The Last Quarantine

Season 2: Episode 18

Nagdaan ang ilang nakakakilabot na segundo, nagsiksikan kaming lahat sa gitna ng ilalim ng bus. I am shaking in horror as I cry for help. With the cold concrete road that's touching my arms, I can't help but to just let my tears avalanche down the cemented road.

I am hopeless.

Hanggang sa naramdaman ko na lang na niyayakap ako ni Santhy sa gitna ng ingay na ginagawa ng nga zombies. They are all cornering us. Wala silang daan na pinalagpas para malusutan namin.

That exact moment, I hate myself for admitting that we are on the verge of our death.

"Fuck it!" Santhy exclaimed in combined disappointment and horror. Humihigpit ang ginagawa niyang pagyakap mula sa likuran ko. He snaked his arms on my body as I felt his chest to go up and down thru my back. He is up for protecting me at all cost.

"Who the fuck opened that damn light?!" He continued as I found myself dumbfounded when I saw the zombies to move closely towards us. Itong nasa harap namin ay gumagapang habang inaabot kami. Tapyas ang kanyang buong mukha. Wala na iyong balat at tanging puting bungo at kaunting mapupulang laman na lang ang makikita sa kanyang ulo.

Kusa akong kinilabutan nang unti-unti siyang nakakalapit sa amin. Animo isang patay-gutom na hayop, giyang na giyang siyang abutin kami para kainin.

"Tangina!" I heard kuya Nero from our side. Pigil hininga kaming lumingon sa kanya. I gasped the moment I saw his deadly situation.

Ngayon, may zombie ang humahawak sa kanyang paa. He tried to kick that zombie but it was to no avail. Nakanganga ang zombie na iyon habang ang kanyang isang mata ay nakaluwa.

"Shit! Putangina, bumitaw ka!"

Kuya Nero tried everything para lubayan siya ng zombie na iyon pero wala pa ring nangyari. Wala siyang magawa nang naging malapit na malapit sa kanyang paa iyong nakangangang bibig ng zombie na iyon.

"Tangina . . ." Kuya Nero whispered as I clearly saw his face to flash a sequence of a formative horror. He is looking like someone who is not ready to give up his life.

Pero . . .

Sa pagitan ng paghinga namin nang malala dahil sa sitwasyon ni Kuya Nero at sa makabasag-taingang paghiyaw ng mga zombies, we were all shock when the lights from the car started to fade. Darkness succumbed the whole place. As ironic as it may seems, we found light on this dead darkness.

Then there was Ate Bianca's voice.

"Kayong lima, makinig kayo!" She yelled at us from afar and I blink out of curiousity. Naningkit ang mga mata ko habang pinapakinggan siya.

"We are trapped. With the quantity of zombies around us, ang mabuhay ay isang imposibleng ideya ngayon. We are being flooded by these bullshits."

Maingay ang ginagawa naming paghinga. Pinipilit na ang boses ni Ate Bianca ang mamayani sa aming mga tainga. Sa ingay kasi ng mga zombies sa paligid ay nahihirapan kaming marinig siya nang maayos.

"We are completely trapped right now. There is no way out. Kung gagapang tayo papalabas ng tunnel na ito, hindi natin kakayanin. Pwede tayong mamatay sa mga pagyapak nila sa atin and at the same time, pwede nila tayong mainfect. Sa dami nila, hindi iyon imposible."

I closed my eyes and tried to focus my ears at Ate Bianca's voice. I tried hard to elude the unnecessary noises from the zombies. Good thing, I was able to do it.

"Hindi rin natin pwedeng hintayin ang mag-umaga. Paniguradong magiging umagahan nila tayo the moment na nakita nila tayo kapag may liwanag na. We can't just play god right now and let the time pass by if we really aim for survival."

There is a huge amount of authority from Ate Bianca's voice. Despite her obvious hiding emotion, it was clear to me that she wants this. That she really wants to create a winning plan that could save us.

"That is why Seiya and I decided to come up with a solution . . ." Hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla akong nakaramdam ng kakaiba sa kung papaano siya magsalita ngayon. She sounds like someone who is in deep pain. That specific someone who is forced to do a mandatory thing.

"We are going to sacrifice our lives for the five of you."

Hindi ko inasahan ang mga narinig.

I gasp. Kasabay ng panlalalaki ng mga mata ko.

"What the fuck, Ate?!" I heard Ate Athena. She whispered under her controlled breath. When I turn my gaze at her, her eyes were all widened just like mine.

Then I was not ready when Ate Bianca's voice turned shaky. "Athena, baby sister--" she stopped for a moment, she sounded like someone who is holding her painful her sobs, "be safe, Athena. I am doing this for you. Pinangako ko ito kina Mama at Papa noong nabubuhay pa sila, eh. I told them that I will keep you alive. That I will do everything just to protect you. Kahit buhay ko pa ang kapalit."

Hindi na naituloy pa ni Ate Bianca ang sasabihin. From my situation, I can clearly feel that she is breaking down right now. I can figure her hugging Kuya Seiya as she mumbles nothing but sadness.

"Ate! Ate . . . 'wag! We can still think of a better solution! Anything but this, please!"

Narinig ko naman ang paghagulgol ni Ate Athena mula sa tabi ko. Nagpumiglas siya mula sa yakap ni Kuya Nero. Pero hindi niya nagawang makaalpas mula doon. Wala na tuloy siyang magawa ngayon kung hindi ang iiyak na lang nang iiyak ang sakit sa kanyang dibdib.

Napapikit ako sa nasasaksihan.

This scene is creating a huge hole on my heart. I found myself savoring the painful heat on my chest. Naluha ako para sa kanila. Naluha ako sa ideyang kayang isakiprisyo ni Ate Bianca ang kanyang buhay para sa kanyang kapatid. And also, for Kuya Seiya. He really loves Ate Bianca. He is willing to go down the road with her even if it means death.

Naramdaman ko ang mainit na hininga ni Santhy sa aking balikat. His hug became tight as he grazed his lips on my shoulder blade. With the way he sighs, it was evident that we are feeling the same way.

"So, here's the plan." This time, it was Kuya Seiya. His tone is still deep. Leadership is still evident by the way how he yells. Pero hindi niya maitatago ang lungkot sa kanyang tono ngayon.

"We will move the car towards the direction where we came from. Iyong direksyon kung saan may mga zombies ang ngayo'y tuloy tuloy pa ring pumapasok dito."

He stopped for a minute. I hate myself for imagining him with his tears and his hidden sobs.

Then this time, Kuya Seiya continued with a voice that is closed to the sound of sadness, "The moment we open the lights once more. Tatakbo kayong lahat papalabas ng tunnel na ito. Iiwanan niyo kami. And you will all aim for survival for us. You will all keep yourself alive for us who sacrificed just for you all to taste survival. Alright?"