Empty Cities: The Tale of the [Un]dead ✔

II. Day 3 (Part 2)

Part II: Chapter 15

Day 3

***

Nieves

Pinagmasdan ko ang baril sa aking kamay. It felt heavy on my hand, it was giving me creeps seething into my system. Gabriel was teaching me how to aim at a subject and how to fire a gun.

"You're shaking," Gab pointed out.

Firearms intimidate me, what does he expect? This whole circumstance wasn't even part of my bingo card this year. I was only looking forward to graduate and to disappear from the expectations of me.

I was just a tired... and a frustrated college student trying to survive my daily struggle.

But in a span of three days, I lost a lot of people I cared about.

Ibinaba ko ang baril at sinamaan siya ng tingin.

"Wow, you're such an expert," I said sarcastically. "Umamin ka nga sa akin, gang member ka ba? How do you even know about this thing?"

"Mukha ba akong gang member? Hindi ako p'wede roon, masyado akong g'wapo."

I made a disgusted expression at his comment. How can he say that? Hindi nga kami naligo ng ilang araw. Bakit ba walang banyo ang mga convenience store sa Pilipinas? We had to use the counter for our toilet needs.

"You don't agree?" Pinagtaasan niya ako ng kilay at pinagkrus pa niya ang braso sa dibdib.

"Look at us... we are raking dirt." I told him. "Nanlilimahid na ako at nakaririmarim. If we survive long enough, can we crash in a house just to take a fucking bath?" I heaved an exasperated sigh.

"Truth, ang baho mo na, Nieves." He even teased. Tumawa pa ang loko.

"Akala mo ikaw mabango? Kapal mo." Inirapan ko siya.

"Yeah, pinanligo ko na ang lahat ng pabango sa convenience store pati deodorant," saad pa niya.

"You think that would make you smell like fresh and pleasant odor? 'Pag pinaghalo mo ang mabango at mabaho, lalo lang iyong babaho. Ew, Gabriel. Yuck!" I stuck my tongue out and he just laughed.

Bumalik kami sa pag-aaral ng baril. Muli ko itong itinutok sa isang target. "Then, pull the trigger."

I pulled the trigger. No bullet came out. Hindi naman kami nagsasayang ng bala. It was merely for protection.

Kinagat ko ang aking pang-ibabang labi. My mind could still remember a dreamy reality I had before the sun came out. I wasn't convinced it was a dream or reality. It was in between.

"Don't get nervous, Nieves." He patted my head.

Kinurot ko naman ang kamay niyang nangahas hawakan ang buhok ko. I couldn't even touch my hair knowing how dirty it was. Muling tumawa si Gabriel. I just stared at him for a second... how can this man laugh when I saw him in that state at dawn? Maybe, it was just one of my nightmares.

Sinimulan namin ang plano. We set up traps inside the convenience store with all the things we could find there. Inilabas namin ang mga supplies na maaari pang pakinabangan ng ibang tao sakaling magawi sila sa parteng ito. I just hoarded food and necessities for the both of us.

Hindi kalayuan rito, mayroong gas station. We carefully went there to get the gasoline needed to set the whole place on fire and went back to spread it on the inside and the outside of the store.

"Let's meet two blocks left."

I nodded with confidence. "See you later, Gab." Iniabot ko sa kanya ang baril.