Chapter 2

I kept myself busy at all times if my help isn't needed. Ayoko namang makisali sa diskusyon nila kung hindi importante ang pag-uusapan. But they all kept talking about going out of the bunker. They are all so anxious and over with this kind of set-up. Pero anong magagawa namin? We were kept here to be safe from the outside world yet they argue with everyone kahit na ang safety nila ang nakasasalay rito.

Hindi kasi sila masanay-sanay sa rasyon ng pagkain. Hindi sila makatiis ng gutom. We were all starving pero ang iba nakukuha pang kumuda imbis na i-save na lang ang energy nila sa makabuluhang bagay. But some still couldn't handle their hunger, may mga pumupuslit pa rin talaga ng rasyon kahit bawal na. 

Even taking a bath was an issue at kahit sari-sari na ang amoy namin dito sa bunker, I didn't mind because I've understood the situation.

A moment later, I saw my father gathering everyone in the center. Sumama na rin naman ako sa kumpulan at iniwan ko sa tabi ang hawak kong libro. Pansin kong sabik ang iba sa magiging anunsyo ni Dad.

"First of all, I hope everyone wil understand what will be my announcement for, sana hindi niyo masamain dahil ang kaligtasan din naman ng karamihan ang isinaalang-alang natin dito. We can't be kept here for too long so we need to act and that's to send a few people out of the bunker," he announced and explained it further. "Only few people will be out of the bunker as we only have limited resources."

But I immediately heard some being against to my father's decision. They can't be against him. Nananatili sila sa loob ng bunker namin and what my father says is the final decision. Kung ayaw man nila manatili kasama namin, they are free and risk themselves out there. Walang pipigil sa kanila.

"Pa'no kami makakasigurado na magiging sapat ang supplies na makukuha nila para sa ating lahat?" tanong ng isa na mabilis sinang-ayunan ng karamihan. Of course, ang mga makikitid ang utak ay nagsama-sama. But of them are old so I understand their remorse but they shouldn't be against to the person who let them stay here to be safe.

That's just my sents.

"Yes, I understand where you're going," my father responded, politely and calmed, as he always is. "I know we only have limited resources now and our food is going short. Kaya i-ri-risk natin ang lumabas ngayon upang makahanap ng konsumo. Nagkaroon tayo ng bagong mata sa isang area na pwede nating puntahan but we still need to be safe. Once we inhale the virus and went up to our lungs, we'll be dead."

And when he ended his words with that, wala nang kumontra sa kanya. My father uses this technique para takutin sila. Kapakanan din naman nila ang nakasalalay dito so 'wag silang maarte.

"One of the people who will be going out is my daughter, Kate," and when father said that, tumapon ang tingin nilang lahat sa akin. I was shocked but not really. I've been out once and I know where to go, hindi na lang naulit dahil mas gusto kong mag-stay sa loob ng bunker. "She's going to take the lead."

"Huh? Why me?" I questioned.

"I know you knew your way out there so I trust you on this one," my father said with so much confidence in his tone. May isa pang reason kung bakit gusto niya akong palabasin. It is to find my brother Troy. "Are you going to take the role or not? And yeah, as if you have a choice."

I grunted and rolled my eyes. "Fine," I answered between my breaths.

Umalis ako sa kinatatayuan ko at bumalik sa kinauupuan ko kanina. Kinuha ko ang librong binabasa ko at nagsimulang basahin ang libro pero walang pumapasok sa isip ko. If it wasn't for my brother, I wouldn't even do this.

Mayamaya lang ay naramdaman kong may tumabi sa akin. Hindi ko siya pinansin. I kept my eyes on the words on the book kahit hindi ko na naiintindihan.

"You don't have to worry to take a lead, Kate. Kasama mo naman ako sa paglabas. We'll do it together," Dan said and I didn't even bother to look at him.

"No, you can't, Dan," matabang kong sagot sa kanya.

"Okay, it's up to you though nonetheless, hindi kita papabayaan at po-protektahan kita kung ano man ang mangyari," tinapik niya ang balikat ko at saka niya ako iniwan sa pwesto ko. 'Yan ang maganda, dapat hindi niya ako tinatabihan. I don't even need his protection. Kaya ko ang sarili ko. Just because I'm a girl it doesn't mean na hindi ko kayang protektahan ang sarili ko. Damn Dan for making me less of myself.

***

When the time has come for us to prepare ourselves. We take a lot of courage with it, too. Nagsuot kami ng protective suit kung saan mapo-protektahan ang sarili namin sa hangin. At gas mask upang hindi namin ma-inhale ang infected air. We know that the air is too dangerous. Ang unang lumabas sa amin para kunin ang mga naunang supplies ay nagkaroon ng severe infection sa kanyang katawan. He chose to stay outside of the bunker until the latter day, nakita na lang namin sa CCTV na isa na siyang living dead.

I've been out there once pero kinakabahan pa rin ako. As always. Hindi kasi maganda ang manatili sa labas gayong wala pang kasiguraduhan kung anong mangyayari. Kahit puno kami ng kaba, tinatatagan pa rin namin ang loob namin dahil iyon ang kailangan namin. 

We have to go to the grocery store to get some ration for everyone and obviously, to find Troy.

"Is everyone geared up and ready?" My father asked. I looked at him and he's giving everyone what they needed. Binigyan din naman kami ng armas para pangdepensa sa mga corpse na lalapit sa amin, though I still haven't got mine pero umaaasa akong baril ang ibibigay niya sa akin para mas madali ang trabaho.

Lumapit na rin naman si Daddy sa akin at hinawakan ang magkabilang balikat ko.

"Here's yours," aniya at inabot niya sa akin ang baril at reserbang ammunitions nito. "I know you're still not familiar on how to use and aim a gun but I trust you with this one, okay?"

I nodded. "Noted. I'll just shoot them and I'll be fine," sabi ko at tatango-tango. Determinado na rin akong tapusin ang araw na 'to.

"Okay, Kate," and then he pulled me in to give me a tight hug. "Take care of yourself and the others. They're leaning unto you now."

"Yes, Dad... I'll be back soon... and hopefully with Troy."

Lumapit din naman sa akin si Mom at niyakap niya rin ako ng mahigpit. "I'm reminding you of your curfew, Kate. Don't come home late,"

"Mom?" I creased my forehead. Confused. In this time of the world, hindi na kailangan ng curfew, well, when people left the bunker we always needs to come back before the sun goes down because once the night comes, it becomes dangerous.

"Kate," when I was called by Dan, lumingon ako sa kanya. "We have to go now."

I nodded and glance at my parents once last time. They told everyone to be safe and that every one of us will be coming home altogether.

When one of us opened the door and all of us goes inside to lock it from the inside. Nang makasigurado naman kaming magkakasama na kaming lahat, they open the other door that will let us go in the wild. We came out on our backyard lawn and one by one, we got out of the bunker. Binilang ko muna ang bawat isa para masigurado ko ang total ng mga kasama ko ngayon. Anim kaming lumabas ngayon kaya dapat anim din kaming babalik mamaya.

We're all terrified of course, but we need to be strong dahil iyon ang kailangan naming gawin. We can't be the scared ones. We're here for surviving so we need to stay alive as much as we can.

As I look around, our backyard lawn is still the same, walang pagbabago na parang walang nangyari. Tahimik ang buong paligid. Kahit ang kalapit na kabahayan ay walang kaingay-ingay. It looks like we're living in a ghost town right now. We can't breathe the air, I don't know what the fresh air smells like. And we also need to get out of the bunker as soon as we can, hindi magtatagal ang oxygen para sa aming lahat.

There was a little smoke hanging around, we're not sure if its safe or not. Pero sigurado kami, once we took off our masks, we'll be dead, agad-agad. We can't even heard birds chirping or the cats and dogs. Wala lahat. Sobrang tahimik.

"It looks like we're safe now..." Dan muttered while spinning his head around the vicinity.

"Then we should act now before the sundown," sagot ko na agad ding sinang-ayunan ng iba pa.

When we try to head out of our backyard, there's a thing left in the road. Ang kalat. Madugo. Nakakabahala. Pero nilakasan pa rin namin ang loob namin dahil may mga taong nakasalalay sa amin ngayon. Hindi kami pwedeng umurong. They put us out here, so we need to do our part.

"May buhay pa kaya rito?" tanong ng isa kong kasamahan. Her name's Samantha. Samantha Sung. In short, people call her Sam Sung and kapag naiiisip ko 'yon. I tried not to laugh but in my head, I just couldn't help it!

"Parang wala..." komento ng isa kong kasamahan. "Mukhang tayo na lang sa bunker ang natirang buhay."

I shifted my head to him. "Pa'no mo nasabi 'yon?"

Napakunot ang noo niya sa tanong ko. He shrugged off his shoulder. "Hindi ko rin alam, it was just a hunch. Saka napaka-imposible naman na may buhay pa rito..."

"Guys..." Dan chimed in worriedly. "We need to run!"

Sa pagsigaw niyang iyon, sinundan na lang namin siya kahit hindi namin alam kung ano ang tinatakbuhan namin. We're trying to know what's happening while we're getting away with it pero hindi niya sinasagot ang mga tanong namin. When we finally found an alley to hide, doon lang kami nakapagtago at nahabol ang mga hininga namin.

"What's stupidity is that, Dan?" Iritado kong tanong sa kanya. Feeling ko nilalagay na agad ang buhay namin sa kapahamakan. He shouldn't have come with us in the first place. Panira.

"I'm not sure... pero mukhang nakatanaw ako ng mga corpse..."

"So you're not sure?" I questioned and then he nodded. "Pero bakit kailangan mong sumigaw at tumakbo na lang bigka? You can just inform us and we'll escape them quietly. Bakit napakabobo no'n, Dan?" taas kilay kong tugon.

Isang malalim na buntonghininga naman ang pinakawalan niya.

"I'm sorry... I was just trying to save us," he reasoned.

"But with that, you almost put our lives in danger," sagot ko. And if I'm attacking him with his idiocracy, kasalanan na niya 'yon.

"But what if he's right?" Sam Sung asked.

I exhaled sharply. "Well, if he's right then it's the right thing to do that we run pero sa susunod, we need to be careful. May mga armas naman tayong dala. We can defend ourselves sa anumang paraan. If we'll be a coward, anong mangyayari? Wala."

Hindi na sila nakasagot sa akin. I know this how I shouldn't lead this team. Dapat binibigyan ko pa sila ng motivation at hindi pinagmumukhang tanga pero hindi rin naman sila matatauhan kung hindi sasampalin ng mga salita. They need to step up. Hindi na laro ang ginagawa namin.

Before we get out of the alley, hinanda namin ang mga armas kaya mas malaki na ang depensa namin ngayon. When we finally thought we're safe, tumuloy na kami kung nasaan ang grocery store--it is the usual grocery store na pinupuntahan namin para kumuha ng supplies and it's also running out of items. Iyong iba ay pa-expired na.

"Take everything you needed. Fill you bags and then we leave," utos ko sa kanila na agad nilang sinang-ayunan.

Inside the grocery store, we all separated para mas mabilis ang pagkuha namin ng mga pagkain at material na kukunin namin. Kumuha ako ng mga canned goods at mga pagkain na mabilis lang kainin. Matapos kong mapuno ang akin ay tumuloy ako sa medical section kung saan kumuha ako ng mga gamot at isang maliit na tangke ng oxygen. It won't be enough for the whole bunker but it will help.

We run up almost thirty minutes filling our bags in. When we finally gather up and check all our stuff are here, binalak na rin naming bumalik sa bunker. They've got another supplies of protective suits and masks. Drinking water and such things that'll help us day by day.

Isa isa na rin kaming lumabas ng grocery store but we all stopped when we saw a group of corpse that are coming on our way.

"Shit! Sabi ko na nga e," Dan hissed at kanyang ni-ready ang armas niya.

Natigilan pa ako at tinitigan ko ang mga corpse na papalapit sa amin. They are moving to fast. Ramdam ko rin ang kaba sa dibdib ko. When they finally locked the door of the grocery store, agad ko namang inutos ang tumakbo palayo sa kanila.

"Why are we running now?" tanong ni Dan. "I thought we should kill them?" 

"'Wag kang maingay Dan," sagot ko.

When we tried to hide from those corpse, soon ko lang na-realize na hindi namin kasama ang ibang mga kasamahan namin. When I asked Dan where they went, hindi niya ako nasagot at abala siya sa paghahanda sa kanyang baril. Nagtatago kami ngayon sa likuran ng isang malaking trash bin. Hindi ko alam kung saan nagtago ang iba. Ang basta alam ko lang ay nasa likuran ko sila.

Oh fuck! Ako ang mapapagalitan nito e!

"We need to find them," I told to Dan.

"S-Sure..." he responded.

When we finally stepped out of our hiding, nagulat ako ng biglang may bumungad na corpse ilang dipa lamang ang layo sa amin. Nang unti-unting humarap sa direksyon ko ang corpse, itinaas ko ang baril ko at nang magsimula itong maglakad papunta sa akin, I clicked the trigger of the gun but it didn't work out. Napatingin ako sa baril ko at naka-safety mode pa ito.

Ibinalik ko ang tingin ko sa corpse at mas lalo akong natigilan ng makilala ko kung sino iyon. It's not my brother but he's someone I know truly.

He's popular back in high school. Ang habulin ng mga babae. Ang fuck boy ika-nga. Maraming nahuhumaling sa kanya at isa na ako roon. I just couldn't believe na makikita ko siya ngayon. Hindi ko alam kung anong mararamdaman ko pero naawa ako bigla sa kanya. I love this guy back in high school and seeing him now makes me feel terrible.

From being the most handsome jock in highschool, ngayon sobrang dungis ng kanyang suot, namumula at marumi ang balat niya. Even his face can't be described. Hindi pa naman ito inaagas katulad ng karamihan pero nando'n pa rin ang playboy features niya, it's just that... he look so cold right now. Walang emosyon. Nakakatindig balahibo.

"Kate, what are you doing?" Dan shouts.

He pulled me out of my position at kanyang binaril iyon pero sa balikat lamang tumama. But we didn't notice that behind our back ay may papalapit din sa amin. Nabitawan ako ni Dan at bumagsak ako sa lupa. Dumulas ang kamay ko patungo sa lalaking love na love ko noon pero corpse na ngayon. Hindi ko makukuha ang baril ko. Masyadong delikado pero nakita ko si Dan na tumakbo na palayo at iniwanan ako.

Kinuha ko ang bag ko at tumayo ako sa pagkakasalampa sa sahig at tumakbo ako sa kung anong direksyong mapuntahan ko. 

But then when I finally got out of there, the corpse keeps following me. At hindi ko na alam kug paano lulubayan ito. Tila nakipagtitigan pa ito kanina sa akin. And if he wants to eat my flesh, I won't let him. Kahit pa bet na bet ko siya no'ng highschool. I wouldn't risk it.

"Oh God," I groaned when I saw him and I keep running away from. Help me be saved today.