The Last Quarantine

Season 1: Episode 20

Nagising ako mula sa mahinang pag-alog ng bus. Kinukusot ko ang mga mata ko noong ibaling ang tingin sa bintana. It was already morning. For what I can sense, it's already five o'clock in the morning.

And before I can muster a word, reality hits me hard again. Tito Theo. He is gone. He is totally gone.

Tuluyan na akong napamulat ng mga mata. And I was really careless when I stood up. Muntik pa akong matumba dahil umaandar ang bus.

That specific moment, all I want to do is to go back to Tito Theo. I effin want to make things right. Kasi baka pwede pa? Baka pwede pa naman?

I was about to really drag my way towards the door when Kuya Nero was so quick to grab ahold of my arms. Sa lakas niya ay naisalya niya ako sa inuupuan niya. "Hey, where are you going?"

That was the time when my eyes started to water again. I sniff. I sob. I cry my most painful tears. "Tito Theo . . ."

Kuya Nero heaved a sigh. For a moment, he looked hurt and regretful. But when he bounced back, he gave me a reassuring blaze on his eyes.

"I know that Kuya Theo's death is too tragic and sudden, but you know, that's just how life works." Kuya Nero is staring right into my eyes with a genuine concern on his face. He is with one knee as he continued. "One moment, you're alive then the next day, baka mawala ka na. Life is just a journey with you being blinded by the possibilities of your death."

Hindi ako makasagot sa kanya.

Tanging pag-hagulgol lang ang nagawa ko. Dahil doon ay nagising si Venice na nakaupo sa gilid ng seat namin. She gave me an symphatetic look.

"Gan'on talaga sa buhay, Santhy. People that we love might be gone with the wind and we can never halt it. Maari silang mawala sa atin sa isang kurap lang. Sa isang hinga lang. At wala talaga tayong magagawa para mapigilan 'yon." Humugot uli siya ng malalim na hininga. "After all, Kuya Theo had his reason for what he did. We can never blame him."

Kuya Nero messed my hair, he is still staring at me with an emotion that's fueling the pain inside me. "That's just how the way it is. Maybe, he died for us to live our life for him. With his exit, the entrance of our new beginning should take place. That's when we fight the challenges of life with a stronger combat. With a braver heart."

I nod at Kuya Nero. I was savoring all of his words like it's the last food on Earth. "Namatay si Kuya Theo at dahil doon, you should live for him. Kasi iyon naman ang gusto niya, 'di ba? He wanted you to be safe. So live. Live for him. Alright?"

I was still nodding when Kuya Nero smiled at me. Humahagulgol pa rin ako noong umisod ako ng upo para bigyan siya ng espasyo sa tabi ko.

Then I continued sobbing. I cry and cry and cry until my heart become numb. But the pain? It seems permanent. It seems inevitable. Dahil nagpatuloy lang talaga ako sa pag-iyak.

Siguro, isang oras na yata ang nakalipas noong makalma ko na ang sarili ko. Ngayon ay nagsisimula na talagang tumirik ang araw. I can clearly see the sunrise from where I am sitting.

"Nasaan na po tayo, Kuya Nero?"

"Nasa daang hari na tayo. Kaunting oras na lang, nasa New Bilibid Prison na tayo." He smiled at me.

Then he turned his gaze infront of us. "Kanina pa dapat, eh. Kaso nagka-aberya tayo sa Imus. We needed to push all of the cars out of the way para makadaan tayo." Kuya Nero keep his eyes on the road. "But the good thing is, nalagpasan din natin."

I nod at him.

But I was the quickest to turn my head on the road when the bus suddenly stopped. There, we saw a man. Winawagayway niya ang kanyang kamay. Tila bang hinaharang kami. He is not infected. He is wearing a mask with a child beside him. Ang batang babae ay halatang takot na takot habang nakatingin sa amin.

"Papasukin ba natin?" Tanong ni Kuya Seiya. Then Ate Bianca entered the scene from my back.

"Ofcourse. He has a child."

"Wait, no!" Kuya Finn started to go hysterical again. "Malapit na tayo sa last quarantine, baka magkaaberya pa tayo!"

Ate Bianca throw him a knit on her brows. "So, you are suggesting that we just pass by and left him with that petrified little girl?"

"Oo! We can't waste any chance here! The fuck with you?!"

"You are a selfish bastard." Ate Bianca stared at him with a dull emotion. "I am going to let them in at kung ayaw mo, it's either you fucking go out of this damn bus or be the biggest version of your shit."

Sa narinig ay natigilan si Kuya Finn.

Nakakunot pa rin ang noo ni Ate Bianca noong lumabas na siya. Sinundan siya ni Kuya Nero. Nagpasya na lang din akong sumunod sa kanila.

"Ako po si Joshua," paninimula noong lalaki, "ito po ang anak ko. Maari niyo ba akong matulungan, Ma'am?" Namumugto ang mga mata niya.

"Yes, we can. Tara po sa bus." Ate Bianca replied while gesturing them on the bus.

"Pero nasa loob pa po ng bahay namin ang asawa ko. Buntis ho siya." He told us with the corners of his lips turning down. A sign that he is about to cry.

"Okay, let's go. Where's your house?"

"Doon ho, Ma'am." Tinuro ni Kuya Joshua iyong bahay na nasa gilid namin.

Agad na tumango sa kanya si Ate Bianca. That's the point when we started to drag our feet towards the house. Ligtas naman sa buong paligid dahil wala namang makikita dito ngayon kung hindi ang bakanteng mga bahay.

Sa pangunguna ni Kuya Joshua, pinihit niya ang door knob. Sa ginawa niya ay nakita ko kung papaanong nahintakutan iyong anak niya. Nanginginig ang bata. Bakit?

"Nasa kwarto po siya."

"Go, we will help you." Ate Bianca camr as we dragged our way towards the second floor.

Then for a moment, I heard a familiar growl. It was coming from that room where Kuya Joshua's wife is situated.

Teka . . .

Parang may mali . . .