Arise

Chapter 3: The Plan

The first thing I did when I woke is to look outside, I’m checking if the rain already stops or if we already need to evacuate because of the flood but all I can see is the dark sky and a lot of stars and moon illuminating the night. That is a good sign, I think?

I check the time and it’s already 7PM, I need to get ready now for my class, I have 4 subjects today so it will be a long day.

When I go down, my parents are now getting ready for their work.

“Good evening Mom, Dad.” I greeted them. “What happened last night?” I asked after.

“The rain stops after an hour when you go to sleep, and shockingly the flood also recede quickly, but some cities reported a lot of casualties and missing bodies.”

My mother look so worried, I can feel also that she’s slightly shaking when I hold her, I know that she’s starting to have her panic attack.

“Mom, calm down. Did you already drink your medicine?”

“I did, I just can’t help it, and I’m so worried on what is happening today. Everything is unusual. Can you just stay here in our house? Don’t attend your class first.” My mom asked me. “Carmella will also just stay here in our house because their school already suspended the class today. Just stay here in our house if you still have class.”

“Our school doesn’t have announcement yet, let me check with Carlos first.”

After that, I texted Carlos if he has any idea if we will have class today.

To: Carlos

Dude, are you going to attend our class today?

From: Carlos

Still not sure, dude.  Mom asked me if I could just stay here. How about you?

To: Carlos

Same, man. Do you know if the university has plan to suspend our class? Mela’s (Carmella) school already suspended theirs, and since they are from the high school department then maybe they will announce it soon?

From: Carlos

Maybe, dude. I just hope that if our class will be suspended, they should announce it now. They should know that there are students who need to travel for an hour or two in order to go to school.

To: Carlos

You know them, they like to do it like that. The admin wants to be the cause of the inconvenience of their students.

BTW, you know Tin? Our class beadle? She texted now, did you receive it?

From: Carlos

I will check it, I may be overlooked it since, but can you forward it to me?

To: Carlos

Yes, of course.

Good morning, block B.

This is Tin Andrada, your class beadle on our subject Philippine Literature. Professor Garcia asked me to relay this message to you:

You are not required to attend our class today on Philippine Literature, take your time today to rest and to get ready. Even though the sun is now up, It is still best if you’re prepared on what may happen.

I will see you again next week. Thank you and keep safe!

From Carlos:

Thanks, Migs! We might prepare our evacuation plan today, then will do some readings for our supposed lesson today on Philippine literature.

To: Carlos

You’re welcome! Might do some readings too. Keep safe!

“Mom, the college department doesn’t have announcement yet, but our professor today took the initiative to cancel our class today.” I told my mom that’s still in front of the television.

“That’s good, Miguel. At least your professor is still considerate, but we are required today to work. You know that we are working in the government that’s why we need to monitor the situation of the whole town. We may be home this lunch though, we just need to finish it then we can go home afterwards.” My mother said.

“We will go now, Miguel. Take care of your sister and grandparents, we will be home later then we will talk.”

“Yes, dad. Take care!”

After that, I prepare the breakfast for my sister who’s still sleeping while my grandparents are still watching the news.

“’La (lola), I will just go upstairs. Call me if you need anything.”

I wanted to watch the news also, but seeing the dead bodies on the TV makes me puke. I’m not comfortable with it, they haunt me on my dreams. I will just get news on social media since I can filter the photos there so I won’t see the pictures of the dead bodies.

I open my phone when I’m already on my room, saw different questions wondering what just happened yesterday, they are also questions why the water recedes suddenly once the rain stops. Because it looks like the water just disappear living all the dirt and dead bodies on the once flooded street.

And the latest report on the dead count is now on 10,000, and still counting!!! This is so crazy, I think I need to take a time off on social media. Maybe, I will just do some readings like Carlos.

“Oh! So we are supposed to have Philippine mythology today as our lesson.” I said to myself once I checked the syllabus on Philippine Literature. “I should have borrow Carlos’ book, if I’m not mistaken he’s already done with it.”

It’s already lunch time, Mom said that they will be home at this time, I should stop reading first and help my grandparents with our lunch.

When they arrived, I call my sister who is still upstairs. Dad wants us to eat together since after this we are all going to talk.

“Mela, let’s clean the table first and the plates.”

Once we are done, we go to the living room to join our family.

“We already have our evacuation plan yesterday, but I think it is good to brief all of you again about it since we just have limited time yesterday. And also, just to be ready because we cannot really say what will happen tomorrow. Your mom and I bought some supplies that we can put in our emergency kit.” Then dad shows us the groceries, flash lights and also some medicines.

“Each of us must have an emergency kit, just in case, we’re going to prepare it now. Now, get your backpack and put some clothes in it.”

Mela and I helped our grandparents first, then after it we go upstairs to get our things. After that we go downstairs again with our bag, we put food packs in our bags containing easy open can, noodles, bread, and water bottle, we also have flashlight and medicines. We also decided to put our extra power bank in it. Dad also gave us whistles, in case we got lost while going to a safe place. After we prepare it, we put it near the door so it will be easy for us to get it in case of emergency.

“Now that our emergency kit is now secure, when something happens and Mom and I are not here, make sure to ask for help to Dos and Gab if they are here, but if they are still on their work then don’t let go to each other and to your phone so we can contact all of you. Understand?”

“Yes dad. But we should have a meeting place so if we can’t contact each other we will know where to find you.” I said.

“Of course, of course. Your mom was thinking that we should all meet on the main gate of your school, it’s a 30 minute walk from here, also from our work.”

We finished our evacuation planning at about 4AM, since it’s almost dinner time we all prepare our dinner so we can eat already and get ready to sleep after.

About 3PM, I woke up with a loud bang on my surrounding, it’s so cold I can feel the wind on my skin and that’s the time that I notice that the left wall on my room collapsed, I was so shocked and try to move but there’s a heavy thing that hit my head, I feel lightheaded and weak. And my room is spinning until darkness enveloped me.