Howl Of Fame (TO BE PUBLISHED)

Chapter 9

The clouds from the sky waving at me and the snow from outside keep on running over the window's pane. I wonder what the other entrant did at this moment. I haven't seen any surveillance cameras at this place. Hindi ko rin marinig ang mga drones sa paligid. Maybe the Alpha hasn't gone this far before.

I declined and went for the book Sue had earlier given me. When will this region's winter come to an end? We cannot simply stay here; I am certain of it. I'm not sure if that was the only part that went up in flames. Furthermore, this location was established ten years ago. This place might fall apart at any second.

As soon as I turned to the first page, Jake abruptly approached me. He gave me a cup of coffee. Agad na nanoot sa ilong ko ang amoy ng kape. A chilling but soothing atmosphere was combined with the scent of confectionery-ground seeds from a tropical bush. What an amazing feeling of oversolidification.

"Thanks."

Napatingin ako sa mga kasamahan niyang masaya na binabahagi ang agahan. Mainit na kape at masarap na tinapay ang pilit nilang pinagkakasya. "Paano mo nahanap ang mga tao na 'to?" Sumimsim ako sa kape na binigay niya sa 'kin. At first, he was skeptical to talk after what happens but then, he started with a deep sigh; just like he has poohed over himself.

"When we roam around here to find a place where we can sleep. I saw this group of people." Napatingin siya sa kaniyang kape.

"They were fetlock in the chamber. No food, no water." Mas lalong humigpit ang pagkakahawak niya sa kaniyang tasa.

"They remember me and my sister. We were locked up by our uncle with nothing. No food and water for two months. I still wonder how we survived." He smiles. His bright blue eyes sparkled like a young child adoring a tiny object. When we initially met on the black market, he was totally different from who he is now.

He stared at his coffee. "Then we met this person. He never treated us like our uncle did. I want to return how the world is grateful to us for keeping alive and the least I can do is keep these people warm and safe."

"Then, why did you end up goofing off with those bandits?"

Napasinghap siya. "I'm just returning the favor."

"You mean..."

"It's not like what you think," putol niya. Huminga siya ng malalim bago tumingin sa akin. He propped his chin in the palm of her lifted hand. "What about you?"

"What do you mean about me? You got rid of our home and took us here..."

Marahan niyang ginulo ang buhok ko. "That's not what I mean. Before you come to the City of Fallen? I heard from Tren that you come from somewhere.

I put down my empty cup and squeezed my hands inside my pocket. "It's a long story. I don't want to mention it."

Napatingin kami pareho sa sinag na nanggagaling sa bintana. We welcome the dawn. The cotton candy clouds create a spectacular purple, pink, and orange hue in the sky. They are like fluffy pillows and lost sheep drifting across the sky.

All of us are busy looking for ourselves, scooting our purpose and freedom amidst the dust that we forget to look the other side. The world isn't that bad. Tayo lang naman itong nagpasama.

Greed. The ambition of power. Ruthless. Sa tatlo na lang ata na 'yan umiikot ang lahat. I guess this generation doesn't have a choice but to deal with the aftermaths that forefathers left.

"I hear from Sue that you betrayed the bandit just to follow your sister here."
Jake locks her eyes at the beautiful scenery. "I don't regret it. Tossing me here is like they gave me my freedom." Huminga siya ng malalim, "pero alam mo kung ano ang pinagsisihan ko?"