LOCKDOWN

CHAPTER 2

GABRIELLA'S POV

Everyone is so busy, walking back and forth, here in the secluded area. They call it 'The Sanctuary'. A place for all the survivors.

Naglalakad lakad lang ako sa paligid habang ang lahat ay abala sa pag-aasikaso ng mga pansamantala nilang paglalagian. Kumukuha na rin sila ng kung anu-anong supplies na kakailanganin nila para mag-survive sa lugar na ito.

I always wander around to observe people and their actions. I know that in this time of crisis, something would definitely change. It would affect at least one person and the so-called domino effect would follow. The tiniest change can make a big difference.

Some are happy while being with their families, slouching their asses on a comfortable sofa of money and power. Some are sad and lonely, crying alone at one corner, almost losing hope at everything in their lives. Some looks depressed and lost. Some doesn't seem to care.

May nag-aaway pa ngang dalawang lalaki kanina just because of their stock of food. They're fighting just because of a bag of canned goods. They almost killed each other. Like wtf, is this the time to fight? They can just share, can't they? Bakit ganoon ang tao?

Anyways, I continued walking not minding their petty fight. I have no time for that. I'm admiring the design of this sanctuary. I mean, yeah it's simple, but it is already more futuristic than what we always see in the surroundings. There are a lot of machines everywhere, like a lot. I wonder what was that for. I also passed by a room here and saw big glass tubes with colored serum inside. This place is the dream place and the definition of heaven for the science freaks.

They must have been finding cure to the virus. Ah! Naalala ko na. Hindi ko pa rin alam kung anong klaseng virus iyon, but I think it's not that easy to cure. Hindi ko rin alam kung paano ito napapasa from one person to another. But I think, from body fluids? Pero kung dahil sa body fluids, why is Sandra's mom infected, while Sandra isn't? Imposible namang wala silang contact ng body fluids, right? So it might be because of another reason? Hmmm. What could it be?

Kanina pala, nakalabas kami ng Sterilization Area dahil hindi naman daw kami infected. But si Sandra, she's so down because of what happened to her mother. Wala naman kaming magawa cause the guys got big guns. Isang bala lang ata nllllllllllllllpp0ppp0pun patay na kami, lol. But after some time, gumaan na rin naman ang loob niya sa amin. Parang nakasundo niya na kami at tila nalilimutan niya ang sandaling pagkawalay niya sa nanay niya tuwing kasama niya kami. Kawawa rin naman kase ang bata, this time we're facing a big pandemic, kailangan lahat magtulungan, but her mother was brought away from her. Kailangan niya nang tutulong sa kanya, and that's when we go in the scene. Sa palagay ko, kailangan talaga namin siyang tulungan.

Another reason why I am wandering around is that I wanna find my brother. Hindi ko pa rin alam kung nasaan napunta si Riel ngayon at kung kasama niya ba ang mga kaibigan niya. I know that he's already 18 right now, and he could definitely take care of himself but I'm worried for him. Iba ang panahon na ito, kaya ganoon ako kinakabahan para sa kanya. Isang taon lang ang tanda ko sa kanya kaya naman medyo close kaming magkapatid. He is the only family that I could consider, well atleast blood-related.

I keep on peeking at the holes of the tents and rooms here but I can't seem to find him. Even his friends, wala akong makita. He is always with his two guy friends, at halos hindi na sila mapaghiwalay. I think magkakasama sila ngayon. Sana...

My thoughts were cut when I felt someone's presence beside me.

"H-hi?" he greeted me shyly.

I stared at the man in front of me. He looks like the same age as mine, or maybe older. Mahaba ang brown niyang buhok na natatakpan ang mga mata niya pero kita ko pa rin ang hazel brown eyes niya. He was atleast a half ruler taller than me. Well, I'm already 5'5 so I think nasa 5'11 na 'to. His smile never faded while looking at me awkwardly. Pero bakit niya naman ako nilapitan?

He offered his hand at me but I just stared at it because this man is a complete stranger. I shouldn't trust him that easily. I didn't even know where he came from. I didn't even know his name. In short, I don't know him.

He doesn't look like those stereotypical bad boys. Parang mabait talaga siya, based on his looks. Sige, I will not deny, may itsura siya. But darling, looks can be deceiving. If hindi nga siya mapagkakatiwalaan, and he's just luring me into his trap, I won't let him. Alam kong napakajudgmental ko ngayon, but s**t just happens. s**t happens because of shitty people. I hope he's not one of them.

Tumikhim siya dahil ang awkward talaga namin. Hindi ako nagsasalita at hindi ko rin tinanggap ang kamay niya. Well, wala akong pakialam, siya 'yung lumapit eh, alangan namang ako 'yung mag-initiate ng conversation 'di ba?

"Ako nga pala si Hezekiah, but call me Zeke for short, hehe." he said awkwardly.

I raised a brow, trying to ask him what the heck does he want from me. I hope he gets that gesture. He looks so cute and innocent, and girls surely will fall in love with him, but me. I'm not into romantic relationships, I only want platonic ones. Wala pa sa isip ko iyon ngayon, lalo na sa panahon ng pandemyang ito.

"Ah!" He said trying to catch my attention. "Anong pangalan mo?"

I eyed him differently kaya naman kaagad siyang nagporma ng ekis sa ere katapat ng mukha niya. Mukhang nabasa niya ang iniisip ko at nalaman niyang hindi ko pa siya gaanong pinagkakatiwalaan. Buti naman nakuha niya, I think he's smart.

"No, miss. Hindi ako masamang tao, I just want to befriend you, hehe. Wala kasi akong makausap dito. Tapos ikaw lang ata 'yung kaedad ko na nakita ko na walang kasama, hehe."

I looked around and saw families after familes. Well, I guess he's right. I think it's not a big deal if I will say my name to him right?

"Gab," I replied.

He looked shocked that I gave him my name. Parang napakalaking deal sa kanya noon. "Woah, nice name hehe. Sa totoo, may isa pa talagang dahilan kung bakit ako lumapit sa'yo eh." sabi niya habang kamot-kamot ang ulo.

"What?" I asked him, confused. Ano pa kaya ang dahilan niya? I can't seem to find any reason why he approached me as I stared at him. Pilit akong kumukuha ng sagot sa mukha at mga mata niya, pero wala akong mahita. Ano kaya?

"Wala na kasing space para sa rooms and tents, wala ring tumatanggap sa akin kase sikip na sa kanila so..." he looked at me. "Can I share room with you?"