Howl Of Fame (TO BE PUBLISHED)

Chapter 11

"I wonder how this place mean to you, Imos."

Jake's unexpected presence nearly caused me to drop the image I was holding. I thought he'd already left?

Nakatayo siya sa pader habang pinagmamasdan ako. "Sino ka ba talaga?" malumanay niyang tanong habang papalapit sa akin.

I didn't pay him any attention. I hastily tucked the picture inside the dusty box with the other vintage image. I took a deep breath and covered it again, hoping he wouldn't see those photos.

"Are you curious?" I look at him and give him an annoying smirk.

"How do you know the combination code? No one dares open this secret facility," he said, giving me a suspicious look.

"How 'bout you? How did you open the door? I thought you left?" balik kong tanong sa kaniya habang naghalungkat pa ng ibang larawan.

I looked at him with a frown and asked, "And...How did you unlock the door?" I walked closer to him, I put my mouth to his ear, "You know something, right?" I grinned when I saw him unease.

His face remained as emotionless like how we met at market, but that doesn't enough to hide what he knows. Una pa lang may kutob na akong may alam na siya. Kahit hindi siya magsalita ay bakas sa kaniyang mga mata ang katotohanan.

He suddenly charged at me and threw me up against the wall. He had his left arms unintentionally circling my waist while leaning his right palm on the wall. The drone suddenly pass through the window, making noise and caught our attention. With his warm hands, he sealed off my mouth.

The drone disappears, he immediately diverts his gaze at me: giving me death glare. Napakalapit namin sa isa't-isa. Naririnig ko ang bawat pintig ng kaniyang puso, at ang kumpas ng kaniyang pahinga.

His deep blue eyes shamelessly lower. I followed his gaze until he stops at my lips. He gulps several times. When he noticed that I was looking at him, he immediately left with shameless flush. He appears to be returning to his trance.

Inilibot niya ang tingin niya at sinubukan na buksan ang pinto. But of course, it's jam. The electricity went off and it's no use breaking the glass door. The air from inside was enough for us to share, but I don't know how long it would take.

Sinubukan niyang buksan ang bintana. Noong una ay nahirapan siya dahil sa mga kagamitan na nakaharang. But he successfully breaks the lock and carelessly opens it. I feel like half of my year has been taken away because of cold whooshing down to my skin. Tinangay ng iilang hibla ang aking buhok.

My knees started to feel jelly, and in an instant, I couldn't feel my hands wrapping around my body anymore. The cold blow of the wind penetrating my lungs. Napakahirap huminga.

"If we can jump at the next window ledge. Magagawa nating makaalis dito." Bahagya niya akong tiningnan nang hindi ako kumibo.

Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko at marahan na pinukpok ito. I couldn't breathe. Napatingin ako sa kamay kong nagkulay ube. Hindi ito magandang sinyales. I attempted to create friction between my palms in the hopes that it would prevent me from perishing, but my knees unexpectedly lost control, and I collapsed to the ground with the boxes I had been trying to hold onto.

"A-are you okay?" Bakas sa kaniyang mukha ang pag-aalala. Mabilis siyang lumapit upang tingnan ang kalagayan ko.

"Co-cold."

Bahagya siyang napamura nang mapansin ang pinanggalingan ng panghihina ko. Mabilis siyang tumayo upang isarado ang bintana. Subalit dahil sinira niya ang lock dito ay nahirapan siya isarado ito muli.

"Hold on," natatranta niyang sabi sa akin.

He pulled back the clothes covering the equipment. He placed them one by one on the open window until he completely covered it. But the wind was blowing so hard that I could still feel the freezing cold.