They said that they're now going to do it. But what it is that they are planning to do?
My body jolted a little right after I felt something hot touched my cold trembling hand, and it made my heart beats faster than how it actually is.
Gumawi ang tingin ko sa aking tabi at nakita ang malambot na tingin sa akin ni Faye na humawak sa aking kamay. Umiling ito sa akin habang may nag-aalalang tingin sa kanyang itsura.
“Calm down,” she whispered.
Doon ko lamang napansin na sobra na pala akong nanginginig. Hinawakan ko ang aking kanang kamay habang humihinga nang malalim, pilit pinapakalma ang sarili.
“Take some fresh air first,” I heard Phoenix said. Tumingin ako sa kanila, isa-isa, na siyang ikinatatango nila habang may nag-aalalang ekspresyon habang nakatingin sa akin.
Alam nila kung bakit ako ganito, at iyon ay dahil ako ang kanilang leader at ako ang maglilead sakanila sa ganito.
Simula noong nakasama ko sila ay itinuring ko na silang kagrupo, ngunit sa pangyayari, at noong nalaman kong may mga pinaplano ang mga ito kay Klaus ay tuluyan ko silang inalis sa pag-iisip na sila'y aming kagrupo at pinanatili si Klaus na ngayo'y pinoprotektahan ni Faye at Phoenix— ang duo sa pakikipaglaban kahit noong nasa militar pa lamang kami, at ang subok na subok sa close combat.
I oath to protect Klaus and it means I will be responsible for his lives and safety, just like the people in our group, and my measures right now are much greater than before because I fear something worst happen again.
Muli akong huminga nang malalim.
“Right,” bulong ko sa aking sarili gamit lamang ang mahinang boses.
Calm your shits, Harper. As long as it hasn't happened, you can still prevent it.
“Don't worry, we can do it. You’re not alone, okay?” Faye assured me, trying to ease my worries that helped a little.
I nodded my head and smile at them. Yeah. I am not alone. I don't have to carry the burdens alone, after all, I have them with me.
Tumayo ako at naglakad palapit sa pintuan.
They're in silence as I walked away from this room. At the last glance, I looked at them from this distance.
Faye's already lying on her bed with a pillow covering her face. Beside her are Phoenix and Warren who are quiet and looking at their hands that are on their lap as if in deep thoughts. I sighed heavily and shook my head before opening the door.
Bumungad ang malamig na hangin kahit na hindi naman nakabukas ang pinto sa labas. I closed the door and walked towards the veranda of this second floor for where the rooms are located.
Niyakap ako ng malamig na hangin nang buksan ko ang glass wall noon. Ang aking buhok ay sumayaw sa malamig na simoy ng hangin at ang aking hininga ay nagkaroon ng munting usok dulot ng lamig.
I looked above as I saw that the sky is dark, and the moon was being covered by clouds as if it's about to rain or snow later.
How long has it been when we entered our room and started talking about their plans? I don't know. I looked at the clock above the door and saw how it's slightly frozen, yet it's the hands inside is moving as if it doesn't mind the cold that's surrounding its physical body. And from there, I saw that it's only six.
Winder is coming.
I wonder what it is, the seasons in the Philippines once we reached that county that people are saying that it's safe. Would there be a winter season too?
As I walked towards the end of the veranda without removing my gaze at the sky full of clouds.
Right, after this, we're going to the Philippines— that was our original plan and it's still our plan even today. Even when we learned that we've been socializing with wolves wearing lamb's skins, our plan doesn't change even from before.
We will still go to the Philippines. And look for Klaus's brother, the Petterson, and ask for their help.
Gumawi ang tingin ko sa ibaba nang makaramdam ako nang presensya sa oras na makarating ako sa dulo. From there, I saw the family— Meredith, Parker, and their daughter, Myra.
Myra is happily playing in front of the couple who's just laughing at her.
Naramdaman yata nila ang aking presensya dahil tumingala ang mga ito.
Myra saw me but instead of hiding on her parents like she usually does for she's such a shy cutie-pie, she waved her tiny hands to catch my attention.
“Harper! Come here!”
Ang matinis nitong boses ang pumaibabaw sa aking pandinig. Natawa ako at napailing.
I saw Meredith asking me to come down and I know it won't hurt to do so.
So I did.
Pagbaba ko ay tanging si Parker lamang ang nandoon. Buhat nito si Myra na nakatingin pa rin sa langit.
“It's going to snow tonight, right, Papa?” Her tiny voice sent warm feelings to my body, as I couldn't help but smile.
She looks like an angel in this cruel world, the only pure being that's in this land to judge the living. As to how her eyes gleamed in the darkness due to the lamp that's Illuminating the dark, she looks so innocent, so pure. . . that it's sad because she was born to live in this disaster, full of war and undead creatures dominated the world.
But this is our war.
I slowly walked towards their place and looked at Parker who's answering his daughter's questions. Maybe he felt my presence, for he looks at me and nodded his head before guiltily lowered his gaze as if he couldn't bear to look at me as if he has offended me.
He played with Myra, his daughter, and I realized how he loves her so much that I suddenly felt envy because I forgot what a father's love is.
“Where's Meredith?” I asked instead.
My heart is melting while looking at them, and it seemed as if my eyes are playing tricks with me when the image of Parker became Zeon as he is carrying our child.
Napakurap-kurap ako dahil doon, kasabay ng pag ihip ng hangin. Napayakap ako sa aking katawan sa lamig. Doon lamang ako natauhan at nakitang nakabaling na sa akin si Parker pagkayaring sagutin ang mga tanong ng kanyang anak.
“She said she's just going to get something,” he explained.
Nang magsalita ito ay bumaling si Myra sa akin, ngumiti ng inosente na muli kong naramdaman ang kakaibang pakiramdam tulad kanina, bago ito nagpumilit bumaba na ikinatawa ng kanyang ama bago sinunod ang gusto nito.
As we watched how Myra is cheerfully playing in front of us, waiting for the snow to fall from the sky above.
Napangiti ako habang pinapanood sya. Nabaling lamang ang atensyon ko sa aking kasama nang magsalita ito.
“We haven't talked yet, and I haven't apologized.”
I looked at Parker after hearing what he said.
He remained looking at his daughter with too much adoration that could be seen in his face.
Before he transferred his gaze to me. “I'm sorry for what I've acted back then,” he said so sincerely as if he's regretting it.
I gave him a warm smile. Who am I not to accept his apologies? And it's been a week, I'm slowly moving on but it doesn't mean I'll forget them.
Nothing will happen if we would remain to look back when we could push forward and leave every bad memory behind.
“It's okay, I understand,” I answered instead.
After all, what they've experienced isn't simple.
They almost lost their lives as well as the life of their daughter. Myra is only an infant at that time, based on what Meredith told me.
For sure, due to the desperation for security and resources, they took a limb and almost risk their lives so that their daughter would be secured, only to find out that the military wouldn't open their gate even though they are aware of their presences, of their pleas, and of the zombies that are coming in their way.
Gaano kahirap umalis sa ganoong pagkakataon?
My eyes followed Myra as she ran towards us with her giggles, as she lifted both of her hands to her father.
“Papa! Carry! It's going to snow now!” she cheerfully said in which Parker laughed before lifting her. “Yay!” she's so jolly, so happy that I didn't notice that I'm already smiling while watching them.
Her laughers and how her eyes gleamed in innocence and pure joy is what makes me calm right now, and the beauty of snow plummeting on the ground as she plays with it carefree made me smile genuinely, and this view is something I wouldn't get used of watching until she grows.
In my head, the promise of protecting her keeps repeating in my brain, as a payback for how Meredith and Parker helped us to take shelter in the middle of this apocalypse.
I didn't regret going out to join them.
“You wanna carry her?”
I blink fast when I heard Parker's voice, as when I looked at him, he's smiling while watching me.
He seemed as if he knows what's running in my head right now before he looks at Myra who's extending her hands in the air, waiting for the snow to touch her tiny hands.
My heart melted and didn't think twice, even though I've always make children cry every time I'm carrying them inside the military before, which I once believed that it's because of my scary face.
“Can I?” I whispered without removing my gaze at Myra. “Wouldn't she cry on my arms? Kids always do that. . .” I asked nervously.
Parker's laughter echoed in this place before he took a glimpse at the house and smile, before looking back at me that I forgot to look at whoever he's looking at.
“Of course you can. And she wouldn't cry, after all, she's fond of you,” Parker answered me and whispered something to Myra that my ears didn't catch, before the child looks at me and there, I thought she's going to cry, just like how the other children cry every time their parents would give them to me.
Faye said my facial expression is what makes these children be scared of me. Hmph!
But Myra. . . she's a peculiar child. She's brave, that even though she doesn't know me, she giggles and nodded her head excitedly.
“I want Harper!” She even extended her hands as if asking me to carry her. Parker chuckled and gently gave her to me.
As I carry her, it feels like something warm just touched my heart. Yakap ang maliit nitong katawan, yumakap rin ang kanyang maliliit na braso sa aking leeg bago ko narinig ang kanyang hagikhik habang inaabot ang mga niyebe na nahuhulog mula sa itaas.
It's kind of warm, despite the frigid surroundings that are hugging us. My eyes watered as I look at her, couldn't help but be amazed at how jolly and cute she is!
I wonder, what would it feel to carry Zeon's child?
“Hi, Harper! My name is Myra Alexandria! Nice to meet you!” She happily introduced herself before she brushes the stand of hairs at my face and placed her hand just below my eyes.
“Your eyes. . . no. You are so pretty and brave! I want to be like you someday!” She bravely stared at my eyes, with her dark blue orbs are staring straight into my light ones, tears started falling from my eyes.