Chapter 1

Maingat akong naupo sa bangka habang pinagmamasdan ang islang nasa harap ko. I can still hear the screams coming from the island. Even the smoke is visible from the destroyed concrete buildings.

Pinaandar ni Tito ang makina nang bangka nang makasakay kaming lahat. I looked up and stared at the sky. Madilim ang kalangitan at mukhang malapit nang bumuhos ang malakas na ulan.

"Huy! 'Wag ka nang magsenti diyan. Naku kung kasama ka lang namin kanina, maloloka ka. May bigla ba namang humatak sa paa ko! Akala ko nga zombie eh!" Maarteng saad ni Mybel na nasa gilid ko.

Anim kaming nasa bangka ngayon, si Tito and his friend, they're the one who maneuvers this boat, me, Iñigo, and the twins, Mybel and Cain. This is just a small boat that is used for fishing near the island. I wonder kung makaka-abot kami sa sentro gamit 'to lalo na't nagsisiksikan lang kami.

Ibinaling ko ang tingin ko kay Mybel. "So did you help him?"

Her face grimaced. "No way! If you were in my position, malamang napatakbo ka na lang habang sumisigaw no."

I clenched my left fist. I want to punch her face right now but I refrained myself. How can she tell what will I do? This stupid girl, I want to push her outside the boat. I wonder kung anong magiging reaction niya after she fell in the sea.

"If you just saw that man Carol, he's helpless! Wala ring magagawa ang pagtulong sa kanya, in his case, he'll die because of too much bleeding!" Cain added.

I breath heavily to contain myself. Gusto kong pag-umpugin ang ulo nitong kambal ngayon, pero wala ring mangyayari sa maganda kung gagawin ko ito. I just ignored them and closed my eyes.

I want to forget everything. I just want to live my life like I used to, without this shits.

"Malayo-layo pa tayo mga bata. Just rest for now, but be careful, baka 'pag nakatulog kayo ay mahulog kayo sa dagat." I opened my eyes when I heard Tito. He's done making the boat stable now. "Carol, tiisin mo muna 'yang sugat mo. 'Pag dating natin, papatignan natin agad 'yan sa ospital"

Tumango ako. I looked at my right hand, it's bleeding. Nakuha ko ito kanina nang tumama ako sa barbed wires habang umiiwas sa mga nagbabagsakang puno. Honestly, I can't even feel the pain right now. Thinking those people we left behind, I can't stop thinking their worse situation.

Napansin kong nakatingin sa akin si Iñigo. He's looking at me worriedly. Inirapan ko siya. This fool, he doesn't have the liberty to worry about others. He should be worrying about himself!

I lowered my head when I felt my eyes dropping. I want to rest.

"Me-meron ba sa inyong nakakita sa parents ko?"

Napa-anagt ako ng tingin nang marinig ang boses ni Iñigo. I saw them earlier near the resort's lobby. Bago mangyari ang lindol ay kasama sila nila Mom at Dad. Malapit lang iyon sa yate kaya malamang ay nakasakay agad sila doon kasama sila Mom.

"Sila Mr. at Mrs. Lopez ba iho? Nakita ko kanina, biglang bumaba si Mrs. Lopez sa yate kaya sinundan siya nung asawa niya." Nanlaki ang mata ko nang marinig ang sinabi nang kaibigan ni Tito.

That means..

No.

I shake my head. They must be safe right? I'm pretty sure kasama sila nila Mom. I'm sure.

I looked up when I felt something drop on my cheeks. Ah, the rain will start now.

The waves became more aggressive than before. Bakas sa mukha ni tito ang pangamba nang sunod-sunod ang naging pag-uga nang bangka.

My eyes widen when Iñigo rose up from sitting. "Iñigo, sit down! You idiot!"

My heart beats faster than before when I saw his expression. "Don't do anything stupid!" This time, tumayo na rin ako at hinawakan ang kamay niya. Sinuway kami ni Tito at sinabihang maupo lang dahil mas lalong lumalakas ang mga alon na tumatama sa bangka.

Suddenly, thunders can be heard within our range but there's no lightning that comes with it, just a heavy rain. My clothes is starting to get soaked. I winced everytime the rain drops in my wounds. It hurts!

The twins start screaming as if they're on a rollercoaster ride. Nagpa-panic na rin sila Tito habang may inaasikaso sa bangka.

Hinila ko paupo si Iñigo ngunit tinabig niya lang ang kamay ko.

"I need to go back." He walked at the edge of the boat.

"Hindi ka ba nag-iisip?" I grabbed his arm. "You're not even sure kung nandoon pa ba sila! I saw them with my parents earlier. Kung sinabi ni Tito na nakasakay ng yate ang parents ko, your parents must be there too!"

"No, you don't unders-"

Things happened quickly. He did not have a chance to complete his sentence when the boat tilted sideways. Nadulas si Iñigo. The next thing I knew, kinakaladkad na siya ng bangka habang hawak ko nang mahigpit ang kamay niya.

My eyes widen in shock. "Tito stop the boat!"

I need some help!

I looked at the twins. "Cain, Mybel, tulungan niyo ako dito!" They just continued shouting and ignored my words. So useless!

I gathered all my strength to pull him,  but my right hand did not cooperate. Shit! It even stings everytime it got saoked with saltwater along with the raindrops.

"Tito! Please stop the boat! Si Iñigo po!" I shouted desperately but he's ignoring me and focused on maneuvering the boat instead.

I feel so frustrated! Why is everyone ignoring me! This damn life!

"Hawakan mo muna siya. We can't stop the boat right now! Tataob ang bangka sa malalaking alon at mamamatay tayong lahat!"

My heart sank when I saw Iñigo. "Don't let go, okay?" I tighten my grab to his arm.

Nanlaki ang mata ko nang naramdaman ko ang biglang pagbilis ng pag-andar ng bangka. My hands almost slipped when the boat suddenly shake again.

"Hey, your hands!"

"I know! I won't let you go. I promise!" I can feel my legs shaking. I need to get a grip!

I looked at the twins that's still shouting while hugging each other. "Hey, I need help here!" They didn't even budge. I don't even know if they can hear me.

Matalim kong tinignan si Iñigo nang tanggalin niya ang kaliwang kamay ko sa pagkakahawak sa kanya. "Ano bang ginagawa mo! Do you want to die?!"

I offered him my left hand again. He smiled at me instead of accepting it.

What?

"Don't hurt yourself anymore, Carol."

My heart sunk deeper when I heard him saying my name. That was the first time. The first time I heard him saying my name. Marahas akong umiling. Alam ko ang gagawin ng stupid na 'to.

"Don't do it." Marahas pa rin ang pag-iling ko nang maramdaman kong unti-unti na niyang tinatanggal ang pagkakahawak ng kanang kamay ko sa kanya.

No..

No....

I saw him smiled foolishly before he successfully remove my right hand.

"No!"

"No, Iñigo!"

....

Napabalikwas ako sa kama habang hinihingal. I placed my hand on my chest.

What did I dreamt of again?

It felt so real... but I, I can't remember anything.

Napahawak ako sa aking ulo nang maramdaman ko ang pagsakit nito. Para akong pinupukpok ng martilyo sa sakit.

I groaned in pain loudly. My head hurts!

It hurts like heck!

"Hey, you okay? What happened?"

I looked at the man who just entered my room. My eyes started to get wet. I bit my lips to stop myself from crying.

"My head hurts." I weakly said.

He captured my hands and hold it tightly. "I'll call Anthony. Just wait here okay?" Worry is visible in his face.

Tumayo siya at tinanggal ang pagkakahawak sa kamay ko. I stopped him by grabbing his hands.

"Please, d-don't let go my hands"