Stay Awake (ORIGINAL DRAFT)

Chapter Eleven: Something Vital

Chapter Eleven: Something Vital

Ang daming damit na pwedeng pagpilian. I can basically get what I want, kahit anong brand and style. I don't need to worry about paying because right now, all of them are free of charge. All I have to do is take them.

I should be happy about this... But I'm not.

Now's not the time to think about luxuries and stuff. My brother's still missing, and I'm so fucking worried right now. I need to focus on the task at hand. We need to focus.

Mabilis kaming nakakuha ng mga damit na susuotin. Pumili lang ako ng simpleng t-shirt, jeans at sneakers. Kumuha din ako ng cap at green hoodie.

"What are you doing?" Holly asks me when she sees me. With her red shirt, tattered jeans, and long black hair, she looks like an emo girl.

A beautiful emo girl.

"Preparing," I answer.

Dinampot ko 'yung unang backpack na nakita ko and then I started putting some clothes inside it.

"We can always come back here," Holly states. "We're the only ones awake, so...we basically own this place now."

I zip up the backpack and I stand up. "Something tells me that we won't be able to go home for a really long time. It's better to be prepared."

She shrugs. "You're right." Kumuha din siya ng backpack at ginaya yung ginawa ko.

Habang naglalagay si Holly ng mga damit sa backpack niya, naglakad-lakad muna ako sa department store. Nagbibihis pa si Felicity sa fitting room, while Ian and Andre are nowhere to be seen. They're probably looking for some useful things that they can bring.

Hanggang ngayon, naninibago pa rin ako sa sobrang katahimikan sa buong paligid. Parang aksidenteng napindot yung mute button ng mundo. Right now, walking in the deserted aisles of the department store makes me feel like I'm the only one alive.

That thought is enough to send shivers down my spine. Being alone in this God-awful world is terrifying. I'm really thankful that there are others who are awake. I don't think I can survive if I'm all alone.

Tumingin ako sa wrist watch ko. Fifteen minutes left. Bago kami pumasok ng mall, nag-decide kami na bigyan ang isa't-isa ng 'alone' time for one hour. Sapat na oras na iyon upang magpalit ng damit at ayusin 'yung mga sarili namin. Magkikita-kita kami sa tapat ng MOA Arena when the time is up.

I walk out of the department store. Tapos na akong magbihis at nakapag-pack na rin ako ng extra clothes. Siguro pupunta na lang ako nang maaga sa meeting place namin. Wala na rin naman akong kailangan dito sa mall.

While walking, napadaan ako sa isang fast food chain na paborito kong puntahan, especially with my family. Napangiti ako bigla nang maalala ko 'yung huling punta namin dito last week.

Jollibee.

It sounds cheesy, I know. Pero out of all the fast food chains dito sa Pilipinas, Jollibee is my favorite. I don't really know why. Siguro dahil lagi akong dinadala dito nina Mom and Dad noong bata pa ako. At kahit teenager na ako, dito pa rin namin pinipiling kumain sa tuwing lalabas kaming buong family.

I walk past it, not daring to look back. Baka kasi bigla na lang akong mag-breakdown tapos makita pa ako nina Holly.

I miss them. So much. Mom, Dad and Timothy. Hindi ko gusto na nakikita sila sa ganu'ng state. They're good people and they don't deserve that. Tapos ngayon, my little brother's missing. I don't have any idea how to find him. Heck, I don't even know where to start.

Ugh. Why am I so being dramatic all of a sudden?

After a few minutes of walking, nakalabas na ako ng mall. But not before I see something. It piques on my mind, like something that I can't remember no matter how hard I try.

It's a flier of a nightclub called Oblivion.

Nagpunta na kami doon kahapon at wala kaming nakitang clues, except sa mga partygoers na natutulog sa sahig at isang rabid dog. I know that this is just a piece of paper, pero hindi ko napigilan 'yung sarili ko na damputin ito.

It's an advertisement of a guest singer named Pauline. I don't know her, but I think she's kinda popular with the kind people who go to parties often. There's no picture of her in this flier. And the date... It was the night when the mysterious syndrome hit the whole world.

Masyado akong nalasing nu'ng gabing iyon kaya wala akong masyadong matandaan. Hindi ko na nga alam kung ilang bote ng beer 'yung nainom ko.

Pero 'yung pangalan na Pauline. There's something about it.

Tinitigan kong mabuti 'yung flier, racking my brain about the events that had happened that night. And then...

Holy shit.

I'm starting to remember.