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Masha
"Masha, sigurado ka ba rito?" pabulong na tanong ni Lincoln habang naglalakad kami sa gitna ng masukal at maputik na kakahuyan, dala-dala ang mga flashlight na ninakaw namin mula sa isang saradong hardware.
We know looting is a horrible thing, but people around us were going nuts and we needed protection kaya naman kinapalan na namin ang mukha namin sa hardware na 'yon at kinuha ang puwede naming magamit. Masuwerte nga kami at nakahanap kami rito ng mga jacket at isang baril.
Bumaling si Lincoln ng tingin kay Smoeki na tumatakbo sa unahan namin. Smoeki's red jacket became darker than ever after being drenched in the cold rain. Halos hindi na rin mabasa ang nickname na nakaburda sa likod ng jacket niya dahil sa bahid ng mga putik dito. Well, he wasn't the only one. Pare-pareho kaming basa ng tubig-ulan at putik.
"Sabi na sa 'yong hindi mo naman kailangang sumama, 'di ba?" I reminded him for the nth time.
From the moment Smoeki tearfully explained to us what happened to his family, I knew I had to help him find his little sister. It wasn't just because he saved our lives from that convenience store, but because Smoeki's my friend and his family is no stranger to me.
I can only imagine the pain he's in after what happened to his parents. His sister is all he has now. He can't lose her too. We have to find her. She's the only thing that's keeping him from completely falling apart.
"Gusto ko ring tumulong kay Smoeki, pero okay ba talaga 'tong dinadaanan natin?" tanong pa ni Lincoln habang mahigpit ang hawak sa isang baseball bat na kasali naming nakuha mula sa hardware.
The woods scare the hell out of me too, but I would never admit it. Lincoln was scared enough, ayoko nang dumagdag.
"This is our safest and fastest way to Chad's place. Baha na ang mga daan at baka may makasalubong na naman tayong siraulo doon," paalala ko sa kanya. "And besides, we spent our entire lives in these woods. What could possibly go wrong?"
Hindi namin alam anong nangyayari at hindi na namin alam sinong mapagkakatiwalaan. Ilang beses naming sumubok humingi ng tulong sa mga taong nakakasalubong namin, pero pare-pareho lang silang gusto kaming gulpihin at patayin. We barely escaped with our lives.
"Paano kung wala roon ang kapatid ni Smoeki?" tanong pa ni Lincoln.
Naiinis man sa sunod-sunod niyang tanong, napabuntonghininga na lamang ako. "I don't know. But right now, I know Smoeki shouldn't do this all alone. His gut is telling him she's there, so I'll go with him. If she's not there, at least Smoeki's not alone."
Chad's holding a party at his house, and I know Smoeki's sister and her friends. Those kids can't resist a party. There's a big chance that Smoeki's gut is right about where she is.
