"Tulong! Hinahabol ako ng mga marites!"
Fash was running toward us as fast as he could, but the two violent women were following too closely. Out of instinct, as soon as Fash was within my reach, I grabbed his jacket and pulled him in as hard as I could.
With how fast Fash was running and how hard I pulled him, we both lost our balance and crashed to the floor. With Fash already inside, Kuya Vito and Gil quickly pulled the double glass doors close.
Saktong-sakto ang pagkakasara ng pinto. Bumangga ang mga ginang rito at lumikha ng napakalakas na dagundong. Napansin ko pang yumanig nang kaunti ang mga salamin. Mabuti na lang talaga at nabubuksan lamang ang pinto kung tinutulak mula sa loob, hindi mula sa labas. Ang tanging paraan lang para makapasok sila ay kung hihilahin nila pabukas ang mga pinto kaya naman todo kapit sina Kuya sa mga metal bar na nagsisilbing door handle.
"Gil, hawakan mo nang mabuti!" sigaw ni Kuya Vito at agad ini-lock ang pinto gamit ang mga latch na nasa kisame at sahig.
Kasunod ng pagsigaw ni Kuya, lalong nagwala ang mga ginang at pinaghahampas na nila ang pinto. Good thing none of them thought of pulling the door handles, which were literally right in front of them.
I heard Fash groan from beside me. He rolled around and starting crying out from the top of his lungs. "Leche ka, Jordan! Ang sakit ng mukha ko! Natanggal yata ang ngipin ko!"
Lalong nagwala ang mga babae at mas lumakas ang pagdagundong ng mga pinto.
"Sh-Shut up! Everybody shut up! Wala nang gagawa ng ingay!" sumigaw ako nang malakas at napansin kong tumindi pa ang pagwawala ng mga ginang mula sa labas.
I felt them all turn to look at me, but my mind was too caught up with the theory that was forming up my mind. Dali-dali kong pinulot ang flashlight na nabitiwan ko at nang tinutok ko ito sa ginang, nagulat ako nang makita ang kanyang kamay na nakataas at para bang may mabilis na iniikot. Gano'n din ang isa pang ginang. With how they were pounding on the door with one hand and rotating some invisible object on the other, I was shocked to realize what they were doing.
"F-Flashlight! Off! Off!" Lumingon sa akin si Gil, bakas din ang gulat sa mukha. "Wala nang gagalaw at magsasalita!"
Sinunod ko ang sinabi ni Gil, at maging sila ay nag-off na rin ng kanya-kanyang flashlight.
All of a sudden, the entire lobby was covered in complete darkness and silence. The women continued to pound on the door, but as moments passed, it became less intense than before. Less desperate.
Naramdaman ko ang paghawak ni Fash sa braso ko. He was cold and trembling. Gamit ang isa ko pang kamay, humawak ako sa kanya pabalik. Despite our situation, I felt less scared knowing I have a friend next to me. At least, I wasn't alone.
Fash buried his face on my shoulder and just hung on to me, while I kept a close eye on the door. Sa sobrang dilim, tanging anino lang ng mga babae mula sa pinto ang naaninag ko. Napakasakit sa mata, pero ayokong tanggalin ang paningin ko mula sa kanila.
Sa sobrang tahimik namin, wala kaming ibang naririnig kundi ang ulan, mga ginang, at ang sarili naming paghinga.
We didn't move for what felt like forever, until we finally saw them run away. It was only then that we were able to catch our breaths.
"What the hell was that?" Fash cried.
"The sleepwalker syndrome," I whispered.
"The what?" he gasped.
***
Fash felt so overwhelmed with what happened that I had to assist him as we made our way up the stairs. "Jordi, napakahayop ng mga marites na 'yon. Bigla akong hinarang ng babae at hinila pababa ng bisikleta ko. Sinabunutan niya pa ako at pinagsamsampal. Dumating naman 'yung isa at pinagpapalo ng kung ano-ano, pinalo pa sa akin ang bisikleta ko. Sasakalin pa sana ako kung hindi lang talaga ako nakatakbo. Bakit nila ginawa 'yon? Ni hindi ko sila kilala, ah?"
Hinayaan ko na lamang siyang maglabas ng hinanakit at marahang tinapik-tapik sa balikat.
"Jordi, nasa opisina ba ang papa mo? Kailangan pala ng tulong ni Smoeki—"
"Ha? Anong nangyari? Nasaan si Smoeki? Is he okay?"
Minabuti naming huwag munang pumasok sa opisina kung nasaan ang mga at nanatili muna sa service area ng third floor. Pinaupo namin si Fash sa isang sofa nang makapagpahinga kahit papaano.
Napatingin ako kay Gil at saktong nagtama ang mga mata namin. He cocked his head to the water dispenser's direction—a hint I completely understood.
We walked to the water dispenser's direction, away from their earshot. As we stood side-by-side, he whispered, "Mapagkakatiwalaan ba siya?"
"He's one of PJ's best friends," bulong ko pabalik sa kanya. "He's a ruthless trashtalker when playing online, but he's a good kid."
"Still, be careful," aniya at kaswal na itinuro ang logo ng tubig. "Alkaline din. Puwede siguro natin 'tong inumin."
We both grabbed cups and filled them with water. Pagbalik namin sa sofa, pansin kong mangiyak-ngiyak na si PJ habang nagpapaliwanag. "Nasa basement lang kami ng bahay ni Smoeki, sinusulit ang paglalaro habang okay pa ang internet. Kaso yun na, biglang nag-lock yung pinto at nawala ang kuryente, pati na ang signal. Hindi kami makalabas. Todo hintay at sigaw kami. Nang gumabi, binasag na namin yung door knob kasi nagsisimula nang bumaha sa basement. Tangina... pag-akyat namin ang daming dugo t-tapos—"
Fash started crying and absentmindedly scratching his trembling fingers. He scratched them so hard that it was starting to turn red. "N-Nakaupo sa mesa ang papa niya, laslas ang leeg. A-Ang mama niya naman—J-Jords, si Smoeki! Kawawa si Smoeki!"
Nasapo ko ang noo sa narinig at napatalikod mula sa kanila. Hearing what happened tore me up lalo't guro ko noong elementary ang mama ni Smoeki. She was there for me, even during the worst part of my childhood.
"W-We looked for his sister all over the house, but we couldn't find her. Smoeki was losing it, man. W-We tried to call for help, but the lines are out. He asked me to come here and ask for Chief's help! A-Ayoko sana siyang iwan, pero todo pakiusap na siya."
I closed my eyes shut and took a deep breath. I mustered up all of my courage and faced him again, this time, placing the cup of water on the coffee table beside him. "Fash, Papa's been stabbed. He's at the mainland, in ICU. Nandoon si PJ. Maraming mga pulis ang namatay kaninang umaga doon sa hotel at may nangyayaring kakaiba sa isla kaya walang makakaresponde kaagad—"
"A-Anong nangyayaring kakaiba?" Napakurap-kurap si Fash at napaturo sa direksiyon ng bintana. "'Yong mga babae . . . 'yong sinabi mong syndrome? J-Jordi, ano ba talagang nangyayari?"
"It's a virus that makes people violent when they fall asleep. The women who attacked you? They were infected—"
"T-Teka, tama ba ang narinig ko?! Parang sleepwalking?" Fash gasped and covered his mouth. He started shifting from his seat, looking around uncomfortably. "Kung hidden camera to, utang na loob, huwag ngayon! Kailangan ni Smoeki ang tulong natin! Nawawala ang kapatid niya!"
"Nagsasabi kami ng totoo. Sa tingin mo ba kaya naming gawing biro 'to?" bulalas naman ni Kuya Vito.
"Pia's dad was infected. Madam Laura, too. And those women who attacked you? They fell asleep not knowing they'd turn into mindless killers," paliwanag ko pa.
"Anong tubig ang iniinom mo?" tanong naman ni Gil.
Marahas na napahawak si Fash sa kanyang magkabilang pisngi at paulit-ulit na huminga nang malalim. His eyes were red and wide, filled with fear and utter disbelief. Siguro kung wala lang sugat ang kanyang ulo at noo, todo sabunot na siya sa kanyang sarili. "This can't be f*cking happening . . . "
"It's already happening." Napapikit ako at marahang tumango. "We have to stay awake, so we won't end up hurting other people."
Narinig kong suminghap si Fash. "Sandali! Kung sleepwalker syndrome 'to, ibig sabihin inosente talaga ang papa ni PJ?!"
Awtomatiko akong napadilat. I felt my insides twist upon hearing someone question that monster's innocence again. I clenched my hands into fists as I said the same thing I've always told my father and the judge who handled the case. "PJ's father is a cold-blooded killer who murdered his wife. He wasn't sleepwalking when he did it, so stop bringing him up."
All of a sudden, the entire room fell silent. Everyone's were on me.
I didn't realize my heart was beating so fast until I found myself breathing heavily, my shoulders moving up and down.
"Hindi kayo totoong magkapatid ni PJ?" Gil was the first to break the silence.
The truth was hard to bare, so like what I always do when the going gets tough, I chose to walk away. "I'll check on the kids. Kayo na ang magpaliwanag kay Fash tungkol sa mga sintomas."
***
Inilabas ko ang manila paper mula sa bag at inilatag itong muli sa mesa. Bago pa man ako makapagsimula sa pagsusulat, pumasok sina Kuya Vito, Gil, at Fash sa opisina ni papa.
"Anong sinusulat mo?" tanong ni Fash habang iika-ika at panay ang kislot. None of them even bothered to put first aid on his busted lip and forehead.
I shrugged. "Just some observations. I need to keep tabs on everything."
The three of them came over and stared down at what I wrote. I divided the manila paper into four sections: the symptoms, the possible cause, the behavior, and possible safety zones.
"Guys, you saw that too, right?" pagkukumpirma ko. "Those women left as soon everything became dark and quiet?"
Tumango si Kuya Vito. "Gano'n din 'yong nangyari sa amin ni Fatima sa orphanage. Huminto sa paghabol ang madre nang makapagtago kami. Sadyang na-trap lang kami sa pinagtataguan namin hanggang sa dumating ka."
"Same with Bogart and I. Hindi kami nagulpi ng madre kung hindi siya nabahing." Bumuntonghininga na lamang ako at sinulat ang obserbasyon sa papel. "Anything else you noticed from their behavior?"
"Sa tingin ko wala rin silang common sense. Kanina, panay tulak lang sila ng pinto," Fash also pointed out.
"And they were trying to open the door knob . . . " Gil commented as he mindlessly stared at the paper.
"Huh? Wala namang door knob kanina, ah?" bulalas naman ni Kuya Vito.
"I saw their hands too," I said, agreeing with Gil. "It was like something they did out of reflex . . . like some muscle memory."
Napahimas si Fash sa kanyang panga, habang ang kabilang kamay naman ay nasa kanyang bewang. He took a deep breath as he tried to process everything. "So, this virus fucks up our brain so bad to the point that we turn into mindless savages. We lose our cognitive ability, but somehow retain our muscle memory?"
Natahimik kaming lahat at parang mga tangang napatingin lamang kay Fash.
"I didn't understand a thing, but since you sounded so smart, I'll choose to agree with you," biro ko na lamang at nagpatuloy ulit sa pagsusulat.
"Safety zone?" wika ni Gil sabay turo sa ilalim na bahagi ng manila paper.
Tumango naman ako. "Right now, this police station is the best safety zone I could think of other than our homes. There's enough supply of Alkaline water bottles, there are things to keep us comfortable, the flooding isn't so bad, and the cells can serve as sleeping stations to keep everyone safe. And just in case shit hits the fan, we just can just lock ourselves in."
"Sino palang maiiwan dito kasama ng mga bata?" tanong bigla ni Kuya Vito.
"Teka, aalis kayo?" Namilog bigla ang mga mata ni Fash. "Kakasabi niyo lang sa safe dito, a?"
I saw a glint of panic flash before Fash's eyes. It was the same kind of panic I saw in him back when were were kids—sa tuwing inaabot kami ng gabi sa paglalaro sa kalsada at dumadating na ang nanay niya na may dalang pamalo, sa tuwing nare-realize niya na hindi na naman siya nakagawa ng assignment, o kaya no'ng na-realize niyang siya ang pinagtripan naming gawing representative sa intramurals singing contest.
"Kailangan kong puntahan si Masha. I promised to ride out the storm with her. If the house looks dangerous to stay at, dadalhin ko siya rito," sabi ko at tinuro naman si Kuya Vito. "Siya naman, kailangang pumunta sa city hall."
"Sasama ako sa 'yo." Nagulat ako nang biglang napatingin sa akin si Gil. He spoke so casually that it sounded like I didn't have a choice.
"Huh? Bakit?" Nakunot agad ang noo ko.
"Mas mabuting may kasama ka," giit naman ni Kuya Vito. "O sige, ganito na lang, kung kunwari may mga kalaban na naman, at least may puwede kang itulak para masagip ang buhay mo. Distraction kumbaga."
"Huh?" bulalas kaagad ni Gil, kunot-noo.
"Huwag kang mag-alala, hindi 'yan gagawin ni Jordi sa 'yo," pabulong na paniniguro ni Kuya Vito. Akala mo, walang ibang nakakarinig.
"Teka!" Nagtaas bigla ng kamay si Fash, akala mo nasa class recitation. "First year high school! Nagpunta tayo sa bahay nina Rai kasi nalaman natin na birthday ng lola niya. Nakakita tayo ng aso sa gitna ng daan, tapos sabi ni PJ huwag tatakbo—"
"Akala ko sabi niya 'Ready set go,' okay?!" depensa ko naman agad sa sarili ko.
Napangiwi naman kaagad si Fash. "Ang layo ng 'huwag tatakbo' at 'ready set go,' Jordan!"
"Gusto n'yo bang ipag-untog ko 'yang mga ulo ninyo?!" bulalas ni Kuya Vito kaya pareho kaming natahimik. Sa kabila nito, pareho kaming nagpalitan ng masamang tingin sa isa't isa. "Gusto n'yo bang dukutin ko 'yang mga mata ninyo?!" dagdag pa ni Kuya Vito kaya nagsibuntonghininga na lamang kami at napaharap sa magkaibang direksiyon.
"Fash, dito ka muna kasama ng mga bata. Pangako, pupuntahan ko ang mga magulang mo at dadalhin ko sila rito," pakiusap pa ni Kuya.
Bumuntonghininga si Fash, bagsak ang mga balikat. "Umalis ng isla ang mga magulang at kapatid ko kaninang umaga."
"Hinayaan nilang magpaiwan ka rito?" tanong ko.
"Bakit naman hindi? Mukha ba akong bata?" Fash answered sarcastically and even pouted a little. "Besides, may pa-party si Chad sa bahay nila ngayon. Hindi ko 'yon pwedeng palampasin."
"Wait, you stayed here despite a super typhoon dahil lang sa isang party? Napuno na ba ng lumot ang utak mo?" I like minding my own business, but Fash's decision is just so stupid that I couldn't help but comment about it.
"Hoy, Jordan. Nagkaroon ng super typhoon dito dalawang taon na ang nakakaraan pero hindi ka man lang tumawag para mangumusta sa pamilya mo o kahit kay PJ man lang. Huwag mo akong simulan, marami rin akong bala sa 'yo, oy!" Fash scoffed.
I wanted to punch Fash at that very moment, but I decided to hold myself back. After all, he had a point.
"Tama na nga 'yan!" awat sa amin si Kuya Vito. "Basta Fash, ah? Dito ka muna sa mga bata?"
Fash rolled his eyes and sighed. "Sige na nga! Basta bumalik ka kaagad. Magdala ka rin ng mga pagkain at damit."
***
"You know you don't have to come with me, right? I can handle myself," paalala ko kay Gil habang naghahalughog kami sa mga cabinet ng mga puwedeng makatulong sa amin habang nasa daan. Taser, flare, or even nunchucks—we were desperate for anything that could help.
Lumapit sa akin si Gil at nakita kong hawak niya ang isang headlamp na may kulay pink na strap. Bago pa man ako makapagsalita, lalo pa siyang lumapit at bigla na lang itong isinuot sa ulo ko. Dahan-daha niya itong binitiwan upang huwag pumalo ang mismong flashlight sa noo ko. "Hindi ba masyadong masikip?"
Wala sa sarili akong napababa ng tingin at napakurap-kurap. "Hindi ba masyadong weird? Para akong magha-hiking?"
I felt uncomfortable with how close we were to each other. Mabuti na lang talaga at mas matangkad siya, kung hindi ay tumama na ang mukha namin sa isa't isa. However, I couldn't lie, the body heat coming off from him felt nice. Buong araw ba naman akong nakasuot ng basang damit at laging nauulanan.
"Ano 'yan?"
Dali-dali akong napaatras at napalingon kay Kuya Vito na kakapasok lang ng opisina. He toured Fash all over the station to make sure he knows what to do and where to run in case anything happens.
"Flashlight." Gil said with his typical monotonous voice and pressed the little button on top of the headlight I was wearing. Pakiramdam ko bigla ako si Cyclops ng X-Men, 'yon nga lang, sa noo ko lumalabas ang liwanag.
Mabilis na nagtaas ng kamay si Kuya Vito, nasilaw ba naman nang todo. Yumuko na lamang ako at pinindot ulit ang ibabaw ng device.
"Si Fash nga pala?" tanong ko.
"Hayun, nagyo-yosi muna sa lobby. Natakot no'ng tinuruan ko paano gumamit ng baril." Bumuntonghininga si Kuya at inilapag ang isang baril at susi sa harapan namin. "Nga pala, kung sa tingin n'yo kailangan n'yo pa ng bala, sabihin n'yo lang at kukuha pa ako. Basta mag-i-ingat kayo sa paggamit at huwag na huwag n'yong itututok sa kahit na sino nang basta-basta. Huwag na huwag ninyong ilalagay ang daliri ninyo sa gatilyo kung hindi kayo sigurado. Kayo na rin ang gumamit ng patrol car. Magmo-motor na ako patungo sa city hall."
Pareho kaming tumango ni Gil.
"Just keep in touch through the radio. Don't make me worry," pabiro kong paalala.
***
While Gil and Kuya Vito were still talking, pasimple akong bumaba sa lobby at nadatnan ko si Fash na nakaupo lamang sa sahig, nakasandal ang likod sa malamig na dingding. Tila ba kasamang lumulutang sa usok ang kanyang isip.
I would normally pinch my nose or hold my breath whenever someone's smoking near me, but this time, I was too bothered and worried to even care.
"Hey, Fash . . . " I smiled and sat next to him.
He flinched a little, proving he never even heard me coming. "Ingat kayo do'n. Kung sa tingin mo ligtas ang bahay n'yo, sunduin mo talaga ako rito. Pati si Smoeki, isama rin natin sa inyo. Tapos 'yong kapatid niya rin."
Tumango na lamang ako at ngumiti. "May tiger-print coat si Mama doon na regalo pa ng Tita ko na nasa Japan. Ipapagamit ko 'yon para sa 'yo."
Agad namilog ang mga mata ni Fash. "Hey, I don't want to have a beef with her. Ayokong maging sentro ng chismisan nila ng mga kaibigan niya."
"Don't worry, she never uses it. And honestly, you can use some new clothes. Mukha kang napabayaang leopard ngayon," biro ko pa sa kanya.
Fash took another whiff off his cigarette and stared at the door mindlessly. His hand was trembling so hard that even the cigarette was shaking a little. "Natatakot ako, Jords. Baka kung ano ang mangyari sa mga bata kung ako ang magbabantay sa kanila. Hindi ako mabuting tao, pero ayoko namang may mapahamak dahil sa akin."
"You'll be fine," I said reassuringly, even if truth be told, I wasn't sure anymore. "If Fatima does anything to hurt you, defend yourself. And if you unknowingly try to hurt her, forgive her. Tapos kung takot ka talaga, you can just lock yourselves in a cell. Make sure lang na separate kayo . . . alam mo na."
Fash blew out smoke from his mouth and chuckled. "Man, we better not die because of this mess . . . "
Ngumiti na lamang ako at tumango-tango. Sumandal ako sa pader at huminga nang malalim, hindi alintana ang usok na pinapakawalan ni Fash.
"May problema?" Fash asked.
I looked up at the ceiling, trying to muster up the courage to ask about what has been bothering my mind for hours. Natatakot ako sa magiging sagot sa tanong ko.
"Jordan . . . " Fash said authoritatively. Parang Papa ko lang sa tuwing sinisita ako.
I closed my eyes shut. "I just heard that Dr. Rosauro was in this island all along. Nagkikita ba sila ni PJ?"
"'Yong henyo bang tiyuhin ni PJ?" tanong pabalik ni Fash, kunot-noo. Kuya Vito and Gil explained everything to him, so I bet he knows our suspicion about PJ's biological uncle being behind the virus. And I bet Fash already understands where I'm getting at.
I opened my eyes and turned to him. "Fash, saang ospital nagtatrabaho si PJ? Sa Derio Research Center ba?"
My heart felt like it was going to burst. I felt like I was betraying my entire family.
Bigla na lamang tumayo si Fash. Binitiwan niya yosi sa sahig at mariin itong inapakan hanggang sa maapula ang kislap ng liwanag. "Sumusobra ka na, Jordan. Alam kong may galit ka kay PJ, pero hindi ko inakalang darating ka sa puntong 'to."
Parang lumubog ang puso ko dahil sa mga salitang binitwan ni Fash, pero mas lalo akong nasaktan dahil sa pagkakasabi niya rito. Sure we fought a lot since we were kids, but he was never sounded this cold and furious toward me.
"I don't hate him! He's my brother!" I blurted out, close to tears.
"Ang hirap sa 'yo, masyado kang makasarili. Masyado mong iniisip na ikaw ang kawawa at naagrabyado, pero ni minsan, inisip mo ba ang sitwasyon ni PJ? Jordan, sa mata ng mga tao rito, anak pa rin si PJ ng isang mamamatay-tao." Fash's words felt like daggers to my heart.
"PJ has every reason to hate this island! He has every reason to work together with his crazy uncle!" With the daggers in my heart, I felt more brazen to speak my thoughts aloud.
"Jordan, pinagbintangang mamamatay-tao ang papa niya tapos 'yong sarili niya pang ina ang biktima! Kung ako 'yon, kamumuhian ko rin ang islang 'to! Pero alam mo anong ginawa ni PJ? Hayun, nanatili pa rin para magserbisyo sa isla! Kahit lagi siyang pinag-uusapan, nagtatrabaho pa rin siya doon sa general hospital para tumulong sa iba! Kami na mismo ni Smoeki ang nagsasabi sa kanya na umalis na at maging nurse na lang sa ibang lugar, pero ayaw niya kasi paraan niya 'to para magpasalamat sa pamilya mo. Ni sarili niyang mga pangarap sa buhay, hindi niya masunod kasi ayaw niyang iwan ang mga magulang mo, hindi gaya ng ginawa mo!"
I'm aware that I'm a horrible person, but after what Fash said, I've never felt so horrible.
"Jordan!" Pareho kaming napalingon ni Fash sa direksyon ng hagdan.
Dumating si Kuya Vito na nagmamadali kasama si Gil.
"Bakit?" Hindi ko alam paano ko nagawang makapagsalita kahit na durog na durog ang puso ko nang mga sandaling iyon.
All of a sudden, I felt nervous again after noticing the alarmed look on Kuya Vito's face while holding his phone.
"Nakausap ko si Justin! Nawawala raw si PJ!"
//