Comeback

Chapter 4

NAILA

EPHRAIM KEPT on whispering his sorry to me after I yelled at him. I was scared. Very scared that he might get hurt there. It's not impossible that he might get burnt with the car there, or even explode along with the car.

While I was staring at that very moment, it was as if my heart stopped beating, aching, and wanting to go out to run towards him. God knows how nervous I was at that time. I was willing to run back to him the moment he won't be able to get out of that fire.

"Hey, hey... Stop crying, hmm? I'm fine, I'm right here. No need to cry."

"But I thought I would lose you at that moment..." I whispered. "And I wouldn't be able to handle that."

"I know. I'm sorry, I won't worry you like that again." He sounded really sorry, but the firmness in his voice was still there. Firmness in saving me no matter what.

"Hey, lovebirds, sorry to interrupt your sweet moment but we need to go now. We need to find a place for us to rest."

Ephraim and I fastened our pace in walking to catch up to Luiz a little bit. He was walking so fast. Mukhang nagmamadali talaga. Can't blame him though, we're in a very frightening moment. We need to be cautious.

I looked around the place. It looks scary and unsafe, but we have no choice but to go inside the forest. We don't have any vehicles right now so we can't go anywhere. We need to find a place first to sleep in.

After hours of walking, we found a small cave. Ephraim first checked the inside and then we settled in after he confirmed it was safe. We need to make sure everything's safe. If we want to survive, being too cautious won't be a problem.

The two boys started searching for woods to serve as light and to cook our dinner.

Before jumping, Luiz was able to hold the bag we put the foods in. Buti na lang talaga at nadala niya pa kung hindi, mas mahihirapan kami sa paghahanap ng makakain. I can't see something that is edible to eat around here. Puro kahoy lamang ang naririto.

"I found a river nearby. You can clean yourself there if you want," Ephraim said while piling the woods to lit. Seryoso ang mukha nito ngunit hindi ko mapigilang hindi mamangha. His heavenly beauty is so mesmerizing. Napangiti ako.

Ngunit kaagad ding nawala nang maalala na muntik na siyang mapahamak kanina. I heaved a sigh and looked away. That really scared the hell out of me. That is one of the things that I hate about Ephraim. He's willing to do anything just to save me, even if it costs him his life. Ephraim had and is still proving that he would face death just to save me.

And I don't want that.

I'd rather have the pain than see him struggle while I'm perfectly safe. I want him to stop that. I really do. He just doesn't like listening to me when I'm telling him about that.

"Hey, are you okay?" I looked up to see it was Ephraim. He looked worried. As always.

I shook my head. "Honestly? No. Who would be okay when the world seems to end at any moment?"

I heard him heave a sigh.

"D-Do you think everything will still go back? To the normal and peaceful world it used to be?"

"Do you really believe that the world was peaceful?"

I stared at him, not able to talk.

"Kahit wala ang mga Necros, there are still killings that will happen. Evil is everywhere, Naila. And it's up to you whether you'll cross the line."