PANDEMIC DESIRES

Chapter 21: Thriller in Wuhan

Chapter 21: Thriller in Wuhan

Malayo na ang natatakbo nila Myrna at Prances pero parang nakatatak pa rin sa kanyang tainga ang Thriller. Ngayon lang siya natakot sa pop song na iyon ng King of Pop. Magkahawak na silang dalawa ng kamay. Narating na nila ang mga bahay na mula sa bente pataas ng dalawampung-siyam ang mga nakalagay na numero.

Nagtago sila sa likod ng bahay na ang bilang na nasa harapan ay tatlumpu. Ibig sabihin ay huling araw na ng infected doon.

Kinakabahan man ay sumilip pa rin si Myrna sa maliit na siwang sa bintana ng bahay. Napatakip siya ng bibig sa nakita. Isang lalaki na kinakain ang sariling ari. Hindi lang basta-basta kinakain ang ari dahil kinalkal pa nito ang buong reproductive system pati sa loob upang ubusin ang bawat bahagi. Tumatawa ito habang nauubusan ng dugo at nawawalan ng buhay.

Nagkayakap sila ni Prances. "Sorry kung dinala ko kayo sa ganitong klaseng panganib." Bulong niya rito.

"May nadiskubre tayo at iyon ang mahalaga." Tugon nito. "Hindi mo kasalanan na baliw ang dalawang matandang 'yun. Ipagdasal nalang natin si Sebastian."

Our Father in Heaven
Hallowed be Your name
Your Kingdom come quickly
Your will be done the same

On Earth as it is in Heaven
Let Heaven come to earth
As it is in Heaven
Let Heaven come

Our Father in Heaven

Hallowed be Your name
Your Kingdom come quickly
Your will be done the same
On earth as it is in Heaven
Let Heaven come to earth
As it is in Heaven
Let Heaven come
Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the power
Yours is the glory forever, amen
Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the power
Yours is the glory forever amen
Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the power
Yours is the glory forever, amen
Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the power
Yours is the glory forever amen
Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the power
Yours is the glory forever, amen
Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the power
Yours is the glory forever amen

Sabay nilang binigkas ang Our Father. Kahit naman tauhan sila ng science ay naniniwala pa rin sila sa Diyos. Sabay din silang napatili nang dumungaw sa bintana ang lalaking kinain ang sariling ari. Naghihingalo na ito. Sa harap nila ay tuluyan itong nawalan ng buhay. Gayunpaman dahil sa nagawa nilang ingay ay dinig nila ang yabag ng dalawang matanda.

Sumilip si Prances. "Natatanaw ko na sila Myrns. Kailangan na ulit nating tumakbo at maghanap ng ibang matataguan."

"Umikot tayo pabalik sa van. Kailangan na nating umalis dito. Hindi ko makakayang may mawala pa sa atin." Suhestyon niya.

Tumango naman ito at saka sila muling nagtatakbo palayo.

"Hindi kayo makakatakas! Hahaha!" Saad ng matandang lalaki na naka-translate na.

"Takbooooo mga hija! Takbooooo!" Sigaw naman ng matandang babae.

Nauuna na si Myrna sa pagtakbo. Ayaw naman niyang maiwan si Prances. Bahagya niyang binagalan upang masabayan ito at mahawakan ang kamay.

"Hold my hand!" Sigaw niya rito.

"Babagal lang tayo lalo. Mauna ka na Myrns! Iligtas mo ang sarili mo!"

"Hindi kita pababayaan Prances! Wag mo ngang sabihin 'yan!" Matapos niyang sabihin 'yun ay umalingawngaw ang isang malakas na putok ng baril hawak na galing sa matandang lalaki. Tuluyang napahinto sa pagtakbo si Myrna. Paglingon niya ay nakahandusay na si Prances sa lupa. May tama ito sa balikat. "Ces!!!"

"Myrns umalis ka na! Tumakbo ka na palabalik sa van! Iligtas mo ang sarili mo at ang mga kasama natin! Tumakbo ka na! Alis na!"

Ngunit wala siyang planong sumuko at magpatalo sa hamong ito. May misyon pa sila sa laboratoryo at upang matapos na ang pandemyang ito. Iyon ang mahalaga sa lahat. Kasama niya hanggang sa dulo si Prances. She can't imagine na hindi ito kasama. Sa kakaibang nararamdaman niya na hindi maipaliwanag para sa kaibigan ay mas lalong kailangan niya itong iligtas. Kaya naman walang pag-aalinlangan niya itong itinayo at binuhat. Hindi naman ganoon kabigatan si Prances. Fit naman ang kanyang pangangatawan kaya nabuhat niya pa rin ito. Bahagya nga lang bumagal ang kanyang pagtakbo.

"Myrns. Hindi mo na ito dapat ginawa." Umiiyak na ito habang nakayakap sa kanya. Namantsahan na rin ang kanyang damit ng dugo nito.

"Hindi ko magagawang iwan ka Prances Ilao. Kung mamamatay ka kasama mo ako. Pero hindi pa mangyayari 'yun dahil pareho tayong makakaligtas!" Mas lalong lumakas ang kanyang loob. Her adrenalin rush intensified. Kahit pa buhat niya ang kaibigan ay mas bumilis ang kanyang pagtakbo.

Nang matapat sila sa isang malaking bahay malapit sa dulong bahagi ng pinagbabawal na lugar kung saan naroon ang kagubatan ay biglang may humila sa kanila.

"Pssssssh! Wag kayong maingay."

Looking at it now
It all seems so simple
We were lying on your couch
I remember
You took a Polaroid of us
Then discovered
(Then discovered)
The rest of the world was black and white
But we were in screaming color
And I remember thinking
Are we out of the woods yet?
Are we out of the woods yet?
Are we out of the woods yet?
Are we out of the woods?
Are we in the clear yet?
Are we in the clear yet?
Are we in the clear yet?
In the clear yet, good
Are we out of the woods yet?
Are we out of the woods yet?
Are we out of the woods yet?
Are we out of the woods?
Are we in the clear yet?
Are we in the clear yet?
Are we in the clear yet?
In the clear yet, good
(Are we out of the woods?)
Looking at it now
Last December
(Last December)
We were built to fall apart
Then fall back together
(Back together)
Ooh, your necklace hanging from my neck
The night we couldn't quite forget
When we decided, we decided
To move the furniture so we could dance
Baby, like we stood a chance
Two paper airplanes flying, flying, flying
And I remember thinking
Are we out of the woods yet?
Are we out of the woods yet?
Are we out of the woods yet?
Are we out of the woods?
Are we in the clear yet?
Are we in the clear yet?
Are we in the clear yet?
In the clear yet, good
Are we out of the woods yet?
Are we out of the woods yet?
Are we out of the woods yet?
Are we out of the woods?
Are we in the clear yet?
Are we in the clear yet?
Are we in the clear yet?
In the clear yet, good
(Are we out of the woods?)
Remember when you hit the brakes too soon?
Twenty stitches in a hospital room
When you started crying, baby, I did too
But when the sun came up, I was looking at you
Remember when we couldn't take the heat?
I walked out, I said "I'm setting you free"
But the monsters turned out to be just trees
When the sun came up you were looking at me
You were looking at me, oh
You were looking at me
(Are we out of the woods yet?)
(Are we out of the woods yet?)
(Are we out of the woods yet?)
(Are we out of the woods?)
I remember
(Are we in the clear yet?)
(Are we in the clear yet?)
Oh, I remember
Are we out of the woods yet?
Are we out of the woods yet? (Yeah)
Are we out of the woods yet?
Are we out of the woods?
Are we in the clear yet?
Are we in the clear yet?
Are we in the clear yet?
In the clear yet, good
Are we out of the woods yet?
Are we out of the woods yet?
Are we out of the woods yet?
Are we out of the woods?

Are we in the clear yet? (Yeah)
Are we in the clear yet? (Yeah)
Are we in the clear yet?
In the clear yet, good
Are we out of the woods yet?
Are we out of the woods yet?
Are we out of the woods yet?
Are we out of the woods?
Are we in the clear yet?
Are we in the clear yet?
Are we in the clear yet?
In the clear yet, good
Are we out of the woods yet?
Are we out of the woods yet?
Are we out of the woods yet?
Are we out of the woods?
Are we in the clear yet?
Are we in the clear yet?
Are we in the clear yet?
In the clear yet, good