The Sleepwalker Syndrome

chapter sixteen | the symptoms

Gil let out a frustrated sigh. "Mula nang umalis ako ng isla, paminsan-minsan niya akong kinukumusta. We kept in touch."

He looked at me like I was the most annoying thing in the world—o baka masyado lang siyang nasilaw dahil sa flashlight ko.

I had my doubts about Gil, but I knew that my options were limited. In the end, all I could do was sigh and hope that he won't stab me in the back when the going gets tough.

Inilayo ko ang liwanag ng flashlight mula kay Gil. Sa kabila nito, nanatili akong taas-noo at nakataas ng kilay. "Ang susi? Alam mo nasaan?"

Gil crossed  his arms and cocked his head to the table's direction. He was giving me the same attitude. Napakanieta.

Binuksan ko ang maliit na drawer sa ilalim ng mesa at bumulaga kaagad sa akin ang isang baril at pares ng mga posas.

"Ilalim mismo ng mesa. May isang maliit na compartment diyan kung saan nakatago ang extra niyang susi," pasinghal na dagdag ni Gil kaya agad ko siyang sinamaan ng tingin.

***

Mula sa tokador, inilabas ko mula rito ang isang iPad at pinagamit muna kay Fatima. Tamang-tama dahil may kasama itong earphones, at kahit walang internet ay may mga games naman ito kahit papaano.

With the baby asleep and Fatima sitting in the corner of the room, distracted by the laptop, I made sure to lock the doors and closed every curtain to cover our presence.

"Magkukulong tayo rito?" Gil asked, cluelessly watching as he stood near my father's table.

"Mas mabuti pa ngang dito lang kayo kasama ang mga bata," sagot naman ni Kuya Vito habang nakapatong sa isang silya at binubutingting ang emergency lamp sa kisame. Wala pang ilang segundo, umandar ito at naglabas ng kulay pulang liwanag. I was grateful for the additional lighting, but I didn't like the color because it made the room look like it was drowning in blood.

With the doors and windows secured, I went back to the table and gestured for Kuya Vito and Gil to come over. 

"Anong meron?" Lumapit si Gil, kunot-noo pa rin.

Tumalon naman si Kuya Vito mula sa silya at nakapamewang na lumapit. "Bakit?"

"Hanggang kailan pa 'tong bagyong 'to?" I hunched over the table, my palms leaning against its corners. The red lights around us had me unintentionally glaring at them.

"Baka bukas o sa makawala, baka bumuti-buti na. Pero mahirap tantiyahin. Nakadepende rin sa coast guard kung kailan ulit magpapalayag sa dagat," Kuya Vito explained, although he seemed unsure.

I nodded and started writing on the manila paper all over the table. "I guess that gives us 48 hours . . ."

"48 hours?" tanong naman ni Gil.

"48 hours to stay alive," kaswal kong sagot at nagpatuloy sa pagsusulat. "Right now, we're left with two options . . . Stay alive until this typhoon ends so we can escape whatever it is that's happening in this island."

"First option," mabilis na pili ni Gil sabay taas ng kanyang kamay. "Dito lang tayo hanggang sa bumuti ulit ang panahon."

I nodded and looked up at him. "I honestly prefer that option too, but what if this spreads? What if kumalat sa ibang lugar ang kung ano mang kademonyohang nangyayari sa lugar na 'to?"

"Shit . . . " Narinig kong suminghap si Kuya Vito.

"Paano kung nangyayari na rin 'to sa ibang lugar?" komento naman ni Gil, kunot-noo. 

"If this is happening to other places, we should've heard about it on the internet. Look, I'm not sure too, but I have a really bad feeling about this." It took everything in my power not to burst into tears. "Everyone in this island—we could all be the carriers of a horrifying country-wide outbreak."