The Last Quarantine

Season 2: Episode 11

"Kuya Ne--" I almost yell, mabuti na lang at napigilan ako ni Santhy. Him covering my mouth saved another unfortunate events because of my clumsiness. God, Venice.

"Sorry," I apologetically winced.

"It's okay." Santhy gave me an assuring smile. Matapos ay binuksan na niya iyong pintuan. Kuya Nero and Kuya Joshua were so quick to enter the office. Agad naman iyong sinaraduhan muli ni Santhy.

"Papa!" Happiness were genuinely painted on Eirene's face the moment she saw her father. Kuya Joshua didn't waste any time, agad niyang niyakap ang anak na para bang ilang siglo niyang hindi nakita.

"Shit, I thought we already lost you." Kuya Nero mumbled as he both put his hands above the head of Santhy and I. Ginulo niya ang buhok naming dalawa bago niya kami niyakap. Para bang tunay na Kuya, ramdam ko ang pagkagalak sa puso niya habang niyayakap niya kami.

"Ang masamang damo, hindi agad-agad namamatay, Kuya Nero." Santhy told him as he laughed. Pero agad din siyang huminto sa pagtawa nang tila bang may naalala.

Huminga siya nang malalim. "Great, now I sounded like Tito Theo."

Bumitaw sa amin si Kuya Nero. "If Kuya Theo was still alive right now, he'd be glad to see you safe." His tone started to turn desolate. A rare thing. Because when I think of him, my mind is always landing to the idea of positivity. Ni minsan ay hindi ko narinig na maging malungkot ang boses niya. He's a major producer of our strength all throughout this pandemic.

Santhy sighed and I can really feel the sudden forlorn on his system. "I will continue to be safe for him, Kuya Nero. He doesn't deserved his tragic end. I want to live in accordance of what he supposed to right now."

"Cheer up, kid." Kuya Nero playfully nudge Santhy's shoulders. "Napanatili mong ligtas itong si Venice, oh. That was something to be proud of." Then he tapped his back. "Come on."

Doon ay napatingin sa akin si Santhy. Kumurba ang maaliwas na ngiti sa kanyang labi. And then before I knew it, I was joining him to smile.

"Venice is going to be safe on my watch, Kuya." He is talking with Kuya Nero but his eyes are talking with me. Napaiwas tuloy ako ng tingin.

"Aba, binata na! Matapang na!" Pabirong binatukan ni Kuya Nero si Santhy. Napangiti tuloy ako nang patago. I never knew butterflies will hit my stomach on that specific moment.

"Anyway, kamusta na po ang iba? Ligtas po ba ang lahat, Kuya?" I chose to change the topic.

Kuya Nero smiled at me, "yes, everyone's safe. Lahat sila ay nasa isa sa mga office ng floor na ito. May kasama rin kaming ibang survivors."

"Thanks, God." Santhy heaved a relieved sigh as he get Orion.

"Lumabas lang kami kasi nakalabas itong si Eirene." Napaling si Kuya Nero. "Naawa lang talaga ako kay Kuya Joshua kaya ko siya sinamahan. I was also scared for the kid, actually."

As always. Him and his beautiful soul is a quite good combination.

"Tara na, bumalik na tayo sa office?" Kuya Joshua suddenly came. Buhat-bubat na niya si Eirene na ngayon ay yakap na yakap sa ama niya. Tila bang wala nang plano pang lumayo sa kanya.

Kuya Nero nodded at him and then he faced us. "Kayong dalawa. I already knew that you are now stronger than yesterday. But still, allow yourself to rely on me. Alright? Po-protektahan ko kayo."

Para ba siyang nangangaral na Kuya. "All you have to do is to just stay behind me.  Make sure na hindi kayo lalayo sa akin. Maliwanag?"

Tumango ako sa kanya. Ganoon din si Santhy. I was actually glad at the moment, kasi sa nagdaang mga oras, wala kaming ginawa ni Santhy kung hindi matakot sa kamatayan namin. We only relied on our odd lucks. At kahit na prinotektahan kami nina Kuya Brylle at Ate Janelle, we can still deny the fact that our safety were partially brought by our own efforts.

Ngayon, Kuya Nero is with us. At hindi na kami kailangang matakot pa. I know-- and I am sure na ligtas kami sa kamay niya. Na gagawin niya ang lahat maligtas lang kami.

A few moments after, pinangunahan ni Kuya Nero ang paglabas ng office. Siya iyong nagbukas ng pinto nang dahan-dahan. It was slowly but surely. When the door opened, Kuya Nero went outside. He is staying vigilant as he man the safetiness of everyone.

Noong masigurado niyang ligtas ang paligid, he gestured his hand for us to come out of the office. Ako ang naunang lumabas. Sinundan iyon ni Santhy at ni Kuya Joshua na buhat-buhat pa rin si Eirene.

Katulad ng ginawa namin kanina, nakadikit ang mga likod namin sa pader. Maingat kaming sumusunod kay Kuya Nero.

But suddenly, I felt Santhy's hand on mine. Napapakurap akong tumingin sa kanya. He only gave me a smile. And gosh, that simple smile created a zoo inside my stomach. I found myself smiling back at him. I found myself letting him to intertwine his fingers on mine.

God, Venice. You are wincing noong sina Kuya Brylle at Ate Janelle ang gumagawa nito. Bakit ngayong kayo nang dalawa ni Santhy ang nasa sitwasyong ito, para bang kilig na kilig ka pa?

What the heck?

Hindi ko talaga mapigilan ang ngiti ko. I am still smiling as soon as we turn to another part of the floor. Dito ko lang talaga napansing kay lawak pala ng building na ito.

"Malapit na tayo, brace yourself a little more. Malapit na malapit na talaga tayo." Kuya Nero said through his face mask.

We walked a little more. We relied our situation on him. And thank God, walang kahit na anong aberya ang sumalubong sa amin. We remained safe as Kuya Nero told us, "Nandito na tayo." While pointing the door behind him.

Doon ay napangiti ako. Matapos ay naramdaman ko ang pag-higpit ng hawak ni Santhy sa kamay ko. At hindi ko talaga alam kung ano ang nagtulak sa akin para yakapin siya at i-unan ang ulo sa malapad niyang dibdib. Natawa pa nga ako noong tinignan ako ni Orion na nasa kabilang bisig ni Santhy. Iniisip siguro ng pusang ito na nagawa ko pang lumandi sa ganitong sitwasyon namin.

Patuloy akong nakayakap kay Santhy noong kumatok si Kuya Nero sa pintuan. Agad iyong binuksan ng mga kasamahan namin sa loob. Dali-dali rin kaming pumasok doon.

"Venice? Santhy?!" Ate Athena's voice was the first one who welcomed our ears. And before I knew it, she is hugging us. Pero hindi ko inalis paghawak sa kamay ni Santhy.

"Oh my God! Ligtas kayo!" Pagpapatuloy ni Ate Athena na halatang tuwang tuwang malaman na ligtas kami.

But . . .

I automatically halted my smile when I heard a familiar voice of a guy. I was blinking to check if I am hearing him right.

"Venice?" He continued. Kasabay ng patuloy kong pagkurap. Doon ay napabitaw sa amin si Ate Athena.

"Fuck it! Venice, ikaw nga!"

When I focused my gaze on the direction where that voice is coming, I let go of Santhy's hand.

Natitigalgalan ako habang patuloy na pinagmamasdan si Loie.

My ex-boyfriend.

×××

Author's Note: Sige, isipin mo.

2 0 💔