In The Name of Survival

Chapter 31

Mag-aalas otso na ng gabi pero gising pa rin kaming lahat. Pagkatapos naming maghapunan kanina ay diretso kaming umakyat ng second floor para pag-usapan iyong plano. Nito ko lang din nalaman na may mga dalang bag pala sila Lieutenant kanina pag-uwi. Naglalaman iyon ng mga armas na siyang pinagtuunan nila ng pansin sa pagkuha para gamitin in case magkaroon na naman ng surprise attack.

Kasalukuyan kaming nasa ground floor lahat ngayon para abangan ang balitang dala nila sa amin.

"We already informed the base that you guys are temporarily staying with us. But, given the fact that there are still individuals who still needs to be rescued aside from all of you, baka matagalan bago nila tayo masundo," paliwanag ni Lieutenant sabay tingin sa'ming lahat.

"But we still have other options here, don't we?" banggit ni Maize. "If it'll took long for them to save us, then isn't it a practical idea to just head directly towards the evacuation site?"

May ilan sa aming sumang-ayon sa kaniya pero may iba ring nag-alangan. Wala rin naman akong nakikitang rason para humindi sa plano niya. May sasakyan kami, may mga sundalo pang kasama, given na ang mga factors na iyon para makakilos kami. One thing that I am really worried about is the amount of threat we will surely encounter amidst the plan.

"If you guys were just a trained gals just like your seniors, then I don't see any reason to refuse your plan, Maize," daglian niyang sagot. "We obtained enough weapons already that you all could use if you're just well-trained enough. Pero dahil nga sa hindi, I won't consider that."

"Edi turuan mo kaming humawak ng ba—"

"Even a one whole week training is not enough for you to successfully held a riffle, Jaden," putol ni Lieutenant sa sinaabi niya. "Remember this one, Charlies. The weapons you can see here on the table are not some kinds of toys you can play with. It is also not a type of science tools owned by Nexus in which you can freely touch without getting harmed."

Kumuha siya ng isang baril sa mesa sabay tutok sa pader. "These ordnancee are lethal weapons, meaning, you must be tough and skilled enough before you can lay your hands on this." Kinalabit niya ang trigger rason kung bakit agaran iyong nagclick. "One wrong move, and you're dead."

Hindi ko maiwasang tignan ang dulo ng muzzle. Sinundan ko ang direksyon kung saan talaga iyon nakasentro at doon ko nakita na nakatutok iyon sa mismong gitna ng orasan.

Kung may bala lang sana iyon, paniguradong magagawang tamaan ni Lieutenant ang pinakasentro ng clock dial. Hindi ko maiwasang hangaan siya dahil sa galing niyang humawak ng baril.

Partida nagagawa niyang patamaan ang mga aliens na gumagalaw nga iyon, ano pa kaya iyong mga bagay na nakasteady lang?

Pero, habang tumatagal ang pagtutok ng mata ko sa baril, isang tanong ang kusa na lang na pumasok sa utak ko.

Do I also need a gun to survive this mess?

Kung titignan ko sila, wala akong ibang nakikita o naririnig kundi kailangang may armas ka para makasurvive. Kailangan mong pumatay para lang mabuhay. Nakapa ko tuloy ang kutsilyong hanggang ngayon ay nasa akin pa rin. I didn't use it. Even my life was already at risked back when we're inside the ministop, I still choose to neglect the idea of using this thing.

Lihim na lang akong napatawa sa utak ko. How funny that I am bravely carrying a knife yet I don't even know how to use.

That's why I can't help but to question myself, do I have to resort on such violence in order for me to live?

"Your officer took the risked and take you all out of the school. Iningatan niya kayo para lang makaligtas tapos ngayon papalag kayo sa planong walang kasiguraduhan?"