Day Five
"Nawala yung power," sabi ni Madison, flipping the light switch sa shared room nila ng camp buddy niya. Nagising kasi siya na kinakagat ng lamok, only to realize na wala na yung hangin mula sa stand fan.
Bumangon si Jasmine at isinuot ang makapal niyang salamin. Nilapitan niya ang fan at tinry i-on at off, just to double-check.
"Brownout ata," dagdag niya bago tumungo sa bintana para buksan ito. Sinalubong agad ng malamig na hangin ang mukha niya. Madilim pa sa labas—mukhang magbubukang-liwayway pa lang. "Anong oras na ba?" tanong niya, sabay hikab, habang nilingon si Madison na pagod na bumalik sa kama.
Kinuha ni Madison ang phone sa tabi ng kama para tingnan ang oras. "5:15."
"Ang aga naman mag-brownout. Tingin mo, may scheduled power interruption?" tanong ni Jasmine, as she walked back sa kanyang kama at umupo sa edge habang nakaharap kay Madison.
The redhead girl shrugged, sabay kuha ng hair tie para ayusin ang buhok niya into a messy bun. Wala rin namang silbi matulog ulit kahit antok na antok pa siya. "Ewan. Siguro. Let's check the others—baka gising na din sila."
Tumango si Jasmine at kinuha rin ang hair tie niya bago sinundan si Madison palabas ng kwarto.
As expected, nagising na rin ang iba dahil sa pagkawala ng kuryente. Sa hallway, nakasalubong nina Madison at Jasmine sina Savannah, Gianna, at Sienna—magkaka-roommate ang tatlo. Kinukusot ni Sienna ang kanyang mga mata, halatang antok na antok pa, habang nakaakbay naman sa kanya si Gianna, hawak sa kabilang kamay ang phone na naka-flashlight. Si Savannah naman, naka-cross arms at mukhang masama talaga ang gising—halatang wala sa mood.
Nagtagpo ang mga tingin nina Savannah at Jasmine. Agad namang nag-roll eyes si Savannah, na sinuklian ni Jasmine ng mahinang scoff.
"Problema niya?" naisip ni Jasmine, habang si Madison na may hawak rin na phone ay umabante para harapin ang iritang mukha ng kanyang kaibigan.
"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed?" Madison teased, the sarcasm clear in her voice.
"Brownout kasi," sabat ni Gianna, sabay sulyap kay Savannah, na masama ang loob mula kaninang namatay yung electric fan nila. "Di naman ganun ka-big deal. Maaga pa naman. At least malamig pa."
Savannah scoffed, clicking her tongue in annoyance. "Di ka kasi kinakagat ng lamok."
Gianna shrugged with a brief grin, though it quickly vanished. "Shit, yung perishables natin." Agad siyang tumingin kay Madison, and they exchanged worried glances. Sila kasi ang nag-ration kagabi, with the plan to stretch out the remaining hotdogs for at least a week. Pero dahil nawalan ng kuryente, mukhang mahihirapan na sila.
"Let's not open the fridge na lang muna para tumagal yung lamig," Madison suggested as the group made their way downstairs. Gianna nodded, kahit hindi halata dahil madilim, with their flashlights focused only on the narrow path ahead.
Pagdating nila sa sala, nakita nila sina Marianne, Mayumi, at Miguel gathered with somber expressions. Even Mayumi—usually warm and friendly—looked visibly worried.
"'Di pa rin sila bumabalik," Mayumi said as she stood, acknowledging the five juniors approaching them.
"So, what now?" Savannah asked, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.
"I'm heading to town to check on them or kung anong nangyayari," Miguel said, standing up and facing the group. "Magtatanong na rin kung temporary lang ba itong brownout."
"You can't just go alone," Savannah retorted. "Baka di ka na rin bumalik."
"So what are you suggesting?" Jasmine asked, hands on her hips, already annoyed by Savannah's early negativity.
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While We Were Away | BINI OT8 AU
FanfictionShort BINI OT8 AU -wherein eight girls attend a leadership camp in a remote mountainous area, cut off from the outside world with no signal or internet. What starts as a typical summer retreat quickly turns unsettling as supplies stop arriving and t...
