DUMB WAYS TO SURVIVE [COMPLETED]

Chapter #26: Fallen Down

Again, this is just a work of fiction, names, characters, places, events, businesses, date and time are just your author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual person, living or dead, or events is entirely coincidental.

"Ah! There you are!"

I saw a man figured walking towards me. Nang ibuka ko ang mata ko ay si Samuel agad ang una kong nakita. May hawak-hawak itong baseball bat na pinalibutan ng pako.

Pa'no na naman ako nahanap nito?

"Ginagawa mo rito?" Tanong ko at umayos ng upo. I was resting here peacefully when he suddenly came out of the blue.

"I was searching for you." Hingal na hingal itong umupo sa tabi ko. "Ba't ka ba umalis kanina?"

Kumibit-balikat ako at sumandal sa pader na nasa likod ko. "Gusto ko lang naman lumayo sa inyo kahit papaano. I felt like I'm out on place. It feels so uncomfortable. Wala na si Angel na malapit sa akin at kasama ko. I felt so incomplete now."

"Nandito naman ako." Pampalubag-loob nito sa akin. I laughed without any humor and stared at the sky. Mukhang tanghaling tapat na. Hindi naman gaano mainit ang tama ng araw, makulimlim lang.

"Bumalik na tayo roon. Akala ko ba pupunta ka pa ng school?"

"What's the use? Kahit pumunta naman ako roon walang magbabago," wika ko at tumayo. Naramdaman kong sumunod ito sa akin sa paglalakad.

There was a long silence filled us when his walkie-talkie rang. Kinuha nito iyon at may pinindot bago namin marinig ang boses nina Hazel at Simon na nasa kabilang linya.

"Kuya, where the hell are you?! Kanina pa kami naghihintay sa'yo-" Naputol ang sinasabi ng kapatid nito nang sumabat si Hazel.

"Samuel, it's me Hazel. Si Donna nawawala," she informed.

Agad kaming nagtinginan at sabay na bumaling sa walkie-talkie na hawak nito. I was ready to speak when hd signed me to remain silent. So I did.

"Paanong nawala? Kasama niyo siya kanina bago ko hanapin si Johanna."

"Ang sabi nito ay may titignan lang siya sa kabilang kalsada kaso ilang oras na yung dumaan wala pa rin siya. Nag-aalala na kami rito lalo na si Ilana. She's crying again." Hazel sighed problematically.

"Babalik na agad ako diyan. Stay there, wala nang aalis. I'll be there in a minute."

"S-Si Johanna? Kasama mo ba siyang uuwi?" Hazel hesitated to ask. There's even a hint of hope in her voice.

I smiled timidly at her question. She still cares for me. Sana ay magtuloy-tuloy na. Ayaw ko rin naman na may away na namamagitan sa amin.

Samuel looked at me before speaking. "She's with me. Do you want to say something?"

There's a long silence, we thought we lost our communication. Samuel was about to turn off the walkie-talkie when we both heard Hazel's voice.

"Johanna...please take care." And the line went off.

Ni hindi ko siya nasagot pabalik. That line of hers speaks a lot of messages. I just can't identify what it is.

"Don't worry, magkakaayos din kayo. Hazel is a good one, so is Donna. Just give them a little time. For now, we need to find Donna first." He smiled at me assuringly. I can't help but to smile back at him. I'll trust his words for now.9.30am.

"Okay."

Habang naglalakad ay may napansin akong tao sa gilid na dinaanan namin. Hinawakan ko ang braso ni Samuel at pinahinto iyon sa paglalakad. Akmang magsasalita ito nang senyasan ko itong manatiling tahimik.