Clark High is in lockdown due to the threat of coronavirus. The student council takes over and the QED-4, now part of the student executive committee, assists in maintaining peace and order on the campus.
A/N: We're still on the first night of the school lockdown!
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LORELEI
JAMIE AND I should consider ourselves lucky, because we have a friend who allowed us to stay in her room. If we didn't know anyone who lives in the white hostel and if no one is kind enough to adopt us, we would be among the hundreds of students who do not know where to sleep tonight and in the coming days.
"Sorry kung medyo magulo pa ang room ko," sabi ni Rosetta pagkabukas niya ng pinto para sa amin. "Late na rin kasi akong nagising kanina kaya hindi na ko nakapaglinis."
May iilang kalat lang sa mesa at may mga damit na parang iniwan lang sa tabi, but the room wasn't that messy.
"We really appreciate this, Rosie," I said, holding her hand. "Thank you."
"As what they say, a friend in need is a friend indeed," Jamie added. "Salamat, Rosie."
"Ano ba kayo? Wala 'yon!" Ngumiti si Rosetta at niyakap kaming dalawa ni Jamie. "Sino-sino ba naman ang magtutulungan kung 'di tayo-tayo lang din? You would have done the same kung kayo ang nasa posisyon ko."
Rosetta's unit is a studio-type room. May bunkerbed sa isang side habang may mesa't dalawang upuan sa isa pa. Meron din siyang mini-kitchen sa bandang unahan kung saan may rice cooker, oven at electric stove. I've been here before. Wala naman masyadong pagbabago.
"Nasaan na pala 'yong roommate mo?" tanong ko habang tinutulungan si Rosetta na itapon ang mga kalat sa table. "Umalis na ba siya?"
"Oh, nakwento ko na ba sa 'yo? Hindi? How did you know?"
"Wala na kasing bedsheet 'yong mattress sa taas ng bunk bed tapos wala nang pillow case 'yong unan at kumot." Sandaling nagawi ang tingin ko sa upper deck. "Either she brought them to the laundry shop downstairs or she already left you as your roommate."
"As expected from a member of the QED Club!" Rosetta exclaimed. She looked surprised, but it wasn't really that difficult to deduce. Common sense lang at gut feeling. "Umalis na siya a month ago. Magma-migrate na kasi ang family niya sa US kaya kinailangan na niyang mag-drop sa pag-aaral. Nakaka-miss na nga siya. She's such a good roommate."
"Bale sa taas tayo matutulog niyan, 'no, Lori?" Umakyat na agad si Jamie sa bunk bed. Humiga na siya roon kahit wala pang bedsheet. "Kasya tayong dalawa rito sa taas! Galing! Parang makiki-overnight lang tayo sa friends natin."
Except that this wasn't an overnight stay. Mananatili kami rito hanggang sa ma-lift na ang school lockdown. This is the new normal for us in Clark High. And we're just getting started.
"Meron akong extra bedsheet at pillow case diyan sa cabinet," sabi ni Rosie, washing her hands in the kitchen sink. "Baka kasi mangati kayo kapag natulog kayo na ganyan ang mattress. Ilang linggo rin natengga diyan, naalikabukan na yata."
