Chapter 8

Dahan-dahan kong minulat ang mata ko at agad kong nasilayan si Avelox na nagluluto habang si Zavier ay nakatingin sa linuluto niya. Looking at him, I can clearly tell that he’s hungry. 

"You’re up," biglang sabi ni Apollo na may dalang twigs at agad tumingin sa akin sina Avelox at Zavier.

"Good morning," Avelox greeted with a warm smile. She reminds me of my mom. She used to cook for me and handed my food with a smile.

"Good Morning," I replied with a smile

I stood up and I looked down on the grass where I laid down. It was surprisingly comfortable. Maybe because it was thick dahil sa tagal na panahon. Also, I didn’t even feel any bugs that it me, it was like a normal bed to be exact.

“Hey Cass,” Zavier called, "Those are purified," he said, "Thanks to your brain," he added and laughed.

I smiled at him at lumabas ng bahay. The shadows are short and the sun is on my left side. I guess it's 7 am. I closed my eyes to feel the fresh wind na sumalubong sakin. Back then, I never felt this because of the air pollution and tall buildings, I never thought I’d find this place comfortable and have some strangers as friends. A new side of me is born.

"Anong oras na kaya? I wish we had a clock," Zavier asked while drinking water in a cracked cup

"It's around 7 am," I replied at sabay silang tumingin sakin maliban kay Apollo.

"Just look at the sun's position and the shadows. When the shadow is longer and it’s on your right side, the sun is setting but when the shadow is short and it’s on your left side, it’s early in the morning," Apollo explained

“Exactly, and when the shadow is right in front of you, it’s noon,” I added and Zavier tilted his head out co confusion while Avelox shocked her head at tinapos yung nilluto niya

"Alam niyo minsan tinatanong ko na ang sarili ko kung may silbi ba talaga ang pinag-aralan ko kasi parang wala talaga akong natutunan," Zavier said and laughed

"Eh pati nga seasoning sa pagkain di ko alam kung san kukunin, kung alam ko lang, di ko na tinitiis ang lasa ng kinakain natin," he added

“Right.” Avelox added with a deep sigh

Seasoning ng pagkain? Salt?

"Do you need salt?" I asked

"Yeah," Avelox replied and laughed, "But sa sitwasyon na ito? I don't think we'll have one. Although we already have oil galing sa meat but we lack seasoning," she added

"Then we'll make one," Apollo said

"Paano?" sabay na tanong ni Avelox at Zavier

"The sea." sabay naman naming sagot ni

Tinaasan nila kami kilay and I just grabbed one of the bottles na walang laman. We are having a hard time living like this, we even used the broken pan just to cook and start the fire from friction.

"I'll leave this here" sabi ni Apollo at nilapag niya ang dalawang ballpen sa mesang puno ng halaman, "Just click that upper button and that's it but be careful baka matusok niyo sarili niyo. That pen is not a joke, it can literally slice of your fingers," he added

“Wait, saan kayo pupunta?” Avelox asked

“We’ll look for the sea to make salt. Also, we might find other things on our way,” I answered

“Ingat kayo ha,” Avelox said with a worried tone and expression

“We’ll be back before sundown, don’t worry,” I said with a smile

“Zavier, wag mo iwanan si Avelox dito,” Apollo said and he nodded

“Oo naman,” he replied with a huge smile

“Alis na kami,” paalam ko 

Kinuha ni Apollo na dala ko at bigla niyang nilagay ang isang ballpen sa bulsa ko. Even though I have that key, natatakot pa rin ako, having it will increase my lifespan for a bit.

We walked away until hindi na namin makita ang bahay.

"The sea is quite far from here," I said

"I know, I can't even recognize roads due to some changes," he replied

We continued walking hanggang sa nadaanan namin yung bridge. Bigla siyang tumigil at tumingin sa gilid, which is mas maraming halaman at mga billboards na sira.

"Why?" tanong ko

"Nah I just remembered something" he answered and continued walking

Well I actually saw him with Vivianne there before. They were rumored as a couple and they usually hang out there because Vivianne plays some instruments just below those billboards. It’s an underground music stage after all and I’m a fan of her kaya pumupunta rin ako doon minsan.

We walked again and passed by the gates of our school. Sa halip na dumeritso kami, we turned right dahil andun papunta ang dagat, although we needed a train to be there. I guess we have no choice but to walk.

I looked around and saw an tree with ripe apples. I ran and picked two at bumalik kay Apollo. Binigay ko sa kanya ang isa at agad naman niyang kinuha at kinain.

"I'm really thinking about this," bigla niyang sabi

"Why are you guys striving so hard to live?" he asked and I stopped walking

He's right. Why? Nothing will change. Everything will never be normal again. But there is only one thing I want to know before I die, I just wanna know why we froze and why the hell we woke up and those morphing creatures? I really wanna know what's going on.

"Maybe I just want to live," I replied and I continued walking

He did not answer and continued walking as well.

The place changed a lot, roads are filled with branches and grass but some of the infrastructures are still intact. Although some were broken and even burnt, I can still tell that they were still buildings.

"Malapit na tayo sa train station," bigla niyang sabi

"Paano mo nalaman?" I asked

"The park." he replied and pointed on our right side

Park. It’s where I usually spend my time there watching people. It’s not like I want to look at them just because I want to, I just look at them out of amusement but now, it’s just an empty space with plants around it.

He proceeded to walk in the opposite direction where the train was. I followed him but I stopped when I noticed something unusual. I ran towards him and held his uniform at tumigil siya.

"Why?" tanong niya at lumingon sakin

"May tao," I replied at napatingin sa kanya

Agad siyang napatingin sa sentro ng park where there was an old fountain. The person also glanced at us and he was not surprised, in fact, he did not move on his place, he just stared at us. I really don't understand kung anong nararamdaman ko. Should I be happy dahil may nakita kaming survivor? or should I be scared kasi its that morphing creature?

The man who was wearing the same uniform of Apollo started walky towards us slowly at napahigpit yung hawak ko sa uniform niya. Apollo held my hand and he grabbed me papunta sa likoran niya. The man’s lips slowly moved upward, giving us a creepy smile. Binigay ni Apollo ang bottle na hawak niya sa akin at agad kong kinuha. Kinuha niya ang pen niya preparing for what is about to happen. There is no way this man is just like us. Who would give some creepy smile randomly to people? 

"Stay back," he said as he held my hand tightly while his other hand was holding the pen

The man's face then started to crack but there was no blood flowing outside. The cracks then separated showing the insides of his head. After the cracks have separated, it elongated and attacked us from a distance.

"W-W-What is that?!" agad kong sabi

"RUN!" he shouted and grabbed me

Hindi na ako lumingon pa at tumakbo ako kasabay si Apollo. Hinigpitan niya ang hawak niya sakin habang patakbo kami. I don’t know if he was scared or panicking but I am. 

I can already see the train station. Even if we'll reach there, that thing will chase us.

Tapang akong lumingon and my eyes widened when the tip of the elongated flesh was hardened blood that turned into blade. The blade is a meter away from me.Am I gonna die here?

Apollo grabbed hand towards him and he held my waist papunta sa kanya dahilan ng pagsandal ko sa katawan niya and slashed his pen behind me. I heard gushing of blood from the blade that he was able to cut off. All of a sudden, the tissue regenerated in just a matter of seconds and formed another blade.

"What the fuck," he cursed at hinigpitan ang hawak sa bewang ko

Sabay kaming natumba and broke one of the bottles. Tatayo na sana ako but he suddenly laid down and held the back of my head and grabbed it towards his chest. I can hear his heartbeat and it’s beating damn fast.

He suddenly used his sword and I heard a clashing sound of blades behind me. His left hand held my head while his right hand held the sword that was protecting us.

Nabitawan ko ang natitirang bottles at napahawak sa uniform niya. I buried my face in his shoulder at hinigpitan ang hawak. I’m scared.

“Apollo,” I called with a shaky voice 

"I wanna live" I whispered and he brushed his hand at the back of my head

“There’s no way I’d let you die, not until I live”