God's Rise | WOTG #2

Eight

CADE

I SWUNG MY LEGS out of the bed and stood up. I let out a yawn as I stretched my arms and legs. I wiped the drowsiness out of my eyes and smelled my own breath. I was in a great need of brushing my teeth.

The warm water licked every inch of my skin. The coldness swept out of my body as the rectangular full body mirror just behind me started to moisten up. I turned around and saw my blurry reflection-a silhouette of nakedness and destruction wrapped inside a skin.

The shower automatically turned off when I stepped out of it like a rain stopping abruptly. I took a step forward the large mirror and wiped it to see my eyes. The mirror cleared and my eyes stared at me back as if taunting me to shatter the glass.

Cade, Cade, Cade, look upon yourself and tell me what you see?

Napangiti na lang ako sa aking repleksyon. Ang nakikita ko sa salamin ay isang lalaking may kakayahang sumira ng mundo. Ang nakatitig sa aking mga mata ay ang isang taong may kakayahang tapatan ang pwersa ni Goldberg.

Before dashing out of the room I made the bed and made sure everything was on its place. I got out of the door and rushed straight to the kitchen. All of them were sitting and eating their egg-bacon-and-waffle-stuffed breakfasts. Kung titigan mo sila parang wala silang pinoproblema ngayon. Para bang wala silang dapat asikasuhin. Ngumiti na lang ako at umupo na rin at nagsimulang kumain.

"Sinong nagluto?" Pagtatanong ko habang ngumunguya.

"Me. And Ezerina helped me," sagot ni Beat at ngumiti naman sa akin si Ezerina. Her eyes was as red as her hair. The color of blood-to which I know is the symbol of life. But for her? It could be the symbol of what she could end.

Tumango lang ako at ibinalik ang ngiti kay Ezerina.

"Guys," tawag sa aming lahat ni Beatreese. "Tutal nakikitira naman tayo rito," sabi niya habang pinaglalaruan ang kanyang pagkain gamit ang tinidor. "What if tumulong naman tayo? I mean they could use a little help. Bukod do'n, it's like we're burdens to these hardworking people. Pakita natin na hindi spoiled lahat ng nakatira sa Districts at kaya ring gumawa ng gawaing bukid, huh?" sabi niya sabay subo ng pagkain.

My eyebrows shot up and I nodded. She looked at each of us while chewing her waffles dripping with maple syrup. Nakikitira nga lang pala kami dito at wala pa rin kaming naitutulong kahit magbunot man lang ng damo.

"Since sa isang ospital ako nag-immersion, sa tingin ko mas makakatulong ako sa clinic," Bea said basically to herself. Tinapos niya na ang kaniyang pagkain at uminom ng isang basong tubig. At masasabi kong gutom nga talaga siya. "Kayong apat," turo niya sa amin sabay punas ng bibig. "Bahala na kayo kung saan niyo gustong tumulong," sambit niya sabay tumayo siya at nilagay sa lababo ang lahat ng kaniyang pinagkainan. Naghugas siya ng kamay at umupo uli sa inuupuan niya. "Ikaw, Cade? We both had our senior high immersions at Alvarez Medical Center, right? Baka gusto mong sumama sa 'kin?" She looked at me while her eyebrow is raised. Hindi na ako nakasagot dahil sumabat agad si Kato.

"Sige, tutulong kaming dalawa ni Trevon sa irrigation," sabat niya sabay ngiti kay Bea. Napatingin rin siya sa akin and I just couldn't help but smile, too. His stare lingered for a momen longer when Ezerina spoke up.

"Sige, tutulong na lang din siguro ako sa farm," sabi ni Ezerina at nginitian kaming lahat.

"Sa kanila na lang siguro ako sasama," sagot ko kay Bea. She pursed her lips and nodded. "I could use the fresh air to, you know, calm my nerves a bit, don't you think?"