IMMUNO (Taglish)

Chapter 14: Balat-kayo

"Ready ka na?" tanong ni Jerome sa'kin habang isinasara ang zipper ng kanyang knapsack na puno ng pagkain, tools at iba pang necessities for our mission. Tumayo siya at lumapit sa kama ko. Napansin niyang nagsa-struggle ako sa pagsalansan ng mga gamit sa loob ng bag ko. "Tulungan na kita."

Nasa sleeping quarters kami kasama ng ibang mga residente ng camp. They're not that friendly, most likely because marami sa kanila ang traumatized at takót pa rin dahil sa virus outbreak.

"Salamat, Jerome." Hinawakan ko ang pisngi niya. Hinawakan niya rin ang kamay kong nakahawak sa pisngi niya. "I owe you so much." sabi ko habang nakatitig sa mga mata niya.

"Ano ka ba." sabi niya with his charming smile. "I made a promise to you, di ba? I'll do everything to keep you alive. To keep you safe."

I kissed him. I am so darn lucky to have him.

Maagang bumangon si Julia para makigamit ng radio at macontact ang DOH Headquarters. Hindi pa siya bumabalik hanggang ngayon.

"Kumusta nga pala ang pamilya mo ngayon?" tanong ko. Ilang linggo na kaming magkasama ngunit hindi ko pa naririnig si Jerome na mag-share about his family. "Kailan ang huling contact mo sa kanila?"

"Minutes after the outbreak occured, I was talking to my sister." Sabi ni Jerome. "Nasa Singapore siya kasama ang anak niya, si Yuri. Ako ang nag-alaga dun nu'ng baby 'yun."

Ngumiti si Jerome nang maalala ang pamangkin. Habang tumatagal, mas lalo akong nai-inlove sa kanya. Malaki ang katawan niya, pero walang sinabi ito kumpara sa laki ng puso niya.

"That night, I was convincing Ate to go back here in the Philippines." Kwento niya. "Now I'm kinda thankful that they chose not to."

"You must be worried." Tugon ko. "Them being far away from you."

"I constantly pray for them, as much as I do for you." Sabi ni Jerome habang nilalaro ng mga daliri niya ang kamay ko. "Pero worried? I don't think so. I know my Ate. She's a very strong woman. I'm sure they're okay."

I was mesmerized by how amazing this person was. There's nothing sweeter than finding out that my boyfriend was praying for me, like I'm his family. What did I do to deserve a great guy like him?

"I'm so excited na matapos na 'to lahat." sabi ko. "Hindi ka ba natatakot? This mission is very dangerous."

"But once the cure is developed, lahat ng hirap natin magiging worth-it." sagot ni Jerome. "Saka isa lang naman ang kinatatakutan kong mangyari. 'Yung mawala ka--"

*knock

Napatigil sa pagsasalita si Jerome nang marinig ang katok at bumukas ang pinto.

Si Renzo.

"We can't go today." sabi niya with his usual cold demeanor. "May malakas na bagyong paparating. We can't go out in that weather. Masyadong mataas ang risk. Lieutenant's order."

Lumabas siya agad bago pa kami makapagrespond.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Jerome at natawa.

"I hate him." pabulong kong sabi. "He said he should've killed me sooner kahapon nang hindi na siya napigilan ni Claire."

"Maybe he'd been through a lot, kaya gano'n na lang ang fear niya sa mga infected, or in your case, bitten."

"Pero bakit napakabait mong tao?" natawa si Jerome sa sinabi ko. "But yeah, tama ka. That makes sense." dagdag ko. "It makes me wonder, sa t'wing hinahalikan kita, hindi ka ba nag-aalala na baka mapasa ko sa'yo 'yung virus?"

"Eh di sana matagal na akong na-infect kung gano'n." sagot niya.  Then he planted many kisses on my entire face.

We joked around and laughed like kids. It's surreal na sa kabila ng mga nangyayari, we are given this chance to be with each other and have a little bit of fun. Sana palagi na lang ganito. Wait. No. Kapag nakapunta na kami ng DOH at nakapagdevelop na sila ng cure gamit ang dugo at DNA ko, Jerome and I could spend every single day just like any normal day before the outbreak.

That's what keeps me going. Ang mamuhay nang normal ulit, at makasama nang matagal ang napakawonderful na taong 'to. 'Yung walang malaking risk ng pagkamatay or in this case, pagiging zombie.

I am the key to stop this virus. I will stop this apocalypse.

After half an hour, dumating na si Julia sa quarters at mga ilang minuto ang lumipas ay pinuntahan din kami ni Claire.

"No worries. We are prepared for this kind of weather." sabi ni Claire sa'min nina Jerome at Julia over the loud noise na gawa ng nagbabanggaang tubig-ulan at yerong bubong. Dumating na ang napakalakas na bagyo. "I know you guys feel bad na na-extend ang stay ninyo dito at nadelay ang mission, but this is for your own good. Once the storm clears, I'll send you guys off immediately. Okay?"

Tumango kami ni Jerome na parang mga bata except Julia. Napansin ko, ang tahimik niya simula pa no'ng pagdating niya.

"I gotta head back to Lieutenant and the rest of the leadership team." dagdag ni Claire. "Kapag wala kaming choice kundi ang ma-confine sa camp especially during this kind of weather, we do endless meetings on how we continue to keep the people safe, and how to improve our survival system. Stay muna kayo dito sa quarters, magpahinga at magpalakas."

"Thank you for your kindness, Claire." sabi ni Jerome. "We owe you."

"No, Jerome. We owe you." sabi ni Claire. "Especially you, Hoodie. We owe you this camp's security in the future, bilang ikaw ang magiging tulay sa pagdevelop ng cure. Oh siya, mauna na 'ko. Naghihintay na sina Lieutenant."

Pagkaalis ni Claire ay hinila kami ni Julia papunta sa sulok ng quarters. May sasabihin daw siya at wala raw ibang pwedeng makarinig. Naba-bother ako sa ikinikilos ni Julia. She looked so nervous.

"Guys, we need to leave as soon as possible." sabi ni Julia with a strong tone of urgency. "Jared, you're in grave danger."

"Wait, what?" tanong ko. Naguluhan ako. "Why am I in danger?"

"Kanina no'ng nakigamit ako ng radio ng camp, I accidentally overheard two men talking over a secured radio frequency." paliwanag ni Julia. "They're discussing instructions from.. From Lieutenant Hernandez.. that once the storm passes, dadalhin ka sa isang facility which is not affiliated with DOH."

"Huh?" tanong ko. "B-bakit naman nila ako dadalhin do'n?"

"See, Jared, they found out that your blood.. It's precious." sabi ni Julia. "Your antibodies cost millions--"

"Of pesos?" tanong ni Jerome.

"Of dollars. Your blood is worth the costs of food, medical supplies and guns that can keep this camp running for 5 to 10 years." sagot ni Julia. "As far as I remember, the facility is owned by this doctor.. What was his name? Dr. Kaufman! Yes, Dr. Kaufman. According sa narinig ko, this doctor was so eager to buy you, but fortunately for us there's a storm today and their 'deal' was postponed until tomorrow."

"Wait, guys.." parang nahihilo ako sa mga naririnig ko. "Allow me to understand. Ibebenta nila ako at ang dugo ko? I mean, isn't that a good thing? Although they're not with DOH, it's possible that they will make good use of my blood plus Claire's camp will get more than enough supplies."

"Jared, if this is something good, shouldn't they be telling us noong una pa lang?" sabi ni Jerome. "We have no idea kung ano ang gagawin sa'yo ng Dr. Kaufman na 'yan, but there's only one logical explanation why Lieutenant Hernandez and his men kept this hidden from us--whatever they do to you, we wouldn't allow it willingly. I can't allow something bad happen to you."

"Tama si Jerome." sabi ni Julia. "We need to leave this place, but we have to play along. We can't escape ngayong may araw pa. Sobrang daming armed men ang gising. We'll act as if we know nothing. We have to be strategic. By midnight, that's when we do it."

"Wait, what about Claire?" tanong ko. "We have to let her know."

"Jared, I know she's your best friend." sabi ni Julia. "But we can't trust anyone from the camp yet--"

"But--"

"YET." sabi ni Julia. "We'll find out later if we could trust her. If she doesn't know the Lieutenant's plan, it means she's as equally in danger as us, and we're not gonna leave her here."

I thought for a few seconds before saying "Okay."

Nagkatinginan kami ni Jerome at sabay naming tinanong kay Julia: "So, what's the plan?"