DARRA
We stayed there for a moment, watching the whole field quitely.
“Ehem…” sabay kaming napalingon ni Franz sa tumikhim sa likuran namin.
“Sorry for interrupting your moment” ani Crystelle. “Pinapatawag kayo ni Ate Leigh” dugtong n’ya.
Tumango ako.
“Let’s go,” naglahad ng kamay sa akin si Franz.
Tinitigan ko muna ‘yon ng ilang sandali bago tinanggap ang kanyang kamay. Sinundan ng tingin ni Crystelle ang magkahawak naming kamay ni Franz ngunit hindi s’ya nagkumento.
Habang papalapit ay naririnig na namin ang bangayan ng mga kasama namin.
“Hindi ko na ‘to kaya!” reklamo ni Amy.
“Then leave! We won't stop you” mariing sabi ni Ate Leigh.
“What's happening here?” singit ko nang makalapit kami sa kanila.
“Oh you! I heard you're the class president?” si Amy.
“I am” simpleng sagot ko naman.
“Since you're the leader of this group why don't you go down and check if we can get out of here?”
“Do you want me to make myself as a bait?” pagak akong natawa.
“I didn't say that. Ang sinabi ko ay tingnan mo kung pwede na tayong umalis sa building na ‘to” umirap s'ya at humalukipkip.
“Since ikaw ang nakaisip bakit hindi ikaw ang gumawa?” taas kilay na tanong ni Maika.
“Ako ba ang leader? Hindi ba't ang leader ang laging nauuna at panatilihing safe ang mga kasama?”
“Oh don't use the leader card, bitch. Dahil dadaan ka muna sa akin bago mo utos-utusan ang president namin,” angil naman ni Maika.
“Stop it” singit ko dahil mukhang magsasabunutan na ang dalawa. “Is that what you me to do?” malamig kong tanong kay Amy.
“Bingi ka ba? Sabi na ngang oo” she said sarcastically.
“As the classroom president, yes you’re right. It’s my responsibility to be the leader and protect my classmates and also all of us here but I won’t make myself as a bait for your satisfaction. What’s the use kung bababa ako at titingnan kung may mga haharang ba sa atin na mga infected kung subukan nating umalis sa building ito, of course meron, use your common sense if you have. Why don’t we go down together and take down those infected and leave this building”
“I agree,” Franz said beside me and the others agreed too.
When everyone had calmed down, I began telling them about my plan to escape this building and find a temporary safe classroom while preparing for the battles we would face to get out of Helena University.
With determination in my voice, I addressed my team. "Alright, listen up everyone. We can't stay trapped in this building forever. We need to find a way out and ensure our safety. Here's my plan, we'll stick together as a group, move cautiously, and eliminate any infected that comes our way. Our priority is to find a temporary safe classroom where we can regroup and make further plans."
Nods of agreement and determination filled the rooftop as my friends (they are?) recognized the urgency of the situation. We knew that the infected were lurking outside, waiting for any opportunity to attack. It was a risk we had to take, but we were prepared to face it together.
Franz stepped forward, his voice filled with determination. "Darra is right. We can't just wait here and hope for a miracle. We have to take action and fight for our survival. Let's trust in each other and get through this."
“Well, let's hope that no one here will turned their back and betray us,” Maika muttered.
The rooftop erupted with a mix of determination and fear. We knew the dangers that awaited us, but we also knew that we had each other's backs. Together, we formed a plan of action, assigning roles and ensuring everyone had a weapon for self-defense.
As we made our way through the dimly lit corridors of Helena University, tension filled the air. Every creak and rustle sent shivers down our spines, but we pressed on, our determination outweighing our fear.
Suddenly, a group of infected appeared before us, their eyes white and their movements erratic. Without hesitation, we fought back, using the skills we had acquired during our time in this nightmare. It was a fierce battle, but we emerged victorious, adrenaline coursing through our veins.
“Ahhhh!” ang sigaw na ‘yon ang nagpatiigil sa amin.
Sofia got bitten.
Nanigas ako sa aking kinatatayuan at tila huminto ang aking paligid nang makitang nakagat ng zombie si Sofia. Sa likod n’ya ay si Amira na nakaupo at pilit na umaatras.
“Sofia!” sigaw ni Crystelle.
Agad na sinugod ng mga lalaki ang zombie na umatake kay Sofia at napatay nila ito ngunit huli na ang lahat. She’s infected. She’s one of those flesh-eating-zombies.
“No! Don’t come near me!” Nanghihinang sigaw ni Sofia nang subukang lumapit sa kanya ni Crystelle.
Agad namang pinigilan ni Zac si Crystelle sa paglapit ngunit nagpupumiglas ang huli.
Naglakad ako palapit kay Sofia at hindi palang ako tuluyang nakakalapit ay pinigilan na ako ni Franz. “Don’t,” pigil n’ya sa akin na sinabayan n’ya pa ng pag-iling.
“B-But…”
“Leave now!” Sigaw ni Sofia habang umiiyak.
Bumagsak s’ya sa sahig at hindi nagtagal ay nangisay s’ya, sign na anomang oras ay hindi na n’ya kami makikilala at tatangkain na n’yang atakehin kami. Ngunit hindi s’ya tumigil sa pagsasabi na kailangan na naming umalis.
Natigil ang pangingisay n’ya at nang tumingin s’ya sa amin ay unti-unti nang nagiging puti ang kulay ng kanyang mga mata.
“T-Thank…you…for e-evrything…Crystelle…Please s-survive..a-and…l-li-ve your l-life…with-o-ut re-regrets” putol-putol n’yang sabi habang titig na titig sa mata ng kanyang pinakamalapit na kaibigan.
“No! Sofia! Bitawan n’yo ako!” pagwawala ni Crystelle.
“We need to leave” mahinang sabi ni Franz ngunit rinig naming lahat.
Ayaw umalis ni Crystelle ngunit hindi namin s’ya p’wedeng iwanan. Kaya naman nagtulungan si Zac at Gab para maisama s’ya.
Nang medyo makalayo na kami ay nilingon ko si Sofia. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko dahil akala ko ay atatakehin n’ya kami, ngunit nagkamali ako. Tumakbo s’ya sa ibang direksyon at tuluyang naglaho sa aking paningin.
Walang nagtangkang magbukas ng usapan sa amin habang naglalakad kami sa madilim na hallway. Tanging ang mahihinang hikbi lamang ni Crystelle ang aming naririnig at ang mahihinang ungol ng mga zombies sa paligid.
Breathing heavily, I looked at them, their faces smeared with dirt and sweat. "We did it," I said, my voice is shaking and it was almost a whisper.
As we continued our journey, we encountered more obstacles and faced countless battles. But with each victory, our confidence grew. We were no longer just a group of scared students; we had become a team, united by the will to survive.
Finally, we found a temporary safe classroom, barricading the doors and windows to keep the infected at bay. It was a small victory, but it gave us a moment of respite.
Gathering around, we began to make plans for our next move. We knew that escaping the university would not be easy, but we were determined to find a way. Together, we would face whatever challenges lay ahead, knowing that our unity and resilience were our greatest weapons.
We lost Sofia at ayoko nang may mawala pang muli sa amin.
“You pushed her…” lahat kami napatingin kay Maika nang basagin n’ya ang katahimikan habang nakaupo sa mga upuan sa classroom na pinasukan namin.
“What are you talking about, Maika?” tanong ko.
“Amira pushed Sofia… Hindi s’ya makakagat kung hindi mo s’ya tinulak” kalmado ngunit matalim ang tingin ni Maika kay Amira na nakayuko.
“H-hindi ko s’ya tinulak” dipensa ni Amira sa mahinang boses.
“I saw you and you're still denying it?” Maika greeted her teeth.
“No…I can't and I will never do that! You're accusing me!” angil naman ni Amira. “Ikaw ang nasa tabi n'ya nang makagat s'ya, ikaw ang tumulak sa kanya at ngayon ay binabaliktad mo ako? Sa akin mo sinisisi ang kasalanang ikaw naman ang may gawa?!”
“What?!” hindi makapaniwala na sabi ni Maika.
“Pwede bang tumigil kayong dalawa” singit ni Ate Leigh.
“No, this bitch is pissing the hell out of me! She's putting the blame on me!” akmang susugod si Maika nang harangin s'ya ni Roy.
“Liar,” Aira snarled kaya napatingin kami sa kanya.
“See? Kahit si Aira ay alam n'yang nagsisinungaling ka, Maika,” Amira said.
“I'm not talking about Maika but you, Amira. You're the liar, I saw you pushed Sofia because you're the one who will get bitten if you don't make her as a bait, right?” Aira exclaimed.
Lahat kami ay napatingin kay Amira na bakas ang panic sa buong mukha.
“Is it true, Amira? You pushed her?” tanong ko.
“I don't have a choice… Tama si Aira oo ako ang makakagat kung hindi ko ginawang pangharang si Sofia. I want to live and survive….I-m…s-sorry” she sobbed.
“I will kill you!” inatake s'ya ni Crystelle. “She's not a shield pero ginawa mo siyang pangharang?! Fuck you!” Umiiyak si Crystelle habang sinasabunutan si Amira na hindi lumalaban.
“Stop it!” awat ko sa kanila at tumulong na rin ang iba pa naming kasama para mahiwalay si Crystelle kay Amira.
“I…..am…s-sorry” Amira wipe her tears.
“Sorry? After what you've done?” nanlilisik ang mga matang sabi ni Crystelle.
“I'm…sorry” Amira sobbed again.
“I don't need your sorry. You're a fucking murderer” walang mababakas na emosyon sa boses ni Crystelle nang sabihin niya iyon.
A