Saving Humanity

Epilogue

Epilogue

Felicity

Dalawang linggo na ang lumipas. Dalawang linggo simula nang mamatay ang Presidente. Dalawang linggo simula nang matagumpay na pinakawalan nina Jared at Holly ang antidote.

We all felt it then. The change in the air. Ian was already lying in a makeshift hospital bed, with Kenji fussing over him. He assured me that Ian is far from mortal danger yet I wasn't able to stop my tears from flowing. It was a terrible feeling to see him in that state. I was used to him being strong, someone that I can always rely on. For me, he's a big, solid rock that I can use as a support whenever I feel weak. Or a massive tree with luscious leaves, where I can sit under if I'm tired.

Alam ko na habang buhay nang tatatak sa isip ko ang imahe niya, habang duguan at walang malay na nakahandusay sa kama.

While Kenji was attending Ian's needs, I sat in the corner. Hindi ko alam kung nasaan ang iba kong mga kasama noon. Masyado akong abala sa kalagayan ni Ian. The last thing I can remember was Holly, Jared and his Mom stayed behind to look after Tim. Kahit ang paghahanap sa antidote ay nawala na rin sa isip ko dahil sa labis na pag-aalala.

But then I felt it. The sudden change in the air. As if something alive had passed through my body. Somehow, it felt really familiar. My eyes found Kenji's, and based on his expression, I knew he felt what I had felt, too.

Then there was an explosion.

I dropped to my knees, shielding my head in shock. I saw Kenji did the same, hiding himself under Ian's bed. I realized at that time that Ian was defenseless, so I immediately sprung up and went to his side.

We heard people screaming outside, but there were no more explosions after that. My heart was hammering against my chest as I spared a look at Ian, making sure that he has no new wounds, even though the explosion we heard was distant enough for us to conclude that we were safe.

"Did you feel that?" tanong sa akin ni Kenji habang lumalabas siya mula sa ilalim ng higaan. Pinagpag niya ang kanyang balikat at tumingin sa akin.

I nodded. "What was that?"

He shrugged. "No idea." He looked at Ian. "Okay na siya. He'll wake up in a few hours. Tingnan natin kung anong nangyari sa labas."

Tumango ako bilang tugon, at sumama ako sa kanya palabas.

It was utter chaos. People were running around, trying to find out what caused the explosion. I saw Andre running towards us. I rushed to meet him halfway.

"What happened?" tanong ko sa kanya.

He was frantic. I can barely make out what he was saying through his heavy breaths and the noise around us. "The old classroom... The entrance to the basement... It exploded."

As soon as I heard the word basement, hindi na ako nagdalawang-isip pa na tumakbo papunta doon. Walang ibang laman ang isip ko kundi sina Jared at Holly, pati ang babala na sinabi sa amin ng dalawang extra-terrestrial beings tungkol sa panganib na dala ng direktang pagkabilad sa antidote.

I was thinking at that moment, no, this can't be happening. We were just reunited. We can't lose them like this. Not again.

Mabilis ang tibok ng puso ko, mas mabilis pa sa yabag ng mga paa ko habang tinatahak ko ang daan papunta sa lumang classroom. People were running alongside me, going in the same direction. All of them were curious about what happened.

Hindi ko na nadatnan pa ang lumang classroom. It was blown to bits. Not by a grenade or a bomb or something related to fire. No, it was like a huge gust of wind blew it up from underneath and shattered it to pieces. What was left is a huge hole in its place.