It's around 11:00 in the morning, judging from the shadows of everything around Alice. She's currently at the training ground, sitting quietly on a random tree branch, watching how these people train with each other.

Different pitches of clang echoed around her as men after men fought with dull blades at their grip. Grunts followed not soon enough as they struggle to outweigh their opponent.

Hindi naman nalalayo ng kalagayan ang ilang mga kalalakihan at kababaihan sa isang banda. Rather than using blades, these people are trained by using wooden swords for the mean time. Ang bawat isa'y halatang pursigido sa pakikipaglaban sa kabila ng init, pawis at hirap na dinaranas.

Lastly, at the far corner of the area trains the people who are more comfortable at fighting within a long distance. Some of them held slingshots, crossbows, and the customized guns that some of their men invented.

They are quite a sight to watch, looking at how accurate they aim at the dummies presented meters away from them. And when their trainor gave the signal, they simultaneously released their grip from the arrows, stones, and clicked the trigger, all of those zooming to their targets.

Series of laughters and groans followed after more than half of the released weapons hit their mark.

'They are improving.' Alice quotes in mind, somehow impressed by their performance.

Nagpatuloy ang pageensayo nila sa kabila ng nakapapasong init ng araw. Kasabay no'n ay ang paunti-unting paglakas ng bangayan mula sa apat na kalalakihan sa ibaba ng punong kinauupuan ng dalaga. Alice kept her face neutral, not sparing a glace at the four idiots below her.

"Hindi niya na naman tayo pinapansin."

"Quiet! We'll stay here, gentlemen."

"And we'll wait patiently, no matter what."

"Yea.." The fourth voice utter. "Pero mukhang wala siya sa mood ngayon."

"Red days?" One of them asked innocently.

Murmurs of 'Maybe' and 'Yea' followed.

Alice' right brow twitched in annoyance. Without warning, she grabs the branch above her, lifts her body and swings herself down. Apat na magkakasunod na singhap ang narinig ng dalaga. Isang matalim na tingin ang ipinukol niya sa mga ito.

"Shit. Run!" They murmured to each other in chorus. Halos madapa ang mga ito sa bilis ng kanilang takbo, tuluyan nang nakalimutan ang plano. The girl rolled her eyes as the four idiots disappeared from her sight.

"They never learn, don't they?" Nakangising tanong ni Renzel habang papalapit kay Alice.

She scoffs. "With those attitudes, I don't think they would."

Renzel's black hair is tied into a messy bun. Ilan sa mga 'yon ay dumikit na sa mukha't leeg ng babae dala ng pawis nito. A blue bandanna kept most of the hair out of her chocolate eyes.

She fetch out a water bottle and swigs its content in one go. Nagbukas naman ito ng panibago saka ibinuhos ang laman no'n sa ulo nito. The water cascades down to her red shirt, some drops to her leggings.

"Wooh! Refreshing!" Renzel shouted in glee while shaking her head in a sideway manner. Lumayo naman bahagya si Alice upang hindi matalsikan.

"Anyway! Hindi ko muna isinama sa pageensayo ngayong araw 'yong mga bagong dating. I figured that they are more needed at the field and the construction undergoing right now." Sabi ng babae.

"That's better." Sagot naman ni Alice.

The wind blew past them and Renzel let out a satisfied moan. Tinangay naman ng hangin ang ilang hibla mula sa mataas na pagkakapusod ng buhok ni Alice. She roamed her eyes along the wide area. Dahil doon, nagawa niyang mapagmasdan ang bawat isa sa mga nagensayo.

They are all equally tired, mostly pleased that their break has come. Tila nagalak din ang mga ito dahil sa patuloy na pagsirko ng malamig na hangin sa lugar. Alice tore her eyes away from them and stares at Renzel, who's observing the trainees also.

"They are doing well so far. Malaki ang pagbabago ng karamihan sa kanila. You should acknowledge them for that." Pahayag ng dalaga.

Isang munting ngisi naman ang naglaro sa labi ni Renzel habang pinapaikot niya ang natitirang tubig sa loob bote. "What can I say? They are willing to learn hard just for the little chance of surviving out there. Most of them aren't willing to be turned without giving a fight."

"You fed them those thoughts, didn't you?" Pagkukumpirma ni Alice. Tumigil naman si Renzel sa pagpapaikot ng bote at humarap sa kaniya.

"You don't expect me to tell them that a peaceful world will still welcome them outside these walls, Alice. " Dumaan ang kaseryosohan sa mga mata ni Renzel ngunit saglit lang 'yon at bumalik muli ang ngisi nito. "Besides, that's how I motivate each and everyone of them. They will train hard and work hard for their own good, not mine."

Balak pang sumagot ni Alice kung 'di lang tinawag ng pansin niya ang pagdating ng isang sasakyan. Lumabas mula roon ang ilan sa mga tagapagluto bitbit ang mga kaldero na naglalaman ng tanghalian.

"See you later." Renzel bids her goodbye and jogs her way towards the vehicle. Tumulong ito sa pagbubuhat ng ilan pang kagamitan upang ipwesto ito sa isang maliit na silong na may isang mahabang lamesa. The trainees fall in line with small chatters along.

Hindi na rin naman nagtagal si Alice sa lugar na 'yon at agad na tinahak ang daan patungo sa kabahayan. Binagalan niya ang pagpapatakbo nang mapalapit siya roon.

The wind moves swiftly and a degree colder within the woods. Mabibilang lang sa daliri kung ilan ang nasa daan. All of them are probably in the dining area, joyfully eating their lunch.

Ipinarada ni Alice ang kanyang motorsiklo sa tabi ng hagdanan ng kanilang bahay. She looks up, wondering if Ell had went down to get her lunch.

"Nasa taniman sila ni Ross." Boses ni Jiyo ang narinig ng dalaga. Hinarap niya naman 'yon at agad na napataas ng bahagya ang kilay ni Alice sa nasilayan.

"Maaga silang nagtanghalian." Dagdag na sagot ni Jiyo ngunit hindi pa rin bumababa ang kilay ng matalik na kaibigan.

Isang buntong hininga naman ang pinakawalan ni Jiyo saka binitawan ang basket na puno ng mga gamit pangturo. Agad naman na pinulot ni Serge 'yon at nagawa pang pagpagan ang ilalim.

"Look, I don't exactly know what you're thinking but I can read your eyes and no, I'm not sleeping with him." Mahinang bulong ni Jiyo kay Alice matapos nitong hilahin ang babae palayo kay Serge.

"Hindi sumagi sa isip ko 'yan."

"But your eyes are asking me if I'm f-" Mabilis na tinampal ni Alice ang bibig ni Jiyo. Binalingan niya saglit si Serge na nakakunot ang noo't mukhang 'di natutuwa sa nakita. Muli niyang tinignan ang kaibigan.

"If a kid hears you saying that, Jiyo!

"No kid within 100 meters of vision." Jiyo sarcastically utters. "Pero seryoso, wala talagang namamagitan sa amin." Seryosong saad ng dalaga.

"Kung gano'n, bakit ganyan na lang kung makabuntot sa'yo ang lalaking 'yan?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Alice.

"I don't know!" Her bestfriend whispers, clearly frustrated. "Ganyan na siya simula pa kahapon. He's starting to get annoying, really."

"Then send him away. It's not as if you can't."

"That's the thing, I can't." Jiyo sighed. "Bukod sa pagsunod-sunod, palagi niya ako tinutulungan. He hasn't done anything to make me angry enough to send him away."

"Problema mo na 'yan." Alice said.

"I know."

"Ayos lang ba kayo?"

Both Alice and Jiyo rolled their eyes because of Serge's question. Isang tipid na ngiti ang ibinigay ni Jiyo kay Alice saka humarap at lumakad patungo sa lalaki. Nang makalapit ay agad na kinuha ni Jiyo ang basket mula sa lalaki.

"Yep, let's go."

"Ako na ang magbubuhat."

"Naku, huwag na."

"Ako na, mukhang mabigat pa nama-"

"I said no." Jiyo firmly said. Both of them silently walked away from Alice afterwards. Napailing na lang ang dalaga sa kalagayan ng kaniyang kaibigan.

Napagpasyahan niyang bisitahin ang taniman ngayong araw. Tinahak niya ang direksyon patungo roon ng tahimik. Humakbang siya sa bakod na nagsisilbing harang mula sa mga ginagawang bahay.

Nagkalat sa bawat sulok ang mga kahoy at ilang kagamitan sa pagkumpuni. Isang tipid na tango naman ang iginawad ni Alice sa ilang bati mula sa mga manggagawa ng mga bahay. Sa bilang nila'y halos malayo na ang kanilang nasimulan sa paggawa. Hindi malayong matapos kaagad ang konstruksyon ng mas maaga kaysa sa inaasahan.

Iba't ibang ingay ang pumuno sa lugar. Karamiha'y mula sa mga nagmamartilyo at naglalagari ng kahoy. They have unlimited piles of wood thanks to their location. But Alice never forgets to remind them to plant atleast ten seeds after cutting one mighty tree.

This forest has sheltered them since the time they found it. It's been overflowing with the things humans need in order to live - food and shelter.

But it was lacking on something humans must have in order to live during the apocalypse - security. And Alice knew that it was up to her to do so.

A loud hammering sound catches Alice' attention. Naghalo ang ingay mula sa mga nagmamartilyo ngunit sadyang nangingibabaw ang isang ito. Iginala niya ang paningin at agad na nakita ang pinagmumulan ng ingay.

Pounding the nail roughly using a hammer was none other than Maron. It looks like he decided to help the others in building the houses. Iyon marahil ang dahilan kung bakit hindi nakita ng babae ang lalaki sa buong umaga.

The guy is sitting astride a tree branch while his feet were crossed below keeping him steady. He seems to be using too much power on hammering the nails that it produces loud sounds. Kagat-kagat nito ang tatlo pang pako habang abala sa pagmamartilyo. Sweats trickle down from his face down to his body. Even his hair's already drenched due to the water he's producing.

He hammers the nail with much force that it easily buried in the wood with just one blow. Alice can't help but raise her eyebrow.

Then suddenly, the last nail slips from his grasp. Akala ni Alice ay pababayaan lang ni Maron 'yon. But she caught her breath when without notice, Maron lets his body turn downwards and catching the nail in the process. Nanatiling nakakapit paikot ang mga binti nito sa sanga ng puno. He looks like a monkey dangling on a tree branch in an upside down manner.

At hindi lang si Alice ang nagulat sa ginawa ng binata. Men near them gasped at what they saw. Pero lahat sila ay nakampante nang ngumiti ang binata na tila sinasabing ayos lang siya. That's when their eyes met.

Hindi kumilos si Alice sa kaniyang pwesto. Maging si Maron ay gayun din. But their faces held the opposite emotions. He's still smiling and she isn't twitching any facial muscle at all.

Now that she saw Maron, Alice remembers what happened yesterday. Her mind is still flooded with tons of questions. She's dying to ask this grinning man but she don't even know where to start.

And that frustrates her.

Siya na ang unang kumalas sa tinginan nilang dalawa. Ngunit bago 'yon ay nakita niya pang nawala ang ngiti sa mukha ng lalaki.

Inabala niya ang sarili sa kung anumang bagay bukod sa pagtingin sa gawi ni Maron. Mukhang inayos na ng lalaki ang sarili dahil muling nakarinig si Alice ng malakas na pagmartilyo sa gawing 'yon. Only that it seems to get louder a little bit this time.

Thinking that she had spend enough time roaming around, Alice decided to eat her lunch.

Unti-unting napupuno ng tao ang daan habang pabalik ang dalaga. Nagkanya-kanya na ang mga ito upang simulang muli ang mga naiwang gawain. They have finished their lunch, that is for sure.

Iilang tao na lang ang nasa loob ng hapagkainan at lahat sila'y patapos na sa pagkain. Nilampasan niya naman ang mga ito at tinungo ang pintong nakakunekta sa kusina.

Unang bumungad sa kaniya ang ilang abalang ginang. Ang iba'y sinasalansan at maayos na inilalagay ang mga pinaggamitan sa pagluto at pagkain sa isang malaking kariton. Samantalang ang iba nama'y abala sa paglilinis ng kusina.

"Oh, Alice." napabaling ang dalaga kay Ginang Loridel. Nakangiti itong lumapit sa kaniya. "Anong kailangan mo at naparito ka?"

"Kakain po ng tanghalian. Hindi ko na ho kasi nasundan ang oras. Masyado akong nalibang sa pagtingin sa mga bagay-bagay kanina." Magalang na sagot niya. Kumunot ng bahagya ang noo ng ginang.

"Kamuntik ka na namang magpalipas ng tanghalian. O siya, ipaghahanda kita." Naiiling na sambit ni Ginang Loridel.

The lady never liked someone to skip their meals. Alice don't like it too but there are times that she has to. Madalas niyang nakakalimutang kumain lalo na noong nagsisimula pa lamang sila sa lugar na ito. Kaya't hindi rin naman magawang magalit sa kaniya ng ginang dahil alam nitong may mas importanteng ginagawa ang dalaga kaysa kumain sa tamang oras.

From her left, Lenon shows up and starts to push the wagon. It seems that it doesn't weigh anything based on the guy's expression but his tensed musle says the truth. Alice was able to see the reaction of the younger ladies in the kitchen.

They are blushing and giggling as their eyes follow Lenon's movement. The guy is clearly oblivious that the girls around him are about to faint with just a flick of his body.

Sa isip ni Alice ay mas mabuti nang siya ang narito kaysa sa taong kilala niya. That someone might cause a havoc inside this kitchen once it saw what is happening. Alice smirked at the thought.

Bumalik ang ginang na may tipid na ngiti. "Hindi na mainit ang mga ito. Pero mas mabuti na kaysa magpalipas ka ng gutom. Huwag mo na munang uulitin itong ginawa mo, Alice." Seryosong pahayag ng ginang.

Inabot naman niya ang plato na naglalaman ng kanin at adobong itlog. "Salamat." Pagpapasalamat niya sa ginang na ngumiti naman sa kaniya ng bahagya. Umalis din siya sa kusina pagkaraan.

Naupo siya sa dulo, ipinatong ang plato sa lamesa. Siya na lang ang natitira sa loob ng hapagkainan. Alice starts to eat. At some moment, she praises how delicious the food is.

This brought her back to the moment where the supplies they've gathered almost hit the end. Scarcity of food almost hit them only if they didn't moved fast. Sa tulong ng ilan sa kanyang mga kasamahan, nagawa nilang mapasok ang taniman ni Mang Seryo na siya namang pinahintulutan ng kaniyang asawa.

Only his wife survived in their family. But they soon lost her after she decided to end her life after she shot her whole family to peace. It was tragic but Alice knew where the lady is coming from.

Everyone you love were long gone so what's the point of going forward?

Alice perfectly know the answer but she just couldn't grasp the idea.

Nagawa nilang makuha ang mga buto ng halaman at maging ang mga hayop sa bukid na 'yon. The man has the biggest farm within the area that's why his supplies were countless. And it was not soon enough that they were able to raise their own farm inside these walls.

"What are you thinking?"

Alice almost jumped from her position, clearly startled. She immmediately composed herself. Hindi man siya nakatingin ay alam niya kung sino 'yon base so suwabeng boses nito. She cleared her throat.

"Why are you here?" Balik na tanong niya rito at muling ipinagpatuloy ang pagkain.

"To eat, silly." He chuckles. Naupo ito sa tabi niya saka inilapag ang platong may kaparehong laman ng sa kaniya. Nakadamit na ngayon ang lalaki at wala nang bakas ng pawis mula sa pagod kanina.

But her brows met each other. Ganoon ba siya kaseryoso sa pag-iisip at tila hindi niya napansin na nakapasok na sa loob at nakakuha na ng pagkain ang lalaking ito?

"So," Maron started, "what were you thinking?" He persuaded asking. Magana itong kumain habang hinihintay ang sagot niya.

"Wala." Simpleng sagot niya. Bigla ay tila nawalan siya ng gana sa pagkain.

"Hm," He hummed since he's chewing his food. Matapos no'y bumaling ito sa kaniya. "That look doesn't seems to be nothing to me."

Alice isn't dumb but she wanted to be so right now. As she stares into his deep emerald eyes, the question she's dying to ask slips smoothly from her lips.

Only that she was interrupted by a sudden gun shot from the outside.

---
How's the start of the school year people? Hope you are enjoying so far! And I do hope you enjoy this chapter too.

Happy father's day to all the lovely and hardworking fathers out there! 💕