Chapter 13: Briefcase

Kaliya's POV

Ouch.

What Arius said freaking hurts. It feels like a slap to my face.

And he's a jerk for doing that to me. But I think it's all my fault. The four of us vowed to each other that we'll treat each other like a family, a brother and sister. Nothing more, nothing less.

But fuck this. I've fallen for him since we're 10! I've been liking him for seven fucking years. And what he did to me last night makes my feelings towards him, more stronger.

He liked someone, Kaliya. Stop your delusions!

I scolded myself. Yeah, he liked her.

Ever since that day he said he saw her, he never stoped talking about her and looking for her.

To hell with him! I don't care if he likes someone, I just wish he'll let me like him.

"You alright, girl?" I looked up and saw Roxanne raising a brow at me. I don't fully know this girl here but I can tell she's someone you can trust.

I once saw her competing for math tournament or something. She's smartass.

Maybe I can trust her aside from those three boys. Who knows after all of this apocalyptic thing, we'll be a family since we only have each others backs.

"Uh, yeah. I'm fine." I replied and averted my gaze away from her. She sat beside me together with the other students who's silently chattering in front of the bonfire.

Flora, Alby, Rodrick and Chelsea were cooking something canned foods we bought from that secret room on our way here. While Drake- the president of student union and Helen which I heard one of the scholars of the university were talking about something while setting some wait- is that banana leaves? Where did they get that? Anyways, the two were setting it up maybe for our temporary bed later. Dearil and Arius were sitting at the top of the hood of the bus. Gawking at us and our surroundings.

"It's been an hour already, bakit hindi pa sila dumarating?" I heard Chelsea.

At the side of my eyes, I saw Arius went stiff.

"Maybe they're on their way already..." Says Drake.

We all fell into silence. Tanging tunog lang ng nagbabagang apoy at kahoy sa aming harapan ang maririnig. And I guess all of us were still thinking how everything ends like this in just a blink of an eye.

I shut my eyes and heaved a sigh. I just hope they're fine.

Minutes passed by in a deep silence when we heard a car's engine. All of us readied our weapons and was in our stance if ever someone infected is coming this way.

I held my breath as the car came into a hakt right in front of us and the driver seat door opened revealing the distress Gifflet.

I stared at him in horror and averted my gaze towards Arius.

He also has the same look I have.

Azie's POV

"Hey..." I called out and crouched in front of him when he suddenly grabbed my arms in an aggressive manner.

Shit.

"Azie!" Gifflet shouted as I heard him ready to pull the trigger.

"Gifflet! Wait!" I shouted back as I looked at him. He was about to open his mouth when I shook my head.

I averted my gaze back at the man.

"He-help my d-daughter... p-please help her!" He said and shakily pointed the door at the back of the shop.

I stared at it and hesitated for a moment. I can hear small sobs coming from that door. I glanced at Gifflet and he got what I mean.

I saw him slowly walking towards the door while drawing his gun and cautiously open the door.

"D-dada!" I hear a soft cry. Gifflet crouched down and hugged the little girl.

"Y-you go a-and.... br-bring this." My eyes landed back at the wounded man. He pushed the black brief case and a folded leather wallet in my hands.

"What is this?" I ask confused while looking at the things in front of me.

"Virus.. t-the virus... it c-can-" He coughed blood and I panic.

"Th-there's no time... bring my daughter to B-boyl- *cough..." He shook his head.

"G-go! Le-leave now! Now!" Dali dali ko namang kinuha ang mga inabot nya.

I glanced at Gifflet who's now carrying the little child as she's trying to reach for her dad's hands.

"L-Luna..." I heard the man said making the little girl's cry even louder.

"L-leave baby... dada will b-be fine." He smiled at his child.

"N-no! Let's bring dada! P-please!" The little girl looked at me with a pleading eyes and a distressed face.

I felt so sorry for her. She's too young for this.

I walked towards her and Gifflet.

"Luna is a good girl right?" She nodded her head while sobbing. I caress her cheeks and gently wiped the tears on her eyes.

"Luna is a good girl so she will listen to dada." I smiled at her.

"Leave!" The old man shouted as he took his last breath. I squeeze my eyes shut and hugged Luna on Gifflet's arms.

Without hesitation, we all rushed towards the door and exited the shop.

We can't stay there any longer as we saw the body next to the old man slowly moved.

Gifflet jumped into the driver's seat while I carried Luna and seated at the back seat. He floored the car and leave the place right away.

***

Just like earlier, we fell in silence. Luna is sleeping on my lap after a minute of crying. I stared at the black brief case.

I wonder what that old man wants to say and what's inside that case.

"Are you alright?" Gifflet break the silence while glancing at me in the rear view mirror. I heaved a sigh and looked outside the window.

"I'm fine." I said in exhausted voice. Hindi naman na ito nag tanong pa saka nag maneho na lang hanggang sa makarating kami sa kung nasaan ang iba pa naming kasama.

Gifflet first step out of the car and opened my door. I slowly climbed out of it still carrying Luna on my arms.

"Azie!" I heard Chelsea's voice after seeing me. I just smiled at nodded at her. All eyes were on us and to the little girl in my arms. Good thing they didn't question me but make a way while following me.

I saw Flora pat the space beside her under the old tree seating on a pink sheet. I slowly laid Luna beside her.

"I got her. You should take a rest." She said. I sat beside her and lean my back on the tree. I shut my eyes and forced a sigh.

If I can have a power to shut everything around me, maybe I already did earlier.

Everything is so wrong. Something is definitely wrong even before this started and I have a haunch that, that old man knows something more than we all do.

EAPML

I remember reading the old man's lab coat. I wonder what that stands for.

"Who is she?" Rinig kong tanong ng isa sa kanila. I guessed that's Alby.

"She's Luna, a survivor. We saw her at the shop. She's fine so far." Napa buntong hininga naman ang lahat sa narinig saka nagsi balikan sa kanya kanyang ginagawa.

I stared at the sky. It's starting to get dark. I cleared my throat and roam my eyes around. Dearil and Kaliya were talking not far from us. Rodrick, Drake, Roxanne and Helen were sitting in front of me in silence while Gifflet and Alby were filling the bus tank. Chelsea and Flora were sitting beside me. Arius? He's inside the bus, I think?

"We have to split into two groups since it's getting dark. We can't all rest assured that no one's gonna jump in front of us while we're all sleeping. Six people should be on guard for the night while the other six take a rest and tomorrow we'll take turns. How about that?" I suggested. They nodded their heads and started raising hands.

"I'll be on watch." Alby says followed by Drake, Rodrick, Helen, Kaliya and Chelsea.

"Then it's settled." We all did our things as the night crept.

***

"Here." I stopped and stared at the water bottle and a bar of chocolate in front of me. I looked up and saw Arius watching me.

I didn't felt him climbing at the rooftop of the bus where I am sitting. Chelsea had the same position at the car's hood while Drake were inside the bus sitting on the driver's seat. Rodrick, Kaliya, Alby and Helen were chattering in a low voice while seated in front of the bonfire that's slowly dying.

It's already past eleven in the evening. You can almost hear the little noise around you. Bilog na bilog din ang buwan at malamig ang simoy ng hangin.

Even though I'm well dressed up, I can't help but to shiver.

"Thanks." Wika ko saka ito kinuha at itinabi muna saglit para ipagpatuloy ang ginagawa ko.

"You should eat it. I didn't saw you eating awhile ago." I just shook my head.

"I'm not hungry."

"Still."

"Yeah. Just a minute."

"How's your head?" Napa hawak naman ako sa ulo ko ng maalala ang pagdudugo nito.

"It's fine. Helen checked it earlier since she's familiar with first aid and such and it's not that big deal." He just stared at me and took a sip from the can he's holding.

"Wait.. is that a beer? Where'd you get that?" I asked. As far as I can remember, I didn't see any beer on that secret room. If I have known there is, I would prefer getting tons of it other than weapons.

Kidding.

"Gifflet." I rolled my eyes. How dare that bastard didn't gave me any?

"You're underage." I hissed when Arius flick my forehead.

"Fuck you." I glared at him and snatch the can on his hand. I took a full swig from it and smiled at him.

"What?" I puckered my lips before looking back at him. He just shook his head.

"You should be sleeping." I frowned. I know that. But what can I do if I can't sleep? I don't even think all of us can sleep in this horrible situation.

"Yeah. Tell that to yourself." I averted my eyes back in front of me and continue what I'm doing.

"What's that and where'd you get that?" He ask and moved closer to me. This guy.

"Chemical? I don't know." I said and sigh.

Binuksan ko na kasi ang briefcase para tingnan kung ano ang laman nito. Pero bago yun, una ko munang tiningnan ang wallet nung matandang lalaki at nalaman na isa pala syang doktor at scientist mula sa isang pribadong ospital.

Dr. Andy Bowman, East Area Private Military Laboratory

Now I know what EAPML stands for. But I've never heard of it.

No wonder why there's two green like liquid inside the brief case, a shady letter alongside an sd card.

"'It's a mistake!'" Arius read the shady letter.

"What does that mean?" I shrugged. I don't really know.

I took one vial and lay my back on the hard metal roof, staring at it.

"How is this thing connected to the virus? Is this the cure?" I mumbled.

"Virus.. t-the virus... it c-can-"

"Th-there's no time... bring my daughter to B-boyl- *cough..."

"Shit." I cursed remembering what Dr. Bowman was about to says.

"What's wrong?" Arius ask, panic can be heard on his voice.

"That doctor was about to say something about this but..." I bit my lower lip and glance at Arius who's watching me under his long eyelashes.

Wait.. he's had a beautiful eyelash huh. I can see it as half of his face were illuminated by the moon light.

I blinked.

"What do you think this might be?" He looked at me seriously.

"A thing you should take care of." He replied.

"Right. Who knows, it can help us?" Tumango tango naman ako.

Or might kill us.

Anyways, he's right.

"Well, then take care of it huh?"