Pagmulat ko ng aking mga mata, nasa loob na ulit ako ng isang bahay. Teka, bakit pamilyar ang bahay na 'to?

I had to blink a few times to fully realize that I was again in the same room where Seth took me. I saw him sitting on the couch across me. He was looking at me with no emotion. Bakit parang nangyari na ito? Dejavu?

"Bakit nandito tayo ulit?" I asked, straightening myself up in the couch. Ang sakit na ulit ng buong katawan ko.

Seth furrowed his brows in confusion. "Dinala kita dito dahil nahimatay ka sa daan kanina bago ka dukutin ng mga armadong lalaki."

"H-Ha? Pero... nasaan yung dalawang matandang babae?" I scanned around the room. There was no one else there except him. I started to quiver in fear. "Ano'ng nangyari?"

"Just rest for now," he mumbled, and in that moment, I knew this has really happened before.

"Hindi!" I yelled, causing him to frown.

Right on cue, there was a loud noise from the front door again. "Nandiyan na sila!" I gulped down, glancing at Seth.

Agad na tumayo si Seth at binuhat ako. Tumakbo siya patungo sa likod ng bahay hanggang sa makarating na kami sa labas. Mabilis ang takbo ni Seth kaya medyo nahihilo na ulit ako.

Pero, bakit parang nangyari na talaga ito? It was really creeping the hell out of me. Ayaw ko namang sabihin kay Seth dahil mas lalo pa niyang iisipin na nababaliw na ako.

But, I tried to convince him to change direction to avoid the people (if they were really humans) chasing us.

"Seth, hindi ba tayo pwedeng bumalik sa academy?" Tanong ko sa lalaki.

"Delikado kapag bumalik tayo ngayon. And besides, I turned off the microchips embedded in us para hindi nila tayo ma-track," he explained in his usual stoic face.

Microchip? May nilagay pala silang tracker sa amin sa academy?

"Si Luther! Mahahanap niya tayo! Nababasa niya ang isip ng tao, hindi ba?" suggestion ko pero umiling lang si Seth.

"I don't think he will do that," he answered flatly again as he stopped at a post.

"Ha? Teka, bakit ka tumigil sa pagtakbo?"

He took a few deep breaths and before he could even move again, something hit the both us causing us to fall on the ground.

****

I didn't want to wake up anymore. If I did, I knew I'd gone mad.

Pero, wala akong choice dahil nagising pa rin ako. Laking gulat ko nang makita kong nakahilata ulit ako sa sahig kasama si Seth. Nandito ulit ang mga taong nakasuot ng puting tela pati na rin ang dalawang matandang babae na tumulong sa amin.

Kailangan ko nang magising sa bangungot na ito, I thought to myself and then, my head started aching like hell that I had to hold it with my hands. "Aaah!"

"Oh, hija, okay ka lang?" The woman asked me.

I just nodded my head.

"Kumusta na ang pakiramdam mo?"

"Okay lang po. Ilang araw na akong nandito?"

"Tatlong linggo kang walang malay, hija," she answered back.

I already expected that answer. I just really had to confirm if I was getting this right.

Ito na ba ang spectra ko?

I shook my head in distress. I was in a state of shock and confusion. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko. Just the thought of me and Seth still trapped here at the Cosmos was enough for me to feel frazzled.

Kinuha ko na ulit ang timba at tuwalya mula sa matandang babae at sinimulang punasan si Seth. "I'm sorry, Seth."

Just then, his hand moved a bit, but his eyes remained closed. "Max, okay ka na ba?" he asked, just like what he asked before.

"Oo. Magpahinga ka na muna," I whispered.

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

And then, it finally dawned on me. Siguro nga nananaginip lang siya. Hindi naman niya sasabihin ang mga salitang 'yon sa akin.

"Salamat ulit, Seth," I finally said, resting my head on him.

If he was dreaming, I hope he still heard what I just said.

****

Ilang oras pa ang lumipas at hindi pa rin gumigising si Seth.

I was beside him the whole time, but he never budged a bit. Nag-aalala na talaga ako sa kanya. Ano ba ang pwede kong gawin?

Just then, may dumating na isang babae at binigyan ako ng pagkain. Isang pirasong tinapay na kasing tigas ng bato at isang baso ng tubig. Parehas na malamig na parang nilagay sa freezer. Pero, sino ba naman ako para magreklamo?

"Salamat po," sambit ko sa babae.

"Hindi ba galing ka sa academy?" A bearded guy with a skinny body asked me. His eyes were almost popping out, which made me more uneasy. But, I tried to convince myself that maybe it was only due to his poor health, and not because he wanted to eat me alive.

"Uh, opo."

"Eh bakit ka nandito? Hindi ba dapat nakikipaglaban ka doon sa labas para protektahan kami?"

I gulped down at his questions. Paano ko ba siya sasagutin? "Ah... eh... tatawag po ako ng tulong para protektahan kayo dito."

"Tatawag ng tulong? Paano? Eh kayo nga itong kailangan ng tulong," he countered with an angry tone.

"Mikael, huwag mo ngang tinatakot ang bata," sagot ng babae na nagbigay ng pagkain sa akin. "Huwag mo nalang siyang pansinin."

Nginitian ko nalang ang babae pero sa loob loob ko ay medyo natatakot na rin ako.

Sana gumising na si Seth. Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko dito. Hindi ko sila mapoprotektahan kapag may nakakita sa amin dito.

****

I was determined not to go to sleep tonight. Tinabihan ko si Seth habang paulit-ulit kong tinatawag ang atensiyon ni Luther sa isip ko na sana marinig niya ako at mahanap na nila kami.

"Luther..." I whispered. "...kung naririnig mo ako, please, hanapin mo kami dito sa Cosmos."

I repeated this over and over, hoping Luther could really hear me. I was desperate already. I was helpless, and Seth was still not awake. I felt like I was responsible for this.

I rested my head on his hand, praying that everything would be okay. "Seth, sana naman gumising ka na."

Just then, I felt his hand move again. I quickly raised my head up and looked at him. "Seth? Gising ka na?"

Slowly, his eyes fluttered open, scanning around before landing on mine. "Max? Nasaan tayo?" he asked, trying to sit up, so I helped him.

"Oh, easy ka lang. Nandito tayo sa..." Napatigil ako dahil hindi ko naman talaga alam kung nasaan kami. "...basta may mga taong tumulong sa atin."

He creased his brows. "Kailangan na nating makaalis dito," sabi pa niya habang pinipilit na tumayo. "Aah!" he winced in pain.

"Mahina ka pa, Seth. Magpagaling ka muna. Safe naman tayo dito."

"Safe? Walang safe dito, Max. Kapag nahanap tayo ng mga sundalo, wala na tayong takas. Kaya aalis na tayo," sambit niya sabay kuha ng kamay ko.

"Pero..." I tried to protest, but he already dragged me out.

"Come on. I'll carry you," utos pa niya.

"Hindi, Seth. Hindi mo kaya," I argued.

"Kaya ko!" pilit ulit ng lalaki.

Hindi ako makapaniwalang may oras pa siyang makipag-argue sa akin. But, before I could protest, a group of soldiers already appeared a few meters in front of us.

"This is not good," Seth mumbled, holding my hand tight.