Shit.
“Kilala mo?”
A smile flashed on the guy's lips, sa tono ba naman ng pagtatanong ni Shawn, halos pinapaalam n'ya rin na kilala ko si Zero.
Tumango sa akin si Shawn, h—he looks different than the last time I saw him.
He looks so young back then and it's only been two years.
Hindi ko alm kung ngingitian ko ito o ano, hindi ko kasi gusto ang pananalita n'ya, eyeing me from head to toe, he unnecessary complimented me, he even asked me kung hindi ko ba kilala si Zero— nang-aasar ito.
“Hindi ka man lang mangangamusta?”
I stayed silent, scared that whatever I say would be use against me.
“Why don't you go down and give your old friend a hug? That would be nice.”
Go down and give an ‘old friend’ a hug?
There's definitely something.
But I had no choice but to obey.
Bumaba ako sa sasakyan at nagulat ako nang barilin n'ya ang gulong ng sasakyan namin.
He's really making sure na hindi kami tatakas.
Sinilip nito ang loob ng sasakyan.
“You're not with your brother?” nagtatakang tanong nito at tinitigan si Alex. “Don't tell me Ren's already dead?” I can sense the sarcasm, he must think this is funny.
Nilapitan ako ni Shawn at niyakap, hindi ko inaasahan ang kilos nito, lalo na ang bulong n'ya sa akin.
“Let's talk somewhere else—”
“For what?”
“Negotiate.” maikling sagot n'ya.
Negotiate saan?
Is he just playing?
Is this an act to at least keep us safe?
Pero bakit kailangan n'yang barilin wng gulong ng sasakyan namin?
To prove na ‘kakampi’ s'ya ng mga lalaking 'yan?
Tinuro nito ang kalapit na maliit na bahay sa gilid ng matataas na damuhan na ang height ay mas mataas pa sa amin.
I hesitated.
Hindi ko alam kung ano ang plano n'ya, kung ano ang iniisip n'ya, kung tutulungan n'ya ba akong lusutan ito o hindi.
Sinundan ko si Shawn na carefree na naglakad palapit sa bahay at tiningnan ko ang mga kasama kong nag-aalalang nakatingin sa akin.
Wala si One, wala kaming back-up.
Ren's not here, walang mautak na gumagawa ng plano— wala s'ya na magaling makipag-usap sa mga tao.
Mint's not present, and as well as Zero, of course.
Mag-isa lang ako.
“‘Wag kang mag-alala, hindi sila papatayin.” sambit ni Shawn at muling naglakad.
“Not yet.” he added.
‘Not yet’?
Pumasok ito sa bahay at sinundan ko s'ya, nagpunta lang itong kusina at tumingin kung may makakain sa loob.
“Shawn—”
“Yes?”
Sumandal ito sa counter at humarap sa akin.
“I'm glad to see you again—”
“You don't look glad.”
Huh?
BINABASA MO ANG
GLITCH: Divided Cities
Action"What are those? Zombies?" How fascinating yet concerning it is to find a young kid to ask such an interesting and frightening question. They wouldn't mind it if refers to a certain movie, but a question that relates to reality? Oh, that's sick. "I...
