Planet Acelatoria

Chaptah Terti-twee

Question~

Limang minuto na ang lumilipas. Halos lamunin na ng apoy ang itaas na bahagi ng bahay sa aming harapan. Mas humigpit ang pagkakakapit sa'kin ni Zain.

Hindi pa lumalabas si Kiefer. Gano'n din si Lucas. Nanlalamig na ang mga kamay ko sa takot at nerbiyos. Even my knees started to tremble.

"C-Clard... Bakit wala pa sila? Baka kung a-ano nang nangyari..." si Zain. Her eyes are now with tears.

"Shh, calm down, okay? Alam kong ayos pa sila. They'll come out a-alive, for sure..." I said though, not fully convinced of my own words. But they should. Kailangan nilang mailigtas si Xanthal at makalabas ng buhay.

Later on, I and Zain shifted our eyes on the road as loud sirens echoed on the whole area. Nakita namin ang tatlong firetruck na sunod-sunod na papalapit sa'min. In front of them was a motorcycle rider na sobrang tulin ng patakbo. Nang makarating siya sa tapat namin ay bumaba siya ng motor at tinanggal ang kanyang helmet. It was Greg, looking at us with knitted brows.

"Where's brother?" tanong niya nang makalapit sa'min.

"He rushed into the fire with Kiefer," Ako na ang sumagot sa kanya.

"How about the both of you? Are you okay?"

"Yes, we are fine."

Sinilip ni Greg ang katabi ko. Zain almost covered her face with my shoulder. Alam kong tumutulo na ang luha niya. Nerbiyosa kasi 'tong Zain. She can't stand something this terrifying.

"Miss Z, everything is okay, hmm?" hinaplos niya ang buhok ng aking kaibigan. "You may stay in the car first,"

"H-Hindi. Ayos lang ako dito. Kailangan kong makitang lumabas ng buhay diyan s-sila Kiefer..." nag-angat ng tingin sa'min si Zain at pinunasan ang kanyang luha. Greg looked at me and I nodded at him.

Nagsimula ng bombahin ng tubig ng mga bumbero ang bahay. I'm somehow relieved now. Maya-maya lang ay isang malakas na tunog ng chopper ang nakakuha sa aming atensyon. Lumapag ito sa bakanteng lote na katapat lang ng bahay nila Xanthal. And from there, Xavier emerged with a gloomy aura around him. Nagdire-diretso siya maglakad papalapit sa gawi namin.

"What's the situation?" tanong niya kay Greg nang makalapit.

"Lucas and Clardia's friend are still inside. As well as Xanthal. I think they're trapped." si Greg.

"I'll go inside then," akmang aalis na si Xavier nang harangin siya gamit ng kamay ni Greg.

"No, Xav. You'll not do that. I'm sure my brother can manage it."

"I will save my sister, Greg. Remove your hand."

"Xavier. Calm down. It will be better if you will stay here than also risking yourself inside."

Kita ko ang pagkuyom ng mga kamao ni Xavier at ang pagtitig niya nang masama sa kanyang pinsan.

"A—Aw!" abruptly, Greg winced in pain. It was evident in his twisted expression. He grabbed his own arm and held it tightly as if he was injured. "Seriously, Xav?! That was so painful!"

Xavier ignored him and continued to approach the house who's still burning in fire. I swallowed a lump on my throat and hesistantly pull his hands.