Yannah | Zombie Apocalypse Story

Chapter Nine

"You like me?" I asked. Did I hear that right? Di ko alam kung iyon ba ang sinabi niya o imagination ko lang. But shit! My heartbeat is so fast. Feeling ko sasabog na ang puso ko.

"Yes. I have liked you since we were kids," he said while staring directly at me. I felt butterflies in my stomach— the same feeling I get when I see him around school. My mouth went agape, and I was trying to find a word to say but nothing came out. I was still in shock.

"Bakit hindi mo sinabi agad noon?" I asked.

"Because I didn't want to ruin our friendship! I can't tell you that I like you, instead, I showed it through my actions. Every time we would walk our way to school, I would always carry your bag. I would wait for you outside your classroom para sabay tayong umuwi. And lagi kitang sinasamahan bumili ng ice cream kase favorite mo iyon, kahit na hindi ko naman gusto ang ice cream. But I did all those things for you..." 

I realized that I was being unfair to him. I felt guilty. Laging sarili ko lang ang iniisip ko, hindi ko na-realize na siguro may valid reason din siya kung bakit niya ako nilayuan. Gosh, I was so selfish. 

"I'm sorry..." My voice cracked. 

"No, I should be the one apologizing. I'm sorry for pushing you away. I just didn't want to fall any further, kaya the best way is to avoid you." Malungkot ang kanyang mata at boses habang sinasabi iyon. 

"Mel..." I trailed. Sa tingin ko ay kailangan ko na rin mag-confess. "Noong bata tayo, at hanggang ngayon... I still like you," I finally said. 

That caught him off guard. His brows were furrowed and his lips were pursed. We stared into each other's eyes for a few seconds before deciding to break the silence. I took a deep breath and forced a smile. 

"At least now, alam na natin ang side ng isa't isa." 

* * *

It's already past midnight, but I can't sleep at all. Kanina ko pa iniisip yung usapan namin sa kusina. Hindi ako maka-move on! A lot of thoughts were playing inside my head.

What if umamin kaming dalawa?

What if naging kami?

What if we stay as friends nalang?

Ugh! This is so annoying!

"Yannah?" Bigla akong napa-upo mula sa pagkakahiga noong may tumawag sa akin. Gulat akong napatingin kay Mel na nasa harap ko. 

Tulog na ang mga kasama namin at kami lang ang gising. "Bakit?" Tanong ko. Napatingin ako sa hawak niyang notebook at ballpen. 

"I want to give you something," he said, at saka ibinigay sa akin ang hawak-hawak niyang materyales. Napaawang ang aking labi kase ang random niya naman. Biglang binibigay ba naman yung notebook at ballpen sa gitna ng gabi.

"Para saan 'to?" I asked, because I really don't have any idea. Balak niya ba akong gawing secretary? Tapos isusulat ko ba ang mga plano namin sa notebook na 'to?

"Uhm..." Iniwasan niya ang aking mata at yumuko. "I thought maybe you wanted to have a diary, so you could write about our journey or anything you want..." 

To be honest, I find that cute. I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from smiling. Pota, kinikilig ako.

"Thank you," I said. He just nodded and smiled. After that, bumalik siya sa kanyang puwesto at pinagpatuloy matulog. Ako naman ay pasekretong kinikilig habang binubuklat ang notebook. Naks, mukhang expensive ng notebook na ito dahil maganda ang design at makapal ang papel.

Sakto, gustong ko pa naman din isulat ang journey namin papunta sa El Maximo.

* * *

It's 6 in the morning, and we're already awake and ready for our journey. Lahat kami ay may binubuhat na mga bag kung saan nakalagay ang aming mga kailangan. Si Ate Hyra ang magda-drive ng sasakyan dahil siya daw ang pinakamatanda. At saka wala daw siyang tiwala kay Mel, baka daw ibangga niya lang kami sa poste ng kuryente.

Tahimik kaming lumabas ng bahay at sumakay sa isang kulay itim na van. Sa front seat si Brylle at sa middle naman ang dalawang bata. Magkatabi kami dito sa likod ni Mel. Katabi ko sana si Shanen kaso pinalipay siya ni Mel, dahil gusto niya raw ako katabi.

"Are you ready?" Tanong ni Ate Hyra. Lahat kami ay tumango at ngumiti sa kanya. She started to drive the car as we watched the surroundings. 

Ang daming kalat at dugo sa lahat ng mga buildings. Maraming nagbanggahan na sasakyan at sira-sirang pintuan at window ng mga restaurants. Nakakalungkot na ganito ang nangyari sa town namin. 

"Hala, kawawa naman," dinig kong sabi ni Riane habang may tinuturo sa daanan. Tinignan ko kung ano iyon. Then I saw a child, maybe between seven and nine years old. But she's not a human anymore, she turned into one. Nakatayo ito sa gilid ng kalsada habang may kinakain na maliit na aso.

I felt my stomach grumble, not because I was hungry, but because I was disgusted. Kitang-kita ang dugo na tumutulo, at pati na rin ang organs ng aso. 

"Don't look," Mel said at saka hinawakan ang ulo ko para iiwas ang aking tingin sa zombie. He made me look at him. Kanina lang ay gusto kong masuka, pero ngayon ay gulat akong nakatingin sa kanya.

"Ako nalang tignan mo," he whispered. I can feel my cheeks turning red because of how close our faces were. I'm sure he was intentionally doing this! 

"Luh," I said and slapped his hand that was holding my face. Binitawan niya na ang pagkakahawak sa aking baba at saka ngumisi. 

Okay, that was low-key attractive. Ugh! Bakit ba lahat nalang na gawin ni Jeramel ay attractive!? Ganito ba talaga kapag in love? 

"Oh, why are you staring at me?" He asked and grinned. Binalik niya ang kanyang tingin sa akin at nanatili ang ngisi sa kanyang labi. I rolled my eyes and sighed. 

"Sabi mo tignan kita."

He chuckled. I felt a shiver down my spine and butterflies in my stomach. It's been awhile since the last time I talked to him like this. I miss the old days. 

Pero masaya ako na unti-unti ulit kaming nagiging komportable at close sa isa't isa. 

Maybe this time... Pwede na?

"It's getting dark, I think we should stop and eat. Tapos ituloy ulit natin bukas," sabi ni Hyra matapos patigilin ang van. We all agreed dahil delikado rin kapag ipagpatuloy pa rin namin ang travel sa gabi. There's no more electricity for the streetlights, which is why we're prone to accidents.

Inabot sa amin ni Bryle ang tig-iisang de-lata ng sardinas. Ang mga pagkain na buhat namin ay kakasya lang for two days. Kaya kailangan namin maghanap ng mga pagkain habang naglalakabay patungo sa El Maximo.

"Use this," sabi ni Mel at binigay sa akin ang spoon niya. Limang kutsara lang kasi ang nakuha ko kaya nagkulang ito. 

"Hindi na," I said and shook my head. Pero agad niyang nilagay ang kutsara sa de-lata ko kaya hindi na ako nakatanggi. 

"Thank you," I said while secretly smiling.