Chapter 5

He came in front. "Ako na maghahatid sa kanila papuntang safe zone." Pag bubulantaryo pa nito.

Tumango naman si Rye. At humarap ulit sa mga taong nandoon. "Now, since our car is only a small van, it can only fit up to 10 to 12 people inside. We'll make sure to prioritize the kids and the senior citizens."

"We'll also search for cars, and also spot some nearby people that is also camping here. Baka kailangan din nila ng tulong." Pagpapaliwanag pa niya. "Marj?" Tawag nito kay Marj. Tumango lang si Marj na parang alam na ang gustong ipagawa ni Rye sa kanya.

Tumayo si Marj at isa isang pinalapit sa kanya ang mga bata. There were a total of 4 kids, including the wounded one. Then there are 17 senior citizens in the crowd. So a total of 21 will be prioritized. Since sampo lang ang magkakasya, pinauna na nila ang mga bata bago sinunod ang nga senior citizen na may mga kapansanan na, like those seniors na hindi na nakakakita at nakakalakad.

"Hey." Tawag pansin sa akin ni Rye. Ngumiti ako sa kanya bago lumapit.

"Will you be okay? We need to search for additional cars since medyo madami tayong mga nandito." Dagdag pa niya.

Tumango lang ako para sagutin ang tanong niya kung ayos lang ba ako.

"Kanina ka pa tahimik." Pansin pala nito.

Napabuntong hininga nalang ako bago nagsalita. "I'm getting worried." Humarap ako sa mga tao at nakita na pasakay na si Sab at Max sa loob ng sasakyan.

"They'll be okay." Turan ni Rye ng mapansin niyang nakatingin ako sa mga bata.

Tumango ako, "Sana nga. Hindi ko alam kung anong mangyayari sa atin dito, kaya mas mabuting mauna na sila papunta sa safe zone." ani ko pa.

Tumango din ito bago ako pinayakap sa kanya. "They'll be safe, soon." 

Napapikit nalang ako. Mhm, comfy.

"Hey love birds, they'll be off soon." Pagpapaalam pa ni Ace sa amin.

Napabitaw naman ako sa yakap ko kay Rye ng makita kami ni Ace. Ang gaga, pangiti ngiti lang.

Tumango si Rye bago umalis at pinuntahan si Taheiv, i guess that's his name? Siya na daw bahala sa mga bata.

"Hoyy bitchh, ang PDA niyo. May payakap yakap pa talaga kayong nalalaman ah." Hinampas niya ang aking braso at patuloy akong tinukso.

I glared at her for hurting my arm. "What?" Tawa tawang saad nito.

"Wala 'yon." Pagdadahilan ko pa. "He's just worried of me kaya niya ako niyakap." 

Mas lumawak pa ang kanyang ngiti at pinanlakihan ako ng mata. "Nag aalala din naman ako sayo pero hindi ako yumakap, ikaw ah!" 

I just face palmed, wala akong mapapala sa babaitang 'to.

Ng mapansin niyang hindi ako umimik sa pang aasar niya, lumayo nalang siya sa akin at simunod kay Rye. Geez, magkapatid nga.

Naglakad ako palayo sa mga taong nandoon. Dumistansya lang kunti. Mag iisip isip nalang muna ako.

"Let me accompany you." Isang boses galing sa likod ang aking narinig.

Napalingon naman ako upang alamin kung sino ito. My eyes locked with his, I saw a faint of gentleness flash in his eyes for a second. I eyed him from head to toe. He's tall, taller than I am. He have this perfect shaped jawline, a reddish lips, and a pointed nose. His adams apple caught my attention as it bubbled up and down. He also have this lean body built, and I'm pretty sure under his shirt are ripped and refined muscles, such as abs.

He cleared his throat, waking me up from admiring his body figure. "So... Can i?" Pagtatanong ulit nito.

Tumango nalang ako bago nagsimulang maglakad palayo. Sumunod naman ito sa akin, at kalaunan tumabi na rin. He's keeping up with my pace.

"What's your name?" Tanong nito ng mamuhay ang katahimikan sa amin.

"Belle." Maikling pagpapakilala ko.

Humarap ito sa akin habang patuloy na naglalakad. Nilahad nito ang kanyang kamay at nagpakilala. "I'm Kurt." Aniya sabay ngiti.

I accepted his hands then let go in a bit.

"Are you really this quite?" Tanong niya. Siguro hindi na rin kinaya ang pagkatahimik ko.

Bumuntong hininga lang ako at umiling, patuloy parin sa paglalakad. At dahil pinaglihi yata sa kakulitan itong si Kurt, hindi niya ako tiningilan at panay daldal lang siya at kwento about sa sarili niya.

According to him, he's a photographer and was about to have his vacation somewhere nearby. Oo ang weird niya, sino ba namang matinong tao ang gugustuhing mag bakasyon sa gitna ng kagubatan? Hayst.

Hindi ko alam, pero umabot ang usapan namin sa sinabi ni Jed kanina. About the lifeless human that's been attacking another human.

"Do you really think the virus was the caused of the said zombie existence?" Pagtatanong nito sa akin.

Tumango naman ako bago sumagot, "Yeah. As far as I've known, the central hospital of america and the greatest doctors there is still having a hard time identifying the said virus. Maybe the virus have also other side effects to some humans." Pagpapaliwanag ko pa.

Tumango tango ito, isang senyales ng pag sang-ayon. "But what if it's not caused by the virus? What if some experiment were behind it and they're using the lifeless body as guinea pig, then they somewhat failed and that made the lifeless bodies go berserk?" Suhistyon nito.

Napakunot naman ang aking noo sa sinabi niya. "What do you mean?" I asked, still creasing my forehead. And literally confused, but he do have a point, what if gan'on nga talaga ang nangyari kaya nagkaroon ng mga zombies?

He laughed nervously then shook his head. "Ah-- wala 'yon, don't mind it. My imagination just, you know too wild."

I just shrugged and continued walking. Minutes later we heard some noises coming from our left, it's sounds like two people arguing.

Sa pagka-curious ko, dahan dahan akong naglakad at nagtago sa mga halaman at damo. Sumunod naman sa akin si Kurt, halatang gusto din malaman ang nangyayari.

"What if all of these will leaked?" Madiin ngunit pabulong na sabi naman 'nong isa.

Napayuko lang 'yong kaharap nito at patuloy na nanghihingi ng tawad.

"When everything goes south, I'll kill you. Remember that." Pagbabanta pa nito. Tumango naman ang huli bago mahigpit na humawak sa tiyan niya. Hula ko, sinikmuraan siya kasi halata masyado na namimilipit siya sa sakit ng tiyan, at may pasa rin siya sa bandang pisngi. "Find that bastard and bring him here, again. Imprison him if needed, as long as he won't report it or even said a word about what happened. I'm pretty sure he's still somewhere nearby." Bilin nito bago tuluyang pumasok sa isang maliit na kubo sa likod nila.

Ngayon ko lang napansin, may kubo pala sa likod nila. Ngunit masyado naman itong maliit para tirhan, parang itinayo nga lang ito para gawing cottage eh. Cottage size lang kasi siya.

But what did he said? They're looking for someone? And if that someon--

My thoughts were interrupted when Kurt pulled me out of there. But because I was not aware and was clearly in shock of what he just did. I accidentally stepped on a piece of tiny wood, and eventually made a sound.

My heart beat accelerated when I saw one of the two man that was talking earlier were on his way towards our direction.

He's so close to us when suddenly a large hand pulled me and hid me behind a large bush that pretty much covered our whole figure, but before I could scream, he put his right hand on my mouth and his other hand on my stomach, putting enough pressure to stopped me from moving around.

"Sino 'yon?" Narinig kong sigaw ng lalaking papasok sa kubo kanina.

Napailing naman ang isa at bumalik sa pinanggalingan nito, "wala namang tao boss, baka hayop lang." Pagpapaliwanag nito.

Napahinga naman ako ng maluwag dahil 'don. But before that, I need to know who this man is.

"Relax." A familiar voice spoke behind me, that eventually calmed down my senses.