Chapter 25

2 weeks passed since we arrived at Cainta. Mom is on the driver seat of her pick-up truck. It was a really good looking car and no one owned it so she claimed it as hers. She's driving me to my place of duty which is in Manggahan, Pasig Shelter. She said she'll drop me off there and introduce us to her high school friends. Yes, Jarren is also with us but not as another soldier on duty. Mom was gonna bring my brother to laboratories. Jarren voiced his love for science and especially, math. This made mom smile and she was more than willing to help him find his calling. And as for me, she strictly told me not to leave my post and stay close to the wall gate for... safety...

While on the road, mom explained to us how workers get payed. People don't get payed with money, they earn credits with the addition of monthly canned goods. It confused me how the credits work.

"We can't pay people with money now, the currency we use for now is credits based on how one works. Every week, credits based on the hours of work. 1hr is to 1 credit; 1 credit is to 100pesos. For you, you have 6hr shift meaning you'll get 6 credits a day, then in a week, you work 5 days, 6×5=30. Every week you'll get payed 30 credits which is equivalent to 3000 pesos. Your credits are monitored by the system, thats why you have a phone. You can use those credits to purchase or trade for what ever you want. Once we are able to access and use cash money as the currency again, your credits will be converted into money. A lot like online banking. Since the cash money is less valuable than supplies for now. We use it only inside our growing community."

This made me wonder, if there's no cash money, what was the ones we were using when we were given our allowance?

"Mom, what about the allowance we used to receive?" I had to ask.

"Yeah, Mom, if that's how things work with 'credits,' what about the allowance we were getting daily?" even Jarren was confused.

"Did you two ever noticed they were cards and not actual cash?"

"Mhm," Jarren and I both groaned.

"Those were my card credits, those were not meant to pay anything. Those are more like 'promise' cards where I will pay what ever I bought later because my phone ain't with me to make my payment now. Literally putting your purchases on 'credit' with my credits. Get it? And as for your Uncle Jush, I also have to pay all those he gave you." she laughed to herself.

Upon arriving at Manggahan, mom parked at McDonald's parking lot for costumers. We got out of the car and continued our discussion while walking.

"What about you mom? You're an expander, how much do you earn?" I asked.

"Expanders get 3 credits per hour since its the hardest job. I work a 9hr shift daily, 6 days a week since there's only handful of us. But I don't suggest you get that job. It pays the most but it's the most dangerous and exhausting."

"Does your rank add up to it?" asked Jarren.

"Yes it does but not on credits, I get extra supplies. I could get 2 extra credits just by being the captain but I prefer to earn extra supplies. Usually weapons."

"How about being a member and leader of the Black Blood squad? Since you're an elite team..." I asked.

"Well, I should get another 2 extra more but I chose to get the first prototype of everything the ER's make. May it be a new weapon, new piece of armor, or new gadget. I already earn a lot by being an Expander."

We arrived at the housing. There wasn't really a wall, just a barricade of sorts, more like a fence that keeps the people hidden from the zombies. Mom guided me to the soldier camp. She said I've already been registered but still a newbie. There wasn't a long line. Soon I was right in front of the desk. They asked me for my phone and I handed it to them. They fidget with it, wrote things here and there before giving it back to me. Then I was directed to the armory where I was given my guns, a machine gun and a handgun. Before I head to my post, mom met with a woman her age. She was pretty but somewhat masculine. Mom then announced her to be her high school friend. Her name is Angel Garcia. She's an IW soldier, a Trainer. We didn't chatted for long because my shift is about to start. They guided me to my post, I was situated right next to the gate.

Before they left me, mom gave me her reminders, "Never leave your post until your shift ends; Don't you dare stray out of the safe zone; Stay alert and be safe, I'll pick you up at McDonalds at the end of your shift." Mom hugged me tight, and so did I. And then, they left me.

During the entirety of my shift, I was just standing. It was uncomfortably hot, my shift started at 7am and ended at 2pm. We had a short 15min break. I personally used that break to do everything: water break, snack break, bathroom break. My job wasn't too hard, only hard thing is that it's hot and my feet hurt. Standing for 5hrs and 45mins straight was agonizing. So far, nothing happened. No zombie came into my line of sight. Maybe somewhere farther but not in my location. There are few survivors that came in escorted by OW soldiers. Other than that, nothing more happened.

After my shift ends, I walked the same path we took when we got here. I walked my way to McDonald's. While walking, I saw Ms. Angel. She waved and came running to me from the old High School. Apparently, the training ground is the old Manggahan Highschool. I stopped at the sight of her and waited for her to come to me.

"Hey there, remember me?" she asked.

"Mhm," I nodded with a smile.

"Great! Have you eaten lunch?"

"Umm...no."

"Huh, alright, where you heading?"

"To McDonald's, mom said she'll pick me up after my shift."

"Ah, ok...What a shame, I was thinking of inviting you in my house for lunch since you're her adopted son. She told me how brave you and your brother are."

I smiled shyly.

"Anyway, come on, I'll walk with you there cause...why not? Am done with my shift too like two hours ago," she laughed to herself.

Since the Sun is at it's highest, Ms. Angel held her umbrella higher so I can get under its shade. I offered to hold it for her as I'm taller than she is. We walked a bit slower than my usual pace because she kept chatting with me. She told me the kind of person mom was back in 10th grade. She was their class' sargent at arms. Ms. Angel told me how smart and talented my mom was but was often absent. She said my mom skipped school for almost 2 months straight but went back to school when she saw a very handsome guy named Chris Qourel. I laughed at her stories of how mom froze every time she sees Chris walk by. She also told me about their picture on valentine's day and her reaction after their arms touch, skin to skin, and her going crazy about it. Ms. Angel said that the man is still alive. It was mom who've come across him while exploring in Brgy. Manggahan. And she froze upon seeing him.

"Not gonna lie he's handsome as hell but he ain't my kind of guy," Ms. Angel shrugged.

"Where is he now?" I just had to ask.

"He's currently working in McDonald's, serving food to survivors who doesn't work yet."

That is when she explained that old restaurants like McDonald's or Jollybee still function as eateries. Only difference is that they're meant for survivors that doesn't work or earn credits yet. They function a lot like a canteen that serves free food only to those new survivors. These eatery don't serve food for people who have a job.

We arrived at McDonald's parking lot. There we found mom's car. She and Jarren are inside the car, waiting. Ms. Angel and I approached the car. I got in the front passenger seat. Ms. Angel then walked around the car to mom's window. They chatted for a bit.

"Hey, wanna drop by in McDonald's and Jollybee, visit those you've rescued? I'm sure they'll be happy to see their hero."

"Gurl, my son Nigel hasn't eaten his lunch yet.

"Perfect, he can have lunch in McDonald's."

"Begone, woman! Do not tempt me in front of my sons! Besides, I've already waved at the guy. See how I specifically parked my car?"

They both laughed.

"I'd say, watch over your boys, especially Jarren. They're quite the charmer."

"Pfft."