Death Trap Pandemonium (COMPLETED)

Chapter Twenty-Two

Best case scenario, makarating siya sa bayan para humingi ng tulong. Worst case, maliligaw siya pero makahanap siya kahit paano ng signal para matawagan ang Tito niya.

Ilang beses man siyang madapa dahil sa mga ugat o batong nasa daanan niya, hindi ito alintana ni Shem na agad bumabangon sapagkat ang tanging nasa isip niya lamang ay matulungan ang mga kasamahan niya. His heart was beating so fast and sweat was mixing with the mud clinging to his clothes but he continued running. Running and running.

Sinubukan niyang sa iisang direksyon lang tumakbo upang madali siyang makabalik kung sakali subalit habang lumilipas ang oras, hindi na rin siya sigurado sa daang tinatahak niya. Shem paused several times to catch his breath and rest for a few moments before going back to running.

Makalipas ang halos isang oras nang hindi niya pa rin natatanaw ang bayan na sinasabi nina Ma'am Demetria, muling tinignan ni Shem ang kanyang cellphone.

"Salamat sa Diyos!" bulalas niya nang makita niyang mayroon nang dalawang bar ng signal. But his breath caught upon realizing that his phone's battery is gonna be drained soon. He needed to act quickly.

Not wasting any time, Shem climbed the tree nearest to him, ignoring the strain and soreness of his muscles. Sulit naman ang pagsisikap niya nang makasagap siya ng mas stable na signal.

With shaking, bloody hands, Shem dialed his uncle's number. Kung buhay lang sana ang mga magulang niya, sila ang una niyang tatawagan upang magpaalam bago humingi ng tulong; pero sa ngayon, ang kapatid na lang ng ama niya ang pinakamalapit niyang kamag-anak. At alam niyang maaasahan niya ito.

"Sorry, the number you have dialed is busy at the moment," narinig niyang sabi ng boses ng isang babae. "Please try—"

"Bwiset!" Pinutol ni Shem ang tawag.

Nanatili siya sa kanyang pwesto sa loob ng ilang minuto, bago niya muling sinubukang tawagan ang Tito niya. He angrily swatted an insect away as the words were repeated. Shem rubbed his forehead; things weren't going the way he planned. He had already thought of what he was going to say, but how was he gonna ask for help if he can't even contact his uncle?

Minutes passed, and it was still the same response. He was down to 27% nang napagdesisyunan niyang tawagan ang landline ng bahay ng Tito niya. Bagama't kinakabahan na tuluyang maubos ang load niya dahil dito, he knew he had to give it a shot.

"Hel. . .lo?" sambit ng isang maliit na boses matapos ang ilang pag-ring.

"Jeff?"

"Kuya Shem!" masiglang bati ng bata. Shem could just imagine the grin on his 4-year old cousin's face.

"Bakit gising ka pa?" Nag-aalalang tanong niya. Although, he was quite thankful that the kid picked up the telephone or else he was probably doomed.

"Kumuha lang po tubig. Thirsty," sagot ng batang si Jeffrey. "Kuya Shem, kelan ka uwi? Miss na kita, bad kasi yung iba kong playmates."

Shem pursed his lips as tears threatened to spill from his eyes. He really missed the little guy and it hurts him to hear that Jeffrey was being bullied again. He glanced at the starless sky and took a deep breath.

"Jeffrey, listen to Kuya, okay? When I come home, maglalaro tayo at kakausapin ko yung mga nang-aaway sa 'yo." Hopefully, makauwi pa nang buhay, Shem added in his mind. "Kaya dapat good boy ka, ah? Jeff, pwede mo bang tawagin si Papa mo para sa 'kin? Good boy ka, 'di ba, Jeff?"

"Opo! Good boy ako! Wait lang, Kuya. . ."

Narinig ni Shem na inilapag ni Jeff ang telepono at ang paalis nitong mga yapak. Shem breathed a sigh of relief. There's still hope. Siguradong matutulungan kami ni Tito.