I didn't know how long I had been unconscious, but the moment I opened my eyes, I found myself lying on the streets with blood dripping from the side of my face.

My eyes were blurry and my head was heavy. Pinilit kong tumayo, pero ang sakit ng buong katawan ko. My feet and body wouldn't let me. Pakiramdam ko lahat ng buto sa katawan ko ay mababali kapag gumalaw pa ulit ako.

"T-Tulong..." Masyadong mahina ang boses ko. It was being overpowered by the loud bombs and gunshots. It was no use.

My breathing was getting shallow. Kailangan ko na talagang makaalis dito dahil kung hindi ay matutuluyan na ako.

I willed myself to stand up, even if I knew it'd be hard and painful. I ignored the soreness of my whole body. I closed my eyes and took a long deep breath.

Nakatayo naman ako kahit na hindi ko makita kung nasaan ako dahil sa dugo na tumatagaktak mula sa ulo ko. I pressed the side of my face, which was dripping with blood.

My gait was unsteady, but I still tried to walk. Hindi pa man ako nakakahakbang palayo nang may mga armadong lalaking pumalibot na sa akin.

"Diyan ka lang! Huwag kang gagalaw!" Someone shouted from among them.

It's not like I could even fight them back with my condition. Isang pitik lang nila ay siguradong matutumba na ako. My vision was already forming into a tunnel. Tanggap ko na na dito ako mamamatay. Sorry, dad. Hindi ko na malalaman ang nakasulat sa mapa at diary mo. Hindi na kita mahahanap.

I thought I would be hitting the ground again in that moment. But, I felt someone's arms catching my whole body.

"Maxine," someone whispered beside me, but I was already in a state of coma. I couldn't see anything, but I could still hear all the roars around me and the voice of the person who just saved me.

Hindi ko alam kung paano ako nakarating ng buhay dito. Basta ang alam ko lang ay may kasama ako dito sa kwarto. Nakaupo ang isang lalaki sa tabi ng couch kung saan ako nakahiga.

Medyo masakit pa rin ang katawan ko at nahihilo pa rin ako, pero kahit papaano ay mas maganda ang pakiramdam ko.

"Are you awake?" The person sitting next to me asked.

I had to blink my eyes several times, trying to confirm if what I was seeing was right. Nakaupo sa tabi ng kama ko ay ang lalaking laging sumasalba sa akin. "Seth?"

"Huwag mong pwersahin ang sarili mo kung hindi mo pa kaya," he uttered, keeping a straight face. Si Seth nga.

Inayos ko ang upo ko at nilibot ang tingin. Nasa living room kami ng isang bahay na hindi mo mawari kung saan. Wala pa rin kami sa academy. "Nasaan tayo?" I asked him.

"Sa Cosmos."

I widened my eyes in disbelief. "Nandito pa rin tayo?"

"Hindi kita madadala sa academy agad. Mas safe ka dito," Seth answered matter-of-factly.

"Seth, hindi mo naman ako kailangang iligtas palagi kung ayaw mo."

"You're right. But, everytime you get yourself in trouble, I happen to witness it, so I have no choice but to do something," he explained monotonously.

Natahimik ako sa sinabi niya. Oo na, kasalanan ko na naman.

Seth sighed, looking defeated. "Just rest for now."

****

I tried to sleep, but I couldn't seem to do so. My whole body was in pain. It was too unbearable.

Nandito pa rin ako sa couch kasama si Seth. Nang mapansin niyang nakatingin ako sa kanya, tinitigan rin niya ako. He didn't speak. He just fixed his eyes on me with his arms crossed.

"Iwan mo na ako dito, Seth," mahina kong sambit.

"Didn't I tell you to sleep and rest?"

"Tingin ko... mamamatay na ako dito."

"I can't let you die here, Max."

I paused. It was the first time he ever called me Max. Only my dad called me that. I looked away from his gaze. "Seth, hindi mo naman kailangang ma-guilty. Tsaka, hindi kita mumultuhin kapag namatay ako."

"This is not the time for your sarcasm. Just rest and sleep." The way he said that didn't feel like he was ordering me, even though his face might show he's irritated or mad. I felt a hint of worry in his voice. I knew this because it was the first time he spoke softly to me. His voice was usually in monotone, deep and gravelly. But this time, he spoke to me as if I was a friend.

"Bakit ikaw hindi ka natutulog?" I asked him. Sa totoo lang, ako itong nagi-guilty dahil nandito siya at binabantayan ako. Pwede naman siyang bumalik nalang sa academy. Instead, tinulungan pa niya ako.

I could've been a dead corpse lying on the street right now, but no, he saved me again. I felt like I owe him my life now.

Bumuga ng hangin ang lalaki bago nagsalitang muli, "Kapag natulog ako at biglang may pumasok dito, sino ang magliligtas sa'yo?

"Oo na, kasalanan ko na."

"Max, that's not what I meant-"

'They're inside that house! Let's move!'

I froze, when a sudden twinge of pain hit my head. "Aaahh!" I winced in pain, touching my temple.

"Are you okay?" Napatayo si Seth sa kinauupuan niya at lumapit sa akin.

'Once you see them, capture them right away.'

Sino ang nagsasalita? Bakit may mga boses akong naririnig? Baka auditory hallucinations lang ito. Siguro ganito talaga kapag malapit nang mamatay ang isang tao.

Just then, a loud noise came banging on the front door. I glanced at Seth, and in a blink of an eye, he was already beside me, carrying me in his arms. We swiftly made our way out of the house using the back door.

Hindi ko mabuksan nang maayos ang aking mga mata dahil sa bilis ng pagtakbo ni Seth. Kanina pa siya tumatakbo. Hindi ko na alam kung saan kami papunta. Sana lang ay hindi kami maabutan ng mga armadong lalaki.

"Max, don't worry. I'll protect you," sambit ni Seth habang hawak pa rin ako sa kanyang mga kamay.

Napamulat ako ng aking mga mata sa sinabi niya. Imagination ko lang ba?

Umiling ako. Hindi eh. Narinig ko ang sinabi niya.

Nanatili ang tingin ko sa kanyang mukha. His face remained calm, but I swore I could hear his heart beating faster than ever. My face was buried close to his chest, so I could really feel his heartbeat. Unexpectedly, I felt my own heart beating that same pace.

'They're from the Academy.'

I panicked. May boses na naman na papalapit sa amin. Nakita ba ulit nila kami?

"Seth," I mumbled.

Hindi siya sumagot.

"Seth!" I exclaimed this time, ignoring the pain in my gut after yelling at him.

"What?" he finally replied, not looking at me.

"May paparating!"

He slowed his pace this time and looked at me. "What?"

"Sabi ko may papara-" I wasn't able to continue anymore, because someone already hit our heads, causing me to fall from Seth's arms and completely falling on the ground.

****

When I regained back my senses, I wrapped in a blanket, lying on the floor.

Ang sakit pa rin ng ulo ko at ngayon pati na ang likod ko. Unti-unti akong tumingin sa may tabi ko. Nakahiga rin si Seth sa sahig nang walang malay.

Pinilit kong tumayo nang biglang may nagsalita sa kung saan. "Gising na siya."

As I turned to the side, I saw an old woman looking at me. She was with another middle-aged woman, holding a pail of water. "Kumusta na ang pakiramdam mo, hija?"

I scanned the room and saw other people sitting and lying with blankets on the floor. Nakasuot silang lahat ng puting tela na kagaya ng hospital gown. Karamihan sa kanila ay mukhang hindi nakakakain ng maayos.

"Nasaan ako?" I asked, turning to the old woman.

"Nasa Cosmos ka, hija," she answered me. She was wearing a warm smile, showing the wrinkles in her eyes. "Wala ka bang naaalala?"

I touched my head, trying to recall what happened. "May humahabol sa amin tapos..." I stopped as a slight pang of pain hit me again.

"Tatlong linggo kang walang malay, hija," the middle-aged woman said.

My eyes widened in disbelief. "Ho? Tatlong linggo?" Paano ako naka-survive ng walang gamot?

Napatingin ako kay Seth. "Hindi pa siya gumigising?"

Umiling ang dalawang matandang babae sa akin.

Hindi pwede 'to. Kailangan naming makabalik sa academy para magamot si Seth. Lumapit ako sa lalaking nakahiga sa tabi ko at tinapik ang balikat niya nang paulit-ulit. "Seth, gising!"

"Marami siyang tinamong sugat. Tingin namin ay pinilit niyang makipaglaban para iligtas ka," sagot ng matanda na may hawak na timba ng tubig.

A memory came rushing to my mind. Walang tulog si Seth dahil sa pagbabantay sa akin. Tapos binuhat pa niya ako at tumakbo ng ilang milya. He must've been really dead tired. "May magagawa po ba tayo para magising na siya?" I asked again, growing weary by the minute.

"Hindi namin alam, hija. Wala namang ospital dito at wala ring gamot."

"Kasalanan ko lahat ng ito. Sinabi ko naman kasi na iwan nalang niya ako." Napahawak ako sa aking ulo dahil sa biglang pagsakit ulit nito.

"Hindi kayo taga-rito, hindi ba?" the old woman asked, staring at me.

"Ah... galing po kami sa academy..."

I peeked at Seth again. I couldn't help but feel guilty about his condition. And then, I noticed the woman bringing the wet towel up his face. "Ako na po diyan."

The middle-aged woman paused, handing me the towel.

"Salamat po ulit sa pagtulong sa amin."

"Hindi, hija. Kami dapat ang magpasalamat sa inyo dahil sa laging pagsalba ninyo sa amin," the old woman said, smiling.

Matapos nito, umalis na saglit ang dalawang matanda. Sinimulan ko na ring punasan ang mukha ni Seth gamit ang tuwalya. "I'm sorry, Seth," I mumbled, looking at him.

A moment later, I saw his hand moving slowly. His eyes were still closed. And when he started to speak, I got startled. "Max, okay ka na ba?" mahina ang boses nito at batid ko ang pagod at sakit sa tono niya.

"Seth? Gising ka na?" I shook him lightly, but his eyes remained close. "Seth, ano?"

"I'll keep you safe, Max. Don't worry," he murmured again.

I gulped down. Nananaginip ba siya? O ako pa rin ang nasa isang bangungot?

"Seth! Gumising ka na, please!" I held his hand, trying to control myself from crying. Kasalanan ko talaga ito. Hindi ko mapapatawad ang sarili ko kapag may nangyari sa kanya.

"Hija, okay ka lang?" I heard the old woman's voice behind me. She walked over to me and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Magigising rin siya. Tumahan ka na."

"Paano kung hindi?" sambit ko habang humihikbi.

The old woman squatted next to me. "Alam mo ba na lahat kaming nandito ay kumakapit sa patalim? Araw-araw kaming nanginginig sa takot. Hindi namin alam kung mabubuhay pa kami mamaya... bukas... o sa susunod na araw. Pero, dahil sa mga nasa academy, may pag-asa kaming mabuhay muli."

I met her eyes, trying to process her words. I didn't have a slightest clue that the Academy meant so much to them. It gave them hope. I suddenly had hope.

"Kaya huwag kang mawalan ng loob, hija. Siguro kailangan lang niyang maniwala ka sa kanya. Manatili ka lang sa tabi niya para paggising niya ay ikaw ang una niyang makikita," advise pa niya sa akin. "Sige, hija. Maghahanda lang ako ng makakain."

Tumango ako sa matanda at binalik ang atensiyon kay Seth. Ipinagpatuloy ko ang pagdampi ng tuwalya sa mukha nito.

"Seth... gumising ka na please. Kailangan kita dito." I leaned closer towards him and rested my head over his chest. I wanted to hear his heartbeat again. It was slow this time, compared to that time we were being chased. I allowed myself to drown in his scent.

Just then, a pair of arms wrapped me like a warm blanket. Napatigil ang paghinga ko ng ilang segundo. "S-Seth?"

Pinilit kong makawala sa mga bisig niya, but his arms remained close to me. He was warm, and suddenly, I felt heat creeping up inside me. Ano ba itong nararamdaman ko?

"Max, please don't leave me," bulong ng lalaki sa akin habang mahigpit pa rin ang yakap nito.

I turned to look at him, but his eyes remained shut.

Seth, ano ang ginagawa mo sa akin?