Chapter 10.8

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Zatariel Wov

His pov

Two weeks since we'd been locked in this school prison, cut off from the outside world.
Two weeks since the school trip to Green City turned into a nightmare.

But hey, at least class continued, even with just the three of us: Miexha, Thyron, and yours truly,

We even had our finals exam, and guess who's the class valedictorian this year?
This guy, right here, with his impeccable grades and charming smile.

Yup it's me!

Graduation day is on April 29th.

"You know," I drawled, leaning back against the windowsill,
"I'm starting to think the Mimic Virus isn't so much a virus, but a test. A test of our patience, our sanity, and our ability to survive on a diet of stale bread and lukewarm water."

Mimi, my love, my sunshine, was curled up on the sofa, her head resting on a pile of textbooks.

"Ang drama mo Riel," she said, her voice soft, a melody that always calmed the storm inside me.
"It's not the end of the world. We'll be out of here soon."

"Oh, I'm sure we will," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Just as soon as they find a cure for the Mimic Virus, which, we don't have any latest news from the outside, is still a mystery."

Thyron, the thorn in my side, snorted from his corner.
"You're just scared. You're afraid of a little virus."

"Afraid?" I scoffed, my eyes twinkling.
"I'm not afraid, Thyron. I'm simply… cautious. I'm a pragmatist. I see the world for what it is, not for what I want it to be. And the world right now is a pretty scary place."

"You're just trying to impress Miexha," Thyron muttered, his voice laced with bitterness.

"Oh, is that so?" I said, leaning closer to Miexha, my voice a whisper.
"I'm not trying to impress anyone, Thyron. I'm just trying to survive."

Thyron rolled his eyes.
"Whatever. You're delusional."

Thyron, kept trying to pick fights with me, my stomach was still hurting from his punch two weeks ago.

Marie and Kyliah weren't here, though. 
The maids told us they were showing signs of the Mimic Virus, so they were separated.
  I hope they're okay.

My mind raced, replaying the past month, before the outbreak.
I'd been on a winning streak at the casino, racking up enough to buy a house in De Luna Homes, a modest but comfortable dwelling that would serve as our sanctuary. The house was in both Mimi's and my name, but because we were still minors, the guardian was my dad's brother.

I couldn't withdraw a large amount of money from my account without raising suspicion, so I had to be discreet. 
I secretly sold my gadgets to Jay for extra cash.
The money would cover our daily expenses, Mimi's and mine, as well as other necessities. I had planned and budgeted meticulously, stretching every peso to its limit.
My savings would last for a month, but after that, I needed to find a way to support us.

Miexha doesn't know how hard life is outside her family.
She's lived in luxury, surrounded by privilege and comfort. I want to prove I'm worthy of her, to show her that I can provide her with a life that matches her dreams.
I don't want her to go hungry or struggle with me.
I want her to be able to do whatever she wants, to pursue her passion for music, without worrying about problems or financial constraints.

I want her to be free. I want her to be happy.

My phone buzzed, a welcome sound after weeks of silence. The signal was back! I snatched it up, my heart pounding so hard I could feel it in my chest.

"Zatariel, it's your dad. Are you okay?" His voice was strained, laced with worry.

"Hey, Dad. Yeah, I'm good. How about you? Mom?"  I tried to sound casual, but my voice shook slightly.

"I'm still stuck in Red City. They won't let us in," he said, his voice heavy.  I could hear the frustration in his tone.

"What? They haven't let you in? But what about..." I hesitated, trying to find the right words.
"What about the virus? How's it going? I have no news outside they locked us here"

"They locked you up? You're not even infected?" He sounded shocked, almost incredulous.  I could imagine him shaking his head, disbelief etched on his face.

"Yeah, they put us in quarantine. They said it was because we were at the origin of the virus, in Green City."

"Oh, Zat..." He sighed, a long, weary sigh.  I pictured him running a hand through his hair, his face etched with concern.
"The virus... it's stopped now, but it caused a lot of damage. Orange City and Green City are in lockdown. They're giving everyone vaccines."

"Vaccines?" I felt a wave of relief wash over me. My shoulders relaxed, and I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
"So, it's over?"

"Well, it's stopped spreading, but..." He paused, his voice low.
"It's not over yet. We're still dealing with the aftermath."

"I'm so sorry, Dad. I wish I could be there to help."

"Don't worry about it, Zatariel. You're safe, that's all that matters. We'll get through this."

I could hear the worry in his voice, but there was also a glimmer of hope.
It was a small comfort, but it was enough. 
I smiled, a genuine smile, trying to reassure him. 
"I know, Dad.  We'll be okay."

Check this out! The story of the 5 students program of green garden students batch 2012 🥹

Check this out! The story of the 5 students program of green garden students batch 2012 🥹

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