Saving Humanity

Chapter Eleven: Duel

Chapter Eleven: Duel

Holly

A week had passed. Our rigorous training continues, giving me a sense of accomplishment and importance. Already I can feel the muscles of my body beginning to take form, my stamina and strength getting higher along with it. Hindi ako nagsisisi na sumali ako sa New Army.

Still, I can't shake off the feeling that there's something wrong with this place. It just seems so....perfect. Masyadong maayos ang pamamalakad ng Presidente sa lugar na ito, kung ikukumpara mo sa tunay niyang kulay na natuklasan namin sa mga documents.

Hindi kami magkaroon ng oras ni Jared upang makausap ang Presidente. Bukod sa training, hindi rin namin mahagilap ang taong pakay namin. Masyado siyang abala sa mga bagay-bagay. Sa nagdaang mga araw ay isang beses pa lang namin siyang nakita, nu'ng lumabas siya sa kanyang office upang kumain sa cafeteria. Bukod doon ay hindi namin siya muling nakita.

Time is running out. Jared and I need to formulate a plan on how to gain information from the extra-terrestrial beings, and at the same time find some ways on how to get out of here. We need to find our companions. Wala kaming ideya kung ano na ang nangyari sa kanila.

I hope they're still alive.

Huminga ako nang malalim at malakas na sinuntok ang punching bag na nasa harapan ko. Sa kaliwa ko ay ganu'n din ang ginagawa ni Jared. He's wearing a black sleeveless shirt, his hair and skin glistening with sweat. The muscles on his arms ripple with every punch that he throws. I can't help but stare at him.

For the past week we learned various things about combat and using deadly weapons such as knives and guns. With our rigorous training, mas pinipili namin na magpahinga pagkatapos ng bawat sessions kaya bihira na lang ang pagkakataon na magkausap kami ni Jared.

"Bakit?" With my wandering thoughts, I didn't realized that I'm still staring at him.

I look away and pretend to clear my throat, my face heating up. "Nothing."

A small hint of a smile appears on his face. "Kung hindi kita kilala, Holly, malamang ay naisip ko na nagkakagusto ka na sakin."

I glare at him. "Don't be ridiculous."

He lets out a low chuckle, wiping his face using the towel on his shoulder. "Come on, let's take some rest."

We sit down on one of the benches lining the far wall of the classroom that we're in right now. We still have half an hour before we move on to our next class. Jared hands me a bottled water and I greedily drink from it.

"Kamusta ka?" he asks. "Nagkaroon ka na ba ng pagkakataon para makausap ang President?"

I scoff. "Why are you asking me? The President is fond of you, not me. Ikaw dapat ang kumausap sa kanya."

"Hindi ko alam kung paano ako makakalapit sa kanya." Jared sighs. "He seems so busy all the time. I haven't seen him in days."

This is bad. If we don't speak with the President as soon as possible, we cannot gain the information that we need to get about the extra-terrestrial beings. Without those information, we won't be able to get out of this place.

Kailangan naming makabuo ng ibang plano sa lalong madaling panahon. Kung hindi namin makakausap ng maayos ang Presidente, we have to risk ourselves to do something drastic, like sneaking inside his office.

It wouldn't be impossible, would it?

We stay quiet for a few minutes, lost in our own thoughts. Patuloy na nag-eensayo ang ibang trainees sa paligid namin. From seventeen, only thirteen of us are left. Hindi na kinaya ng iba ang matinding training sessions namin.