Desolated Cryosphere (Postponed Revisions)

7

CHAPTER 7
Heat

"Gusher! Bakit may ganito?" Sinundot-sundot ko ang mga cushion na nakadikit sa mga pader. I did not noticed them immediately because of their colors and textures, but this place is surrounded with cushions.

I noticed them today because of me being clumsy. Natumba ako at nauntog sa akala kong pader, hindi nakaramdam ng sakit dahil malambot ang dingding.

"Protection." He simply said.

"From what?" Nagtatakang tanong ko saka kumuha ng chichirya mula sa bowl.

"Sa katangahan mo. Maybe I knew that the person that I am going to be with is clumsy kaya pinaghandaan ko na noon pa." He smiled at me like a fool.

May aircon sa lungga ni Gusher kaya hindi mainit, mabuti nalang. We could have died because of suffocation!

"Huwag kang mag-alala, may oxygen tanks diyan. Kung hindi mo napansin, may machine tayong gamit. It supplies the oxygen inside our place." I am shocked because of what he said, nasabi ko pala ng malakas ang mga naiisip ko.

The oxygen machine is powered by electricity.

"Paano kapag nawalan ng kuryente?" I asked as the junkfoods crunch inside my mouth.

"Generator." Saka niya itinuro ang maliit na generator na nasa sulok ng silid.

"May sapat na gas. Don't worry." He continued, stopping me from saying my next words.

Hindi ko napansin ang mga galon dahil nakatago pala sa isang malaking cabinet. May mga kerosene din doon, na sa palagay ko'y para sa heater.

"Bakit may heater?" I asked. Nakakapagtaka lang. Our place is so warm, may carpet ang sahig at nakapalibot ang malalambot at makakapal na foam. Ang aircon lang ang nagpapakomportable dito. We could just turn the AC off kung nilalamig siya. The heat would be enough.

"Bakit ang dami mong tanong?" He asked back.

Ngumuso ako at nanahimik nalang.

"Everything in this room is for our survival. Just trust me. I've been here since day one, well, I've been here alone for a long time."

Nanahimik nalang ako at mas lalong nadama ang inip sa paligid.

"Can you tell me stories about your parents? Or your family?" I requested to somehow ease the awkwardness and boredom in this place.

"My dad was a police officer in this town. My mom was a teacher, an elementary teacher." Pagkukwento niya.

"My brother, Flaubert Ynigo or Flyn as we call him, is in Sta. Juliana. When our parents died a year ago, umalis siya dito. Together with all of the other citizens here." He narrated, still busy popping some chips inside his mouth.

"He left his younger brother here?! Kahit na alam naman niyang dapat umalis?" I asked suprisingly.

"He wanted to take me with him. Umayaw ako. I don't want to leave this house. Pinaghirapan 'to ng mga magulang namin. Bakit ako aalis kung pwede namang hindi?" Sagot niya.

"Why did your parents die?" Hindi ko napigilang mapatanong.

"My dad was shot, gun shot. And my mom, had a heart attack because of that. They died on the same day." Medyo nabasag ang boses niya baka dahil wala pa siyang pinagsasabihan nito. He is alone for a year. Besides, hindi pa ganoon katagal ang pagkawala nila.