DUMB WAYS TO SURVIVE [COMPLETED]

Chapter #13: Rooftop (2)

please play "Sa Susunod Na Habang Buhay" by Ben & Ben while reading this chapter (optional lang naman kung ayaw niyo)

Venice Mariano

I don't know where am I. Nang umalis ako sa hotel room nila ay halos wala ako sa sarili at natagpuan ko na lang ang sarili ko na nakaupo sa isang kwarto. It's dark here, walang ilaw kahit umaga na.

Pinahid ko ang luha na nasa pisngi ko at tumayo. Kinapa ko ang bawat dingding ng kwarto hanggang sa may maramdaman akong isang switch button. I was ready to switch it when a scenario suddenly popped in my mind.

What if puno ng zombie itong kwarto?

No!

I closed my eyes and opened it. Bahala na. I waited for ten second to feel my surroundings. Unti-unti ko itong binuksan hanggang sa makita ko ang kabuoan ng kuwarto.

Stock room?

"E-Eh?" Takang bulong ko at nilibot ang tingin.

May mga box ng pagkain, tubig, first aid kit, damit, gamit at mga ibang gadgets. Ang una kong ginawa ay kumuha ako ng isang box na pagkain at nagsimulang kumain tutal kanina pa naman ako nagugutom.

"Hindi ka ba nahihiya sa sarili mo, Venice?! You did nothing! You're a selfish, thoughtless and inconsiderate conniving woman! You always care about yourself, wala kang pakialam sa amin. Ano bang naging ambag mo mula noong nagkaroon ng virus? Wala!"

What the fuck?!

"W-What did I do?" I mumbled and suddenly my eyes heated causing me to cry again. Angel's words are taunting me down.

I did care about our group. I care all of them, sadyang pinapangunahan lang ako ng takot. Ayokong madamay, I don't want to hurt myself. Gusto ko rin naman protektahan ang buhay ko.

I remember when Ilana was down, nasa echo park kami no'n. Wala sina Johanna, Alyse, Theo at Samuel dahil pumunta sila ng palengke. All of them are eating except Ilana who's at the seaside.

"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be eating there? Masarap naman yung niluto mo, ah?" I said calmly.

Mukhang eto yung tinulungan ni Johanna sa gilid ng kalsada kahapon. Mukhang mas bata sa amin, nasa grade 9 ata. She looks so approachable, madaldal nga lang.

"Hindi ako gutom-ikaw si Venice 'di ba?" Turo nito sa akin. I raised a brow and nodded. "Hi! I'm Ilana Angelyn Espe-"

"I know, you are from Laguna nagkaroon lang kayo ng field trip dito sa La Union." Pagpapatuloy ko sa iba pa nitong sasabihin. She smiled a little and looked again at the sea.

"What's with your eyes?"

She looked confused. "May dumi ba ako sa mukha ko? May muta ba ako?" Tanong nito habang pinupunasan ang mukha. That made me laughed a little.

"No, it's not like that. What I mean is your eyes, there's a glint of sadness and loneliness at the same time. A-are you okay?" Mahinang tanong ko.

She smiled at me to hide her emotions. "Na-miss ko lang yung pamilya ko, do my parents know that I am in danger?"

Napatigil ako at umiwas ng tingin. Mas lumapit pa ako sa kaniya habang panay ang hikbi nito. I gently put her head on my shoulder as I tap her back.

"It's okay...I'm here, ading ko."

Ilana reminds me of my dead little sister. She died because of our stepmother, at a very young age she died because of abuse. She accidentally hit her head with her baseball bat. I was too late to save her. I remember what my little sister said to me last night before she died "You need to be selfish, ate, hindi pero iba ang iniiisip mo. Sometimes it's not bad to care and save yourself first."