CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 11

Today's the fifth day. Since we've been fighting and planning for four days, we decided to rest for today and just observe them.

Naging meeting room na namin ang kwartong tinutuluyan ni Joy. Bilib rin ako sa babae dahil tulog parin ito. Parang wala siyang pinoproblema samantalang mamamatay matay na kami sa sakit ng pangangatawan na dulot ng sunod sunod na pakikipaglaban.

But she's been through a lot too. Ikinuwento sa amin ni Asta kung ilang beses na itong kamuntik mamatay.

Sino ba namang hindi kung ang uri ng pagsasanay nito ay 'on the spot' wherein she can't have her time-out. Kung ako ang nasa posisyon niya ay baka pinaglalamayan na ako.

Tahimik lang akong nakaupo sa lapag dahil iisa lang naman ang upuan sa kwarto at sa tabi pa ito ni Joy nakapwesto kung saan nakaupo si Clay.

Ewan ko sa lalaking 'yan. Noon pa lang alam ko ng may something sa kanilang dalawa eh, hindi pa magka aminan.

Apat na araw narin noong huli akong nakakain ng kanin. Gosh! I miss carbs! We've been eating processed foods since we don't have time to cook for 4 days straight.

"Just what we concluded, they won't vanish, the reason why we can't win," ani Asta na nakaupo rin sa sahig. Nakapangalumbaba ito habang sa tabi naman nito ay si Cha na nakapikit habang nakasandal sa pader.

"Why aren't they dying then? Are they immortal?" Henry joked but Asta shrugs.

"I don't have any idea," ani ng lalaki.

"So... We've been fighting them for nothing?" Nica asked but we all know the answer.

Yes. If they aren't dying then all our plans will be put into vain. No matter how we resist, they'll come back stronger.

"It also seems like they are toying us because they have unlimited life while we only have one." Gray explained and we nodded.

"I'm also worried about our stocks. We're short of food and water as well as our traps... If... If we stay a bit longer, it will be hard for us to survive..." Chi admitted.

We all sighed. This is getting out of hand. What are we going to do now?

"We can't just hide here forever. We need to do something but we can't push forward if we are holding ourselves back." I said and they looked at me like I said something ridiculous.

"Do you mean we should leave her here so that we can move forward easily? The audacity!" Clay muttered, raising his voice to me.

Kinunutan ko ito ng noo. "Duh?! Who says we're going to leave her?" I stand up and held my head high. Nakipagsukatan ako ng tingin sa lalaki.

"Tone down your voices. If they heard you two, not only you two will be doomed, all of us." Awat ni Asta kaya natahimik kami.

Umupo ako ulit sa tabi ni Gray, pilit na pinapakalma ang aking sarili.

"Okay ka lang?" He asked and I nodded.

"Yes. Nakakainit lang ng ulo si Clay." Sagot ko. Natawa naman ito ng mahina bago ginulo ang buhok ko.

"I didn't say we're going to leave her. Please. We've been staying and fighting here for five days tapos ganoon pa ang iisipin ko? It's true that she's one of the reason why we can't leave this place. But the real problem was where are we going? Where should we go? That's what holding us back. We were left behind by what's happening. Kung sana pinaliwanag niyo muna ako hindi yung magrereact agad agad yung isa diyan." I explained and looked at Clay's direction before rolling my eyes.

Nawalan naman sila ng imik, they were now agreeing to what I just said. Nakita ko pa na trina-translate ni Cha kay Asta ang mga filipino words na sinabi ko.

Not my problem. Just kidding.

"Damn. That's true, we don't have any clue where we're going," Travin nodded and I sighed.

Great, they're getting my point.

"Do you think she has a clue?" Nica asked and pointed Joy but we shrugged.

"Maybe? Who knows what's running in her mind?" Clay replied and we all nodded.

She's unpredictable most of the time. Akala mo nababasa mo na ang naiisip niya pero hindi. It's just the tip of an iceberg. There are too many things running in her mind.

"If I think as how Joy will think... There's a high possibility of going back from the start..." Cha blurted and we looked at her confused.

"D-Does that mean... We'll go there? In that island?" Chipher asked and Cha nodded.

"Yes. That's possible. If I were Joy, I'll go to the place where we go so I can gather evidence and clues. We don't have the book but we knew where we're going. That's how will she think, I think... At least." Nica added.

"It will be hard for us to gather the things that we need to have. We also need her navigation in computer. If this place is full of doppelgangers then we will encounter stronger copycats along the way. If we'll start from the bottom, we need to have access in the airport. Which is always full of passengers... Right?" I asked and smiled.

Nakakaintinding tumango ang tatlong babae habang palipat lipat lang ang tingin ng mga lalaki sa amin.

"Weird. It seems like you guys have one mind." Henry blurted and we chuckled.

"No matter how many times we fight, it won't lessen the times we're with her. We knew how she think. At least." I answered him with a smile.

"That's actually a nice plan... Then, should we polish it until she wake up?" Asta asked and we all smiled before nodding.

This time, It won't be just you Joy who's going to save us. This time, it's all of us.

***

"How is she? Bakit hindi parin siya nagigising? Akala ko ba stable na ang lagay niya? Anim na araw na siyang tulog! Pang isang linggo na ngayon! Are you really sure you operate her correctly? Baka naman may internal bleeding siya? Teka... What if may hindi kayo napansin na sugat niya? What if may internal bleeding siya sa ulo? Baka may sugat siya sa ulo na hindi natin alam! I- x-ray niyo ba siya? Paano kung may something sa spinal cord niya? Paano kung—" sunod sunod na tanong ni Clay kay Nica at Chi na masama na ang tingin sa kaniya.

Natatawa kong tinapik tapik ang balikat ng lalaki. Mukhang hindi nito alam na dumating na kami kaya ganiyan kung umasta.

"Chill ka lang friend, she'll wake up, h'wag masiyadong pahalata," natatawa kong ani sa kaniya.

Nawalan ito ng imik at namumulang umalis sa pwesto niya pero huli na, nakita na naming lahat kung gaano siya ka-tsundere.

Pangasar na nakatingin sa kaniya ang lahat pwera kay Asta na nakakunot ang noo. Since malayo ako rito ay ayon, wala siyang translator.

Hindi ko naman pinangarap maging interpreter pero wala, no choice ako. Isa pa, masarap siyang pagtripan minsan kaya minamali ko ang pag tatranslate, hindi niya naman napapansin.

Tumingin ako sa dalawang babae na naiiling nalang. Chine-check ng dalawa ngayon ang lagay ng babae.

"How's she?" I asked in a low voice enough for the two to hear

"She's fine. But you know... She's lucky, hella lucky that she can still move. Hindi namin sinabi sa iba pero panahon na siguro para ipaalam. Her spinal cord was hit that's why she's still asleep until now. Good thing was it's not severe..." Saad ni Nica sa mahinang boses.

Nagulat ako at napaawang ang labi. Bumuntong hininga ang dalawa bago sumenyas na h'wag raw ako masyadong maingay.

"It's not severe so we treated her right away... But you know the consequences if your spinal cord was hit. It may turn into paralysis... or worser. Trav and Hen knew, thats why we're creating pills that can help her strengthen her bones." Dagdag ni Chipher.

"Bakit hindi niyo sinabi noong nakaraan? Nakatulong sana kami!" Pasigaw kong bulong sa dalawa.

"That's it! Hindi tayo makakapag focus sa totoong plano natin kapag nalaman niyong may nangyaring ganito kay Joy... Please understand. Hindi namin siya pinabayaan. Apat kaming gumawa ng paraan at hindi ba't napagtagumpayan naman namin?" Paliwanag ni Nica.

Napabuntong hininga ako. I'm trying to understand, really. It's just that, they should have inform us hindi yung kampante kaming walang masamang nangyari sa kaibigan namin kahit mayroon na pala. I know it's no use if we knew it or not. Hindi naman kami doctor, wala kaming alam para mapagaan ang trabaho ng mga ito...

But again, though not intentionally, someone kept a secret.

"Fine. Palalagpasin ko ito, but please tell them what you just told me. We promised right? No more secrets." Pinal na saad ko at saka sila iniwang may naguguluhang mukha.

It seems like they plan to kept it a secret but no. Enough of being secretive. So I'm sure they won't kept it as a secret.

Naglakad ako papunta sa pwesto ng mga ito na nakabilog. Doon ko nakita na naglalaro pala ang mga ito ng cards.

"Trav, Hen.. They're calling you two. May paguusapan daw kayo." Saad ko kahit na wala namang sinabi ang dalawa.

Nagkatinginan muna ang dalawa bago nakakaintinding tumango at umalis sa pwesto nila. Sa iniwan nilang pwesto ako umupo.

"What was that?" Kris asked but I shrugged and picked up the card na hindi ko alam kung saan nila nakuha.

"They'll tell us later." I said that piqued their interest.

Naglapag ako ng +4 card sa sahig. Yes, Uno cards ang tinutukoy ko simula pa kanina.

Kris groaned and dropped her +4 card so it was Gray's turn and he frowned before picking up 8 cards.

"Is it about Mei-Mei?" Tanong ni Asta sa akin.

Hindi ako umimik at hindi rin ako nagsalita. Tinignan ko lang ang cards pero hindi nagbababa ang susunod na player kaya inangat ko ang tingin ko at nakita si Clay na matiim na naghihintay ng isasagot ko.

I chuckled lightly and nodded. Wala talagang nakakalagpas sa lalaki kapag tungkol sa natutulog kong kaibigan.

The game continued and I was the first one to win. Doon ko lang napansin na may isang baso na naman ng may hindi kaaya ayang itsura sa gilid ni Kris. Thank God, I won!

Natapos sila at natalo si Kris. Tinatawanan ko ito dahil siya na ang pasimuno ng inumin na iyon tapos siya pa ang natalo.

"Karma's a bitch my friend!" I shouted and she raised her middle finger at me before gulping the shot glass.

Namumutla ito nang matapos mainom ang inumin sa isang lagok. Inabutan naman agad ito ni Gray ng tubig at candy.

I heard Nica cleared her throat. We looked at them and the four of them are wearing their doctor's white robe. They looked professional.

"This is?..." Kris asked after she recovered from her deadly drink.

I smiled and nodded as they begun to explain what they just told me and again, Clay's reaction was the best.

NAKAKAINTINDI akong tumango. They explained what happened during my 1 week deep slumber and what happened to my body.

"We'll stop right here. Magpahinga ka na." Chipher said and tap my shoulder.

I frowned. "What? I've been resting for a week tapos pagpapahingain niyo na naman ako?" Saad ko sa naiinis na boses.

"Yes." They answered in unison and I rolled my eyes.

"Whatever." Ani ko bago pumikit at nagkunwaring tulog.

Hindi naman na kasi ako inaantok pa. Gusto ko na ngang bumangon dahil wala naman nang masakit sa akin pero pinagbawalan akong ng apat kong doktor. Ang ani ng mga ito, kailangan ko raw ipahinga ang katawan ko kahit na nga raw ba feeling ko wala na ang sakit.

Para tuloy akong may mga alalay kung umasta. Hindi naman ako baldado, may sakit lang pero ayon na nga. Ayaw ako patayuin.

Dumilat ako nang maramdaman ang pagaalisan ng mga ito. Kailangan pa raw nilang maghanap ng makakakain at medicine supplies kaya kailangan na naman nilang lumabas.

Naiwan akong kasama si Clay na nakatingin lang sa pader. Wala itong inik sa tabi ko kaya parang wala rin akong kasama.

Hindi ko kinaya ang katahimikang nababalot sa amin kaya nagtanong na ako. Hindi naman kasi ito comfortable silence. It's awkward.

"So... Asta has been leading you all huh? May tiwala ka na ba sa kaniya?" I asked him.

The last time we had our conversation, he said he don't trust him.

Nakita ko itong tumingin sa akin ngunit hindi ko ito nilingon. Nanatili ang tingin ko sa kisame.

"Not bad." He answered kaya mahina akong napatawa.

"Come on Clay! Be true to yourself naman. I knew you trust him. Mabait naman yung tao, maalaga rin and he's wiser than me. He's trustworthy," paliwanag ko sa lalaki.

Kung naririnig lang ni Asta ang sinasabi ko baka napapalakpak na ang tenga nito sa tuwa.

Hindi umimik ang lalaki kaya wala akong nagawa kung hindi lingunin ito. Nakita ko itong nakatitig sa akin kaya tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.

"What is he to you?" He asked.

I looked at him weirdly. What's with the sudden question?  But because I'm craving for talk, I answered him.

"Asta... He's been through a lot. He save me a lot of times. Cook for me, train me, treat my wounds, scold me," I paused and chuckled remembering our moments together in his house.

"Even though we aren't blood related, I treat him as my brother. My older brother who loves me and will save me." Dagdag ko at ngumiti ng matamis.

He looked at me and slowly, a smile formed in his face.

Tumayo ito at lumapit sa pwesto ko saka niya inilapit ang kaniyang mukha kaya napapikit ako sa gulat at kaba.

Kumakabog ang dibdib ko sa hindi maipaliwanag na kaba at antisipasyon. Ano ang gagawin niya? Bakit siya lumalapit? Sari't saring tanong ang naiisip ko na tili nabibingi na ako sa malakas na tibok ng dibdib ko.

"Good," he whispered to my ears before placing a soft kiss in my forehead.

Mabilis lang ito at magaan. Pagkadilat ko ng aking mga mata ay nakatalikod na ito at nakapamulsa. Naiwan akong nakatulala sa inakto nito habang dinadama ang malakas na tibok ng puso ko.

What was that for?!

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Back to present na ulit tayo :)