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Chapter 24: A daughter's teardrops.
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56KATANA.
“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! HowRelated chapters
The 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?”
The 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
The 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
The 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..
The Runners Chapter 29: Plan B.
KATANA. "SO, PAANO tayo makakalabas ng lugar na 'to? Because obviously, we wouldn’t survive is we just stay here," Kuya uttered with his arms crossed, giving each of us serious glances kahit pa para naman talaga kay Papa ang tanong niya. As obvious as it is, he’s just doing that— averting Dad’s gaze— to ignore him kasi as much as I wanted to fool myself that he do not, I sure as hell that he still hates our father. Hindi ko naman siya masisisi... I mean, lumaki nga akong wala siya pero unlike him, I chose to just be in good terms with Dad kasi we’ll never know if it’s our last day already, ‘di ba? And yep. We're planning again. Pero hopefully, ngayon na ang last, final at firm plan namin dahil kating-kati na talaga akong makaalis dito. Gusto ko na lang manirahan kasama si Papa kasi ‘yon naman talaga ang gusto ko noon pa man
The Runners Chapter 30: Bitten.
KATANA. OKAY, SO the main plan, sa main entrance kami lalabas dahil mas mabilis ang daan doon papunta sa pier. But as we hid from the railings of the second floor, eyes glued in the monsters downstairs, mukhang kakailanganin namin ng alternate route. "What are we going to do now?" Kuya frustratedly asked. Para kay Dad ulit ‘yon, alam ko, pero hindi siya makatingin kay Papa. Pakshet talaga siya. Since yesterday ‘til now, Kuya will literally ask Dad for plans and shits pero kunwari, kami ang tinanong niya. Psh. Unlike me, I’m comfortable with him already. I mean, I just realized that we both love wrestling and The Expendables after he told me. So yeah, no big deals, actually. "I thought these motherfuckers already left," giit ni Daryl bago pa makasagot si Dad sa tanong ni Kuya. Kitang-kita sa mukha ni Daryl na g
The Runners Chapter 31: Sightless.
KATANA. “HINDI KAYA maging runner na ako ngayon? Kase ‘di ba kanina, unconscious ako ta’s baka ‘yon ‘yong dahilan kung bakit hindi pa ako nagiging runner... baka kasi ‘di pa kumakalat ‘yong virus... ta’s ngayong gising na ‘ko, baka maging runner na ‘ko. Don’t you think so, Jeran?” Okay so... another thirty minutes had passed again and all I did was to blab about me being bitten to Jeran. And I could say for the past half an hour, Jeran has already reached his limit. “Hehe, sabi ko nga...” I raised a peace sign, looking sheepish when he started glaring at me. For the next minutes, I had decided not to talk to him about it any further so he wouldn’t throw me out of the window. Nag-isip na lang ako ng pwedeng i-topic dahil bukod sa hindi ko pa rin
The Runners Chapter 32: Run away.
KATANA. “GOSH, THAT WAS CLOSE.” Nagpatuloy kami sa paglalakad. Nangunguna pa rin si Jeran, kasunod ako at si Dad na nakaalalay sa ‘min at sa huli ay si Kuya na siyang nagbabantay sa likod. Nang tuluyan na kaming makatawid ng maayos sa kalsada na puno ng mga zombie na parang mga estatwa, napabuntong-hininga ako at tahimik na nagdasal ng pasasalamat. Ngayon, konting kembot na lang ay nasa dagat na kami. Makakaalis na kami rito. Mamumuhay na ulit kami ng maayos. Kakalimutan namin ang lahat ng nangyari at magiging masaya kami ulit kasama nina Papa. Napangiti ako ng maisip ‘yon. “Nakahanda na ba 'yong sasakyan nating bangka?” tanong ko maya-maya habang patuloy pa rin kami sa paglalakad. “Nandoon na
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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
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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. &
