Chapter 7

We managed to get 6 fishes kahit muntik na rin kaming makain ng mga buwaya. It was kinda fun although it was dangerous. I've never been into something like this before because all I did was study and research.

"Woooh, muntik na yun ah," sabi ni Avelox habang buhat ang mga fishing rod

"Akala ko tayo na talaga yung makain." Zavier added habang dala niya ang basket na may anim na isda.

The shadows are getting longer and it's getting darker.

We heard some footsteps behind us kaya napatigil kami. We glanced at each other while Zavier slowly tried to get his knife out. I can't believe we'll be facing another morphing human again.

"I'm sorry I took so long," Apollo suddenly said mula sa likoran namin at napaupo kaming tatlo out of relief. I looked him and he was surprised when he saw us sat on the ground.

"U-Uhh does fishing makes you tired that much?" he asked and I shook my head

"You scared us," I answered and he raised one of his eyebrow at bigla niyang nilagay ang dala niya. I just realized now na may dala pala siya.

"Nice catch," sabi naman ni Zavier while I froze there watching the dead forest pig he caught.

"Are we eating meat tonight?" I asked

"I can't cook," Apollo said

"Leave that to me." Avelox said while picking up the fishing rods na nahulog niya nang napaupo kami kanina

Nauna na naglakad sina Avelox at Zavier at sumunod kami. I'm currently carrying twigs for the fire tonight while Apollo was carrying his catch behind me.

"May nakuha ka bang pens?" I asked

"Yeah I got three. Yung iba hindi na gumagana because it was not frozen like us. Luckily, may tatlong pens na nakatago malapit sa freezing incubators namin, its an incubator that can preserve things. Display sana para sa mga sumusunod na generation but this happened so I'm glad that we managed to save three. I'm sure we have more, I'll find it next time," sagot niya

"That's good to hear," I said

I looked around and I still can't believe that this road that we are taking was a busy street with street foods. This road was called as festive road because every single day, it's lively. Foods everywhere. Loud sounds vibrating through the air. People dancing on streets and even couples making out in public. But now, it's just an abandoned road swallowed by nature.

I noticed that the plants in this area are a lot healthier kung ikukumpara dun sa school. The bushes are thicker, the trees are larger, the leaves are all green. I bet the soil here is healthier as well. I wonder if there are other living things here other than us.

"Andito na tayo," sabi ni Avelox at agad kaming tumigil

I was stunned when I saw a huge house na kinain na ng mga halaman. It's creepy but aesthetic at the same time. The window glasses were all broken because of the outgrown branches.

Napatingin ako sa gilid and saw a broken house na nasa centro ng pond. Well, the place is huge. Also, we can catch fish here and we can start planting edible plants since the soil is healthy. A perfect place to live.

"Tara na" sabi ni Zavier

Sumunod kami at pumasok sa loob. THe ceiling was about to collapse but it was stopped by the huge branches na nasa loob ng bahay. I can really tell na nilinisan nila ito. This place needs more cleaning para saming apat since the upper floors were unusable but in this state, this place is better than none. Things are well arranged, yung ibang gamit kagaya ng mga hindi sirang baso at pieces of plate na pwede pang magamit ay linagay sa mga branches ng kahoy na pumasok na sa bahay. The stairs are broken but it looks like it has been fixed. The stairs were used as cabinets where they put some kitchen knife that can be useful.

"We cleaned this kanina," sabi ni Avelox, "Pwede na bang tirhan?" she asked

I smiled and nodded. 

"Just put the fishes and pork here, ako nang magluluto." Avelox offered

"I'll make fire," sabi naman ni Zavier

"Just rub this stones and the friction will make heat and you know what to do," I ordered

He nodded at nilagay ko ang twigs at ang mga bato na hawak ko sa tabi niya. He formed the stones into circle and kinuha niya ang natitirang dalawang bato and rubbed it into each other.

"I'll go get some clean water," I said

Lumabas ako at naglakad papunta sa sirang bahay na may pond. The water is not that clear. What should I do? I need to purify this water. Boiling? I can but it takes time and a lot of twigs and it's not convenient for now ... right its not the only water purification technique, there's another one.

"You need help?" biglang tanong ni Apollo na tumabi sakin

"Do you know how to purify water?" I asked

"Well, uhh I made a machine before that filters water but I can't make it right now. I don't have any materials." he answered

"We need a bottle, charcoal, small rocks, sand an a small piece of cloth." I said

"May nakita akong bottle sa loob ng bahay." he said

"I'll go get some sand and rock, you go get those bottles." he added

Agad akong tumayo at tumakbo papunta sa loob. Avelox was already cutting the meat using Zavier's knife while Zavier was preparing the fire. I looked around and saw 5 bottles of an old wine.

"Can I use that?" I said while pointing those bottles

"Sure, for what?" she asked

"You'll know later," I answered at agad kinuha ito.

I looked around to look for something na pwedeng lagyan ng mga bato at sand. Things are broken, guess I have to make an alternative. Lumabas ako dala-dala ang mga botilya. Naabutan ko si Apollo na may dalang bato at sand.

"Is this enough?" he asked showing his two hands filled with sand and rocks

"Yeah, I need an alternative thing para maipasok ang filtered water sa old bottles na ito." I answered while washing them

"We can use the barks of trees and make it a cone, tie it with the rope you made and put the materials" he said

I didn't think about that. This guy is really an innovator, no doubt about that.

He stood up at pumasok sa bahay. I continued to wash the bottles until they're all clean. I gathered the materials that Apollo brought para iprepare ang lahat.

Bumalik si Apollo na may dalang cone-shaped na bagay na gawa sa balat ng puno. It was tied up by the rope of the fishing rod to maintain its shape.

"Can I borrow your tie?" I asked and he gave me the filter bark and his tie and I tied the tie at the tip of the cone.

Una kong nilagay ang bato tapos ang grass na nasa tabi ng pond, I made sure that I washed it and then the sand and the rocks.

"I need charcoal" I mumbled

"I'll go check if Zavier made a fire at kukuha ako dun," he said and walked away

After a couple of minutes, bumalik siya na may dalang charcoal na nilagay niya sa dalawang kamay niya. I guess Zavier made it. Naaamoy ko na rin ang aroma ng niluto ni Avelox.

Kinuha ko ang charcoal mula sa isang kamay niya at nilagay sa cone where I put everything else. Now I need to put another layer to make this complete— rock, grass, sand and charcoal and we're all set. 2 Layers are needed for accurate results.

Pinasok ko ang tip ng cone sa transparent bottle of wine at kumuha ako ng tubig gamit ang isa pang bottle.

"The water's color is brown, how can we drink that?" he asked

"That's why I'm filtering it" I answered and poured the water into the cone. 

The brown water then turned into a clean, clear and drinkable water.

"Science is really cool." he said and I nodded

I know right, it excites me.