REACHING THE CLIMAX (RTC BOOK 1) (Editing+Revising ~)

RTC-03

Nagkakagulo pa din sa loob ng  bar. Nararamdaman ko yung takbuhan, at naririnig ko pero hindi ko masyadong nakikita dahil sa makapal na usok.

Mga taong nagtitilian, nagsisigawan, as if there's no escape in this hellhole.

I sure hope there is.

Naglakad ako habang palingon-lingon, sa bawat gilid at sa likuran ko. Hinahawi-hawi ko yung makapal na usok misting the whole place. The smoke so thick it makes me gag.

Then a sudden realization hits me, the smoke isn't just an ordinary smoke coming from a fire or something, I don't know what it's called, pero ito yun. And, there is something wrong happening.

"Teena!" I call.

Where is that girl? I hope she's okay.

Patuloy pa din ang mabilis na pagtibok ng puso ko habang patuloy ako sa paghahanap kay Teena, at kasabay nun ay paghanap na din ng exit.

Ano ba kasing nangyayari?

"Tee--" I trip on to something. I squat on the floor and try to wave off the smoke. "Oh crap!" My eyes widen.

He's a man. Right there on the floor, no life. He's lying face on the floor kaya di ko alam kung buhay pa siya o hindi. But damn, I have to make sure. Kaya inabot ko yung kamay niya at chineck ko yung pulse niya.

Napabuntung hininga ko. Hindi pa siya, you know, out of life, he's still alive.

Nakarinig ulit ako ng sigaw. Like a scream where you're about to lose your life. Napatayo ako ng mabilis at kasabay nun, bumilis ulit tibok ng puso ko.

What's happening? I need to help this man. Kahit na hindi ko siya kilala, I need to--

"Don't please! Pakawalan mo ko!" Sigaw ng isang babae.

My heartbeat quickens and I'm now panting. At di lang yun, my head's starting to spin, like I'm drugged. My feet already starting to feel like jelly.

"Teena!" I'm out of breath. I try to walk for a couple of inches, but my feet won't give in, and they fail. I collapse to the floor.

Mas lalong bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko.

Si Teena . . . Kailangan ko siyang hanapin. There's something wrong here. I hope she's safe.

My head spins. Getting blurry as seconds pass by. This ain't any ordinary smoke, like I've said. What is this. .

"Teen--" I cough ad heave. I'm losing air circulation. I think I'm going to pass out.

Dammit.

Sinubukan ko ulit gumapang, but my arms are jellies and I'm so out of energy.

'HELP' I mouth. And somehow take chances of someone coming to get me despite the thick smoke.

This is bad. I'm gonna die here. This is my end. Fuck, I've never thought my life would end up like this.

I'm . . . Going  . . .to . . .die!

My eyes already closing. Pero bago pa ito sumara ng tuluyan, I think I see something.

I crane helplessly my neck to see. May isang itim na di ko masyadong nakita. . .Hugis tao. Sigurado akong tao dahil may kamay.

"Help me..." I plead to him

He bends down and lifts my sort of hapless body. I think I smile and I think I say thank you to him.

But there's this nagging feeling na may mali sa taong ito. Then as if my feeling hits me right, tinakpan niya ng panyo yung ilong at bibig ko. At unti-unting nanlabo ang mata ko.