HYEORAEK

SPECIAL CHAPTER

One year after the Apocalypse

"Misis!" I intently closed my eyes and sighed heavily. What is it this time? Padabog kong isinara ang medical book ko bago ko lagyan ng bookmark ang librong binabasa ko.

I immediately got up as soon as I heard Ali knocking on my door endlessly. "Misis! Buksan mo ang pinto Misis! May good news ako-"

"Seriously, Mister? Don't you have a mission to do instead of annoying me here around?!" I questioned and glared at him. I rolled my eyes when his smile only widened and stepped inside my room. Sinundan ko lang siya nang tingin kaya napatigil siya at alanganin akong nilingon. Hindi na ako magtataka kung naabutan niya ako sa libreng oras ko. Alam niya ang schedule ko dahil ibinigay iyon ni Thea sa kanya. I was currently preparing myself for the big event the day after.

"Misis naman! Ang sungit mo naman heto na nga ang good news ko, oh!" he jumped and showed a poster to me. "Taran!" Tamad ko lang siyang tinignan bago ilipat sa good news na sinasabi niya. My eyes widened when I saw a baby poster and an event that I badly wanted to do for Timothy's 2nd birthday. All we needed for his birthday preparation was there, and there were even some wedding rings for the couple.

"Where is that?" I immediately asked him.

"Malapit lang dito, Misis. Pero ilang oras na lang siguro magsasarado-"

I hold his hand to stop him from checking his watch. "We have no time. Let's go!" I told him as I got my coat from my chair. This is my only chance to organize an event because I'm going to be busy tomorrow.

"Huh? Diba may trabaho ka pa mamaya?" tanong niya pero hinila ko lang siya palabas ng kwarto ko.

"Mamaya pa ang duty ko," I informed him as he joined me in walking downstairs. Naabutan ko ang pamilya kong masayang nagkukwentuhan sa sala habang nanonood ng tv. I can't stop myself from smiling when I remember that this is the bonding we always do when we have free time. It was my rest today, but I wanted to help my premises. Besides, I have nothing to do also.

Nagpaalam ako sa pamilya ko habang hila-hila pa rin si Ali. "Misis! Dahan-dahan naman!" I heard him complain when I stopped at the corner and looked for a taxi.

Hinarap ko siya at tinignan ang oras. "When will they close?" I asked him.

"Hmm, six pm ata," he replied, which made me glare at him.

"You're not sure," I stated before I signaled the car heading towards us. Mabilis akong pumunta sa passenger seat pero natigilan ako nang makita siyang nakatayo pa rin. "Ali?! What are you still doing there?! Let's go!" I shouted at him. I messed up my hair when he finally sat beside me before I told the driver the place.

It was the exact time when we got off from the car when I saw the shop started to close. "Wait!" I shouted to stop them. Nag-unahan kaming tumakbo ni Ali para mapigilan ang pagsara ng shop. Ali was the first one who stopped them and told them something as I got nearer to them.

"Pasensya na po, sir," The old lady said to Ali. Nagtaka ako nang matamlay na mukha ang sinalubong ni Ali sa akin.

"Sarado na sila, Misis," Ali sadly informed me.

The old lady glances at me before looking at Ali again. "Ay! Mag-asawa ba kayo?" she asked me. My eyes widen to Ali before an idea comes up.

"Yes!" mabilis kong sagot bago pa man makapagsalita ang lalaking nasa tabi ko. "We're planning to buy a.." Napalabi ako nang wala akong maisip na palusot hanggang sa mahagip ng mata ko ang nakahilerang mga singsing sa glass window. "A ring! And we want to make a reservation for an event for our... Umm..." I bit my lip when the words stuck on my tongue. Sh*t! Why I can't say the word?!