Weeks After

A E 14

"Kailangan nating maghiwalay ng daanan, Azi. Matatagalan tayo kung pareho tayong maghahanap sa iisang lugar lang."

Katarina was relieved because she sees no one in the main building of Nyasaaa. She thought, a triclops is lingering around. Especially, that triclops who is covered with cloak.

Kung saan-saan lang pa naman lumilibot ang isang 'yun, pero madalas ay nandito siya sa center kaya nangamba siya sa buhay ni Azi. Hindi pa ganap ang incubation ng NXBU1 sa kaniya kaya kung sakaling makaharap nila ang ZGRAGE entity, malaki ang tsansang matalo sila.

"Hmm, tama. Sa Base 3 ako pupunta." Azi roamed his eyes around and nod his head. Tumingin siya kay Katarina na noon ay nakatingin din sa kaniya. "Magkita ulit tayo dito sakaling may isa sa'tin ang makahanap sa kanila."

"Paano ako makakasigurado na nanggaling ka na dito? Paano kung takasan mo 'ko at iwan kapag nakita mo na ang pamilya mo?" Azi laughed sarcastically because of what he heard.

"Bakit naman kita tatakasan? Wala akong utang sa'yo, Miss. At isa pa, marunong akong tumupad sa usapan." Yumuko nang kaunti si Azi para magpantay ang mukha nila ni Katarina. This girl has slight-narrow eyes and a pointy nose. Kumpara kay Kimberley, mas maputi siya. She's really pretty, but you can sense that she talks meany.

"How would I know? People tend to forget person who helped them once they get what they want. Paano ako makakasiguradong hindi ka isa sa mga 'yun?" Katarina raised her brows. She feels awkward because their faces are just inches away.

Azi blew a breath on her face making the girl close her eyes with irritation. Tumayo nang maayos ang lalaki saka may tinanggal sa leeg. It was his necklace. The design is anchor.

"Ito," he handed it to Katarina. The girl hesitated at first but still accepted it. "Mahalaga sa'kin 'yang kuwintas na 'yan, at hindi ako pumapayag na basta na lang mawawala 'yan sa'kin."

"Anong gagawin ko dito?" Katarina played it with her hands.

"'Yan ang tanda na babalikan pa kita, magkikita pa tayo dito dahil kukunin ko pa ang kuwintas ko sa'yo." Azi patted her head. Tumango lang si Katarina.

"Okay then, let's meet here once one of us saw your family." Nagsimula na siyang maglakad papasok sa tunnel na naka-konekta sa Base 4.

"Kat!" She was halted when Azi called her name. "Ingatan mo 'yan, ah! Ikaw pa lang ang unang nakahawak niyan!" She smiled with what the guy said. "Saka mag-iingat ka din!"

Azi didn't wait for Katarina's answer anymore and started running away. Ang babae naman ay nakangiting tumalikod saka itinago sa bulsa ng suot niya ang kuwintas.

Maliwanag at tahimik. Ganiyan mailalarawan ni Azi ang napasukan niyang tunnel. Wala itong pinagkaiba sa tunnel na nilabasan niya no'ng tumatakas siya sa Base na pinagkulungan sa kaniya.

He wonders if Katarina's path is like this too. He slap his forehead. He should stop thinking about Katarina. Not in this kind of times. He must find his family first, before thinking of other.

Even though they just meet after the zombie outbreak, he considers them as his family too. Finlay is the only one who he is blood related, while other? They just played an important role on his life when zombies came.

Beal saved them, actually. If Beal didn't came that time, him and his brother Finlay is surely now a zombie. He considered her as his own mother now, like what she told them to do.

He can't afford to loss them all.

"Fuck..."

When he saw zombies not far from his spot, he whispered different curses. Wala siyang ibang gamit kundi ang isang riffle na iilang bala na lang ang laman. Naubos kasi ang mga bala niya dahil sa dami ng nakasalubong nilang zombie ni Katarina.