Stay Awake (ORIGINAL DRAFT)

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Last Trip?

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Last Trip?

Nang matapos ako sa pagkukuwento, natapos na rin si Felicity sa pag-aasikaso sa injury ko. Nilagyan niya ito ng ointment at binalutan ng puting tela. Pinakain niya rin ako ng isang can ng sardines at pinainom ng tubig.

"There's no other explanation," Holly states. "The strange light that we saw the night when most of humanity fell asleep, iyon din 'yung nakita natin kagabi."

"You're right," Ian agrees, then he looks at me. "But what I don't understand is why you're the only one who can remember all of this. Tsaka kung bakit paunti-unti 'yung mga naaalala mo."

Tumingin ako kay Pauline. "Do you think your Dad has some sort of explanation about that?"

"Even if he does have some information," she says, "we won't find out about it. Hindi ko nga alam kung sino 'yung mga kumuha sa kanya, at saan siya dinala ng mga iyon." She sighs, frustrated.

We already have too many questions that we can't answer and yet, they keep coming. Bakit nandito 'yung mga extra-terrestrial beings? Anong dahilan nila sa pagpapatulog sa mga tao? At... Kasabwat ba nila talaga 'yung government sa dark schemes nila? If so, why would they agree to this gruesome plan?

Even before all of this, alam ko na kailanman, hindi naging united ang humanity. It's a real shame to admit, but it's true. What I did not expect was the government siding with those aliens and betraying the rest of us.

It was like turning your back against your own family. It was disgusting, and inhuman.

Tiningnan ako ni Pauline mula paa hanggang ulo, her eyes lingering on my patched-up wound a second too long. "Since maayos na 'yung sugat mo, can we go now? Nag-aalala ako na baka maubusan na tayo ng oras."

"Geez, Pauline," Holly exclaims, "can you just lay off for a little while? Nakikita mo naman na kagagamot lang ng sugat ni Jared, hindi ba?" She gestures to me, annoyance written all over her face.

"No, it's fine," I tell her. "Nakapagpahinga na ako, I'm alright." What I didn't tell them was I don't want to be the cause of delay.

I'm not trying to impress anyone here. Totoo na kaya ko ng maglakad, o kahit tumakbo pa papunta sa Malacañan Palace. Like Pauline, I really want to find some answers for this mystery. Ngayong wala na 'yung threat sa labas, pwedeng-pwede na kaming lumabas dito.

"Are you sure?" tanong sa akin ni Felicity.

I nod. "Yes. Just let me find a shirt, and then we'll go."

Dahan-dahan akong tumayo mula sa pagkakahiga, stifling my groan because of the sudden pain at my shoulder. Ian offers his help to help me stand up but I wave him off. I can do this by myself.

Nang makatayo na ako, I start to rummage through my backpack. Kinuha ko kaagad 'yung unang shirt na nakita ko, white in color with the words YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE written on it in black ink.

"Let's pack lightly, don't bring anything that is not important," I tell them while putting the shirt on. "Huwag nyong kalilimutang magdala ng maraming tubig. Kung permanente na 'yung epekto ng electromagnetic pulse, wala tayong choice kundi ang maglakad."

"Naglakad-lakad ako kanina nu'ng wala ka pang malay," Ian states. "Dahil maliwanag na, na-realize ko na pamilyar ako sa lugar na 'to. Anim na milya ang layo natin sa Malacañan, approximately."

"It would take us atleast thirty minutes per mile if we're going to walk," Felicity adds. "Hindi ako sigurado kung anong oras na ngayon, pero kung aalis tayo dito kaagad, siguradong makakarating tayo sa destination natin before nightfall. Kasama na doon 'yung mga stopovers na gagawin natin in-between."