The Last Quarantine

Season 1: Episode 9

At that very moment, I knew that we can do this. That we can still survive this deadly pandemic. With us, unraveling the secrets behind the weakness of these infected ones; I am a hundred percent sure that we will still see the sunrise tomorrow.

"Tangina . . ." Sambit ni Kuya Finn. Hindi pa rin siya makapaniwala. Ngayon ay napapakisap siyang pinagmamasdan ang mga infected.

"You are a fucking genius . . ." He added with a hint of gasping.

Huminga ako nang malalim. "Ang kailangan na lang natin ngayon ay gumawa ng plano para makalayo sila sa bus. Sa dami nila ngayon diyan, I doubt it if malalagay natin iyang gasolina even if we are currently on the time of their weakness."

"Oh," bumagsak ang mga balikat ni Kuya Finn, "right."

Matapos ay tumingin siya kay Kuya Nero na ngayon ay seryosong nakabaling lang ang tingin sa kawalan. Halatang napakalalim ng iniisip niya. "Hey, bro. You should think of a plan, magaling kang gumawa ng plano. Ekis naman ako sa ganiyan." Kuya Finn continued wincing. "So, ikaw nang bahala."

And then, we wait. Ibinabaling ko ang tingin sa buong paligid. The whole place continued to be dark. Laking pasasalamat ko na lang talaga at napundi yata iyong streetlights dito sa banda kung saan tumigil ang bus. Kaya't safe na safe talaga kami. Wala kaming dapat alalahanin kung hindi ang mag-isip ng epektibong plano sa kung papaano mapapalayo ang mga infected sa bus.

And when my gaze land on Ate Alexis' face, she rolled her eyes at me. Napaubo tuloy ako at pinili na lang na ibaling ang tingin kay Kuya Nero na ayaw magpa-istorbo sa pag-iisip.

"We should distract them." He finally said. His gaze are still cemented on the bus. "Since hindi naman sila nakakakita at all sa dilim, we can distract them through our cell phones. Gamitin natin iyong flash light para agawin ang atensyon nila."

Then he turned his gaze at us, "But first, we need to inform Athena and company. Kailangan malaman noong mga nasa loob na dapat nilang patayin iyong ilaw para ma-divert completely iyong atensyon ng mga infected sa atin."

Pero biglang humina ang kanyang boses. Ang kaninang kumpiyansa sa kanyang tono ay animo naligaw at iniwan na siya. "Ang problema lang . . . paano? Sound proof iyong bus. There is no way they will going to hear us if we shout from here."

Napakagat ako ng labi.

Kasabay ng biglaang pagkadismaya ko ang pagbuga ko ng iritadong hininga.

"Right," napapailing na ngumiwi si Kuya Finn, "we don't have any banners here or kahit man lang mga papel na pwedeng pagsulatan. And most expecially, we also don't know how to do that damn sign language."

"Me too," sabay naming sambit ni Kuya Nero na sinabayan pa ng paghugot ng malalim na hininga.

Paano nga ba?

Paano nga ba namin ito masosolusyunan?

Padami na nang padami ang mga infected. Kung hindi talaga kami gagawa ng paraan ngayon ay baka huli na ang lahat makalipas lang ang ilang minuto.

It was a long moment of silence when Kuya Nero started to talk again, "Mukhang wala na tayong choice."

Napatingin kaming dalawa ni Kuya Finn sa kanya. I was buffled. Completely puzzled with just came out from his mouth.

"One should be brave enough to tempt these infected people. Kailangan, may isang lumapit sa kanila para ma-distract na talaga sila."

"I'll do that," mabilis pa sa alas-kwatrong sagot ni Kuya Finn. Walang takot na maaaninag sa kanyang boses. He really want to do this.

And I don't agree with that.

"Nope, I will do that."

Kuya Finn and Kuya Nero stared at me as if I grew another head. Iyong para bang hindi talaga nila inaasahan iyong sinabi ko. Iyong parang mas magkakatotoo pa iyong pumuti ang uwak keysa sa magkatotoo iyong sinabi ko.

"Are you serious? You must be kidding me." Kuya Finn told me with a disapproving look, "Come on, I know I am bit harsh to you lately. Pero wala ka namang dapat patunayan." He eyed me as if I am a complicated book, "The fact that you deciphered their weakness is a massive thing already. Let me handle this for us."

Pero ayoko talaga.

I really need to do this.

I have to do this for my own good.

Masiyado na akong nagiging mahina lately. Ang lampa ko. Ang tanga ko. Ang hina ko. At alam ko, I am more than that. So I have to do this. I have to prove myself wrong. I need to be on the right side of my own history.

"Kuya Finn, I want to do this." I heave a deep sigh, "Ibigay mo na 'to sa akin."

One fast moment after, his face suprisingly softened. At one moment, I saw a genuine emotion from his eyes. It was a whole package of concern covered by a massive wrap of the context of being indennial.

"Bahala ka nga!" Kandautal siya. He looked away. "Kung gusto mong mamatay, sige. Ikaw nang bahala sa buhay mo!" Tumaltak pa siya bago ako sinimangutan 

I just nod.

Then I smile.

I was really grateful. Kasi alam ko, ito na talaga iyong dapat kong gawin para mawala na iyong kaba sa dibdib ko. I have to face my fears now before it create a gigantic ball of havoc to my system.

A genuine smile is painted on my face as I continue to watch the infected ones to increase their quantity. Padami sila nang padami. Padelikado sila nang padelikado.

"Are you really serious, kid?" I turn my gaze at Kuya Nero. His eyes are telling me to say no. Because deep down I know, the equivalent of his concern is his lack of hope to my own capabilities.

I smile at him. Still a genuine one. One that will tell him, I am ready to whatever will happen to me. "Opo."

It was long moment of him fighting with himself. Para bang gusto niya talagang tumutol pero dahil sa matigas ang ulo ko ay wala na siyang nagawa kung hindi ang pumayag.

"Okay, okay." He finally said, halatang napilitan lang. "Here's the plan . . ."