Saving Humanity

Chapter Five: Like Me

Chapter Five: Like Me

Jared

"This is the library," the President says as he opens the door towards a huge room filled with books. There are a few people lounging here, some of them walking around from shelf to shelf, finding the right book to read.

It's amazing, really. Even now, seeing these people, I still can't believe that there are so many of us, walking, talking, awake.

"How did you managed to save all of them?" tanong ko sa Presidente. "From the syndrome, I mean."

"Mga tauhan ko sila sa palasyo, kasama ang mga pamilya nila," sagot niya habang iginagala ang kanyang paningin sa paligid. There's something about his eyes that seems really genuine. Like he's really happy that he saved some of his countrymen.

Pero hindi pa rin ako dapat maniwala. Nabasa ko 'yung journal na isinulat ng isa sa mga scientists niya. It says there that the President conspired with the extra-terrestrial beings to wreak havoc in the entire world.

Ang hindi ko lang maintindihan, bakit dito sa Pilipinas? I mean, we are not the most advanced country out there. Nandiyan naman ang America, Russia at Japan. Bakit dito napili ng mga extra-terrestrial beings na maghasik ng lagim.

Based on the internet websites that are not updated, I know that this mayhem is happening in the whole world. Pero sobrang lakas ng kutob ko na dito sa Pilipinas nagsimula ang lahat.

There's only one way to find out. And it might be a dangerous move.

I need to snoop in the lion's den.

"Lost in thought now, are we?" the President says, and I snap back to reality. Hindi ko namalayan na napatigil na pala ako sa paglalakad at nakatanaw lang sa mga taong nagbabasa.

"Just... Missing the old days," I say. "You know, before the extra-terrestrial beings."

The President sighs, giving me a light tap on the shoulder. It almost passes as a fatherly gesture, except this person is nowhere near a father figure.

"Alam ko," buntung-hinga niya. "Hindi ako titigil hangga't hindi naibabalik sa dati ang lahat."

'Yung malayo niyang pagtingin sa kawalan, na tila ba totoong may pakialam siya sa nangyayari sa amin ngayon, ang nagpapakulo sa dugo ko. He's a good actor, this man. If I don't know any better, I might have believed the show that he's putting up right now.

But no. I know what he did.

"Tara na, marami pa akong ipapakita sa'yo." The president turns around and walks out of the library. I follow.

*****

Pagkatapos naming pumunta sa library, nagpunta naman kami sa cafeteria, kung saan nakilala ko ang isa sa mga scientists ng Presidente. Kasama niyang nagtatago dito ang asawa niya at dalawang anak. When you look at it, it seems that our President is the hero. Little did they know, the person that they thought saved them was the one who started it all.

"Dadalhin na kita sa magiging kwarto mo. Since limited lang ang mga kwarto dito na pwede nating gamitin, kailangan mong maki-share sa ibang tao. Don't worry, he's just like you."

He's just like me? Anong ibig sabihin niya sa sinabi niyang iyon?

Dinala niya ako sa isang classroom na nasa ikaapat na palapag ng gusali.

"This floor is the boys' dormitory," the President states as we walk down the hallway. "The fifth floor is the girls' dormitory."

"How about the ones with families?" I ask, curious.

"They occupy the sixth and seventh floor."

I nod, then something comes up in my mind. "What about the eighth floor?"

May walong palapag ang school building na ito. Sa unang palapag, nandoon ang mga pampublikong lugar katulad ng library at cafeteria. Ang ikalawa at ikatlong palapag naman ang nagsisilbing ospital.

"That's where my office is located," the President answers. Then he stops walking in front of a door labeled six. He looks at me firmly. "Eighth floor is a restricted area. You can't go up there, unless I told you to do so. Do you understand?"

I nod, despite the plan forming inside my head.

He smiles. "Good."

Humarap siya sa pintuan at kumatok. Pagkaraan ng ilang segundo, bumukas iyon at lumabas ang isang lalaki. Napatayo siya ng diretso nang makita niya ang Presidente.

"Kenneth," the President says, then he gestures towards me. "This is Jared. He will be your roommate from now on."

Tango lang ang tanging naisagot ng lalaki. Ngumiti naman ang Presidente at muling tumingin sakin. "I need to have a quick meeting with my council. I'll go and fetch you later."

Tumango ako. "Salamat."

He gives me another tap on the shoulder, then he walks away. Pinanood ko siyang maglakad hanggang sa makarating siya sa hagdan.

Kenneth clears his throat, getting my attention. He looks like we're the same age. His head is shaved, and there's something troubled about his eyes. It's a good thing that I'm a few inches taller than him. I might get intimidated otherwise.

He opens the door wider. "Come in," he says. I stepped inside the room.

It looks just like a regular classroom, except there are no tables and chairs. Instead, there are duffel bags on one corner, and a comforter.

"You may take that corner," Kenneth said, gesturing to the left side of the room, which is empty.

I nod, sitting on the couch in the middle of the room. "Gaano ka na katagal dito?"

He sits on his comforter, picking up a book on the ground. He cracks it open first before answering me. "A month."

"I see," I say, ending the conversation. I don't know what to say anymore. It's not like I'm the most sociable person on this planet.

"I'm just like you, you know," Kenneth says suddenly after a minute.

"What do you mean?" I ask, finding myself curious for his answer.

He puts the book down and looks at me directly. "They found me on the streets."