Zombie Outbreak: The Apocalypse ✓

CHAPTER SEVEN

I was busy catching my breathing yet the relief that I could feel is much bigger than the fatigue I'm feeling as right now, I couldn't be more thankful to be in this vehicle where I could say that we are safe. . . for now.

Nakatingin ako sa labas ngayon at pinapanood ang papalayong mga zombies na humahabol sa amin kanina. Up until now, they are still trying to catch us but due to the fast acceleration of this vehicles, and the reason that they're somehow slow while running at, the distance between us are getting bigger and bigger as minutes passed by.

I turned my attention in front again to look at my companions.

Si Travis ang nagmamaneho ng sinasakyan namin, naghahabol parin ng paghinga ngunit maayos na naisasagawa ang kanyang ginagawa, samantalang nasa tabi niya naman si Zoe na busy sa pagkalkal ng dala nyang backpack. Both of them are still catching their breathing and they aren't the only one, since I can still hear the others' harsh breathing as if we just run for our lives.

Because we did.

Natauhan ako nang makitang mula sa bag ni Zoe ay inilabas niya ang kanyang cellphone at kinalikot iyon.

My eyes widened when I remembered something. Doon ko lang naalala na kailangan ko pa palang kamustahin sila Daddy at Mommy.

"Call your family, I know you're all worried about them." I said to them as they all nodded their heads and quickly opened their backpacks to get their mobile phones. I looked into mine as I started scrolling on it. My eyes unconscious stopped at my hands and saw how they are shaking so badly that even I tried to hold them to stop, they just wouldn't.

The feelings I felt from earlier just wouldn't leave me alone.

Even with my hands shaking, I continued what I am supposed to do. Hinanap ko sa contacts ko ang pangalan ni Mommy. Hindi ko alam pero habang ginagawa ko iyon ay takot na takot ako sa hindi maipaliwanag na dahilan. Maybe because deep inside me, I'm considering the possibility of. . . I shook my head. No, they won't. My family is brave and strong. I got everything from them. Pinindot ko ang call sabay lagay ng cellphone sa aking tenga.

All I could hear is ring. It took a while yet all I could hear was the ringing of the phone. I lick my lower lip in nervousness. Until I heard the words that I've been wishing that I won't hear.

"The number you have dialed―" Doon ay mas kumabog ang aking dibdib. Kinansel ko ang tawag at sinubukan kong muli sa pangalawang paraan. . . pangatlo. . . ngunit paulit ulit lang na gan'on ang nangyayari.

Kung kanina'y kinakabahan na ako, ngayon ay pakiramdam ko'y dumoble ang kabang aking nararamdaman. Different scenarios started playing on my mind which caused my anxiety to increase. My eyes became watery but I didn't lose hope. Not yet. I'm still hoping thay. . . they're safe.

Sinubukan kong tawagan si Daddy. Kinagat-kagat ko naman ang kuko ng kaliwang kamay ko habang ang kanang kamay ko ay hawak hawak ang cellphone. Ganito ako kapag kinakabahan, nginangatngat ko ang aking kuko habang nakatingin sa malayo at parang lumilipad ang utak sa kawalan.

Hindi ko namalayang tumabi sa akin si Shan. Nalaman ko lang na nasa tabi ko na pala siya ng marahan niyang tinapik ang balikat ko na dahilan upang mapatingin ako sa kanya bago sya nagsalita gamit ang mahinang boses,

"Calm down. Mukha kang nag e-LBM diyan." She whispered and gave me a small smile. I know she's just kidding and trying to lighten my mood but right now, all I care is my family's safety.

I couldn't help but be worried right now.

Tipid na ngumiti lamang ako sa kanya, ngunit pakiramdam ko'y kahit ngiti ay hindi ko magawa ng maayos. And it was like she understand me because she smiled at me before she let me be alone for a while, and because she knows that it's what I really need right now. A time to think and be alone to comfort myself.