The Beginning of The End

Chapter 18: Eerie Place

Eerie place

I was staring at Aki the whole time we were walking down the stairs. Kanina ko pa kasi talaga sya napapansin. I can clearly see that he needs rest.

Papalabas na sana siya ng gusali nang tawagin ko sya.

"Aki, it's okay kung magpahinga ka na muna. Kanina pa kita napapansin."

They both stop on their track as they stare at me. Tinignan naman ni Pierce si Aki. Aki has a grin on his face.

"No, I'm good Zori. I'll just take a rest later." He insisted.

Lumapit ako kay Pierce na hanggang ngayon ay nakatingin pa rin sa kanya. Pierce also looks tired but Aki looks drained. Sila naman kasi ni Timo ang humila sa aming lahat paakyat kanina tapos sumama pa sya sa paghahanap ng masasakyan.

"It's okay, Aki. Kami nalang muna. We have bags at siguradong hindi rin naman ganoon karami ang makukuha namin." Pierce agreed as his hands rested on his waist.

"Fine. If you say so." Aki smirked and tap Pierce's shoulder. "If I know, gusto—"

"Come on, bro. Ask the others to guard here for an hour." Pierce cut him off kaya tumawa si Aki.

Nakakunot naman ang noo ko habang nakatingin sa kanilang dalawa. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit natawa si Aki. And now Pierce is glaring at him, he's suppressing a smile.

"Okay. Mag-ingat kayo ha." Bilin nya bago bumulong sa akin. "Mag-ingat ka kay Pierce, Zori."

We watch him laug as he walk on the stairs. Nakasalubong nya si Millie, Kate at Lory. Tinanong nya ang mga ito kung saan ang kanilang punta pero walang sumagot sa kaniya kaya nagkibit-balikat na lamang si Aki at nagpatuloy sa pag-akyat.

"Millie, kaya naman kasi nila 'yan. Sasama rin naman si Lory sa kanila." Naiinis na sabi ni Kate habang bumubuntot kay Millie.

Millie rolled her eyes and turn around to face Kate who's frowning. She made a face kaya natawa si Millie sa kanya.

"Kate, come on. I just don't wanna sit and wait when I know I can do something. And besides, ayokong lagi na lang sina Zori ang lumalabas para sa atin." She explain in her usual soft voice.

Ngumuso si Kate at tinitigan ako ng masama. I just shrug my shoulder, wala naman akong dapat sabihin sa kanila. I won't object too lalo na't nakasama na naman rin namin si Millie. To be honest, she's nice and careful. She can defend herself as well. So alam kong maaasahan namin siya.

"I'm coming, too." Ani Lory habang nakataas ang isang kamay at palipat-lipat ang tingin sa amin.

Nilingon ko si Pierce para tignan ang kaniyang reaksyon. I let out a deep sigh, kind of disappointed that he didn't object. I'm kind of ashamed of myself too. What was I expecting, anyway? They're already a thing so ano pa bang aasahan ko! Of course they would want to be together.

"Let's go. It's past one already. Kailangan nating bumalik bago bumaba ang araw." Ani Pierce at tinalikuran na kami at nauna ng lumabas.

"Mag-ingat ka, Millie ha! Nakakainis ka." Ani Kate.

Millie pulled her into a tight hug and they both chuckled. I saw Lory run after Pierce kaya sumabay nalang ako kay Millie palabas.

Mataas pa rin ang sikat ng araw sa labas at mas masakit sa balat. Medyo natutuwa ako na hindi gaano karami ang infected dito pero kagaya pa rin ang sitwasyon nito sa ibang mga lugar. Cars rammed the trees and shops, there were appliances, gadgets and push carts on the street, rotten corpses, flying newspapers and scattered garbages from tumbled bins.