CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 7

DAY 7

THE ARRIVAL

I silently admired the full moon that shines with the stars in the night sky. They glimmered brightly and enticingly.

I heaved a sighed as I brush my cold palms together in attempt of calming myself down as I continue to stare at the moon.

I looked at it one more time and stand up to clean myself. Tonight's the night.

So many what if's came to my mind. What if we won't survive? What if I'll put him into danger? What if they didn't follow the plan? What if tehy despise me already? What if...

I closed my eyes as the streams of water came running on my face, letting it clear my mind.

After cleaning myself, I dress into bright colors, mostly yellow. I wear a black sando as my inside cloth and Asta let me borrow his yellow hoodie that I partnered with white jeans and black sneakers.

My bag is full of food and medical supplies that we managed to rob on some houses, more like Asta managed to rob since I'm always in the brink of death. So much hate.

It's heavy but I'll manage. Asta gave me a longer dagger after seeing that I manage to control the two knives easily after a while. It is a palm to elbow length and he gave me it's scabbard that was created by him so that I can attach it into my arm.

In short, I have knifes on arms which is easier to handle and I still have my baseball bat that was also full of wire and nails.

A knocked in the door made me lost in my reverie. Then Asta's head show up and he immediately smiled after seeing that I'm all set.

"Ready?" He asked and I simply nodded before wearing my backpack and holding the baseball bat.

Pagkalabas ko ay siyang pag abot niya ng maliit na bag kung saan nakalagay ang mga traps na ginawa niya.

"Remember the plan. I'll clear the way towards and you'll handle the back by setting up the traps so that we won't end up surrounded," He explained one more time and I seriously nodded.

He looked at me one more time before hissing. I creased my eyebrows by his sudden expression.

Umalis ito at pagbalik ay may dala dala ng goma panali. That's when I realized that I forgot to tie my hair since it was still wet from the bath.

Hindi na ako nakaangal ng siya na mismo ang nagtali sa buhok ko. He stand up in front of me and raised his hand in attempt to tie my hair. He handled it carefully as if it will break so I stay put and let him finish. At least nabawasan na ang gagawin ko.

He tied it with the rubber band and looked at it one more time before putting his hand away with a satisfied look in his face while I stay admiring his clean face. There's no stubbles on his face anymore and the smell of mint lingers on his lower chin.

"T-Thanks," I stammered and step back for expanding my personal space.

He's really a thoughtful guy though, I find him very close to me like a brother. Well, we became close after being together in a week so yeah, He's like my older brother who pampers his younger sister.

"You're good. You'll be a good hair artist," I joked as I saw how neatly the result of him tying my hair.

"Ha-Ha!" He sarcastically replied and I chuckled.

Naglakad na ito palapit sa pinto kaya bumalik na naman ang kaba sa dibdib ko.

I gulped and sighed as I hesitantly step forward to follow him. Eto na, time to get out of my comfort zone again. Time to face them again.

Kung hindi lang naman kasi gabi ay ayos lang sa akin. Ang kaso, dahil gabi ako lumabas noon ay gabi rin mawawala ang bisa ng security ko.

The last time I go out at night, I almost died. When I go out at day, I also almost died. Saan ako lulugar? Sa tanghali?

Well, pwede rin.

Napailing iling ako at tsaka binilisan ang paglalakad. Nasa tapat na ng pinto ang lalaki at nag-aabang sa akin.

He extended his right hand and I enclosed my left hand to his while the other hand was holding the baseball bat. We both sighed and together, we push the door open and easily envaded all the traps silently.

"Be alert," his last words as he run towards the gate. I silently followed him and ignore the nervousness I am feeling.

WE WERE ALL silent in the living room as the tension continue to build up as the time goes by. Tonight's the night that she'll come back.

Isang linggo rin ang nakalipas at masasabi kong pareparehas kaming nagbago. Pare parehas kaming may maipagmamalaki na.

Pero ngayon, para kaming mga kiti kiting hindi mapakali sa isang tabi. Ni wala ngang nakaupo sa sofa dahil pare parehas kaming nagaabang sa pinto. It's already 9 PM and she's still not here so we are all fidgeting.

"Ang tagal naman niya huhubels," kinakabahang ani Nica habang kagat kagat ang daliri sa kaba.

"Shet, What if may nangyari ng masama sa kaniya?" Ani Chipher habang pabalik balik na naglalakad sa harapan namin.

Henry pulled him towards his side to stop her for making us feel dizzy.

"Come on babe, She'll come back, alright?" Pagpapakalma nito sa babae na siniko lang siya.

"Pwede ba h'wag mo akong matawag tawag na babe, Hindi ako baboy, okay?" Inis na ani nito bago inirapan ang lalaki.

I smiled. One good thing after training ourselves to death was the effect of it to our relationships.

Mas lalong naging close ang mga ito at mayroon na ngang nagkakapalagayan ng loob. Kris also forgave Gray. Nagkausap na ang dalawa and was back into being best friends, though I'm not sure if best friends parin ang label ng dalawa.

Trav and Nica always has their cooking sessions. Ang palusot ng babae ay nagpapaturo lang raw ito sa lalaki but I'm sure it's more than that.

Clay become serious and enigmatic, he will kid with us but he's a devil trainer.

He's always mysterious since then though, Mas lalo lang itong naging misteryoso pagkatapos ng mga nangyari. Though there was still the air of arrogance and flirty in him, he remained mysterious.

Tulad nalang ngayon na tahimik lang ito sa isang tabi na mukhang may malalim na iniisip.

I on the other hand, understand what she kept on telling us, leashing our emotions.

And we did. We created situations that will trigger our emotions while solving problems and matters, and we managed to succeed.

Ngayon nalang ulit namin hinayaang magpakain sa kaba. Ngayon nalang ulit dahil pabalik na siya, si Joy.

I kept looking at my wrist watch as we wait for her arrival. Nakahanda narin sa gild ang iba't ibang home-made weapons for emergency purposes.

Isa iyon sa mga natutunan namin. We don't know when we'll be put into danger, Might as well have back ups after back ups so that we'll manage to stay alive.

Kung papasok ka naman sa kusina ay nakahanda na ang pagkaing tinipid namin for a week in atrempt to make a biggest celebration on her arrival.

Sa totoo lang, nakakasawa narin ang paulit ulit na de lata simula umaga hanggang gabi pero tiniis namin para sa gabing ito.

Kaya hindi na ako nagtataka sa pagkalam ng tiyan ko sa mabangong aroma na pilit kaming inaakit.

"Mukhang matatagalan pa siya," bulong ko sa sarili ko habang tinitignan ang aking relo.

Hindi ko namalayang nakalapit na sa tabi ko si Clay at pinagmasdan ang mga kasama namin.

"I saw her once," he whispered and my eyes grew wide as I looked at him surprised.

"W-What?!" I faintly whisphered and looked at him but he wasn't looking at me, he was looking at our friends.

"It's true. Hindi ko alam kung namamalikmata lang ako but I saw her in the balcony one time, full of wounds but still fighting the people..." He replied hesitantly, still not looking at me.

I gaped at him. I don't know what to reply so I end up staring at him, still surprised.

"... And she's with someone," he admitted ans sighed.

Someone... Someone? Who?

"A-Are you sure?" I asked. Maybe it's her doppelganger? Baka namamalikmata lang ito.

If she's near, why didn't she go home? Why?

"I trust what I saw," he said and shrugged afterwards. Lumayo na ito sa akin habang ako ay naiwang nahihiwagaan.

There's no point asking myself. I just have to confirm it with her.

Now, when will she arrive?

HINIHINGAL na tumakbo ako habang binabato ang traps sa pagtakbo. Medyo malayo na ang distansya ng lalaki sa akin kaya kailangan kong tumakbo kung hindi ay mapagiiwanan ako.

Bloods after bloods, bodies after bodies. He was on fire again, he was wreaking havoc again.

He successfully created bombs and that's what I'm tossing around. Bombs and smoke.

Malayo pa kami sa bahay kaya kailangan kong bilisan. Ni hindi na nga ako makalaban dahil lahat ng madadaanan ko ay kung hindi duguan ay putol putol naman ang katawan.

I can feel my stomach twitching, wanting to puke by the surroundings.

Though it's dark, I can see the viscous blood splattered on the floor.

The floor was full of bloods that the asphalt can't be seen because the floor was totally covered with bloods.

Dinadaanan namin ang mga rutang ginawa namin na mas madaling daanan dahil mas kakaonti ang kalaban na dapat patayin.

I heard a ringing of bells which is a sign of us for emergency. I hurriedly followed the sound to see Asta being surrounded by 10 people with heavy weapons.

I gasped and immediately run to his direction, the baseball bat is in my right hand and the bombs were in my left hand.

Noong malapit na ako sa pwesto ng lalaki ay sinigawan ko ito. "Duck!" I shouted which he immediately do as I throw the bomb that will blow up their heads.

We heared a loud bang and my ears became temporarily disabled because I'm almost near when the bomb exploded.

I sighed in contentment when I saw the doppelgangers body dropping to the floor and seeing Asta covering his ears, safe and sound.

"You okay As?" I asked in a soft voice and he immediately nodded while chuckling.

"I thought I'm gonna die!" He shouted like it wasn't a big deal.

I rolled my eyes and offered my left hand to help him stand up which he gladly accept, still chuckling.

"Now we're even," I muttered and smack his head. May mga pagkakataon talagang nagiging isip bata ang lalaki at isa ito sa mga pagkakataong iyon.

"Nope, you owe your life to me a lot of times, Mei-Mei," He mocked and laughed.

I tsk-ed and push him forward.

"Back to business As or no girl for you!" I shouted and he immediately did a salute that made me laugh.

"Aye!" He replied and instantly become a monster again.

Sa totoo lang ay wala naman akong masyadong ginagawa. Bombing was easy and I can easily deal with the people who escaped the bombing because they were weakened by the bomb already.

Ang pinaka napapagod rito ay si Asta that's why everytime I hear him ringing his bell, I always come in need.

This continue for 30 minutes and were almost near.

Nanghihinang napasandal sa puno si Asta habang alerto lang ako sa paligid. It's my turn now, Mas mahina na compare sa mga nauna ang susunod na lalabanan namin. So while Asta was in his recovery, I'll be the one to push forward while he was backing me up.

Nag alay muna ako ng ilang minuto para magdasal before picking up my baseball bat. 5 minuto lang ang pahinga namin at ngayon, ready to battle na naman kaming dalawa.

"Game?" He asked.

"Game." I answered and we both run while he drop two bombs with 5 meters distance on our resting point.

Truth to be told, it was easier for me to deal with the people who came charging on me.

I easily sway the baseball bat forward using my right hand as I sway my left hand towards the girl's direction and slit her throat.

Unlike before, I can now fight and give my attack without closing my eyes and yes, it was really easier.

I didn't let myself recuperate to the heat. I swing my bat all around and smash their heads hardly as I heard the sounds of bombs getting louder.

That means, Asta was getting near so I need to move forward more.

I dropped the baseball bat I am holding so I can move freely and run forward.

A girl I think was a teenager was running to my direction with her baseball bat. Instead of faltering, I run towards her and jump to put my weight over her.

Dahil nadagganan ko na ito at natural lang na mas mabigat ako rito ay nahirapan itong kumilos. Without further ado, I slashed my arm on her throat and the blood splurted in my face.

I winced as I taste some of her blood that tasted like rust and dirt. Dinura ko ito sa gilid ng ulo niya dahil ang pangit ng lasa.

I stand up, making sure that she's dead already before moving forward.

Inalis ko ang kutsilyo sa kanan kong braso habang pinanatili ko naman ang kutsilyo sa kaliwa kong braso.

I run again and this time, there were two people running to my direction. One holding a knife but mine's longer and the other, holding a club.

I targeted the one holding the club first since he was nearer and disarmed his weapon before pushing my knife to his head.

Nang bumagsak ito sa sahig ay ang pagdating ng isa at pagtalon nito sa harap ko.

Mabilis kong iniharang ang kaliwa kong kamay kung saan nakalagay ang kutsilyo kaya naharang nito ang panganib na parating.

But I'm not ready for the impact.

Napaatras ako sa bigat ng intensidad ng pagbabanggaan namin ng kutsilyo. Instead of faltering, I used it as my momentum to put my other knife to his head, easily ending his life.

Hinihingal na napapunas ako ng pawis sa noo habang pinagmamasdan ang bagong paparating.

"N-Not yet..." I whispered and run towards their direction, invading their attacks and attacking them afterwards.

Nagpatuloy ito sa loob ng bente minutos hanggang sa maaninag ko na ang bahay.

Napaupo ako sa sahig dahil sa pagod after ending an old man's life.

Pumunta sa harapan ko si Asta na may nagniningning na mata.

"Wow! You really last for so long! Ha! Praise me for training you, Mei." He boasted and I laughed. He extended his right hand that I accepted with my bloody hands, still dripping with blood.

"I'll thank you for teaching me to kill? You're a bad sensei Asta," I replied and he chuckled.

"Ah, that's right. Now, you rest. I'm so pumped up so I'll make it fast for you," he answered and immediately left me after helping me to stand up.

Napailing iling nalang ako at kahit ramdam ang panghihina ay sinundan ko ito.

True to his words, he got his energy back and easily killed our foes.

In just ten minutes and the way to the house was cleared. Cleared but bloody.

I heave a sigh and I felt like my heart was going to burst because of nervousness.

"Shall we?" Asta reassuringly smiled and I nodded.

We walked hand in hand with our bloody hands, bloody clothes and I'm sure our faces was also covered in blood.

I sighed again before knocking.

We looked at each other as my heart continue to race, my palms getting cold and sweaty and my lips quivering in nervousness.

"Welcome back bitch—What the hell?" I was surprised by their greeting but it seems like they were the one who was surprised the most.

I smiled nervously and wave, "Ahm, Hi?"

****

Charan! No update tomorrow. Aayusin ko po kasi yung ipapasa ko sa dreame lmao.