking mukha. Pinigilan ko pa ang paghinga ko ng ginawa ko iyon pero binitiwan ko rin. Makalipas ang ilang segundo, wala pa namang nangyayaring masama sa akin.

Itinabi ko ang mga hinubad kong safety suits, maging ang shirt at pantalon ko. Iniwan ko na lamang ang undergarments ko. Napatingin naman ako kay Zane. Tinitingnan niya lang ako.

"Siguro nagtataka ka kung bakit ko tinanggal iyon... ang sabi ko nga, we'll have fun 'till the very end."

Lumapit din naman ako sa kanya at hinubad ang kanyang shirt. Hindi ko na nagawang tanggalin pa ang suot niyang pantalon. Kahit alam kong nagtataka siya at hindi normal sa kanya para isipin 'yon, he must be thinking that I' crazy as fuck for doing this. Pero inalis ko na lamang sa isip ko ang mga bumabagabag sa isipin ko at muli kong ikinulong ang kamay niya sa akin.

"When I say jump on three, we jump, okay? I just hope you understand me," ngisi ko pa. "One... two... three!"

Nang tumalon na ako, nabitawan ko ang kamay ni Zane dahil hindi siya tumalon. Nang lumubog ako sa tubig ay mabilis akong lumangoy pabalik sa surface. Naabutan kong nakatitig lamang at inaabangan niya ang pag-ahon ko. Nang makita niya ako, saka lang siya nagpalaglag sa tubig. Hindi siya tumalon, nilakad niya lamang hanggang edge hangga't sa malaglag siya. Natawa naman ako sa ginawa niya.

Nagpalipas lamang kami ng mga ilang minuto saka kami bumalik sa itaas at muling isinuot ang aming mga damit. Of course, I had to put it on him. Hindi ko naman maialis ang ngiti ko sa labi ko. I've never done this for the past few weeks and this is actually the first time I had to do it with a boy I had a crush on—who's a corpse now.

"Did you have fun Zane?" I asked.

He groaned like he always does.

"I had fun... and maybe because I had to do it with you. You became my source of happiness kahit na ang weird tingnan. You might be dead but you still had the heart and mind of a human. I mean, baka hindi naman talaga nawala sa 'yo 'yon. You just died but still live with it..."

Tumingin ako sa paligid at isang malalim na buntong-hininga ang pinakawalan ko.

"And I don't know what's gonna happen to me now. I don't know if I'm affected or not. Pero kahit na anong mangyari, I had fun on my remaining days as a human. Then I guess, it's time to come home... I'll let you meet my parents and they might not like it. Who would be, right? I took off the protection I had to have fun with you so I guess I'll be happier when you're around with me."

We left the lake and take a quick route back to the bunker. And it doesn't take us long when we finally reach the place—my home. Tiningnan ko si Zane and we just stood outside in front of the bunker's metal door until they will notice that I'm finally back. They can see us thru CCTV. Someone might be watching the screens now.

Hindi rin naman nagtagal ng marinig kong bumubukas na ang metal door. Sign na iyon na nakita na nila kami. Saglit lang ay lumabas do'n sina Mom at Dad. Mabilis naman akong lumapit sa kanila at niyakap. They did the same thing. They probably missed me. I was just long for the whole day and they must be dreading my sudden disappearance.

"Where have you been, Kate?" nag-aalalang tanong sa akin ni Mommy.

"Went to see someone," sagot ko.

"Is he who you were referring to, Kate?" pagtukoy ni Dad kay Zane na nakatayo lamang sa kanyang posisyon at pinapanood kami. "He looks like dead."

I breathe in before giving an answer. "He is... he was Zane Carlingford... and he's now my corpse boyfriend."

And with that, even in a dramatic, apocalyptic situation, I got a bizarre relationship with a dead.