'Till Death, Did We Part? (On Hiatus)

Chapter VII

----Went Off Missing---

It's been about a day or two since we've defended our thesis. Liz, Freschie, and I have lost as usual. Miina is a clever son of a gun. If there would be an easier topic then we could've had a fighting chance.

"Research, research, research. Para saan pa yun kung matatalo din naman?", sabi ko.

"Chill out, Nate. Sadyang talo naman talo tayo kasi ang galing ni Miina sa mga defense na ganito.", Freschie told me as she was trying to comfort me.

"Thanks, Freschie. Wala naman tayong magagawa, hindi ba?"

"Sa sunod, bawi na lang!", said with motivation by Liz.

Don't get me wrong, It's easy to be pessimistic sometimes, especially when you have no motivation, Freschie proves that wrong however. She told me that in times of nothingness, there will always be a light no matter how dark it will be. Whatever that means. Freschie always comes up with words of wisdom which I don't understand whatsoever. 

"Freschie, do you want to head to the Inbox?"

"What's that, Liz?"

"It's a food park where you have a lot of food choices. It's in Imus so it wouldn't be that much of a pain to go to.", I told her.

"Nate, you know I'm not that fond of going around."

"It's not that bad, at least you'll discover new food."

"You're right Nate. Come on, Freschie, new things won't hurt!"

Freschie is thinking twice about this for some reason. Like a Food Park will be the end of your dignity. What's not to love?

"Okay, fine. Basta libre niyo ah?"

"Sure!", Liz and I said in chorus.

Thank life that we finally got to make Freschie come with us, not for the sole fact that she's my crush, but because she really doesn't go out a lot. She always dreamed of it but I have no idea why she always refuses.

It took about fifteen minutes due to mild traffic. We finally reached our destination. It was around 6 o'clock so we'd get to see Inbox with lights on. It was pretty neat, even though the place isn't that big, it still offered a stockload of food choices. I had Italian cuisine, Liz had Mexican cuisine, and Freschie settled for Japanese cuisine for the night.

There was a band playing for tonight. I think their name was 'Silent Buzz' and they are an amazing band. I recognize their lead guitarist. He's in the same class as Dianne. Wait, why am I even thinking about Dianne right now? I'm not sure. We don't have a significant bond yet. Would we even be friends? I'm not sure. She's mysterious for a fact. Dianne really keeps her membership with the Midnight Hornet strictly. I'm sure she knows that I know about it.

"Their Takoyaki tastes really good, you should try some!"

"No thanks, Freschie. I'm settling for my spaghetti bolognese."

"Whatever you say so, Nate."

"Liz really did a number on the tacos, huh?"

"Bakit naman?"

"She's ordering again."

"Wow, I just noticed that."

I like how Freschie had this blank expression when she found out that Liz is a monster eater. I guess she doesn't really know much about us at all.

"So, what's up guys?", Liz told us.

"Pang-apat na order mo na iyan, Liz. Kanina pa kami tapos ni Nate kumain dito."

"Liz, hindi ito buffet, tandaan mo iyan."

Our group exploded with laughter, which didn't matter because the place was already noisy in the first place.

I receive a call, even when I wasn't expecting one. I look at my phone's screen and see Pam, which I have no idea why she would call me at this moment in particular.

"Guys, saglit lang ah. May tawag ako."

"Go ahead, madami pa kakainin ni Liz."

I went far from the noise and into the urban ambiance of the highway. I answer the phone with deep confusion and high suspicion.

"Hello?"

"Nate! Ikaw may alam sa mga lugar sa Imus, so paano ba pumunta ng Woodlane"

'Woodlane?', I thought, why would she go there? What would she do? What's happening in Woodlane? Once more, I have too many questions that need answers.

"Pam? Bakit ka naandiyan?"

"Listen, there's a new drug that's been going around."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because you're the only person in the group who lives in Imus."

"Wait, I'm in the group?"

"Yes, Nate."

"Okay?", I couldn't believe it at first, it was indeed a shock. "So, keep going then."

"The name of the drug is Hypervespa. It contains dangerous chemicals such as Cyanide and Ethylene glycol."

A drug? That dangerous? In the spokes of Woodlane? What is happening?

"Paano niyo nalaman ito? Ano ginagawa niya sa tao?"

"Hypervespa is an inhaled drug where it causes people to age faster, it is addictive but making cell growth is stunted, causing people to age quicker, at least that's what the doctors say."

"How do you know this, Pam?"

"Well, it's because the-"

Then there were beeping noises coming from the phone. There and then I realize I lost signal, I tried to find a place with signal, but to no avail. I went inside to find my friends and ask them if they have signal.

"Guys, may signal ba kayo?"

"Saglit, tingnan ko lang.", Liz told me as she went for her phone after taking a bite of her taco.

"No, I don't have signal."

"Me neither, what's up with the signal today?", Freschie stated.

"I have no idea.", I told them.

This day has high suspicion.

What on earth is happening?