HYEORAEK

Part 44: Rescue Mission

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"Attention everyone. May I call your attention? The President of the Philippines ordered everyone to gather all around at the Big Dome of the place," a male voice echoed in the whole area and it repeated three times when I emerged out of the comfort room. I turned on the faucet and water drips rapidly. I washed my hands and the scar of my wound captured my eyes, I gently stroke the long cut that is healed now and faced the mirror in front of me then stared on my reflection.

After all those happened to me with my comrades the scene at the train still messing up my head. How the infected draw away from me when I get wounded and when my blood started to drip. Are they afraid of blood that's why they back away? Why then? But there's only thing I'm sure about this creature, they're blind and that's a big advantage for us.

Mabilis akong kumilos nang marinig ko ang pagkatok sa pinto mula sa labas. "Pinapatipon po lahat ng evacuees sa gitna, Ma'am," a staff told me. Iginaya niya ang daan sa hallway papunta sa malawak na gitna ng evacuation kaya sinundan ko lang siya.

"I know how this outbreak affected each one of us. But I know also that bayanihan will exist so now I'm sincerely asking your help for this mission of one of my General," rinig kong sabi ng Presidente ng Pilipinas. I was in a awe when I stared him on my own eyes even though he's too far from me. It's my first time to see him in person and I still couldn't believe it.

I tried to find my family and my colleagues at the crowded and dense people in front of me. Nagpasya na lang akong makinig nang hindi ko sila mahanap at tahimik na inintindi ang sinasabi ng General na mabilis na tinawag ng Presidente.

"Dahil sa iba't-ibang lugar na pinuntahan ng mga hukbo ko para sumagip at puksain ang mga nagkalat ng virus, kulang at hindi sapat ang mga taong kakailanganin ko para sa misyong ito. Kaya narito ako sa harap ninyo ngayon para hingin ang kooperasyon ninyo para sa mahalagang misyong ito," sabi ng Heneral gamit ang maawtoridad at malalim na boses. He stand properly, walking like a professional prof who's discussing something and you'll never see any traces of any emotion in his freakish eyes.

"Isang taong handang lumaban at protektahan ang sarili niya," he roamed his eyes around, "At handang lumaban para sa bayan at kapwa niya. Kung hindi aabot ang boluntaryo ng limampo ay mapipilitan akong gumawa ng bagay na alam kung hindi ninyo nanaisin," he grinned while still holding the microphone. Nagsimulang magtinginan ang mga tao at lahat kami ay naghihintay kung sino ang matapang na magboboluntaryo.

"I'll come! I'm good at guns and I know self defense," a young man at middle twenties volunteered. Dahil sa tapang na ginawa niya ay sunod-sunod na ang pagboluntaryo ng mga evacuees. While their busy in raising their hands and announcing their courage I take my action to find my family but I immediately stopped when I heard a familiar voice and that's the last one who volunteered. Si Papa...

"Cixto!" narinig kong banta ni Mama.

"Ex-General... Cixto Gordon." The General reveal while having a staring contest to my father. I cussed hard when I tried to get closer to my family. What's gotten to my father to joined this mission of the General?! Didn't he know how it's dangerous for him to come with them?!

"Hindi ko inaasahan ang biglaan mong pagboluntaryo, Kaibigan. Isang karangalan ang makasama ka sa isang misyon," he's smiling while saying those words. While my father just nodded and composed his self. I can clearly see how my mother and sister object the sudden voluntary of my father. While Darius stay quite along with my comrades, that's also I realized that the two man with us didn't volunteer.