The soft, cozy mattress embraces my back as I covered myself with the warmth of the comforter. And when I slowly opened my eyes, I saw Parker at the other side of the bed while holding a book as well as a cup of coffee he was drinking.
“Good morning,” he mumbled with eyes still locked on the book.
I yawned and carefully sat down. I was about to remove the comforter when I realized what clothes that I was wearing.
“Nakapalda lang ako?” Tanong ko.
“Yep. You refused to change your clothes because— wait, what did you say yesterday? ‘They are pangit and not your porma?’ Oh, yeah, that one.” Nakangiwi ko s’yang pinagmasdan bago tuluyan na tumayo at tumungo sa closet.
Nang may makita akong isang itim na dolphin shorts at itim na crop top ay agad ko iyong kinuha kasama ang isang towel saka dumiretso sa banyo. At dahil marami ng mga tao sa underground base ay nakakahiya naman lumabas ng bgagong gising, pagkatapos kong maligo ay agad akong nagpatuyo ng buhok sa kuwarto.
“I’m going out. How about you?” Dahan-dahan na nag angat ng tingin sa ‘kin si Parker dahil sa tanong ko kasabay nito ang pagtaas ng isa niyang kilay habang pinagmamasdan ako.
“At lalabas ka ng ganyan lang ang suot mo?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Stupid,” Parker mumbled. He let down his book and suddenly walked in my direction. And before holding my hand, he let out a sigh as if I am a pain in the neck.
I blinked multiple times when he gently caresses my cheek and intently looked at my eyes, “Your fault, not mine. Okay?” I gave him a puzzled looked when suddenly leaned to the side of my belly.
“Hey—” I wasn’t able to protest when I forcefully closed my mouth. He was kissing my belly as if he wanted to leave a mark on it, which he actually did.
Bago ko pa man siya matulak ay agad siyang tumalikod sa ‘kin at tumungo sa closet. I looked at him with disbelief, I can’t go out there with a hickey!
“Wear this.” Bigla na lamang n’yang binato sa akin ang itim niyang jacket dahilan upang mapasimangot ako.
“You could have just given me this—”
“If I ask you to wear it, isusuot mo ba?”
“Ah… No.”
Nagkibit-balikat siya sa ‘kin, “See?” Lalo akong napabusangot habang sinusot ang jacket dahil iniwan niya ako sa loob ng kuwarto.
Nang makalabas ako ay agad akobg dumiretso sa may table kung nasaan sina Cara. Nasa lamesa rin ang inayos na diary ng mga Nakamura, dinikit at binalik sa dati ang ayos nito ngunit hindi na ito kasing prisentable katulad ng dati.
Habang kumakain ay kinuha ko ang diary. Pakiramdam ko’y kulang na kulang pa ang detalye na alam namin. Kailangan namin ng konteksyto tungkol sa mangyayari sa hinaharap.
Saglit akong napatigil sa pagbubuklat ng diary nang may mapansin na kakaiba sa cover nito. Ito ay may pilas sa gilid na para bang hindi ito ang tunay na takip nito. Dahan-dahan kong pinilas ang buong cover nito hanggang sa makita ko ang mga katagang nakaukit dito na tila ba’y matilos na bagay ang ginamit upang maisulat ito.
‘FINAL WAVE’
“What’s that?” Tyler asked and stole the diary. He eyed me curiously as he slowly placed it in the center of the table.
“Plants versus Zombies.” We all grimaced to Spencer, who looked at us as if he didn’t say something so unrelated, “What? It’s PVZ reference— final wave means the end game, right?”
BINABASA MO ANG
OUTCAST (PUBLISHED)
Science FictionPUBLISHED UNDER IMMAC PPH After an unexpected apocalypse, Amira and her friends found themselves trapped inside the border of Luzon, in which the virus was spreading rapidly. And in order to keep living, they needed to reach the capital of Luzon, an...
