Chapter 8
"So, are we going to share a bed?" Nakapameywang na tanong ni Carol nang makapasok sya sa kwartong tinutuluyan ko.
Ngumiti ako sa kanya at tumango.
She shrugged before slumping into the bed. I draw the curtains down bago lumapit sa drawer kung saan ko nilalagay ang mga gamit ko. I don't have that much clothes but I have things here which I collected from the supermarket.
"Well, I don't really mind even though this bed is just half of my bed before. Oh, I think I might fall from this." She kept on talking pero ngumingiti lang ako.
I heard Chase knocking on my door. Not actually knocking, I must say clawing.
Nanlaki ang mata ni Carol bago umupo at sinundan ako ng tingin. I opened the door and let Chase in.
"Oh my god! You let that dog in here?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong nya.
"Yep. That couch is his. He's clean." I answered while playing with Chase's fur. "It's okay, Chase." I cooed when he growled.
He really hates Carol.
"No way!" She whined.
I calmed myself down and pretend that I'm not pissed. I smiled at her, naiirita na ako sa kanya pero kailangan ko syang pakisamahan.
"Don't worry. You can have the room for tonight." I said before getting my pillow.
"Oh, thank you! You know, it's been so long since the last time I've been in a room... alone. I need to have a good sleep." She replied.
"Sure. Malawak pa ang bubungkalin mo bukas." I smirked na nagpawala ng ngiti nya bago nya ako tinalikuran at binalot ang mukha nya ng kumot.
I took a blanket from the cabinet. Tinignan ko muna si Carol bago lumabas ng kwarto kasama si Chase. This girl is weird. I mean, maganda sya but there's really something about her aside from her bitch attitude. Hindi ko lang alam kung ano yon. But I'm sure I'll figure it out soon.
"It's better here. Right, Chase?" Chase barked once, he really understands what I'm saying.
I fixed the couch. Buti nalang at malapad ang couch na 'to. Nakahiga na si Chase sa kabilang couch.
It's already past eleven. The house is already quiet. Maybe the two boys are already in a deep sleep same with Carol. Ito siguro 'yong unang gabi nilang makakatulog sila ng maayos. Si Chase ay tulog na rin. So, I tried to sleep once again.
"Aide..." Naalimpungatan ako nang may marinig ako tumatawag sa pangalan ko.
Phoenix's face is in front of me. Waking me up.
Sa gulat ko ay napabalikwas ako ng bangon dahilan para mahiga ako ulit. Sapo ang noo ko na nauntog sa ilong nya.
Sinamaan nya ako ng tingin bago tinignan ang kamay nyang mula sa ilong kung may dugo ba.
"That hurts!" Reklamo nya, looks pissed.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. Ikaw kasi," Nagawa ko pa talaga syang sisihin.
Tinignan ko ang orasan sa dingding.
"It's still 12. Come on, Phoenix!" He just disturbed my sleep.
Tumayo sya dahil kanina'y nakaupo sya sa sahig. Minamasahe nya na ngayon ang ilong nya. Masama parin ang tingin sa akin. Ngumisi ako.
"I already said I'm sorry, Phoenix." I said in a sincere voice.
"Why are you sleeping here? Did she kicked you out?" Kunot-noong tanong ni Phoenix.
Nameywang sya bago tumingin sa kwarto kung nasaan si Carol. Nang tumingin ulit sya sa akin ay umiling ako. Parang ayaw nya pang maniwala. I let out a deep sigh bago bumangon para maupo.
"You know she doesn't like Chase and she's acting like a child, Phoenix." I told him.
"Still, you're the first one to be in that room." He replied in a serious tone.
"It's okay. Okay lang ako dito. Isa pa, mas prefer rin ni Chase na dito kami." Sabay turo ko sa natutulog na si Chase.
Umiling-iling si Phoenix bago ako tinalikuran.
"Go back to sleep. We'll be early tomorrow." Inirapan ko sya bago bumalik sa pagkakahiga.
Minsan talaga ay hindi ko matantya si Phoenix.
"I can't! Why?" Naiinis kong reklamo kay Phoenix.
When I throw the blade, hindi iyon tumatama sa katawan ng puno. Minsa'y natatamaan ko pero hindi bumabaon. I've been doing this already for almost half an hour. I didn't waste a single bullet kaya I convinced him na ito naman ang pag aralan ko. Kanina pa kami ni Phoenix at Chase dito. Kahit si Chase ay alam kong naiinis rin dahil hindi tumatama ang mga tira ko. Pero si Phoenix, he tried it twice before I started doing it. Ang galing nya lang.
"You're gripping it too much. Your arm is in a different angle." Nafu-frustrate na talaga ako.
"No, ayoko na. I'll try it another day." Tinawanan lang ako ni Phoenix.
I clenched my teeth bago ako sumunod sa kanya. Mabibigat ang mga paang naglakad ako nang may marinig ako na nagpatigil sa akin. We are about thirty meters away from the car which is not visible from here since we are currently in the woods.
Natigilan rin si Phoenix at napatingin sa akin. Chase growled while sniffing in the air. He took a step forward from where the sounds came from. I don't think the sun will rise today since it's already five and I can't see any signs of it. Instead, there were dark clouds.
"Chase, come here." Tawag ko sa kanya.
Naglakad si Phoenix at sinundan kung saan nanggagaling ang tunog. It means, he's drawing us farther from the car and deeper into the woods.
Sumunod ako kaya unti-unting mas luminaw at lumakas ang tunog na naririnig namin. They're growling loudly, I can also hear shrieks. Allowing us to hear how hungry they are. Hindi ko alam kung saan o kung sa ano nanggagaling ang ingay na naririnig namin. Nakasunod lang si Chase sa amin. I'm glad that he listens to what we say really well.
Tumigil si Phoenix at nagtago sa isang kahoy. Ganun din ang ginawa ko. He told me to spray the perfume in my body and that's what I did. I don't like this idea... and the weather. Hindi ako sigurado kung saan nanggagaling ang ingay na naririnig namin but I'm sure it's not from a changer. It's different this time.
Chase doesn't like what we're doing too dahil umiiyak sya ng mahina. He pulled me by biting my jeans.
"Phoenix, let's go." I whispered.
Sumilip ng bahagya si Phoenix at nakita ko ang gulat sa kanyang mukha. He mouthed "run" and we sprinted.
"What did you saw?!"
"Just run, Aide!" Sigaw nya sa akin.
We sprinted, making sure na hindi kami madadapa.
The sound died and I can hear someone chasing us.
"Shit. Shit. Shit." I cussed under my breath.
Sigurado akong ang nakita ni Phoenix ang humahabol sa amin. Lumingon ako at nalaglag ang panga ko sa gulat. What the hell.
"Keep on running!" Sigaw ni Phoenix.
I heard loud groans and snarls. We will surely die kung maaabutan kami ng mga iyon. I don't want that to happen. Not now that I'm good with guns already.
Nakikita ko na ang sasakyan ilang metro ang layo mula sa amin. Nauna si Chase. I fired at them kahit tumatakbo kami but the growls just went louder. Mukhang nagalit ko pa yata.
Pinatunog ni Phoenix ang sasakyan sabay pasok. Binuksan ko ang backseat at doon na rin pumasok.
One rammed in the back of the car but Phoenix hit the gas at pinaharurot ang sasakyan. Sobrang lakas ng kabog ng dibdib ko na naririnig ko 'yon. Even Chase panted as he sat beside me.
Lumipat ako sa shotgun seat at tinignan ang daan na tinahak namin kanina.
"What the hell! Phoenix, they're still chasing us!" Sigaw ko.
Phoenix glanced at the rearview mirror at napamura. He clenched his jaw and turned left.
"What are you doing?!" Singhal ko sa kanya.
"Get the gun and shoot them. We will try to lose them. Hindi nila tayo pwedeng masundan!" Aniya kaya agad akong bumalik sa backseat at kinuha ang rifle ko.
I fired thrice pero walang natamaan sa apat na humahabol sa amin. Sobrang nanginginig ang mga kamay ko. I don't know what to do with them but I just kept on firing. What the freakin' hell are these creatures?
I hit one pero sa katawan lang ito tumama and it just slowed it down.
"Shit!" Malakas na mura ko pero hindi ako tumigil.
I shoot it again and this time ay bumagsak na ito.
Lumiko pa ng ilang beses si Phoenix before he went over 100kph. Napasalampak ako sa upuan nang hindi ko na sila makita. They slowed down from running when they saw the other fell down. Doon pa lang ako nakahinga ng maluwag.
What a nice way to start our day.
And because we took a different route, it took us over an hour before we saw the side of the wall of Selena's house.
"What do you think are those?" I asked Phoenix.
Umiling-iling sya. "I'm not sure but I can say that they're not dogs. Maybe they're one of the prime casualties of the virus."
Tumango-tango ako. Maybe they are.
"You think it's manmade? I mean, everything that's happening now."
"Yes. It is. Those assholes are the ones behind this. Mad scientist." Walang pag-aalinlangan nyang sagot.
I still agree to what he said. I've seen a lot of them on televisions like stranger things on Netflix, resident evil, maze runner and more. Scientists believes that they can make a better and a different world that's why they never stop going beyond. They make weapons to defend their place but It only leads to destruction and I believe that what happened a week ago is a failure to their study that's why we're living shit today. I'm not saying that all scientists are mad and evil but hey, most of them are. Pero sigurado naman akong hindi lahat ganun.
"What the hell happened?" Tanong ni Selena nang makita ang likod ng sasakyan.
"This is clearly not a changer's doing." Komento ni Hebrew.
"I can't believe this." Simon added.
Kahit kami ay hindi rin makapaniwala. Poor truck of Phoenix. It's like it has been clawed by a lion.
"Hi, Nick!" Nanlaki ang mata ko nang makita si Carol na mukhang kakagising pa lang. "I just had my breakfast. Sana talaga sumama ako sa inyo."
Nalaglag ang panga ko sa sinabi nya. Sana rin at nang iwan namin sya dun kung mag iinarte sya. It's already nine o'clock at kakagising nya pa lang? Tumingin ako kay Selena at umiling-iling sya. Palagpasin nya nalang muna, unang araw pa lang naman eh.
"What's going on?" Kunot-noong tanong ni Carol nang walang pumansin sa kanya.
"We'll talk inside about this but first we'll pour gasoline five meters away from the walls." Utos ni Phoenix.
"Yes. Hindi nila pwedeng masundan tayo dito." Pagsang-ayon ko sa kanya.
Nakita kong kinakabahan ang tatlong baguhan pero agad silang kumilos. I told them that we have to find a different way to do this dahil masasayang namin ang ilang galon ng gasolina. I'm sure there's another way. I also told Selena that we should warn the other survivors out there at inuna nya ang anak nya. Kinausap nya ito at binalaan nya na rin ang iba lalo na ang nasa Camp Hawkins kaya kami nalang ang gumawa ng kung anong mga dapat gawin.
May dalawang changer akong iniligpit na nagtatago sa mga puno sa likod.
Damn. There's still a lot of things that's need to be done in this house.
At talagang hindi sumikat ang araw. Mas dumilim lang lalo ang paligid dahil mas kumapal ang ulap. Uulan na naman mamaya, sigurado ako.
"What we saw back there are not changers. They're different." Inalala ko ang mga itsura ng nakita namin.
"They have four legs, no tails, long nails, they have no fur but they also have no scales. They have eyes like changers and their skin is too pale." Paliwanag ko.
"The camp said they've seen it already during night time. Hindi naman daw ito lumalapit sa kanila. And they only saw it twice. Wala na pagkatapos non." Kumunot ang noo namin ni Phoenix sa sinabi ni Selena.
The ones that chased us a while ago, ang babangis nila.
"They're eating a horse in the woods. They chased us when they saw us." Phoenix said.
"That's too creepy. Buti nalang at ligtas ka Nick." Hindi pinansin ni Phoenix ang madramang mukha ni Carol.
"We need to set up an alarm around here or even in the woods or on the road. You three will hep me with that after we're done planting." Ani Selena kaya agad namang sumaludo ang dalawang lalaki dahilan para matawa siya. "And Carol, you'll plant the crops. The boys already finished your part in cultivating, is that okay with you?"
Hindi agad nakasagot si Carol. Pero nang makita nyang hindi na natutuwa si Selena ay sumagot sya.
What we saw back there is horrifying. Kung infected sila ng virus, dapat ay naaagnas na rin sila gaya ng ibang changer. Pero ang mga iyon ay hindi at ang bibilis pa nilang tumakbo.
I just wished that our situation will be the same with Camp Hawkins. I don't want to encounter those creatures again.
Kami nalang tatlo ang naiwan sa mesa dahil pinakilos na ni Selena ang tatlo. Tatapusin nila ang ibang gawain bago pa umulan.
Naghanda si Selena ng pananghalian namin.
"The gasoline will be washed out when it will rain." Kanina pa iyon laman ng isip ko. "What if we will use hose or pipes at ipaikot iyon sa labas ng pader? Pwede nating butasin ang ilang bahagi non para kung gusto nating palabasin ang gasolina to masked our scent here ay hindi na natin kailangang lumabas pa. We will hook the hose to the spigot of the tank and allow it to flow on the tubes or pipes if we need it. And also, if it will rain, it will be washed out but not all of them dahil may mananatili pa sa hose." Paliwanag ko.
"That's what I was thinking." Sabay subo ni Phoenix ng maning kinakain nya.
"Or... We will use the juice of the oranges para hindi masayang ang gasolina natin. We can mixed it too." Dagdag ko.
"We will need more oranges for that though. Let's try checking other farms tomorrow." Sabi ni Selena.
"Did you tell them who you are, Ma?" Phoenix asked her mother.
"No. Hindi muna. I need your brother to be here first." Selena answered.
All of them have been called in service pero hinihintay nya pa si Harris.
"Did you talked to him?" Phoenix asked again.
Tumayo ako para maglabas ng mga disposable plates, spoons and forks dahil may mga pagkain na sa mesa.
"Yes. I told him to be careful and about what you saw. Hindi pa daw sila nakakakita ng mga nakita nyo. I told him that I will report once he arrives and... he doesn't want me to." Paliwanag nya.
Harris doesn't want his mother to be with Camp Hawkins. I understand. Families are what matters most now.
Kulog at kidlat ang bumati sa amin sa labas nang matapos na kaming kumain. Nakita kong halos kalahati ng lupain sa likod ay handa ng taniman. One fourth of the place ay hindi matataniman dahil may bodega doon kung saan inilalagay nina Selena ang hindi na nila masyadong napapakinabangang mga gamit.
Tinuruan kami ni Selena kung paano itanim ang pipino. Hindi ko alam kung saan nya nakuha ang mga kawayan pero alam kong magkakasilbi ang mga iyon.
We divided the tomato seeds to the four pots that has soil already. We're still drying the seeds of the beans before we can plant them as well as the eggplants. But for the sweet potatoes and potatoes, they're ready to be planted. Hindi nagreklamo si Carol pero ipinapakita nya sa amin na ayaw nya sa ginagawa nya pero binalewala lang namin sya. Obligasyon nyang gawin ang trabaho nya.
Natapos ko ng bungkalin ang natitirang parte na hindi pa nabubungkal habang nagtatanim sila. Pawis na pawis sina Hebrew at Simon pero hindi ko makitang ayaw nila ang ginagawa nila. Nagtatawanan pa nga sila lalo na kung nababara nila si Carol.
Gusto ni Carol na puntahan si Phoenix pero tuwing aalis sya ay binibigyan siya ni Hebrew ng gawain.
Wala dito si Phoenix at hindi ko alam kung anong ginagawa nya pero sigurado akong nasa harap sya ng bahay.
Hinanap ko muna sya saglit para tignan kung anong ginagawa nya. I saw him measuring the barbwires.
"Enough to cover the whole area?" I asked as I huddled towards him.
"Almost but this will do." Nanlumo ako sa sinabi nya.
We need to take all the precautions now lalo na't hindi lang changers ang nasa paligid.
"What if we use pointed metals and put them on top?"
"We'll need a welding machine for that." I pouted my lip. He's right.
But if we use cement on top of the concrete walls before puting sharp metals, it will do.
"Then we must find some cements instead." I proudly stated.
Phoenix layed his eyes on me and grinned.
"Clever girl." He stated.
Binalewala ko ang sinabi nya. "Where's Chase?"
Tumingin sya sa paligid nya. Wala si Chase, sigurado akong wala rin sya sa likod. Pero nakita ko sya sa loob kanina matapos kaming kumain. I fed him before I went outside. Phoenix went inside at akala ko'y papalabasin nya si Chase.
Nanlaki ang mata ko. "Did you went outside with him?"
"No!" Mabilis nyang sagot.
Tumakbo ako sa loob at sumunod rin si Phoenix sa akin.We called Chase pero wala kaming naririnig. I just hope that he's sleeping somewhere, wag lang sa labas.
"Chase! Come on, boy!" Phoenix called.
Galing sya sa itaas, wala sya doon. Then we heard him barked. Tumakbo ako papunta sa cr sa may kusina at mas lalong lumakas ang tahol ni Chase.
I saw him wiggling his tail when I opened the door.
Agad ko syang niyakap nang makalabas sya.
"How did you get in there?" Nag-aalala kong tanong sa kanya.
Abala kaming lahat sa labas habang sya ay nakakulong sa banyo. Natakot ako noong hindi namin sya agad nakita.
Tinawag sya ni Phoenix papunta sa may sala.
"Maybe he just accidentally locked himself in there." Ani Phoenix habang nilalaro si Chase.
I crossed my arms around my chest. "Maybe."
It's almost four in the afternoon. Bumalik ako sa likod ng bahay and helped them. Now that we have more mouths to feed, mas kailangan naming damihan ang itatanim namin.
We already consumed the meats in the basement. But soon, we will have to loot again dahil hindi namin hihintaying konti nalang ang matira bago pa kami kikilos.
Bumuhos ang malakas na ulan na may kasamang kulog at kidlat kaya nagsipasok na kami matapos takpan ang mga kakatanim pa lang.
And because Phoenix is already with us now ay hindi na tumigil sa kakadada si Carol.
Nasa dining table kami nina Hebrew and Simon habang si Selena at si Phoenix pati si Carol ay sa sofa nagpapahinga. Si Phoenix ay dito sa amin nakatingin, halatang naiirita. Carol is pretty pero maiirita ka sa ugali nya. Hindi ko masyadong marinig ang mga pinagsasabi ni Carol pero ang iba ay naririnig ko.
"How long have you been here, Ate?" Hebrew asked kaya napatingin ako sa kanya.
"Since the first day of the outbreak. These two saved me. I lived in Roastrel by the way." I asnwered.
"Hebrew, I'm so sick of her." Sabi ni Simon na nakatingin kay Carol kanina pero sa amin na nakatingin ngayon.
I smiled. "What do you mean, Sime?" In short for Simon.
"She always try to get the attention of everyone, Ate. Minsan ay ako pa ang napagdidiskitahan nya." Simon replied.
"Just let her be, Sime. As long as hindi ka nya sasaktan, let her." Ani Hebrew.
I furrowed my brows nang marinig ang sinabi ni Hebrew.
"Nananakit sya?" Tanong ko pero hininaan ko ang boses ko.
Tumango silang dalawa.
"She's really not my cousin by blood, Ate. I mean, she's the daughter to the first husband of the woman who married my uncle. My uncle adopted her, that's why we have the same last names. " Napatango-tango ako sa sinabi ni Simon.
Wala ng nagsalita sa amin ngayon kaya pinakinggan nalang namin si Carol.
"So, Nick. Do you have a girlfriend before this happened?" Carol asked kaya agad akong napatingin kay Phoenix.
His eyes are on me.
Tinignan ko si Carol. She's waiting for Phoenix to answer her question. Si Selena ay tinanggal ang salamin nya sa mata at tinignan si Carol.
"What's her name?" She giggled, pretending. "Oh! It doesn't matter now since she's not here."
Galit na galit ang mukha ni Phoenix nang tumayo sya. Sinipa nya ang single sofa bago nya ito nilagpasan at umakyat sa itaas.
Nagkatinginan sina Simon at Hebrew bago nagtawanan nang makita ang reaksyon ni Carol.
Carol just crossed the line.