Saving Humanity

Chapter Fifteen: Prison Cells, Part Two

Chapter Fifteen: Prison Cells, Part Two

Holly

My next shift as a rover was uneventful. Roaming around in the dark with Raf as my only companion made the time slower. I feel grateful as I see the sun rising in the horizon, bathing everything in orange.

As we make our way back to the building, we notice a commotion at the entrance.

"Anong nangyayari?" tanong ni Raf sa isa sa mga residente.

The man turns to us, his face a mix of glee and wonder. "Kapapasok lang ng mga sundalo sa loob," he says, excited. "May bagong survivor mula sa labas."

Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya. Bagong survivor? Bigla kong naisip ang mga kaibigan namin nina Jared na naiwan sa labas. Posible kayang isa sa kanila ang survivor na iyon?

"Ilan sila?" tanong ko sa lalaki.

"Isa lang. Babae at middle-aged."

The hope slowly ebbs out of my chest. Isang middle-aged na babae. Akala ko pa naman ay isa na sa mga kaibigan namin ang na-rescue ng mga sundalo.

"Alam na ba nila ang identity?" tanong ni Raf.

Tumango ang lalaki. "Oo. Si Irene Caparas." Itinutok niya ang mga mata niya sa akin. "Siya daw ang ina ni Jared."

My jaw almost drops. This isn't what I'm hoping for, but this is still a good news. Jared would be so happy to hear about this.

Pupunta na sana ako sa kwarto niya para ipaalam sa kanya ang magandang balita pero nalaman ko kina James at Sandy na alam na pala ni Jared ang tungkol dito. Sa katunayan, kasama na niya ang kanyang ina ngayon.

I'm so happy for him, really. Still, I can't help to feel a little bit jealous. He finally got reunited with a member of his family. While here I am, still wondering and worrying about where mine is. I just hope that all of them are safe.

Gusto ko pa sanang hintayin si Jared at kausapin, pero pakiramdam ko ay babagsak na ang katawan ko dahil sa sobrang pagod. So I go up to my room and sleep like the dead.

Nang magising ako ng alas singko ng hapon, kaagad akong lumabas upang hanapin si Jared. I find him in the football field, sitting on the grass with his mom.

I'm still a few feet away from them, but I can already feel the happiness radiating off of Jared. I can see it on how he smiles, like nothing's wrong with the world and everything is as it should be.

Aalis na sana ako para bigyan sila ng privacy, pero bigla akong nakita ni Jared. He smiles at me, beckoning me to come.

I walk up to them and sit beside Jared. He puts his arms around my shoulders and my heart skips a beat.

"Mom," he says. "I would like you to meet Holly. She's my friend."

His mom looks at me, smiling. The first thing I notice is her eyes. It looks so much like Jared's. They also have the same skin tone and lopsided smile.

"Nice to meet you, Holly. I'm Irene." She holds out her hand to me. I take it.

"My name's Holly."

Irene starts to ask me questions about what happened after the syndrome. She takes all of the answers seriously, listening to every word. I guess being asleep for a long time makes you want to know the things that have happened while you were slumbering.

I still have a few hours before my shift starts. I can spare some time to sit with Jared and his mom for a while and just talk about random things.