Kapitel 22: No Welcome at All

>Sheloah's POV<

"Na sana may unli rice parin kahit may zombie apocalypse," sagot ko na lang sa kanya at napatawa kaming dalawa.

"Seryoso," tanong niya at tumango ako. It was a lie just for me not to say what I really wished for.

"Ano'ng wish mo," tanong niya ulit and he saw right through me. He knew I was lying.

"Fine, sasabihin ko na," sabi ko sa kanya and he laughed slightly because he guessed it right that I was lying to him. "Sana masaya si Seth palagi," sagot ko sa kanya at nagtaka siya.

"Sino si Seth," tanong niya and I smiled sadly.

Seth is my code name for him.

"Mahal ko," sagot ko sa kanya at napatingin lang siya sa'kin. "Kahit ano'ng mangyari, friends parin tayo, 'di ba," tanong ko sa kanya at ngumiti siya.

"Oo, kahit ano'ng mangyari," sagot niya at napatingin ako sa langit with a bitter smile on my face.

Friends… and that's okay.

"Yeah, friends… now and always," sabi ko sa kanya at tumayo na ako. "Tara, balik na tayo sa school. Hinihintay nila tayo," sabi ko pa sa kanya at tumango siya.

Sumakay kami sa kotse at nagmaneho na si Veon pabalik ng school.

******

Nakarating kami sa school at sa entrance mismo, nakita namin na onti lang ang zombies papunta sa rooftop kaso nga lang, ang mga zombies sa quadrangle, medyo marami pa.

Siguro no'ng pagpunta nina tito, Sir Jim, Josh at Tyler rito, nag attack na sila ng mga zombies since may mga guns and weapons na kaming nakuha.

Kinuha ko yung machine pistol ko kasi nandito na kami sa bandang harap ng clinic. May mga zombies na nakaabang at binaril namin ito ni Veon. Tatlo lang sila.

Tumaas kami agad ni Veon at no'ng nakaabot na kami sa pinakahuling staircase, through the glass of the door papuntang rooftop, nakita ko mga classmates ko na safe and sound. Napangiti ako dahil prinotektahan ng brave three ang klase.

No'ng nakarating kami sa harap ng pinto mismo, nakita kami ni Josh at Tyler at binuksan nila agad yung pinto at pumasok kami. No'ng nakapasok kami ni Veon, ni-lock nila agad yung pinto. Tiningnan ko yung classmates ko pero wala man lang sila bati sa amin.

There's no welcome at all.

Ang dami sa mga classmates namin ang umiiyak at may sariling mundo. Mostly lahat, nakasimangot and judging by the looks of it, I think their parents didn't make it kasi konti lang ang parents na nandito. Siguro 46 students kami, only 14 of us had their families alive.

No'ng nandito kami sa loob, nagulat kami nang makita namin na nandito sa loob si Sir Erick, teacher namin sa history. Kasama niya si Sir Jim. Tiningnan niya kami and he nodded at us with a smile.

Tiningnan ko si Tyler at Josh. "Paano nakarating si Sir Erick dito," tanong ko sa kanila and they both seem sad and in no mood to answer my question so they just shrugged their shoulders at me.

I understand. I guess their parents didn't make it as well. I feel happy na nandito ang buong pamilya ko, but I also feel sad dahil para sa kanila they find this situation unfair. Yung ibang family members nila nandito tapos onti lang kaming lucky ones na makakasama sila.

I was looking at my classmates until Sir Erick and Sir Jim approached me.

"Sir Erick, paano po kayo napunta rito," tanong ko agad sa kanya and he answered me.

"Nagtago kasi ako sa taas ng guidance office, eh, hindi ba may isang kwarto roon," sabi niya sa akin and I nodded at him. "Tapos no'ng nandoon ako, gumawa ako ng harang using the metal sheets na nakatago roon. Doon kasi tinatago ng maintenance team ang ibang gamit ng school and while I was there, I was able to create a spear. Ginamit ko yung pocket knife ko to make a spear," sabi pa ni Sir Erick and I nodded at him, understanding how he came here.

"Nagulat nga kami ng tito mo, eh. Kasi no'ng pagpunta namin dito, nandito na siya. Pinapasok daw nina Dean kasi raw nagpakita si Sir Erick sa pinto ng note na hindi siya zombie," dagdag sabi pa ni Sir Jim and I was amazed of what Sir Erick did.

"No'ng binato namin yung grenade at no'ng umalis kami, you took the chance to escape when everything sounded silent sa playground," tanong ko and he nodded at me.

"Yes," sagot sa akin ni Sir Erick and he spoke again. "And starting today, sasama ako sa inyo. I will be of great use." Nginitian ko siya.

"Thank you, Sir Erick," pasasalamat ko sa kanya at pumunta na ang dalawang guro kay Ms. Pauline, ang adviser ng section namin.