Chapter 67: Fire

We both ate with joy. Pero nahihiya pa rin ako. It really didn't come up to my mind that I would be able to do such thing... Not that I regret it. Hindi ko talaga inakala. At hindi ko rin inakalang magmamahal ako ng ganito. Hindi ko rin inakala na may lalake pa palang katulad ni Dark and fortunately, sa'kin siya napunta. I feel so lucky to have him in my life.

Habang kumakain kami at nag-uusap, nagambala kami dahil sa katok sa pinto. We looked at each other for a few moments before he stood up and went to the door.

"Kuya, where's Zaya? Dito ba siya matutulog?"

I was relieved that it was Julia. Akala ko kung sino... But her question... dito nga ba ako matutulog? Well... My cheeks blushed. Damn, nakakailang pa din! But I want to stay here. I want to cuddle with Dark all night long.

"I'll ask her,"

I then heard footsteps. Then I saw Dark, Julia, and Godwin.

"Kumain na ba kayo?" I asked the couple.

"Oo tapos na. Actually, doon ako kina Godwin magdamag. At ihahatid niya ako sa dorm natin pero napagdesisyunan kong pumunta muna dito at tanungin ka kung uuwi ka sa dorm natin o dito ka matutulog sa dorm ni Kuya."

"Dito na lang ako matutulog," I answered and I saw Dark's surprised face and he was trying to hide a smile.

"Should I bring you some clothes?"

"Okay lang, Juls. No need. Manghihiram na lang ako kay Dark. Tutal, komportable naman ako sa damit niya." I said and I finished my food.

Julia smirked. "Okay, then. Sige, aalis na kami. Goodnight sa inyong dalawa!"

"Ingat kayo," Ani Dark at hintaid sina Julia at Godwin sa labas.

A few moments later, I heard the lock of the doorknob and I heard Dark's footsteps. I'm currently washing the dishes.

Nagitla ako ng niyakap niya ako mula sa likod. I can't help but to smile.

"Thanks for staying with me tonight,"

I'm smiling so wide right now. "You don't need to thank me. I just want to stay."

All turned out great today and before my eyes drifted to sleep in Dark's arms, there was a smile plastered on my face. Can I sleep like this forever?

I woke up because I felt Dark was not on my side. And I could smell smoke... Agad naman akong nag-panic. I shouldn't panic but I couldn't stop myself! What if the dorm is already on fire?

I immediately got up from bed. I can really smell the smoke all over the place! "Dark? Dark! W-Where are you?"

"Baby, I'm here..." Dark turned the light on and went to me.

"W-What happened? Why do I smell smoke?" I asked him while he's hugging me.

"May sunog sa labas,"

I immediately got out of bed and went to the window to see.

May sunog nga! Nasusunog ang mga halaman. But I can't see what plants are on fire but there's fire!

"Let's check it out, Dark. Baka ano na ang nangyayari!"

"No, baby. You should stay here."

"I can't stay here! What if something happened to Julia?"

"I'll check it out myself. Stay here!"

"No!" I insisted. Sobra akong nag-aalala kay Julia at baka napano siya. I can't just stay here and do nothing!

"Okay fine, let's go. But stay by my side."

"Yes, I will."

Bago kami lumabas, dali-dali niya akong pinasuot ng jacket.

He opened the front door and he tightened his grip on my hand like something bad might happen to me any minute.

Nagulat ako sa nakita. Naitakip ko ang aking kamay sa aking bibig. Nagliliyab ang mga itim na gumamela! Pero may napansin ako... Bakit ang nasusunog lang ay ang mga bulaklak na iyon?

The students were panicking because of the fire. Halatang ang iba'y nagising dahil doon.

"Dark, why are the other shrubs aren't on fire at bakit ang mga gumamelang nakalalason lang?"

"This isn't by accident. Someone planned this... Let's check out the other places where the gumamelas are also planted."

Lakad-takbo ang ginawa naming dalawa. Pumunta kami sa mga areas kung saan pa naitanim ang mga gumamelang nakalalason. The trees aren't on fire. At ang mga nasusunog lang talaga ay ang mga itim na bulaklak!

Gaya ng sabi ko noon, no other flowers exist here but the black gumamelas. Harmful flowers. Nakalalason. But now, they're all on fire. Why the fuck did this happen?

Nakita namin si Madame at naka-mask siya. She's panicking like a crazy woman that she is.

"Oh my God, my flowers!" Agad siyang tumawag ng mga naka-cloak. "Kumuha kayo ng tubig! Bilisan niyo, punyeta naman!"

I looked at the other areas where the gumamelas are planted and all I saw is the burnt flowers. Parang hindi na makilala na gumamela ang mga ito dahil nasunog na.

"We have to get out of here now! The ashes are poisonous!" Ani Dark at natauhan ako sa sinabi niya.

We both ran as fast as we could while covering our noses.

"Go back to your dorms now! The ashes of the poisonous plants are spreading! Go!" Sigaw ni Dark sa mga estudyanteng nadaanan namin.

"President, are you alright?" Ani ng isang naka-cloak na tumatakbo rin.

"We're fine. Just go and warn the students!"

The guy with the cloak nodded and went away. He also has a mask on.

Nang makarating na kami sa dorm, agad na ini-lock ni Dark ang pintuan. Habol-habol ko ang aking hininga ng makaupo sa couch. Dark closed all the windows before sitting next to me.

"A-Are you alright?" Hinihingal niyang sabi.

"A-Ayos lang ako. Eh ikaw?" Hinihingal ko ring sabi sa kanya.

"I'm fine. Don't worry about me."

"Dark, si Julia!" Nag-aalala kong sabi.

"Oh fuck, stay here! I'll go and check on her!"

"Sasama ako!"

"No! Stay here!" Sigaw niya at agad na kumuha ng isang mask sa drawer at dali-daling umalis.

My hands are sweating. What if something happened to Julia? Paano kung nalanghap niya ang abo? Paano kung malanghap rin ni Dark? They will die!

My tears fell from my eyes. "N-No... Think positive, Zaya. They'll make it. They're safe."

All I can do right now is convince myself.

Minutes passed pero wala pa rin si Dark. What if something already happened to them? What am I gonna do? Hindi ko kakayanin!

More tears fell from my eyes. It's only minutes but it felt like hours. I'm so worried right now. Baka mamatay na ako sa pag-aalala. I'm on the verge of going out and finding Dark and Julia.

I heard loud knocks on the door.

I immediately stood up and wiped my tears. Agad kong binuksan ang pintuan at nakita ko si Dark. Agad siyang pumasok at ini-lock niya ang pintuan.

"I was so worried! A-Ayos ka lang ba? Si Julia? A-Asan siya?" Tanong ako ng tanong habang hinahawakan ang mukha ni Dark.

"She's with Godwin. Don't worry, they're fine."

Parang nabunutan naman ako ng tinik sa puso. "T-That's great. Pero bakit ka nagtagal?"

"I instructed them to close all the windows and lock the door. At mabuti at alam nila ang dapat gawin. They didn't get out of the dorm."

I'm so damn relieved. "Thank God they're alright... and Thank God you are too."

He held my hands. "Don't cry, baby. I'm fine and Julia is too."

I hugged him tightly. I don't know what I would do if I lost him... and if I lost my best friend. Dark and Julia are so special to me. They're the people whom I trust and love.

*****

I checked the time and it's past three in the morning. Me and Dark are back to bed. We're both trying to sleep but we can't. Dahil siguro sa nangyaring sunog. We're both wide awake.

"It was intentional,"

Nagulat naman ako sa biglang sabi ni Dark. I looked at him. "What?"

"Yung pagsunog sa mga bulaklak, hindi aksidente 'yon. It was intentional."

"I thought the same. Dahil yung nasunog yung mga gumamela lang. The trees weren't harmed. But do you think the person who did this has a good intention? Dahil sinunog niya yung mga nakalalasong bulaklak?"

"I still don't know. But I'll look into it. He or she might have a good or bad intention. Maaaring sinunog niya ang mga ito for good. But we should also consider the possibility that he or she is planning something..."

Who could it be? And does this person have a good or bad intention on why he or she did this? Planado 'to. Sinunog niya ang mga bulaklak sa oras na tulog ang mga tao... o kaya konti lang ang gising. And if there's people who were awake when he or she started the fire, I need to talk to those people. They might have seen who the suspect is.

Thankfully, I drifted back to sleep even after what happened.

I woke up earlier than I have to. Walang pasok kaya dapat hindi ako gumising ng maaga pero it's still six and I'm already awake. My eyes are already wide awake and I looked at my side.

I can't help but to smile. Dark's sleeping peacefully and I can't help but again, admire his features. His eyeslashes, nose, lips, jaw, you name it.

Nagulat ako ng niyakap niya ako. But all I did is hug him back. Gusto ko ng tumayo para matignan kung ano na ang nangyari sa labas. At saka kailangan kong magluto.

Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas bago ko mapag-desisyunang tumayo na. I slowly get his grip off me and I kissed his cheek before standing up and heading to the bathroom.

After going to the bathroom, I went to the living room to find a mask that I need to cover my nose in case na may abo pa ng mga bulaklak. I saw the mask that Dark used on the couch and I wore it.

I slowly got out of the front door to see.

Napatakip ako sa bibig ko kahit na may mask ng may mga nakitang mga labi ng mga estudyante. Yung mga naka-cloak, hinila sila sa isang area at tinipon lahat doon.

Parang gusto kong masuka at agad na pumasok muli sa dorm ni Dark. A lot of students died because of what happened...

I tried my best to not be bothered by the dead bodies. I know I have to get used to this pero masakit lang talaga sa pakiramdam. Those students might have goals. Gusto pa nilang makawala dito at ipagpatuloy ang buhay pero ano? Wala na sila.

Pumunta ako sa ref at tinignan ang laman 'nun. There's some salmon inside the freezer. Dinefrost ko muna ito at kumuha rin ako ng butter sa cupboard. Instead of cooking oil, butter yung gagamitin ko dito.

Habang abala ako sa pagprito sa salmon, nagitla ako ng magsalita si Dark. "That smells good. What are you cooking?"

I gave him a little smile. "Some salmon,"

He kissed me on the cheek. "Are you okay?"

Nagpakawala ako ng buntong-hininga. "M-Maraming namatay. Tinipon ang mga labi sa isang sulok."

His face turned serious and his jaw clenched. "I have to go,"

Agad ko naman siyang hinarap. "San ka pupunta?"

He didn't answer me but he hurriedly went upstairs. Parang mainit ang ulo niya. Dahil siguro sa sinabi kong madami ang namatay. What is he gonna do?

I decided to finish my cooking. Hindi ko na siya hinabol pa sa taas sa kadahilanang parang mainit ang ulo niya.

After I served the salmon, tamang-tama lang naman ng bumaba siya. His hair was wet and his wearing a black polo and slacks.

"Kumain ka muna,"

"I'll be back. Mamaya na lang ako kakain pagbalik ko." Sabi niya at ginawaran ako ng halik sa nuo pagkatapos ay umalis na.

I brought myself to eat. Kahit walang gana ay pinilit ko ang sarili na kumain para may laman naman ang tiyan ko kahit papano.

After eating, I immediately washed the dishes and I decided to take a bath. At pagkatapos kong maligo, sinuot ko yung dress ko na ginamit kahapon. I'm gonna go to mine and Julia's dorm. Kakamustahin ko sila at magbibihis rin ako ng tamang damit.

After I was finished with everything, I left a note for Dark to see. Baka kasi mag-alala na naman 'yon. I also saw a spare key in his room so I brought it with me.

Habang naglalakad ako papunta sa dorm, The dead bodies were managed by the staff. The staff which are those who are wearing the cloaks. Tinabunan nila ng itim na tela ang mga labi. What will they do with the bodies after this? Susunugin ba nila ang mga ito?

I stopped in my tracks when I saw Prof Leonsio. He was examining the dead bodies. What the fuck is he doing? After he examined the first one, he then went to the next one. Ano ang pakana niya?

"Zaya!"

I immediately looked at the one who called me and it was Julia. Agad ko naman siyang niyakap.

"Nag-alala ako sayo, Juls! How are you? Maayos ka naman ba?"

"Yes, I'm fine. How about you?" Sabi niya pagkatapos naming magyakapan.

"I'm fine too... Pero andaming namatay."

"Yes. What would Kuya feel about this... He must be blaming his self."

"What? He was in a hurry this morning. Sinabi ko sa kanyang madami ang namatay at naging mainit nga yung ulo niya. I could feelit. Is he gonna be okay?"

"Let's just let him be first," Napabuntong-hininga na lamang ako. "By the way, where are you going?"

"Sa dorm natin. Magpapalit ako ng damit."

"Samahan na kita. I actually went out to see if you're okay."

I wanted to see what else Prof Leonsio will do pero hinila na ako ni Julia paalis doon. While walking, I could see the burnt remains of the black gumamelas.

Madame Selina might be mad as hell right now. I want to look through this case. The fire last night was indeed intentional. But who did it? In order for me to know, I need to find a witness and better yet, witnesses.

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