Saving Humanity

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Suspicions

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Suspicions

Felicity

Isang linggo na ang lumipas simula nang magdala sina Tony ng bagong tao dito sa bahay nila.

His name is Edward Magsino, a thirty-year-old bank teller. The night he arrived, he immediately told us what happened to him. He said that the last thing he remembered was seeing his colleagues fall one by one, and then he himself fell asleep. Then he woke up, in the same location, alone and confused. Naglakad-lakad siya sa paligid hanggang sa makita siya nina Tony.

I don 't have any problems with him. He seems sane enough to function and help with the daily chores, and he also occasionally plays with Tony's children. Still, there's something off with his story.

Ian was the one who pointed the flaw out. Noong magising ulit kami pagkatapos maapektuhan ng sleeping syndrome sa ikalawang pagkakataon, wala nang tao sa labas. Pati 'yung mga sasakyan na nagkabanggaan sa daan ay wala na rin. Imposible na hindi siya kinuha ng mga extra-terrestrial beings.

Hindi namin siya tinanong kung may tattoos ba siya na katulad ng sa amin, dahil maging kami ay hindi pa alam ang ibig-sabihin ng mga iyon. Until we have enough knowledge, we won't go around telling people about this.

Kahit na may masamang suspetsa kami sa bagong salta, hindi namin iyon pinahahalata. We're still interacting with him like we interact with everybody else. We strike up conversations with him occassionally, but we're also careful not to release any information.

Kinausap rin namin si Tony tungkol dito, pero sabi lang niya ay tinatanggap niya sa tahanan ang lahat ng mga taong nangangailangan ng tulong. Kakaunti na lang raw ang mga taong gising, at dapat ay magtulungan kami. Hindi na namin muli binanggit sa kanya ang mga speculations namin pagkatapos nu'n.

Sana lang ay mali ang mga hinala namin tungkol kay Edward. Sana ay hindi siya espiya ng mga extra-terrestrial beings.

"Ayos ka lang ba?" tanong sa akin ni Ian na nagpabalik sa akin sa reyalidad. Binigyan ko siya ng ngiti bilang sagot.

Nandito kami ngayon sa labas ng bahay, nakikipaglaro sa mga anak ni Tony. Medyo komportable na si Ian sa presence ng mga bata, at nagagawa na niyang makipaglaro sa mga ito. Somehow, it gives me a satisfying feeling. Alam ko kasi na hindi siya gaanong mahilig sa mga bata.

"Nasaan sina Andre at Pauline?" tanong ko sa kanya.

Inabot niya muna ang isa sa mga manikang hawak niya kay Myla bago siya sumagot.

"Pauline is inside our room. I'm not sure where Andre is, though. I saw him earlier, speaking with Tony about guns. Seems that he's getting interested in learning how to shoot."

Tumingin ako sa kanya. "Kumusta pala ang mga lessons mo kasama si Tony?"

He shrugs. "Okay naman. I've learned a lot from him. One of these days, I'm going to try and join them in their expedition outside."

I raise my eyebrows at him.

"What?" he asks, noticing my expression.

"Alam mong delikado sa labas, hindi ba?" paalala ko sa kanya.

Nginitian niya lang ako. "I know."

"Alam mo naman pala, eh. Bakit gusto mo pang sumama kina Tony? Mas magiging ligtas kung mananatili ka na lang dito."

Biglang naging seryoso ang ekspresyon niya. He looks up at the blue sky, taking a lungful of air. Ano kayang nasa isip niya ngayon? I can never guess. Napaka-mysterious niya kasing tao.

He speaks after a few moments.

"Hanggang kailan ba tayo mananatili rito?" he asks without looking at me. "Another week? Month? How about Jared and Holly? Are we just going to let them suffer at the hands of those extra-terrestrial bastards?"

I take a deep breath. Magsasalita na sana ako pero inunahan niya ako.

"I know how dangerous it is outside. But I want to be able to practice what I've learned with Tony. And I want to familiarize myself with danger, so that when the time comes, I would be able to defend you guys."

He's looking at me now, with eyes full of emotions that I know he's trying so hard to keep inside. Why are guys so keen at bottling up their emotions? Letting them out won't affect their manliness in any way.

I reach out to touch his hand, and I'm surprised at the warmth of it. I look at him straight in the eyes, willing him to let it all out.

But, to my dismay, the emotions in his eyes fade in an instant, as if they were never there in the first place. He lets out a huge sigh.

"Hindi natin pababayaan sina Jared," I assure him. "Let's talk to Pauline and Andre. I think it's time for us to leave."

Ian's right. Kailangan nina Jared at Holly ang tulong namin. Hindi namin sila pwedeng pabayaan na lang, lalo pa't alam namin na nasa puder sila ng mga extra-terrestrial beings. I admit, medyo nawawala na sila sa isip ko these past few days, and I know how wrong it is.

Tumayo ako.

"I'm going to talk to them now," I say to Ian. Tumango lang siya bilang sagot.

Naglakad ako papasok sa bahay, thinking of the right words to say to them. Alam kong nagustuhan na rin nila ang pananatili nila rito, kaya kailangan kong gawin ang makakaya ko upang kumbinsihin sila na umalis.

Walang tao sa kusina nang pumasok ako. Mukhang umakyat na rin sa taas si Andre upang samahan si Pauline sa loob ng kwarto. Great, I can talk to them faster that way. Aakyat na sana ako ng hagdan, nang bigla akong makarinig ng boses sa loob ng palikuran.

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad. Dahan-dahan kong nilingon ang kinaroroonan ng palikuran, at kaagad kong napansin na bahagyang nakabukas ang pinto nito.

Biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. Alam ko kung sino ang nasa loob, at hindi maganda ang kutob ko. Still, I need to check to confirm the thought that's been running in my mind.

Nagtungo ako sa palikuran, at dahan-dahan akong sumilip.

Edward is standing, his back facing me.

And he's talking to someone.

*****

This chapter is dedicated to ngeldee gurlaloo! Check her out on Twitter, may serye siya doon na pwede ninyong basahin!

Anyway, it's been a while since I posted an update. It's good to be back!

If you want a dedication, feel free to message me here or on Twitter (@daveangcla). Hindi ako snob, promise!

Thank you for reading!

-Dave