LOCKDOWN

CHAPTER 4



GABRIELLA

"Saan ka pupunta?" Zeke asked as I went out of the bathroom and walked straight to my things to fix them. Kailangan kong mag-ayos agad at magmadali knowing my brother's life is at risk right now. Hindi na dapat pa akong mag-aksaya ng panahon, because every second gone, mas kokonti ang tsansa na maililigtas ko pa ang kapatid ko. And I don't know if I can take it kung mawawala pa siya sa akin, he's the only family I have.

"Somewhere," I shortly replied. Hindi ko na kailangan pang magpaliwanag ng mahaba sa kanya. As if may mangyayaring iba kapag sinabi ko sa kanya, tsss.

His forehead creased as he probably think how dumb my decision was. Well, I can't blame him. Everyone must have felt the same way for me because look, I'm already here at "The Sanctuary", safe but I still chose to go outside. Nandito na ako, ligtas at may lugar na matitirhan hindi tulad ng iba na nastuck na sa mga bahay nila o hindi kaya nagpapalaboy laboy na sa mga kalsada para lamang mabuhay o hindi kaya maghanap ng makakain. For them, parang pinakawalan ko ang isang mahalagang bagay, tinanggihan ko ang grasya.

But I don't have any choice. I needed to save my brother. Alam kong malaki na siya para iligtas, but I need to bring him here. I can't lose him. He was the only family I have. I can't stand to lose him. Funny, but I still treat him as a baby because he has always been the youngest in the family. Everyone in our house was so protective of him. I was so protective of him. That's why I'll come and get him.

Nag-aayos na ako ng gamit ko ngayon. Inalis ko na ang mga gamit pang-school sa bag ko, dahil hindi ko na kakailangan pa ang mga iyon at magiging pabigat lamang. I just left my clothes there, my essentials, emergency kits, then I packed foods and stuffed it inside. I also saw a swiss knife from this room so I quickly picked it up and put it in my pocket. This would be used soon. The knife comes in handy, at dahil hindi ko alam kung ano ang nangyayari sa labas, I guess, it's better to be safe than sorry.

Wala na akong pakialam sa lahat kaya dali-dali akong lumabas sa kuwartong iyon still holding the radio in my hand. Nagbabakasali na may frequency uli akong masagap at makausap ko uli ang kapatid ko. Wala na akong iniisip na ibang bagay ngayon kung hindi ang malaman kung ano na ang kalagayan ni Riel doon at kung papaano ko siya ililigtas.

My right foot was ready to step outside when a hand suddenly held my hand.

"I'll come with you," Zeke said.

Bahagya akong nagulat sa inasal at sinabi niya  I looked at him eye to eye to look if he was saying the truth or not. Baka nabigla lang siya sa desisyon niya at umatras sa kalagitnaan ng paglalakbay ko.

"No," I said still with my pride up high. Why would I bring a stranger with me? Wait. Eto rin pala dapat ang sinabi ko sa sarili ko the moment I let this stranger come inside our room. I'm such a hypocrite. Alam kong hindi dapat ako magtiwala, pero bakit tinibag ko ang isang parte ng pader na ginawa ko para makalayo sa mga tao para lamang sa kanya?

"I'll come even if you don't want to."

Poprotesta pa sana ako kaso tumalikod na siya pagkatapos noon saka dinala ang isang maliit na sling bag na dala-dala niya kanina pa. Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako. I guess a company won't be a hassle. Kailangan ko rin siguro ng makakasama at makakadamay sa gagawin ko.

I saw from my peripheral view that Liah stood up and was about to say something when I cut her off immediately. Alam ko na kung anong tumatakbo sa isip niya sa panahong ganito, and I won't let her come with me like what Zeke wants to do. Ayokong mapahamak pa siya.

"You're not coming, Liah," matigas kong sabi sa kanya habang nakaharap pa rin sa labas.

"Why? I want to help—"

"If you want to help me, then stay here." I cut her off. "Sandra shouldn't be exposed outside, kailangan nandirito lang siya. And I needed someone to look after her. And that's obviously, you."

She looked startled. "But, Gab—"

"Stop, please. It's okay, Liah. I'll be okay."

I smiled at her to say that everything would be fine. As much as I want Liah to come with me, kailangan din kase nang magbabantay kay Sandra. I know that, that is just a reason na ginawa ko para hindi na siya makahindi pa sa desisyon ko but I guess, it's for the better? Kung mas kakaunti ang taong kasali, mas kaunti ang madadamay. I can't afford if Liah will get hurt while we're on our way to save Riel, knowing there are "monsters", just as what Riel had said, outside.

She sighed heavily before taking a step towards me. Tila nakuha niya na ang punto ko at hindi na siya kumontra pa. She immediately enclosed her arms on me, giving me a tight embrace. Naramdaman ko ang pagmamahal niya doon, and I'm thankful for that. Nang kumawala siya sa yakap ay hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at tumingin nang diretso sa mga mata ko.

"Okay, Gab. Hindi na ako mamatigas. Just please stay safe. Take care, please?" she said with puffy eyes. Anumang oras ay tila iiyak na siya at ayoko nang madramang mga tagpo kaya siguro mas maganda kung umalis na kami ngayon din.

"Of course. Don't worry about me, Liah. I can handle myself," I assured her.

I gave her one last smile before I turned to Zeke. I guess I'll be with him for quite a long time.

"Let's go?" he asked me.

I nodded.

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It's already dark outside our room and I can clearly see the violet-black sky. This is still the same sky I adored back then but why do I feel like it changed? I could feel a creepy feeling everywhere I go. I don't know why. Dahil ba sa lahat ng nangyayari ngayon? Na tila nawalan ng sigla ang lahat?

Ang mga kuwarto rito sa The Sanctuary ay parang mga container ban na nakahilera sa lapag. Kaya naman pagkalabas mo doon, kitang kita mo na ang kalangitan.

If it weren't for the pandemic, I must have been staring at the stars and the beautiful bright moon right now. I must have been admiring their beauty even if they're shining from afar. But this crisis came, it changed everything. It ruined everything.

Nagtatago kami ngayon sa likuran ng isang puno dahil may mga bantay sa may bukana ng gate papalabas dito sa Sanctuary.

"What are we gonna do?" I asked Zeke.

He told me his plans to get out but I immediately cut him off.

"No way, bro. There's no way I'm gonna do that."

"But this is the only way, Gab—"

Parehas kaming napatigil nang may narinig kaming mahihinang daing sa paligid. Napalingon kami sa pinanggagalingan nito at bigla na lang tumambad sa amin ang nakabulagta nang katawan ng nga nagbabatay sa may pintuan. Napakabilis ng nangyari at tila hangin ang may gawa nito, dahil halos hindi namin ito napansin.

"We'll come with you."

The girl with the long bangs and fair white skin said while staring directly at me.