The Outbreak

CHAPTER 1

ARA'S POINT OF VIEW

It's 7am and ako na lang mag-isa ang naiwan sa bahay namin. Anim kaming nakatira sa iisang bahay at magkaklase kami. Isa na si Via sa mga kasama ko rito sa bahay. I was getting ready to go to school nang biglang may nag-doorbell. I looked outside the window and saw that it was Ryde. Bigla akong lumapit sa salamin at tiningnan ko ang sarili ko. I grabbed my bag and went downstairs.

"Hey baby." Bungad sa'kin ni Ryde habang ako naman ay nagpipigil ng ngiti. It's been months since we confessed to each other and mag-MU na kami ever since.

We started walking to school. Lagpas 7am pa lang naman and walking distance lang 'yun since sa subdivision sa loob ng Winterville naman kami nakatira.

"Choi Arabella!" I was shocked when I heard someone scream my whole name.

"Umagang-umaga ang lakas mo makasigaw, Octavia Jacelle Valerio." Sabi ko sabay irap.

"Lagpas 7am na aber. Uso kasi tumingin sa GC. May meeting tayo at late ka na, Ms. Secretary." Napatingin naman siya sa kamay ni Ryde na nakaakbay sa'kin at dali-dali niyang inalis ito.

"Kayong dalawa pala ng Vice President." Sabi ni Via nang nakangisi. Sabay-sabay na kaming umakyat papuntang Meeting Room pero dumaan muna kami saglit sa room namin para ilagay ang mga bag namin.

"Ano kayang nangyari? Natatakot ako pero mas lamang yung pagkalungkot ko. Mamimiss ko siya."

"Ako rin, close pa naman kami." Tugon ni Alnayah sa sinabi ni  Daniela habang si Lucy naman ay nakikinig lang sa kanila. Via, Daniela, Lucy, Alnayah, Sheena, and I belong to one circle of friends.

"Di n'yo narinig? Nakita raw 'yung katawan ni Isaac sa isang abandoned house sa subdivision natin. Iniimbestigahan 'yun ng pulis ngayon." I froze as soon as I heard that. I turned to look at Via. She was just as shocked as me and I can see that she was about to cry. Si Isaac? Patay na? Pero paano? Kasama lang namin siya kahapon.

Dumiretso na kami sa Meeting Room at nakita namin du'n lahat ng SSG Officers kabilang na si Sheena na Treasurer namin, mga staff ng school, at iilang pulis.

"For those who haven't heard, one of our SSG Officers, Isaac Oxford, was found dead at our subdivision. The cause is still unknown but the police is doing their best to get to the bottom of this case. Our deepest sympathies goes out to his family." Saad ng Dean. Halata ang kalungkutan sa mukha ng lahat dahil sa pag-anunsyo ng pagkamatay ng isa sa mga representative ng SSG. Even I can't believe it too.

"If you know anything, please don't hesitate to let us know. Your participation in this investigation is very crucial to us and to obtaining justice for the victim." Sabi naman ng isa sa mga pulis.

"Rest assured that our academy is safe, and classes will resume as scheduled. You may go back to your classrooms. Thank you." Isa-isang lumabas ang mga estudyante sa Meeting Room. Napatingin naman ako kay Via na nangingilid ang luha sa mga mata. Agad ko naman siyang niyakap. Lumapit naman si Sheena sa amin. Lumabas na kami ng room. Naglalakad kaming apat pabalik sa mga room namin.

"Punta lang ako CR." Sabi ni Via. Akma na sanang susundan ko siya nang biglang nagsalita si Sheena.

"Ako na sasama sa kaniya." Katabi lang ang room namin sa room nila Ryde kaya ayos lang kahit magsabay kami.

"You okay, Ara?" Nagulat ako sa biglang pagsalita ni Ryde which caused me to snap out of my thoughts. Bigla naman niya akong niyakap at pilit ko siyang tinutulak but he's too strong that I can't even move him an inch.

"Baka may makakita sa'tin, Ryde." Sabi ko habang umiiyak. I didn't even realize that I'm already crying.

"It's gonna be fine. Everything will be fine." I can't help but cry more because of what he said. I hugged him back and he hugged me tighter. He caressed my hair then kissed my forehead. The sudden news definitely broke my heart but I'm glad that Ryde is here to heal it.