Chapter 18
I don't feel like leaving them here. Pero alam ko namang ligtas sila dito. It's been two days already and today is the day that we will head to Howell. We will be back pero parang ayokong umalis kahit alam ko namang uuwi rin kami.
"Ate, take care. I'll be the one to prepare your food when you get back." Ani Hebrew habang nakaakbay sa akin.
He's taller than me pero inakbayan ko rin sya. Ngumiti ako.
"Wag mo na akong paasahin." At tumawa lang sya sa sinabi ko.
Maaga kaming lahat nagising. It's already four in the morning. Kahit si Carol ay gising na rin ng ganito kaaga. Howell is almost a two-hour drive from here if the roads aren't blocked. But if the roads are blocked, we have to take a different route at tingin ko'y mas hahaba ang byahe namin.
"Hebrew, ano 'yong binilin ko sa'yo?" I asked him, acting like I forgot what I said to him.
He rolled his eyes before he showed me the radio. "Tatawag ako kung may problema. At sasabihin ko sa inyo lahat-lahat." He said, twitching his lips trying to mock me.
Inirapan ko sya bago naglakad patungo kay Simon.
He opened his arms and embraced me. Ngumiti sya at tinapik ko ang balikat nya.
"You guys stay in touch. We'll be back before you even know it."
"Mag-ingat kayo. Tutulungan mo ako sa kanya pagbalik mo." Nakangisi nyang bulong sa akin sa huli nyang sinabi.
"I told you already." I acted like I'm mad.
Kinamot nya ang ulo nya kaya natawa ako. Hinila nya ulit ako at niyakap ng mabilis.
"Be back safe, Aide." Ani Simon.
"Mag-ingat rin kayo dito. Binilin ko si Chase kay Hebrew. And please, let Carol do what she wants. Stay away from her. You know your cousin is kind of psycho." Ibinulong ko na sa kanya ang huli kong sinabi.
Natawa siya sa sinabi ko at sabay kaming napatingin kay Carol na parang naiiyak na habang nakakapit kay Phoenix. Si Phoenix naman ay masamang nakatitig sa akin.
"Mag-ingat kayo. Ako na bahala sa kanila dito." Napalingon ako kay Ella at napangiti.
Kita ko ang pag-aalala sa kanyang mga mata kaya niyakap ko rin sya.
"Thank you. Kayo rin dito. Babalik rin kami agad."
"Rules are rules, guys. Ayokong pagbalik ko ay may papalabasin ako dito." Malakas na sabi ni Selena na sigurado akong narinig nilang lahat lalo na ni Carol.
Hinatid nila kami palabas. We will be bringing two cars with us. We will leave the truck when we get to Roastrel and hide it there. It will serve as our getaway in case anything happens. We will use the SUV so that we will all fit kung makuha na namin sila.
Kumaway si Simon nang makalabas na kami ng gate. Kumaway rin ako pabalik.
Si Phoenix ang nagmamaneho ng SUV. Kami naman ni Selena ang dito sa truck. Magkasunod lang ang sasakyan namin. Tahimik naming binaybay ang daan na napapagitnaan ng kakahuyan.
Nagdadasal ako mula pa kanina. Nagdadasal ako para kina Hebrew. Wala kami doon at hindi pa namin alam kung anong oras o kailan kami makakabalik. Maybe in the afternoon or maybe tomorrow. I also prayed for our safety. We don't know what's the situation of Howell. It's an urbanized city and it has a large population kaya hindi ko alam kung gaano karaming changers ang sasalubong sa amin. Natatakot ako, oo. Pero mas nakakatakot ang isiping sina Selena lang at Phoenix ang pupunta doon. They saved me from that City. And I know that place better than anyone, so I guess, now is my time to save them and get them all to safety.
"This is Simon and I will be singing you all a song, over." Napatingin ako sa radyo na nasa gitna namin ni Selena nang lumabas ang boses ni Simon doon.
Nagkatinginan kami ni Selena bago tumawa.
Napailing-iling si Selena. Umubo-ubo pa si Simon bago nag simulang kumanta.
"My love goes out of my heart and into the wind, out my guitar and under your skin. Into your house and out of your headphones." The radio went silent and we were both mesmerized by Simon's voice.
"That's where my love goes."
"Come on, bro. I'll be next." We heard Hebrew talked kaya mas natawa kami ni Selena.
"Wherever you go I'll follow. Don't worry about tomorrow."
"I will be in your shadow, walking right beside you everyday." We listened as Simon continued.
It's been so long since the last time I heard someone sing. At hindi ko inakalang si Simon ang kakanta para sa amin na parang wala lang dumaang trahedya.
"I will be the one to save ya, when I put my pen to paper. Feels like it brings us closes, even when you're so far away."
"Bullet trains and aeroplanes, I can choose the easy way. So I'll send the signal just for you." And I guess this is when he'll sing the chorus of the song.
Napatingin ako sa likod namin, nakasunod sa amin ang sasakyang minamaneho ni Phoenix. Nakita ko si Phoenix na nakangiti. Maybe he is listening, too.
"My love goes out of my heart and into the wind, out my guitar and under your skin. Into your house and out of your headphones..."
"My love goes out of your door and into the street. Down through the floor and up through your feet.Into your car and out of your radio..." I anticipated for the next words to come out from Simon's lips.
"That's where my love goes." Napapikit ako.
Simon is a very good kid. Siya 'yong lalaking may malambot na puso. Hebrew is kind of tough and fierce looking, while Simon is sweet, funny, talkative and all. Kaya siguro sinasabihan syang bakla ni Carol.
Simon finished the whole song and I complimented him. He really has a good voice.
"Ate, listen. This song is for you." Natawa ako sa sinabi ni Hebrew.
"Go ahead." Nakangiting sagot ko sa kanya.
Hebrew cleared his throat. Wala siguro silang maisip gawin kaya nila ginagawa ito ngayon. Well, I'm thankful because they just help me forget how shitty the world is. Ang takot na bumalot sa akin kanina ay unti-unting nawala dahil sa kanila.
"You deserves someone who listens to you, hears every word and knows what to do..."
"When you're feeling hopeless, lost and confused. There's somebody out there who will..." The lyrics of the song made me think about Phoenix.
I smiled. I think Hebrew is doing this on purpose. I better enjoy the song. And like Simon, Hebrew has a great manly voice.
"You need a man, who holds you for hours. Make your friends jealous, when he brings you flowers..."
"And laughs when he says they don't have love like ours... there's somebody out their who will." Hebrew, your making me follow my heart with your song.
Hindi mawala ang ngiti ko habang nakikinig kay Hebrew. I heard him laugh before he continued.
"There's somebody out there who's looking for you, someday he'll find you... I swear that it's true."
"He's gonna kiss you and you'll feel the world, stand still... There's somebody out there who will."
Napatingin ako sa likod kung saan naroroon ang minamanehong sasakyan ni Phoenix. And he's looking at me. I smiled at him. I think... I'll give it a shot. He deserves a shot. Not now, not today... Soon. I think we'll work. We can work it out.
I thanked Hebrew and also gave him compliments.
"Kantahan nyo ulit kami pag-uwi." I told them.
"We will. Take care, guys. We will be waiting for all of you here. Over." Ani Hebrew bago ito pinatay.
Our travel to Roastrel wasn't boring. They entertained us and helped lessen our worries and fears. Kung hindi siguro dahil sa kanila ay buong byahe kong inisip ang mga posibilidad at negatibong pangyayari. I took a deep breath before I went out of the truck.
We are now in a neighboorhod in Roastrel. We decided to stop here since we can't leave the car in the city proper dahil wala kaming masyadong mapagtataguan doon. It's also too risky, we don't know if there are bandits hiding in there. Well, there's also a risk in here pero marami kaming mapagtataguan dito kung sakali. Ipinasok ni Selena ang sasakyan sa isang garahe na nasa likod ng dalawang palapag na bahay.
Maraming kabahayan ang nandito at marami rin akong nakikitang changers na pagala-gala, I can see little changers. Poor kids. Ang iba'y papalapit na dito sa amin. Ang babata pa ng iba sa kanila. My brother is young, too. And he's a victim. We all are.
Phoenix went inside the house to check it. Sumunod ako. We will clear it out. Pero nakasalubong ko si Phoenix nang makapasok ako sa bahay. I can't smell anything disgusting. But the house is in a mess. Siguro ay nakaalis agad ang nakatira dito noong araw ng outbreak dahil bukas rin ang kanilang garahe.
"All clear. This is a good spot." Ani Phoenix bago ako pinauna palabas.
"Let's go. Dumadami na sila." Sigaw ni Selena sa amin na nasa loob na ng SUV ngayon.
Tumakbo naman kami agad ni Phoenix at pumasok. Pairs of hands rammed the car but we didn't bother shooting at them. Kung maaari ay hindi kami gagawa ng kahit na anong ingay na maririnig na iba mula sa malayo. There's also a possibility that there are bandits or members of the militia eyeing on this place.
Ilang beses kaming lumiko at naghanap ng madadaanan. Kahit hindi daan ay ginawa naming daan dahil hindi kami makadaan sa national road dahil sinarado na ito ng Camp.
"Where are they, ma?" Tanong ni Phoenix habang nagmamaneho sa sasakyan.
I can see how uneasy Selena is. I understand her though. She's excited to see her other son. At alam kong kanina pa sya nagdadasal na sana'y makarating sila ng ligtas.
"They are on their way." Simpleng sagot ni Selena.
Muli ay nagdasal ako na sana maging maayos ang lahat at umayon ito sa plano. The plan is, we will head to my neighborhood. Yes. Why my neighborhood? I know the place very well at may alam akong daan na matatakbuhan namin at mapagtataguan ng sasakyan. Sana'y wag lang kaming salubungin ng napakaraming changers.
Muling lumakas ang tibok ng dibdib ko habang kumakain kami. We brought foods in here as well as gasoline and citrus juice. We don't know how long this will take and we had already prepared for the worst.
Maybe half an hour before we will finally reach Howell City.
Inisip ko nalang ang mga kinanta nina Simon at Hebrew kanina para maibsan ang kaba sa dibdib ko. Napatingin ako sa rearview mirror at nagtama ang mata namin ni Phoenix.
"We will make this through." I whispered under my breath making sure that they won't hear it.
Tumingin ako sa labas ng bintana at huminga ng malalim. After several minutes, I can already see the familiar surroundings. Namuo ang luha sa mga mata ko pero agad ko itong sinalubong. Mabilis ang pagpapatakbo ni Phoenix at mabuti nalang ay hindi sarado ang daan papasok dito.
He slowed the car down before it stopped totally as Selena watched through the binoculars. Scanning the place we are entering. I scrutinized the place, too. She's right. It's a deadland.
"Damn." Mura ni Selena nang may nasa higit isang dosenang changers ang sumalubong sa amin.
Ilang beses rin akong napamura sa aking isipan. Hindi pa nga kami tuluyang nakakapasok pero ito na agad ang sasalubong sa amin.
"Let's go!" Ani Selena at agad pinaharurot ni Phoenix ang sasakyan.
Walang pakialam si Phoenix kahit ilang katawan ang nadaanan namin na parang mga bato sa daan. It slowed us down pero agad na lumiko si Phoenix para iwasan ang mga humaharang at mga katawang nagkalat sa daan.
Mabilis ang pagpapatakbo ni Phoenix. After ten minutes ay nakikita ko na ang entrada ng lugar na kinalakihan ko. I don't live in the proper area of the city at hindi ko alam kung gaano karami ang changers na nandoon.
Trees, houses, gardens, porches and pathwalks. Everything is familiar.
"Turn right, Phoenix." Sinunod nya naman ang sinabi ko.
"Harris, are you there? We've reach Howell." Ani Selena sa radyong hawak nya.
It made a screeching sound. May mga changers na pagala-gala akong nakikita pero hindi ito ganoon karami. Maraming mga basura at nalalata na mga katawan sa daan. Stray dogs looking intently at our car.
"Stop in front of that house." I told Phoenix, pointing at the two storey house.
Mataas na ang sikat ng araw dahil mag aalas nuwebe nya. We stopped in front of the house of Wright's. I'm sure their house is empty since I saw them leave in a hurry that day.
"Mom, the roads are blocked. Shit. They've locked down Velleity. I don't think we can make it."
Para akong binagsakan ng langit at lupa sa narinig ko sa radyo ni Selena.
"We have to get out of here first and hide the car." Ani Phoenix kaya nagsilabasan kami ni Selena.
Kinakausap nya parin ang anak nya. I pierced my sword in the changers head who greeted me as I got out of the car.
Tumakbo ako sa nakabukas na garahe ng mga Wright's at siniguradong walang nagtatagong changer sa loob. Dala-dala ko ang galon ng citrus juice sa kabilang kamay ko. Nang maipasok na ito ni Phoenix ay binuksan nya ang pinto sa kabilang dulo ng garahe, papasok iyon sa bahay.
My house is just one block from here and I'm tempted to go in there but I can't take the risk.
Sumunod kami ni Selena papasok sa garahe. Bumalik si Phoenix para tulungan akong ligpitin ang mga nasa walong changer na naagnas at nangangamoy na lumapit sa amin. Kalahati ng laman ng galon ang ibinuhos ko sa dinaanan namin o sa labas ng garahe bago ibinaba ang gawa sa kahoy na pinto ng garahe. Darkness ate us but the light that's coming through the small windows is enough para makita ko ang loob.
Lumakad kami patungo sa pinto na papasok sa bahay. I've never been here before but I know the people who lives here.
We checked all the windows first at isinara ang lahat na nakabukas. Binuhusan ko rin ng kaunti ang pinto sa harap para dumaloy ito palabas.
"Harris, you have to make it!" Halos umiyak na si Selena habang kausap nya si Harris. "We will wait here. Hindi kami aalis hangga't hindi kayo makakarating dito."
Si Phoenix ay nakahawak sa bibig nya habang pabalikbalik ng lakad sa tabi ni Selena.
"I can't risk their lives, Ma. Hindi namin alam kung sinong gumawa ng mga ito. Baka nandito lang sila." Sagot ni Selena.
Hindi ko alam kung magtatagumpay ba kami sa misyon namin ngayon. Pero kailangan naming magawa ito. Nag-isip ako ng mga posibleng daan sa Velleity. Tingin ko'y ganoon rin ang ginagawa ni Phoenix. I've been there a couple of times with my friends. Think, Aide.
I'm sure they hadn't blocked those roads that aren't usually used. Like in Roastrel, they blocked the national road and some of the streets but not all of them. Sabay kaming nagkatinginan ni Phoenix.
"Rusco!" Sabay naming sabi ni Phoenix.
Hinablot nya ang radyong hawak ni Selena. "Harris, try Rusco. I don't think those people blocked the roads there."
"Malayo kami doon. We don't have enough gas to drive that far. Wait." Kinapitan namin ang huling sinabi ni Harris.
Maybe he has an idea. Rusco is a place, it's part of Velleity but it is a farmland. Farmers usually used that way in transporting their crops. It's far from the city though but It's the last thing that we can think of.
"We will run when we reached Rusco, but we need you guys to get us." Ani Harris.
Sobrang delikado ng naiisip nyang plano. But it's their only choice since they can't bring their car. Siguro'y malinis masyado ang pagkakasara ng mga daan sa Velleity dahil hindi nila magawang dumaan sa mga lugar na hindi daan. Like what we did in Roastrel. Nakadaan kami dahil kahit hindi daan ay tinahak namin.
"Deal. I'll be the one to get you there." Walang pag-aalinlangang sagot ni Selena. "Can you make it in an hour?"
"I don't think so. Shit. Sobrang dami ng changers dito." Nanlumo ako sa naging sagot ni Harris.
Do they even have guns?
"Find anything to mask your scent kung makababa na kayo sa sasakyan nyo. We'll give you over an hour. Stay safe. Be vigilant." Ani Selena.
I've known her to be a strong and tough woman. At ngayon ko lang sya nakitang nanginginig ang mga kamay. She must be so worried about his son. It made her so desperate.
If she will pick them up. We will need a different car. Hindi pwedeng ang nandito ang gagamitin namin. What if bandits find them? They will need to abandon the car and run towards here. The car in the garage will be our getaway car.
"We will need a different car." I said to them.
"I think so. Time is running. We have to find a different car now." Ani Selena habang pabalikbalik ng lakad. "Any idea, Aide?"
Nag-isip muna ako sandali. Pagkarating ko sa bahay ay changer na si Mama.
I'm sure she was bit by someone who lives near us. Napahawak ako sa noo ko gamit ang isa kong kamay.
Morgan's. Agad akong napatingin sa kanila.
"The Morgan's. They live beside us. They turned before I even reached the house and I'm sure their car is still there." I explained.
"We have to go and get it." Ani Phoenix.
He stared at me. Sandaling tumitig ako sa mga mata nya. I can feel how worried he is. For me.
I smiled bitterly. "Let's go."
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Disclaimer for the songs:
That's where my love goes - LAWSON
Somebody out there - A Rocket To The Moon 🎶🎼
Matatagalan pa ang next UD! 😘😘 Sana makapaghintay kayo.