IMMUNO (Taglish)

Chapter 15: The Escape

*Knock

"Dinner is ready." sabi ni Claire pagkapasok niya sa quarters. "Humupa na ang ulan and as much as I hate to say this, you guys can start travelling bukas ng umaga."

"I know you're gonna miss me." nakangiting sabi ko. "But I'll be back here as soon as we're done sa DOH. I will never leave you behind."

"I know you won't." sabi ni Claire. Tumingin siya sa dalawa kong kasama. "Jerome, Julia, thank you so much for taking care of Jared. He's one of the most important persons sa buhay ko."

"Claire.." sabi ko. "Can I ask you something?"

"Jared.." sabi ni Julia. Ramdam kong gusto niya akong pigilan.

Kitang kita ko rin ang pag-aalala sa mukha ni Jerome.

"Guys, trust me on this." sabi ko. At muli akong humarap kay Claire. "Claire, if my life is at stake, would you do everything to keep me alive?"

"Wait, what's going on?" tanong ni Claire. "I'm confused--"

"Claire, just answer the question." sabi ko. "Please.."

"Of course!" sagot ni Claire kahit halata ang pagkalito sa tono ng boses niya. "I will do everything to keep you safe. But what's the matter? Hoodie, you can tell me everything."

"Oh.. Uhm.. Wala naman." pagsisinungaling ko. "Natanong ko lang, kasi di ba, hindi namin alam kung gaano kalala 'yung panganib sa daan pag-alis namin and all.. Uhm.. I just wanna hear it from you. I-it gives me courage.."

Claire was looking at me intently. Then she looked down and smile. "Alright. Oh well, kumain na tayo. Para may lakas kayo kinabukasan."

The dinner went well. As far as we know, wala pa ring nagsususpetya na alam na namin ang balak nina Lieutenant Hernandez. Everything was as normal as it can get.

The lights went off by 11pm. Luckily, hindi si Renzo ang nakatokang magbantay sa labas ng quarters namin.

Nagpanggap kaming mga tulog na.

30 minutes later, lumabas si Julia at kinausap ang nagbabantay na lalaki.

"Kuya.." sabi ni Julia. Malapit sa pinto ang kama ko kaya dinig na dinig ko ang usapan nila. "Kuya, favor naman oh. Ang sakit kasi ng ulo ko, umaatake 'yung migraine ko."

Hindi sumasagot ang lalaki.

"Kuya, baka naman may available na gamot sa infirmary, kahit paracetamol lang. Hindi ko na talaga kaya 'yung sakit, eh."

Wala pa ring sagot. A dead log, that's what he was.

"Kapag ikinuha mo ako ng gamot, may prize ka sa'kin pagbalik na pagbalik mo. 'Dun ko ibibigay sa bakanteng kwarto."

Narinig ko ang yapak ng combat boots na lumakad at unti-unting nag-fade. Signal na wala na ang guard, at pwede na kaming lumabas.

I guess that guard wasn't a dead log after all.

"Seriously, Julia?" pabulong kong biro habang isinusukbit ang knapsack ko.

"Oh, the things I do for mankind." sabi niya.

Kung ibang sitwasyon 'to, malamang nagtawanan kami. But we chose to keep quiet. Lumabas kami ng quarters as silent as we can.

We tip-toed and made our way out of the building.

Good thing mga rubber shoes ang suot namin. It didn't make much sound habang naglalakad kami sa hallway.

Two hallways left at makakalabas na kami ng building. Konting konti na lang nang biglang..