✔ 03 | Point Of Exposure

CAPITULUM 64

T H U R S D A Y

December 12, 2019
8:00 a.m.

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Andrew stared out the window of their family car, trying to count the houses they passed by, but eventually giving up. Dahil dito, iba naman ang napagtuunan niya ng pansin...

"Kuya, bakit ang daming pulis sa labas?"

Sa kanyang tabi, mukhang wala namang pakialam si Franco at umaktong 'di siya narinig. His eyes were focused on his cellphone, probably flirting with another girl after his "broken heart" with Feralda. Hanggang ngayon, wala pa ring alam si Andrew sa nangyari sa kanila, but he was silently thankful not to have a stranger with them in their family trip.

The kid unconsciously held the pendant on his neck, and peeked ahead.

Napansin niyang mukhang nag-aalala na rin ang mga magulang nila sa presensiya ng mga pulis.

"Akala ko ba walang travel restrictions?"

"Hindi ko rin alam," Todd told his wife. "Kani-kanina ko nga lang din nalaman sa radyo na bigla na lang naghigpit ang mayor. Kung tama ako ng narinig, biglaang utos daw na walang papapasukin o palalabasin sa Eastwood!"

Despite his fever, Andrew frowned, disliking the feeling of not having any idea what's going on.

Akala siguro ng mga matatanda hindi nila napapansin ang problema sa paligid. O baka naman tama ang Lolo Scorpio niya na masyado ngang "curious" si Andrew sa mga bagay-bagay.

Either way, that didn't stop him from pressing his small nose out of the window.

"Teka, 'di ba po 'yon yung bahay ng mga Taves?"

Andrew blinked at the house they were about to pass by. Hindi man sila masyadong close ng mga Taves sa school, Andrew and Nirvana exchanged friendly gestures with them sometimes. Kaya nga nagulat rin sila nang biglang binalita na namatay ang nanay nila dahil sa sakit.

'Nakakamatay pala talaga ang sakit?' Andrew thought innocently.

Buti na lang pala Dr. Tiffany gave him fruits at her clinic! Siguradong gagaling na siya nito.

Suddenly, the car stopped.

Hinarangan sila ng ilang mga pulis. Maya-maya pa, bigla silang nilapitan ng isang lalaking agad niyang nakilala dahil sa makapal nitong salamin.

"Hey, kiddo."

"KUYA DAN!"

*

BREAKING NEWS: COUNCILOR ROQUE'S SON BLEEDS AT CITY HALL!

She didn't really need to read the article in order to know what happened. Alam na niya ang nangyari, at alam na niya ang mga mangyayari pa sa Eastwood sa mga susunod na buwan.

A few years ago, Eastwood left her with pain.

Now, she's leaving them with a plague.

'All according to plan,' The Unknown Disease thought and folded the newspaper in her lap.

Kasabay ng pag-ugong ng makina ng bus, ngumiti nang kampante si Dr. Almeida at pinagmasdan ang mga taong walang kamalay-malay na kasama na pala nila ang babaeng nagsimula ng gulong ito. And since "covering yourself" is something humans practiced in times of panic, it only gave her an advantage. Walang makakakilala sa kanya, at walang makakaalam na makakaalis na pala siya ng Eastwood.