by Jonas Sunico
I worked hard on the Filipino sentence. I had it checked by Mr. Senator for any errors. It was spot on. I saw the look on his face, I think he was surprised at my progress. I’m kinda surprised too. I mean, last night I couldn’t translate an entire sentence but since this morning the words just flow. Maybe it’s because I have been reading the books a lot? Or maybe being with a Filipino has helped me. Mr. Senator hasn’t spoken much since we met and even if he does he speaks in Eng-Lino (English-Filipino... clever). I’m not very fond of the Philippines. The only thing I like about it by far is the fact that it’s where I met Askal. Aside from that, I don’t see any reason why I would be so hard-pressed to learn Filipino.
... Oh yeah. Survival.
“Oh, sayo na ’to o, I pulot it somewhere.”
Maybe it’s a new weapon to smash some brains in. I open it instantly and see a pair of wooden sticks that look familiar. “Assnis!” Dad had these in his room. I’ve seen him play with them a couple of times. He wields them like dual swords. Cool.
I see Mr. Senator laughing at me and I ask him why.
“Assnis? Hahahahahaha bobo, ‘arnis.’ Yan yung pambansang sport ng Pilipinas... ‘Arnis.’ What you’re holding are rattan sticks. Ang ginagamit sa arnis.”
“Ahhh,” I said.
Someone has been making an “ASSnis” of himself for a long time. Eto na ata ang sandata ko. Simula nung masira si Woody, feel ko defenseless ako. Ngayon okay na ’ko. Mabaho nga lang. Amoy baktol daw sabi ni Ginoong Senador. Kumapit sakin yung lungad kagabi.
Wow, I’m getting the hang of this fast. Who knew that learning a language would be this easy.
Read. Learn. Survive.
Yeah, I can do that. I hope this learning streak continues. I’d ask my dad about this learning ability if he were here but he isn’t. I’m thinking that he learned to speak English just as quickly as I learned Filipino. He wasn’t a dumbass to begin with. He worked as a scientist.
“Halika rito, tuturuan kita. Gawa sa rattan yan. Matibay yan, may balot pa na bakal sa dulo para solid at sulit ang tama.”
He said a lot of Filipino words but I kinda got the gist of what he was saying. I didn’t understand one word though.
“Mr. Senator, what’s sulit?”
“Sulit is getting more than what you paid for.”
This conversation sounds familiar... Well, anyway, Mr. Senator taught me how to handle the rattan sticks. He asked me several times to hit this tree to see how strong I could hit... Damn, I hit weakly. Askal is there watching me, excited as ever with a look that says “Huuuuuwow! Ang lakas ni Master, siguro kaya niyang ubusin lahat ng zombies sa isang hampas lang. Idoooooooooooooooooool!”
Later on, Mr. Senator leaves without saying a word. I continue hitting.... tapping the tree with the sticks. After 30 minutes or so, he comes back. He isn’t alone. He brings slong a zombie at the end of a leash. Heck, I don’t keep Askal in a leash and yet he does this. He has taken this zombie thing lightly and accepted the fact that these people are no longer... well, people. Askal is more human than them.
“Papakawalan ko ’to. Di kita tutulungan, ah. Kaya mo yan. Tandaan mo SA ULO mo tirahin. HEAD ONLY. HEAD sa taas. HEAD ABOVE not HEAD BELOW. Gets?”
“Gets ko! Okay! Sa taas di sa baba. ULO sa TAAS, di ULO sa BABA”
We both share a stare for a moment then we laugh. “Kala ko ba di ka marunong magtagalog? Hahaha.” He’s right. I didn’t know how to speak it. But this past couple of days, the urge to survive has driven me to study this language. But is it normal to learn this quickly? And at that moment Mr. Senator did the most horrifying thing he could do to me: he let go of the leash.
The zombie rushed at me in an instant and Askal tried to come to my aid but Mr. Freakin’ Senator stopped him. How could he betray me??? I think to myself, Hintayin mo ko, huhugutin ko bigote mo pagtapos ko rito.
The zombie claws right then left. All I can do is dodge. I was kinda relieved by the fact that Mr. Senator and Askal is here to help me out but I think they’ll stay where they are for now. Meanwhile, I’m doing a mighty fine job of evading the zombie’s attack. Now this is a workout.
The zombie then uses both hands to swing at me and he misses. My opportunity to fight back is here. I use the arnis to smash his shins and he falls down. He grabs my pants but I shake him off. To finish the job, I jump up to get the most momentum then I smash his brains in. I hit him so hard that he literally goes places. His eyes go in my inner breast pocket, two of his teeth next to my shoe and his brain at Mr. Senator. Got you, asshole.
Mr. Senator lets go of Askal who immediately runs to me and proceeds to worship me once again (no one has made me feel more wanted than this dog). Mr. Senator claps and says, “Ready ka na boy.”
I’ve always been ready I said to myself. “Ready saan?”
He hands me his binoculars and points in a direction. “Yan ang Quiapo Church. Nakita mo yung dami na sombi sa pinto? Panigurado madaming tao sa loob. Wag kang umasa na makakapasok tayo nang basta basta. Makikipagyera muna tayo.”
Holy.Shit. That’s a lot of zombies. I don’t think my Filipino language and arnis training are enough to help me get through there. I’m having second thoughts but tomorrow’s the day we go there. I wonder who or what we’ll see. A machete-wielding chick perhaps? Or a boxing priest? Naah. I’m sure those people inside are probably weaker than me.
We go back inside 7-11 to rest for the big day... God, I hope that there’s a cute chick inside the church. If there isn’t anyone there I swear I’ll curse the day dad told me what kind of people there are in Quiapo.
10
Napansin namin ni Father na medyo masisira na ang malaking kahoy na nagsisilbing lock ng pintuan dito sa Quiapo Church. Masyado nang marami ang sombi sa labas kaya malakas na ang pwersang tumutulak sa pinto. Sabi ko kay Father umalis na kami habang maaga pa. Sabi niya wag muna kasi may hinihintay pa kame. Sino? Yung lecheng makakasama ko sa pagsalba sa mundo? Sana pumunta na sila rito bago maulit pa yung gulo kagabi. Muntik muntik na kaming mamatay dito.
Kelan pa sila darating? Pag patay na si Father? Pag tuluyan ng bumulwak ang ulo ko? Di ko na kayang kaming dalawa lang ni Father ang magtutulungan para mabuhay. Kelangan ko nang pilitin si Father na umalis dito. Kukurutin ko na ang pisngi ng Itim na Nazareno.
We’ve killed 30 zombies since we stepped out of our hideout. We’re on our way to Quiapo Church baby! I can see it nearing and I can sure as hell smell the heap of flesh blocking and struggling at the entrance. Just a few more streets.
“Nag-aalala ka dun sa mga zombie noh? Andami nga nila. Wag kang mag-alala. We are not going to go pays to pays with them. We will going behind the church and climb from there,” Mr. Senator said.
The closer we get the more my palms sweat. How the hell will I be able to climb up when my hands are really sweaty? We’re just 8 streets away and the smell grows more and more awful and the zombies grow in number more and more.
Mr. Senator then points in a direction up the church. The windows are shattered and there are cracks on the wall. I know what this means: we’ll have to climb up there. I’m not worried about Askal. Mr. Senator will be carrying him upwards. Me, however, I’ll have to make my way to the top on my own. Paangkas na lang din Mr. Senator!
“Father kelangan na nating umalis dito! Inaanay na pala yang kahoy na yan tapos mababali na! Pag nakapasok sila wala tayong magagawa sa dami ng sombi. Bakit ba ayaw mong umalis?? Hindi ako handang mamatay dito,” sigaw ko sa kanya.
“Magtiwala ka sa Diyos. Hihintayin natin ang mga kasama mo at tsaka kayo aalis. Wag mong itaboy ang tadhana. Makakapaghintay ang pisngi ng Nazareno pero hindi ang gamot sa virus na ito,” sagot niya.
Diyos? Magtiwala sa Diyos? Bakit ako magtitiwala sa isang nilalang na ginawa ’to saten? Bakit ako magtitiwala sa nilalang na nahiya pang ubusin ang buong sangkatauhan? Gusto ko ’tong sabihin kay Father, pero natatakot akong masaktan siya. Malaki ang utang na loob ko sakanya at ayokong ipagtabuyan ang nilalanag na nagbago sakanya. Di ko siya magawang iwan kase kelangan ko
rin siya para mabuhay.
Magtitiwala ako. Magtitiwala ako kay Father, hindi sa Diyos.
We entered a condominium next to the church. Walking inside the condominium was easy but getting in was a whole different story. We had to fight our way through a lot of zombies. Mr. Senator avoided using his guns to keep quiet while Askal refrained from fighting as well. His fur is very clean, I washed it yesterday. I think he’s avoiding getting his coat dirty... Nah, I think he’s playing along with the keep quiet game.
Once inside, we instantly grab all we can to block the door. But we had to move up quick; the door could break any instant.
On the 4th floor, there were several zombies that we encountered and there was a TESbun as well. This time, Mr. Senator grabbed him and threw him out the window. Luckily none of us got showered with lungad. None of us can afford to smell bad. Not when we’re this close to meeting new faces... I hope.
There are five more floors to the top from here. However, problems arrive quickly. We hear the door break from downstairs and we know that it will only be a matter of time before the zombies reach us. We need to hurry now.
“Whoooooo! Hahahaha ayan na sila!” I say in excitement.
We start to run. This time, we avoid zombies instead of killing them. Askal leads the way, he’ll bark if there are any obstructions or zombies. For the first time ever this dog looks serious.
I can already hear the zombies gnarling once we reach the 8th floor.
One more floor.
Another TESbun appears between Askal, me and Mr. Senator, who is caught off guard by the zombie and is tackled by it. He looks like he’s about to lose so I aim for its head and swing as hard as I can. Its head flies off but since this is a TESbun, it’s not yet over. A baby bursts out from its back, about to leap at me, Askal tackles it mid-air and throws it out the window. Good boy.
Mr. Senator stands up and pats me on the back. He didn’t say thanks but from the look on his eyes I can see that he is thankful. The zombies sound even closer after that confrontation. They’re already on the floor below us. Luckily the door to the 9th floor, the rooftop, is already in front of us... And it’s padlocked.
Shit.
Mr. Senator pulls out his pistol and shoots the padlock several times but it doesn’t break. This is one mighty fine lock. Out of frustration, Mr. Senator continues shooting. After a few seconds the zombies arrive. I look at them as they look at us from one end of the stairs. Mr. Senator hands me his AK-47 and I begin shooting aimlessly making sure I hit the zombies.
I turn around to see what Mr. Senator is doing; he’s manhandling the lock. He’s tugging and twisting it. I can’t believe he would do such a stupid thing! I can’t hold these zombies off forever. We’re in deep trouble no...
*clang* *clang*
The lock falls apart... Through his sheer masculinity he broke the lock with his bare hands. He then grabs Askal and straps him in front of him and within a few seconds, he’s already jumping from the top of the condominium to the side of Quiapo Church. He grabs hold of the ledge as if he were weightless and despite the fact the he has several guns with him, not to mention my fat ass dog strapped to his front.
Before I notice it, I am alone already. Mr. Senator is calling for me from the other side. I should jump NOW, them and my mind say. After shoving the gun towards a few more zombies I make a run for it building, up as much momentum as I can.
I can’t believe I’m doing something this stupid. The farthest I had to jump ever was from my bed to the floor for Christ’s sake! But it’s too late now... I’m three steps away from the ledge.
As my feet push downwards for the jump... Nabasag at nadurog ang semento.
11
Merong mga dumadaan na anghel sa tapat namin ni Father. Pila-pila sila. Simula nung sagutan namin kanina, di kami nagsasalita.
Awkward moment of silence.
May narinig kaming mga naglalaglagang bato sa labas. Akala nga namin ni Father gumuguho na yung simbahan, pero pagsilip ko sa labas mukhang di nanggaling sa simbahan yung mga batong nalalaglag. May mga sombi lang siguro na naghaharutan sa taas ng condong katabi netong simbahan. Bad boy sila.
Sana may dala silang foods. Nagugutom na ’ko; ubos na ang rasyon namin ni Father dito. Isa rin sa dahilan kung bakit gusto ko nang umalis kahit na mukhang pursigido si Father na manatili rito.
May darating ba talaga? Di naman niya siguro hahayaan na mamatay ako rito.
Ilang segundo mula nung malaglag yung mga bato, mga sombi naman ang nalaglag. Sumilip ako sa bintana at nakita ko na nalalaglag nga sila mula sa taas. Sabi ni Father, di ko daw dapat problemahin yun, kase di naman sila aabot dito... Tsaka daw parating na “sila”.
Bullshet.
Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, oh shit!
I’m dangling from at least a few stories and I can see the ground beneath me. The zombies are falling down one by one and I’m seeing what’ll happen to me if Mr. Senator loses his grip on the hood of my jacket. I’m close to pissing my pants, tae tae tae tae! Di ko know na fear ako sa matataas!
I look up to see Mr. Senator flinching and already in pain while Askal ... For the first time Askal looks at me with sad eyes. I think this is the sign that I’m about to die.
But luck strikes again. I won’t die. Not when Mr. Senator is around to showcase his pagiging masamang pwet. Out of nowhere Mr. Senator shouts “Ready!” and then lunges for me in the air with one hand. In an instant I’m already above him soaring in the air. I quickly grab the nearest ledge and hold on like hell. Luckily the ledge I hold on to is of the window to the church. But we’re nearly weaponless. All Mr. Senator has is a pistol and all I have is the arnis. Everything else that we had before was left behind when we jumped. Even the food which Askal oh so needs.
“Anak ng pating! Tutunganga ka ba riyan o papasok ka? Huhugutin kita pababa e!” Mr Senator shouts.
I didn’t realize I was staring blankly into space for almost 10 seconds while we were dangling from this old church. “I was worried okay? What if there’s no one but zombies inside? We’re doomed! Aren’t you at least happy that I cared!?”
“Ano daw?” Mr. Senator asks Askal who is more than happy to see me hanging rather than dangling.
I climb up the ledge and open the window (which is very, very dusty and now that I have such dusty and sweaty hands, I would prefer to jump to my death). Clothes... Clean clothes, a messy bed, bloody bandages, brass knuckles... Humans. HUMANS! Living breathing HUMANS!
I get so excited I forget to pull up Mr. Senator who has decided to climb on his own. Upon getting inside, he smacks me straight in the head. I get a little groggy but still... HUMANS! Where’s my machete-wielding chick at?
I could jump up and down with excitement but Mr. Senator’s smack left me with a throbbing headache. I hope the people here are nice enough. I hope that they don’t try to kill us and I sure as hell hope they’re not yet bitten.
“Shhhh. Wag ka muna noisy; dahan-dahan muna tayo. Di natin know ang mga nandito.”
I nod and zip my mouth... literally. (This was a big mistake. I forgot that my hands were still dusty and I become easily irritated by the dust.) My eyes swell up and my nose gets runny. Seconds later, I feel like I’m about to rip the biggest sneeze ever... I hope I can stop it. Mr. Senator’s gonna be so mad if I snee... Aaa... Aaaa... AaaaaAaAAaaaaarrrrrrggCHHooooooooooooooo!”
The monstrous sneeze echoes like a mass hymn throughout the church.
“Baket ka bumahing? Anak ng pu...”
Before he finishes his sentence, we hear footsteps that sound like they’re in a hurry. Here comes the cavalry.
Napatakbo agad ako pero bago ako tuluyang umakyat, nagkatinginan muna kami ni Father. Pareho kaming may narinig na parang sigaw sa taas pero mukhang ako lang ang nag-aalala. Nagtayuan ang mga balahibo ko sa aking narinig. Para bang may malaking halimaw na nasa taas. Mukhang may nakaakyat na namang BADing.
Ready nakong sumabak pero si Father nakangiti lang at tumingin siya sa machete kong mahigpit na hawak, sabay iling s
iya. “Bitiwan mo na yan; sila na yan.”
Nainis nako kay Father. Isang matinding irap ang inabot niya saken at sinimangutan ko pa siya. Humabol na rin ako ng belat. Tapos umakyat nako. Mga bwusit na sombi na yan. Ako ang babatok sa inyo ngayon! Yumuko si Father tas napabuntong hininga siya; sumunod siya saken. Siguro di lang ang lakas niya ang nahigop nung BADing, pati siguro utak niya nahigop na. Nag-aalala lang naman ako sa kapakanan namin e, bat ba ang tigas ng ulo niya?
Walang darating na tao.
Walang sasagip sa mundo.
Maaaring kaming dalawa na lang ni Father ang buhay pa. Wala akong heartthrob na naghihintay sa taas. Wala akong “knight in shining armor” dun. Wala. Walang tao, kundi BADing na naman ang nasa taas. Walang tao, walang sasalba, walang tao, walang sasalba... “WALANG… tao?”
Sino sila?
Machete-wielding chick...
12
I can’t quite understand what happened but things got sour fast! Just a few seconds after Mr. Senator and I came in contact with this priest and this.... angel, things didn’t go as expected. I expected hugs and kisses from other survivors but in reality, Mr. Senator drew his gun and aimed at the head of the priest. The chick then drew her machete and I of course in a display of manliness drew my sticks and did a fighting stance so badass, Mr. Senator looked at me and smacked me in the head while saying “Umayos ka nga! Killer ’tong nasa tapat naten. Di mo ba siya kilala? Para kang bakla sa tayo mo umayos ka!”
The chick laughed at me... I’ve have never been more embarrassed like this since the day I shat my white pants during my first communion in grade 3. Nuns scare me, okay? The priest on the other hand looked at me and Askal and then gave us a smile that felt like he wanted something from us.
“Ikaw! Ikaw pa ang nabuhay? Bakit di ka na lang namatay sa bilangguan. Animal ka, pagkatapos mong pumatay ng sampung bata, may lakas ka ng loob para magsuot ng ganyan? Umaasa ka pa bang may lugar sa langit para sayo? Sabi ko na nga ba dapat pinatawan ka na namin ng death sentence noon pa lang. Mukhang may bago ka pang bibiktimahin. Pinagsisisihan ko na ang pagsalba ko sayo, hayop ka. Matagal talaga mamatay ang masamang damo,” Mr. Senator said.
