Beyond the Boundary | ?

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I STARED AT the the small waves slowly moving, the soft crashing of the waves on the bottom of the boat kept distracting me from thinking.

I couldn't stop biting my nails as I kept on rehearsing what I'd say to Mama when I see her later. I've thought of all the possible situations we'll have once she see me after leaving our house for a ‘sleepover.’

“Argh!” Napahinto na ako sa pagkagat sa   daliri ko nang makaramdam ako ng kirot. I looked at it and a small amount of blood flowed out. Kaagad kong pinahid sa damit ko ang daliri ko. Napabuga na lang din ako ng hangin.

We're going back to Grendan now.

We've already accomplished what we've been wanting to know since day one, but I didn't feel satisfied. What we found out wasn't the whole truth. I want to know more. I want to find out more.

Basing from what I've found out these past few days, hindi ko pa rin maintindihan ang totoong rason kung bakit nangyari ang World War na naging dahilan para mapadpad kami rito sa dagat.

Sino ba talaga ang dahilan? Was it the humans or those creatures who occupied the land now? Maybe someone out there can tell us the whole truth, but who?

“Anza, are you okay?”

Napabaling ako ng tingin kay Caes nang bumulong siya sa akin. She's sitting across me and she had to lean forward a bit so I could hear her.

Napatitig ako sa mukha niya. Dark circles were starting to get visible under her eyes. Mas maputla na rin siya kumpara sa dati. The small cut on the side of her lips was already healed but it left a small, dark line.

I nodded at her. “You?” tanong ko pabalik.

Hindi niya na nasagot ang tanong ko. Nalipat ang mga attention namin sa boat nang bahagya itong umuga.

“What was that?” bulong ni Reivohr.

“Baka nakarating na tayo,” sagot naman ni Zeig.

We couldn't see what's outside. It's so dark. Good thing there was light inside this boat.

“Nandito na tayo,” sabi ng lalaking nagmamaneho ng bangka. “Lumabas na kayo.”

We quickly fished out our oxygen masks, wore it, and stepped out of the boat. Dahil sa sobrang dilim, kailangan ko lang lakihan ang mga mata ko para maklaro kahit ang mga silhouette ng mga kasama ko.

The driver lit up a flashlight kaya napabaling kami ng tingin sa kaniya.

“Before you leave, here's Mr. Siarez’ reminders to you...” aniya habang walang emosyong tinitigan kami. “I'm watching you.”

It was just three words, but it sent shivers down my spine lalo na at pumasok sa utak ko ang posibleng expression ni Mr. Siarez no'ng sinabi niya 'yon.

I slowly gulped and looked away.

Sinundan ko ng tingin ang kung saan tinutok ng driver ang flashlight. Bahagyang napaawang ang mga labi ko nang makita ang ilalim ng Grendan at ang malaking ‘10’ na nakasulat sa gitna.

Napaigtad ako nang marinig ang malakas na dagundong ng parang malaking pinto na bumubukas. Napaawang ang mga labi ko nang makitang unti-unting bumababa ang metal na deck sa harapan namin.

There was someone standing behind the door. Nang tuluyan itong bumukas, ang paglapag ng pinto sa surface ng dagat ang naging dahilan para anurin ng alon nang bahagya ang bangka namin.

Napakurap ako nang sa wakas ay nakita ko na kung sino ang nakatayo sa deck.

“Thanks for bringing them here safely,” aniya sa driver na kasama namin.