[ ENTRY #5 - 09/12/2022 (DAY 02) | KAI’S MANSION ]

[Note: Written by Riley]

Pagbukas ng mga mata ko, naramdaman ko na lang na may nakayakap sa akin at nakadantay pa ang legs, a little heavy but I don’t mind as I wish I could have slept in a little while longer because I’d love nothing more than to hug her tight like this in the mornings.

Binuksan ko ulit yung mata ko at nakita ko sa maliit na orasan sa kwarto na 8 AM  palang, so I just ignore the signs that I have to get up na since wala na rin naman akong trabahong babalikan, and instead I encircle my arms around her. 

“Hmm…” she hums, moving impossibly closer towards me as I let out a small and amused chuckle and place a kiss on her forehead, at magyayakapan na lang sana kami buong araw pero biglang may malakas na katok at bumukas yung pinto kahit na hindi ko pa naman pinapapasok.

“Bangon na, bata—wow naman.” pagbasag ni Ate Kai sa moment namin, and I temporarily release myself from Loren’s embrace and put the comforter on her, the girl snuggling into the warm material habang umupo na ako at tinaasan lang siya ng middle finger while I’m still half awake.

“Ate, 8AM pa lang. Wala naman tayong trabaho pareho, so why wake me up so early—”

“May radio and phone announcement, bugok. Wala ka bang phone?” tanong niya, at umiling nalang ako habang naramdaman kong gumalaw si Loren sa tabi ko, so I just get up from the bed and drag my cousin out the bedroom, wanting Loren to sleep in habang inaalam ko kung bakit ang aga magising ng babaeng ito.

“Wala na yung phone ko sa akin ever since magising ako sa condo ni Kael kahapon. Speaking of, kamusta na kaya yun?” tanong ko, suddenly nervous as I remember him, at walang way na mareach ko siya since wala akong phone and Ate Kai tells me na wala nga daw signal sa buong Etereo since yesterday.

“Asan ba siya?” 

“Pumunta siya sa Hades University, pinuntahan yung mga kaibigan niya dun. Anyways, ano yung announcement na sinasabi mo?” 

“Mas maganda pang pakinggan mo nalang kesa iexplain ko sayo dito.” she says, then dragging me downstairs habang nakaupo sila Gray at yung babaeng kasama dun sa niligtas ni Loren kahapon galing dun sa kotse.

“Hi, uh… what’s your name ulit?” tanong ko, and the girl looks at me blankly before taking my hand that is outstretched and shakes it once or twice.

“Kaiden Austin Herrera… As I remember, bodyguard ako ni Frances.” she says shortly, and I tilt my head with the weird behavior she expressed. Anong remember?

“I think she had amnesia from the accident they had kahapon, Riley. I’m no doctor, pero she told us kanina nung nagising siya na wala siyang matandaan na kahit ano.”  pagpapaliwanag ni Gray, and I nod at that as Kaiden turns up the radio na may laman daw nung announcement na sinasabi ni Ate Kai.

[“...get here safe. I repeat, this is Etereo Military and Navy Forces, delivering you all a message. Sa mga survivors pa na nasa loob ng  Etereo, this is a message for you. Binubuksan namin ang port na malapit sa Efimera City, and we are hosting quarantine and safety sites there to determine if you are a survivor or infected. While there is no deadline, we recommend na magpunta kayo dito as soon as you can and please get here safe. I repeat… "] 

Huh. 

"Ano sa tingin mo, Kai?" tanong ni Gray habang nakita kong bumaba na din si Avah, flashing her cracked phone at nakita ko ang text version nung announcement, and she sits next to me while Ate Kai comes back from the kitchen at nagdala ng coffee para sa amin. 

"Mukhang legit naman," Ate Kai said nang nagplay ulit yung radio announcement, at yung announcement sa phone ay hindi matanggal, like it is stuck upon the screen of the phone ng sobrang tagal.”Tsaka I doubt that the military would let themselves get hacked over this.”

“So? The plan?” I ask, at kita ko naman sa kanila na parang wala pa silang pinaplano since kakagising nga lang naming lahat.

“A grocery run?” Avah says, letting out a sigh as she brought up a map and laid it out on the ground kasi hindi pa binabalik sa dating ayos yung mga sofa nung kumain kami kagabi. (on where she got the map, I just find it in myself not to ask unwanted questions.) Kumuha siya ng marker galing sa mesa at binilugan ang ilang lugar sa Etereo.

“I checked your pantry, no offense, hindi kasya supplies mo sa siyam na tao for even a week here.” sagot ni Avah, at natawa naman ako sa reaction ni Ate Kai na parang natatae habang nakatitig kay Avah na parang may ginawa siyang masama.

“You… You checked my pantry, I… Damn, you sure are thorough. So, what do you propose?” tanong ni Ate Kai habang itinuro niya yung mga places na binilugan ni Avah, and I look at them as well while Gray busies himself on talking with Kaiden sa harapan nung radio.

“Nine people—”

“Eight. I’m not going to involve Jordan in this , who knows what he might do.” sagot ni Ate Kai, at tumango na lang si Avah habang isinulat ang mga pangalan sa isang papel, crossing out Jordan’s na alam ko ay nakakulong pa rin sa storeroom ni Ate Kai for being a DOSF operative. 

“Medyo malayo ang place natin sa port na malapit sa Efimera, so kailangan natin ng three cars or so para kumasya tayo dun if ever we decide to travel there.” Avah says, at tumango na lamang si Ate Kai habang sinipat niya yung tatlong bilog na inencircle ni Avah.