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Chapter 20: Mistrust.
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2022-02-02 08:07:25KATANA.
I silently slipped on my indoor slippers then slowly walked out of the room. Sumilip ako sa magkabilang side ng madilim nabhallway at tuluyang lumabas nang walang mapansing tao roon maliban sa isang anino sa veranda. Bago tuluyang bumaba ay dumeretso muna ako sa dulo ng hallway at tinabihan si Jeran doon. “Hey,” I greeted in a low voice, still thinking about the thuds somewhere around the house. Na-a-anxious ako... Pa’no kung... pa’no kung zombie pala ‘yon na kinakalampag ang pinto? O ‘yong mga harang namin? Pa’no kung makapasok sila at tulog kaming lahat? But not all of us are asleep, though... I should calm down... “Hey.” LumingoRelated chapters
The Runners Chapter 21: Burned to ashes.
KATANA. Tinahak namin ang tahimik na hallway ni Jeran. Maging kami ay tahimik, walang gustong bumasag sa katahimikan. Nang huminto ako sa tapat ng pinto ng kwarto nina Ynah, mabilis akong hinarap ni Jeran nang nagtataka. “What are we doing here?” gulat niyang tanong, hawak ang braso ko. Pero tumitig lang ako sa kanya at sa gulong-gulo niyang mukha bago muling ibinalik ang tingin sa harap ng pinto nina Ynah. Ilang araw ko nang gustong katukin ‘yon, pero hindi ko magawa dahil natatakot ako sa pwede kong madatnan. But as days past by, my suspicion grew more and more— lalo na kapag nakikita ko si Ynah na parang takot at... natataranta. I grabbed the doorknob, ignoring Jeran’s tight grip on me. “Katana!”
Last Updated : 2022-02-03The Runners Chapter 22: Hypocrite.
THIRD PERSON’S POV. THE WHOLE van was just silent as Santi steer the wheel from the driver’s seat. Almost all of them were asleep, but despite the silence everyone is offering, they could all feel the gloom... the misery... the tiredness and the hell they all went through. Karlos heaved a deep sigh. He stared at his unconscious sister beside him, and he couldn’t feel more worried than he is right now. A small voice from the back of his head kept on blaming Ynah for all that happened today... and although he doesn’t want to, his whole system agrees to that voice. Because really, if it weren’t for Ynah, if she hasn’t done what she did to her mother, if she just told them what happened to Nana Neli, this wouldn’t have happened... And even if Ynah is unconscious just as how Katana is, he ba
Last Updated : 2022-02-04The Runners Chapter 23: Confusion.
THIRD PERSON’S POV. “GUYS. GUYS, positive,” mabilis na bulalas ni Belle nang buksan niya ang pinto ng van habang palinga-linga ang mga mata sa paligid. Napalingon sa kanya ang mga kasama sa loob ng van na noo’y gising na pala at nakahanda na, bago isa-isang nagsibabaan. Natira na lang sa loob sina Karlos, si Katana at Ynah na tulog pa rin, at si Jerome. Karlos wanted to wake his sister up, but he’d rather carry her because he knew how tired his sister is. Alam niyang hindi na ito halos nakakatulog ng maayos, kaya napag-desisyunan niyang ipasan na lang ito. Si Jerome naman, bagaman galit, ay ipinasan pa rin si Ynah. Nakalalay sa kanya si Belle, na bagaman tulad niyang hindi maintindihan ang ginawa ng kaibigan, ay nag-aalala pa rin. She then locked th
Last Updated : 2022-02-05The Runners Chapter 24: A daughter's teardrops.
KATANA. “WHAT DOES he mean ‘dad’?!” Mabilis na napalingon sa akin sina Daryl at Jeran, kapwa naguguluhan din. Okay, I voiced that thought out loud... Walang nakakaalam sa amin kung anong tinutukoy ni Kuya so I gotta calm down... Yes, Kat... I breathe in slowly, trying to calm my nerves, pero maya’t-maya lang akong napapapikit ng mariin dahil sa inis. Tsk! How the hell am I supposed to calm down?! Pakshet kasi si Kuya! Hindi niya ba naisip na masyadong overthinker ang kapatid niya? Hindi niya ba naisip na masyadong nakakagulo sa sistema ang sinabi niya? It’s as if he just dropped a freaking bomb in front of me and he didn’t even try to ellaborate what he said! Talagang iniwan niya lang akong nakanganga! How
Last Updated : 2022-02-06The Runners Chapter 25: His old man.
THIRD PERSON’S POV. “LALABAS MUNA kami.” Iyon kaagad ang lumabas sa bibig ni Karlos nang makapasok sila sa loob ng sinehan at makapagpahinga ng kaunting oras. Mabilis na napalingon sina Belle, Jeran, Jerome at Santi sa kanya. Halos lahat sila ay kunot ang noo dahil sa pagtataka kaya napabuntong-hininga na lang si Karlos at pinanood ang iba pa nilang kasama na pagod na sumalampak sa hilera ng mga upuan. “Kailangan nating humanap ng tulong para makaalis na tayo rito sa Terryn.” Napasinghal si Isabelle at mariin siyang tiningnan. Bakas ang pagtutol sa mukha nito, pero parang sa mga oras na ito ay nawalan na ng pake si Karlos sa mundo. “Why don’t we just plan something to get out of this hell hole? Bakit kailangan niyo pang lumabas when we could just use those time to think of a something?”
Last Updated : 2022-02-07The Runners Chapter 26: Gunshots.
THIRD PERSON’S POV. “DUDE, CALM down. It’s his dad.” Jerome looked over his shoulder and scoffed. “How can you say so?!” asik niya kay Santi na nasa likod niya at sinusubukan siyang pakalmahin. “I just knew it, okay?” nauubusan ng pasensyang sabi ni Santi at sinapo ang sariling noo. “He was familiar. Kaya ‘di ako lumaban kanina no’ng sinasakal niya ‘ko kasi namumukhaan ko siya. I was busy remembering where did I saw him kaya na-dehado ako.” Suminghal lamang si Jerome at hindi nakinig sa sinabi niya. Patuloy pa rin ito sa pagtutok ng baril sa pulis na titig na titig kay Karlos. He couldn’t let his guards down dahil hindi pa rin siya kumbinsidong ang mamang pulis na iyon ay ang tatay ni Karlos. Kasi ang
Last Updated : 2022-02-08The Runners Chapter 27: Nice meeting you?
THIRD PERSON’S POV. "NAPAKAGANDA NG kapatid mo, Karlos. Ilang taon na siya?" mahinang tanong ng pulis kay Karlos, nangingiti. Tahimik lang siyang nakatitig kay Katana na ngayo’y tahimik na nangunguna sa paglalakad pabalik sa sinehan kasabay sina Jeran, Daryl at Jerome. Halata sa mukha nito ang pagod kaya iyon ang iniisip ng pulis na dahilan kung bakit hindi kinukwestyon ng dalaga ang presensya niya. "If you didn't left, you'll know," giit ni Karlos gamit ang mapait na boses at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. Napayuko na lang ang pulis, tila nahihiya. Sa totoo lang ay ayaw niyang makasabay sa paglalakad ang ama, pero wala siyang magawa dahil lapit ng lapit ito sa kanya. Hindi niya rin naman magawang itaboy ito palayo dahil hindi naman siya gano’n ka-walang puso. "Damn it, Katana! No more monkey businesses, please!” asik niya maya-maya sa kapatid ng akma itong papaso
Last Updated : 2022-02-09The Runners Chapter 28: Fixed.
KATANA. GROWING UP, I was really curious about my father’s real identity. Since I haven’t seen nor meet him— not even once, I was really, really eager to know even just a slightest bit of thing about him. Nagbaka-sakali pa nga akong humingi ng picture niya kay Mommy noon no’ng buhay pa siya, and I realized it was a dumb move because Mom really looked like... offended. Since then, I didn’t asked about him anymore— but still, the curiosity is still inside me. But right now, right at this very moment, hindi ko alam kung ano ang mararamdaman ko ngayong nandito na siya sa harap ko. I knew I waited for this moment to happen, I’ve longed for this time to come... pero parang sa mga oras na ‘to ay binibigo ako ng dila ko. Ang dami kong gustong sabihin. Ang dami kong gustong itanong..
Last Updated : 2022-02-10
Latest chapter
The Runners Epilogue 2.2
KATANA. “MAMALA?” Pagkapasok ko pa lang sa dining area ay siya kaagad ang hinanap ko pero wala siya ro'n. “Mamala?” tawag ko ulit at pumasok sa banyo, sa sala, sa garden, sa kwarto niya, at sa buong bahay. Pero walang Mamala. Suddenly, there’s an unexplainable swirls in my stomach that made me want to puke. My heart’s starting to pound loudly against my ribcage while the corners of my eyes started burning with the tears threatening to fall. Hinarap ko si Kuya. Tulad ko ay natataranta na rin ang mga mata niya but he’s somewhat… calm. “Where could she be, Kuya?” tanong ko sa kanya, nangangatal. He took a few steps forward towards me, grabbed my shoulder and smiled at me assuring. “We’ll find her. Now, calm down. Walang nangyaring masama sa kanya, okay?” “Pero pa&r
The Runners Epilogue 1.2
KATANA. I JOLTED up awake and chased my breath when I felt a strange feeling as though as I was falling out in the darkness. Hawak ang sariling dibdib at nanlalaki ang mga mata, paulit-ulit akong suminghap ng suminghap ng hangin na para bang kaaahon ko lang sa tubig. “S-Shit...” Nangangatog ang mga kamay kong hinimas ang dibdib hanggang sa tuluyan nang kumalma ang puso ko. I blew out a sigh of relief and let myself fall in the matress where I was just lying seconds ago. Then I jolted up again when I realized where I was. I'm in my room... Not that one from Terryn, but the room where I always walk around naked and the same room where I always listen to Imagine Dragons and LANY on max volume. I’m in my room in our house in Manila. Holy shit. What the hell’s happening?! Inilibo
The Runners Chapter 45: The end of an end.
THIRD PERSON'S POV. HINDI PA man tuluyang nakakalayo sina Jeran, Karlos st Katana mula sa pintong pinanggalingan nila ay tuluyan nang naupos ang oras dahilan ng pagsabog ng buong lugar. Karlos and Jeran rolled on the ground from the impact while the almost unconscious Katana flew away from the facility. Nanlaki ang mga mata ng lahat dahil sa gulat matapos makita ‘yon bago nila isa-isang nilapitan ang tatlo para tulungan. “KATANA!” “KARLOS!” “JERAN!” “KUYA!” There were lots of voices, and noises and frantic movements as the facility started blowing fires. Gayunpama’y mabilis na nagtakbuhan ang lahat upang saklolohan sina Katana at Jeran na tila ba nawa
The Runners Chapter 44: Explosion.
KATANA. “SHIT! WE only have ten minutes!” Napasigaw na lang ako sa sobrang taranta at frustration kasabay ng pagsabunot ko sa sariling buhok. Nang mahimasmasan, saka ko lang naisip ang pagbawas ng oras. Napalingon ako kay Kuya at kay Roldan, pero tulad ko ay natataranta na rin sila. Mabilis akong naghanap ng orasan na maari kong bitbitin at agad na dumapo ang paningin ko sa relo ni Roldan. Without any words, I immediatley grabbed Roldan's wrist and took his wristwatch, making him frown in irritation. “I'll be needing this!” depensa ko kaagad bago pa man siya makapagsalita. “And you think I won't?!” Hindi ko na siya sinagot pa. Nagsimula na lang kaming tumakbo palabas na pinangunahan ni Roldan dahil siya ang may alam n
The Runners Chapter 43: An ally.
KATANA. I didn't know how we ended up in this different room but all I know is I don't care about anything and anyone anymore. My mind's a mess. My system’s haywire and I can't think straight. Parang kinakain na nang poot at sakit at guilt ang buo kong katawan— internally, emotionally and physically. The guys in whites made us laid in another metal beds after entering another room with my brother and strapped us down yet again. Sumunod lang kami ni Kuya sa kanila. Hindi kami nagreklamo o nagpumiglas o ano. Basta na lang kaming sumunod at hinayaan sila sa kung anumang balak nilang gawin sa ‘min. Ni hindi nga ako nag-reklamong masakit ang katawan ko at ayaw kong pang mamatay— parang sa mga oras na ‘to kasi, hindi na iyon ang kaso. ‘Cause after hearing the unveiled truth out of Jerez’s mou
The Runners Chapter 42: Behind their death.
KATANA. “THEY... T-THEY were my family...” Those words silenced us like a knife and painfully left a thick and heavy ambiance inside the room. We all watched Jerez as he painfully sobbed on his hands, not minding our presence and curious stares. While my heart throbbed in slight pain, alam kong tulad ko, nakaramdam rin ang mga kasama namin ng super duper slight na awa para sa doktor na 'to. “W-We were happy...” mahina niyang bulong maya-maya habang patuloy pa rin sa paghikbi. “Everything’s working out fine. We were contented. We were complete... not until Lloyd ruined everything!” galit na sigaw niya dahilan para mapapiksi ako sa gulat. “And up until this moment, it still hurts!” he wailed, bringing gloss in my eyes as tears threathened to faill. “I’ve lost them years ago an
The Runners Chapter 41: Unveiled truth.
KATANA. I COULD feel my chest tightening with the sight of Belle and with the sound of my friends’ cries. Tears continued to flow recklessly in both of my cheeks, signifying deep pain, as we all watched the retreating figure of Roldan and Belle. I felt numb physically after all that had happened, but deep down inside me, I’m slowly dying. Mad wasn't enough to describe how I feel right now. It's as if my chest is burning with anger and my mind is flooded with nothing but the thought of killing Jerez. Napupuyos ako sa galit bagaman pinapanatili kong kalmado ang paghinga ko. I know that Jerez can feel and see my rage, but my fury seems like a carousel to him. The more I fuel the ride with my madness, the more he enjoys. And God knows how much I want to punch the life out of his body right now. &
The Runners Chapter 40: Cruel reality.
KATANA. “KAT! KAT! Katana!” “Shhh! She’s still asleep! Shut up!” “Baka dumating na ‘yong baliw!” “Just... Just let her rest for now!” I woke up when I heard noises— whispers to be exact. I slowly opened my eyelids, but I immediatley closed it again because of too much light from the ceiling. Nang unti-unting masanay ang mata ko sa liwanag ay agad akong napalingon sa pinanggalingan ng mga boses. I tilted my head to my right, but due to the straps— yet again— it was hard. But I still managed anyway. “K-Kuya...” I called out softly when I saw him. Mabilis siyang lumingon sa ‘kin, bagaman hirap din tulad ko dahil sa mga
The Runners Chapter 39: Award?
KATANA. THE WOMEN’S brisk conversation was ended quickly as they walked closer to my directions. Nanigas kaagad ang laman ko sa takot nang tuluyan silang makalapit, pero nang hilahin nila ang bagay kung saan ako nakahiga ay bahagya akong nakahinga ng maluwag. Not until they started pulling me out of the dark room and in the brightly lit hallway. “Hey...” mahina kong sabi sa dalawang babae nang pumwesto sila sa magkabilang gilid ng parang metal stretcher kung saan ako nakahiga. They were pushing me— or the stretcher, while their focus are up front. They didn’t budge when I spoke, so I assumed they didn’t hear me. “Hey, where are you taking me?” muli kong tanong, pero tiningnan lang ako ng babae bago muling ibinaling ang atensyon sa harap. &
