Last Day on Earth

32

Meaghan's POV

Ilang araw na ang lumipas at wala pa ring Benj na bumabalik dito, samantala ay wala pa ring malay si Kiel.

Dinig na dinig ang pagdami ng mga pinapasabog nilang lugar, na naghuhudyat na wala na kaming oras na palugit dahil totoong binobomba na nila ang buong bansa.

"We had modified the antidote and I think it'll work perfectly now. We no longer had a zombie corpse to test it, and we also need to get out of here now before what you say massive bombing of Earth will happen," anunsyo ni Doc Martin habang nandito kaming apat sa sala.

"We won't let that happen. We must stop it before it stops us," dugtong pa nito.

Tiningnan kami nito isa isa bago natigil ang titig nito sa akin.

"Even your friend Benj has not even yet returned, Kiel is stable for now, but I don't know how long can he survive, so we need more advanced doctors that resides in the safe zone to operate on him."

'Paano ito? Kahit anong mangyari, kailangan namin magsakripisyo...'

Iniangat ko ang mukha ko at sinalubong ang nangungusap na tingin ni Logan. Sinasabi nito ang bagay na ayokong mangyari, ngunit kailangan dahil wala kaming ibang choice.

"But Doc, hindi namin pwedeng iwanan si Benj, malay mo nandyan lang sya sa tabi tabi, who knows if he's reflecting on his actions. We went here complete, so kailangan kumpleto din kami papunta sa safe zone," pirming saad ko.

Tinitigan lang ako ni Doc Martin bago nagbuntong hininga at nagsalita.

"Hija, I know how you feel. Pero sa tatlong araw nyang wala, bakit hindi pa rin sya bumabalik? Pang anim na araw na natin ngayon at bukas bobombahin ang bansa kagaya ng sinabi mo. Hindi rin nakakatulong ang mga ito sa kundisyon ni Kiel. Ilang oras pa na hindi magamot ang kanyang ulo ay posibleng magresulta sa kamatayan nito," paliwanag nito.

"Life is a b***h, and you don't have a choice to take risks," huling saad nito bago tumalikod at umalis papalayo sa amin.

Naipikit ko ang mata sa frustration na nadarama.

'Bakit ba nangyayari sa amin ito?'

Parang nung mga nakaraang araw lang okay naman kami, sabay na nangangarap para makaligtas at makasama muli ang pamilya.

Geez, I didn't know na sa ganito lang pala mapupunta ang lahat.

Tho I am not blaming Benj, it is Kiel who is also at fault for not telling us that he is the son of that Don Beauford that Benj has been finding for so long.

I can't also believe that he really killed Benjo, Benj's brother and the root of all this hatred the latter was feeling.

But still, there are loops in the story.

When we found Kiel in the Beauford's mansion, he looks abandoned. He doesn't look like someone that his father loves for him to leave him alone in that house swarming with zombies and all.

Only he, can tell us the truth because I don't know what to believe anymore.

Nasa malalim akong pag iisip ng biglang tinapik ni Logan ang balikat ko.

"I know how you feel, because I used to sacrifice someone for the betterment of everything," napangiti ito ng mapait na tila may naaalala.

"Kiel is critical right now, and so are we," sagot pa nito. "If Benj will return, why does it have to take so long? He knew from the start that we don't have enough time to spare anymore, less spend it waiting for something we are not even sure if he'll return," dugtong nya.

Nakaramdam ako ng inis sa sinabi nito kung kaya't hindi ko na napigilan ang palad ko sa pagdikit sa pisngi niya.

"You're such an asshole! Benj has been with us from the start! How could you say that as if you two were not the one who met first huh?!" nang gagalaiting sigaw ko dito.

"Why is it so easy for you to leave him behind, having personal crisis?! Why ha! Do you make an effort to atleast bring him back here or —"

"Come on Meaghan! Don't you think that I'm also affected by what is happening to us?! Do you really think that I'm not doing anything just to bring him back?! Well for your information Ms. Girl - who - knows - it - all," tumigil ito upang huminga ng malalim bago nagpatuloy. "Every time that I'm not around and you're with Kiel, I sought out the dead land and look for him! Even though I've been attack by horde, I still go miles just to see signs of him! Every night, I waited outside just to make sure that he'll comeback! I even risk my health and my life looking for him but guess what! He will not return because the last time I went out, I saw him riding with someone else!" tuloy-tuloy na sagot nito sa akin.

Tila nabigla ito sa huling sinabi at napaiwas ng tingin.

"You what?!"

Nilapitan ko ito at hinigit ang kwelyo.

"Nakita mong umalis si Benj with someone?! Bakit hindi mo pinigil?! Bakit! Tell me you asshole!"

"I'm sorry okay! I tried stopping him but he did not bulge! He left us already! He left us hanging while we are here being worried about him!" medyo galit na ito sa nasabi nya.

Natahimik ako, hindi alam ang kung ano ang unang iisipin o gagawain.

Ilang minuto pa lang ang nakakalipas ng biglang lumabas mula sa kanyang office si Doc Martin.

"Sorry for eavesdropping but the small space we are in plus the fact that you are shouting with each other, I don't have a choice but to listen to your rants don't you think?" pang uuyam nito.

"And base on what you were talking about a while ago, I guess you already made up your mind?" dugtong pa nito habang nakapatong ang kamay sa baba na tila nag iisip.

Inirapan ko lamang ito sa kanyang pagiging sarkastiko at nanatiling tikom ang bibig.

"So I guess we had to pack our things now and —"

Naputol ito sa pagsasalita ng biglang lumabas si Nurse Aaliyah mula sa elevator at humahangos na dumiretso sa amin.

"Meaghan! Logan! We need to get out of here now, Kiel!" hindi nito matuloy ang sasabihin dahil sa panginginig.

"Doc, please check on him now!" pakiusap nito sa doktor na agad din dumiretso sa elevator para makababa sa silid kung saan nandoon si Kiel.

Tiningnan kami nito at huminga ng malalim bago sumagot.

"We're losing Kiel," sagot nito habang direktang nakatingin sa amin.

At ang sunod na sinambit nito ang dahilan kung bakit nabuo ang desisyon na hindi ko gustong gawin, pero kailangan namin.

'I'm sorry Benj...'

"Kung hindi pa tayo aalis ngayon mismo at dadalahin siya sa safe zone with complete medical equipments situable for his condition, then I'm sorry but you know what will happen next."