-CHAPTER 7-
JAKE: BIG BROTHER'S HOUSE
"Hey! Someone's outside!" Raymond noticed 3 persons calling his attention. "Who?" I asked him. Raymond looked outside one more time and recognized a familiar face from one of the survivors. "Ah! It's Kuya Paolo, my team captain. It looks like they made it out alive!" Raymond excitedly goes at the entrance. Although I was glad that someone other than us survived from our school, why am I still having a bad feeling about this? Is it my instinct or paranoia? For the very safety of the people in this house, I go to my brother's room and took out his 9mm Glock 17 to make sure if they were bitten by "THEM", I would rather be the bad guy. I hid it under my shirt for the girls not to notice. Clarisse is washing the dishes while Jessica fell asleep at the sofa. I catch up with Raymond. As I exit, Raymond took the survivors in. Well, time for some strip search.
"DON'T MOVE." I pointed the gun at the 3 survivors.
"WHOA, HEY! WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA?" The tall man said. The girls with him suddenly got scared.
"JAKE! ARE YOU NUTS? THEY'RE SURVIVORS JUST LIKE US!" Raymond said.
"Sorry but, I better make sure they were not bitten by THEM." I said to Raymond.
"Pare, we're not bitten so please put the gun down." The tall man replied.
"I'll be the judge to that! Put down the bag and put your hands on your head." I said to them.
The 3 survivors cooperated. They put down the bag and put their hands on their head.
"Raymond, search their body for some bite marks." I instructed Raymond.
"WHOA, WHOA, WHOA! Even the girls?" Raymond asked.
"Pare, you'll just look." I said to him.
"B-But…" Raymond is still unsure about my instructions.
"It's alright. I don't mind." The girl with a long beautiful hair said.
"Love! Are you sure about this?" The tall man said.
"We are just like these survivors. If we want them to trust us, we have to do what they said." She said.
"Alright. Raymond, we'll agree to search for bite marks in our body." He finally cooperates.
"Sorry about this. I'll just look." Raymond said.
Raymond searches their bodies for some bite marks. He gets distracted at the girls because of the long haired girl. Come to think of it, she is very daring to say she doesn't mind. I remember Clarisse dares me to kiss her. Compared to her, this long haired girl knows how to manipulate men. "No bite marks." Raymond said. I feel relieved now that they are alive. "I apologize for what I have done. I'm only doing what I have to do in order to protect ourselves. Don't take it personally." I started to apologize as I put the gun under my shirt. "No, it's okay. We are in the same boat here." The long haired girl replied.
"Well, Raymond? Aren't you going to introduce them to me?" I told Raymond.
"Ah, right! Jake, the tall guy here is Paolo Buenaventura. He is our captain of the basketball club. This long haired girl is Misha Elaine Salvador, the Student Council President. The Japanese girl here is the Vice President, Nina Andrea Hoshikawa from Section 3. Kuya Paolo. Ate Misha. Nina. This is Jake Dela Fuente, my best friend." Raymond introduced the survivors to me.
"Nice to meet you." I greeted them.
"Jake Dela Fuente. THE Jake Dela Fuente?" Misha asked me.
"Yes…But, let's get inside first. We can talk later. You can bring your bag inside." I told them.
We went inside the house. Clarisse has finished washing the dishes. "ATE MISHAAAA! NINAAAA!" To her surprise upon seeing Misha and Nina, she jumped for joy and hugged them both. "Goodness, Clarisse! Is Jessica with you?" Misha asked Clarisse. "Yes. She's at the sofa, sleeping like a baby." She replied. "Well, it's best that we won't bother her." Misha said. We went to the living room and Jessica wakes up. She was surprised to see Misha and Nina. "Ate Misha? OH MY GOD! You're safe!" She also jumps for joy to see Misha again. I remember now! Misha is the current Ms. Fabian High School before Jessica won. Now, she serves as the Student Council President. Sheesh! What is the matter with me? I don't know them but they know me instead. While Nina, Clarisse, and Jessica are talking to each other at the sofa Misha, Paolo, Raymond and I sharing our stories and information at the dining table near the sofa.
"The city hall? THAT is the safest place they're bragging about?" Raymond said.
"Yes, according to the police near the bridge checkpoint. But alas, the collision between two buses blocked the way at the bridge." Misha said.
"I see. We didn't notice that." Raymond said.
"Putting that aside. How did the four of you ended up here?" Misha asked.
"Well, this is Jake's home. We "borrowed" a car from the gymnasium parking lot. Jake is the one who's driving." Raymond said.
"Seriously? Wow!" Misha's impressed.
"Ah, thank you… Anyways, how about the three of you?" I asked Misha.
"We stayed at the cafeteria. About 15 survivors are students including us and Mr. Santiago managed to get into the cafeteria." Misha said.
"Mr. Santiago, huh? He really is a pain. He even calls me a heretic just because I was absent in his "lesson" about Religion." I replied.
"You said it. He can't even defend the weaker students. Instead, he defends his "talented" students who bully the weak. Good thing he's not with us." Paolo said.
"What do you mean "not with us", Kuya Paolo?" Raymond asked.
"He…turned into one of those monsters." Paolo said.
"Oh, you mean he turned into one of THEM." Raymond said.
"THEM?" Misha and Paolo both confused at what Raymond said.
"Raymond was saying that we can't call them zombies. THEY feed on people and those were eaten dies and rises up and doing the same, becoming one of THEM. It's just like in the movies or in the video game. As for the news well, they can't explain it. Doctors can't explain it either." I said to them.
"THEM, huh? That would make a good sound of it." Paolo said.
"But, what should we do now Jake? Should we catch up at the city hall?" Raymond asked me.
I think it over if the city hall IS the safest place. But then again, I won't bet on it. "NO. We won't go at the city hall. That is my decision." I said.
"C'mon, Jake! If were at the city hall, we can be protected from THEM. The police will be on our side." Raymond replied.
"Raymond, where is your "it's up to us to fight for our survival" shit? Don't tell me that was a joke." I said to Raymond.
"Oh! Well…that is…" Raymond suddenly remembered.
"Wait a minute! Why don't you want to go at the city hall?" Misha asked.
"I'll tell you the reasons. First, even with the city hall that big, they can't accommodate too much civilians. Meaning, food will be the most problem. Second, the law slowly tears apart so expect that not all civilians will be friendly to you. Do you remember what I did to you and your companions? What would happen if my personality is different? I may have killed Kuya Paolo and raped you and Nina already. That will be no different at the city hall. Worse, there are some from the police who prey on young girls for their sexual needs. Third is the most important of all, this "outbreak". Infectious or not, I'm 99.9% sure that aside from being bitten, we may have already the virus, bacteria or whatever it is inside our body. Can you imagine that some civilians with low immunity can manifest the "disease" and slowly turns into one of THEM without being bitten? I saw that in Mang Igno. He has no bite marks at his body yet, he became one of THEM. Does that ring a bell?" I explained to them.
"Of course. The pathogen may spread one after another either by coughing, sneezing or breathing by mouth. Add it up to the people congested at the city hall. Good thinking, Dela Fuente." Misha said.
"I remember now! Wow! You're starting to speak like my father." Raymond said jokingly.
"I'M NOT! I'm just saying what's on my mind. Besides, even if we decided to go at the city hall there is no guarantee that place will be safe forever." I replied.
"Then that means Mang Henry and the others are still in danger." Paolo said.
"We have to warn them somehow." Raymond said.
"Don't bother. They decided to stay at the city hall." I answered.
"Jake! Why are you opposing? We have to save them somehow!" Raymond said.
"You know what, Dela Fuente. You're starting to get on my nerves! You're no leader of ours. If we decided to save them, we WILL go to save them." Paolo said angrily at me.
"Go ahead, save them. But, this is the last time you'll leave this house. If you go back here, I'll shoot every, single, one of you." I said to both Raymond and Paolo.
The atmosphere gets uncomfortable. All of them were shocked at my response. "Are you threatening me, Dela Fuente?" Paolo said.
"No, just remember what I said earlier; not all civilians nor the police will be VERY friendly to you. Don't expect they will accept you with open arms or else you'll accept their open fire. Besides, this is for the best of you and Raymond." I said.
"Love. Jake has a point. If it weren't for him, we'll end up becoming one of THEM. Remember that THEY are swarming around outside so even with our firebombs, there is no guarantee that you are invulnerable all the time." Misha defended my opinion.
"Are you saying that you're entrusting your life to him?" Paolo said.
"The same that you entrusted your life to me when we escaped. Besides, I told Mang Henry that we will meet him any day as long as the same time." Misha said.
"And I didn't say we're going to give up on him. You know Mang Henry; he's more of a badass than me. He even teaches me his Mang Henry Punch and he knows weaponry more than I do. So, I'm not worried...no, I trust him." I said.
"You're friends with Mang Henry?" Paolo said.
"Yeah. I even kill time with Mang Henry reading his guns magazine." I said to Paolo.
"You're one SCARY kid, just like the teachers said." Paolo commented.
"Nah! I hate most of them especially Mr. Santiago. If he is still alive, shooting him is not enough." I told Paolo.
"You're not scared even if he will expel you?" Raymond said.
"Like hell I care to them." I said.
"Hmmm. I'm starting to like you, Dela Fuente." Paolo said.
"I'm just honest to what I said. I'm also concerned at your safety." I replied.
"Well, Mang Henry is an adult so I wouldn't worry." Raymond said.
"Yeah. Sorry if I acted brash." Paolo said.
"It's okay. I'm sorry for threatening you." I said and we finally shake hands.
The tension was relieved and now it's back to business. "Ok. So now it is settled, what are we going to do now?" Misha said.
"We have to get to the other side of Pasig River. Since the Quezon Bridge is blocked, we can use the MacArthur Bridge west from here. But, we may encounter THEM or the other survivors. Expect the other survivors, like us, are armed and dangerous. Their sumpaks* are deadlier than my gun." I said.
"Then, are you suggest avoiding THEM?" Raymond asked.
"At all costs." I said.
"Heh! I can't believe everything will be messed up because of this "outbreak". Anyway, I suppose you have an alternate route other than the MacArthur Bridge, right?" Paolo asked.
"Hmm. You read my mind, Kuya Paolo. Yes, there is an alternate route. But, the problem is distance." I said to Paolo.
"What do you mean?" He asked.
I went to the bookshelf and took out the map. I show the map to the others to clearly explain the alternate route. "Alright, this is what will happen, we are here in Carlos Palanca Sr. If we go straight ahead to the east from Carlos Palanca Sr. we'll end up in P. Casal Street. We'll go south until we reach Nativida Almeda-Lopez road. We'll end up at the mall and the city hall after taking west from the Nativida Almeda-Lopez road. The good news is that less of THEM in that area. Bad news is that it will take us an hour or two to get to the other side just by walking." I said.
"The less is the longest, eh?" Paolo replies scratching his head.
"Also, we can't leave right now. The time is now 1:45pm on the clock. If we leave right now, we'll arrive before sunset. Assuming we'll arrive by 4 or 5pm. That will be difficult in finding food and shelter for the night. Especially, the curfew is strongly enforced starting today." Misha explained it further.
"Curfew? I didn't know that. The news did not even report that." I said to Misha.
"Ah! About the curfew, it's from 7:00pm to 4:00am." Paolo said.
"So, what's the plan, Jake?" Raymond asked.
"Well, we'll leave tomorrow morning at 7:00am. We're only going to the city hall to get Mang Henry. As for the other students, it is up to them to fight for their survival. Also, if we're going to meet Mang Henry, we'll do it as early and quickly as possible without being noticed. For now, we'll prepare for our food and weapons for tomorrow." I answered.
"Weapons? As in REAL guns?" Raymond asked.
"Well what do you expect? Peashooters?" I replied.
"WOW! I'll help you." He decided to help instead.
"Well, meeting is adjourned, I guess." Paolo said.
"*sigh* I'm tired. Love, could I sleep in your shoulder?" Misha said.
"Okay. Let's join the girls at the sofa." Paolo said as he carries Misha.
We left our "round table" after the meeting. Clarisse, Jessica and Nina are still talking to each other. Misha fall asleep in Paolo's right shoulder. Raymond and I went to the garage where the weapons storage room is located. At the front of the weapons storage room is where the 1980's Toyota Land Cruiser parked. My brother modified it like a 4x4 monster truck. I say, this vehicle can be used against "THEM" if we're going to the farthest destinations. "So, this room is where the weapons stored?" Raymond asked.
"Yep. This is my brother's "treasure" room. Though, I'm not allowed here." I said to Raymond.
"So where's the key?" Raymond said.
"It's in the key cabinet…Ah! Here it is." I found the key on the top of the table next to the door.
As I'm going to use the key, the door is already unlocked as I opened it. "Strange! Did Kuya Jerry forget to lock the door?" I asked myself.
"What's the matter Jake?" Raymond asked.
"Nothing. I'm just talking to myself. Let's go inside." I said to Raymond.
Inside the room, there are numerous types of guns ranging from pistols, shotguns, submachine guns, assault and sniper rifles, and boxes of ammunitions. There is also a reloading tool used to load blank bullets with gunpowder. Beside the reloading tool is a cabinet full of different varieties of gunpowder and lots of chemistry books under the open drawers. Gun cleaning solutions and cleaning kits are also inside the cabinet. Trophies and certificates are also inside the room. There are also jackets full of pockets used to store magazines and belts for holstering pistols.
"HOLY SHIT! THIS IS HEAVEN! How did your brother manage to buy all this babies?" Raymond asked.
"He's a weapons dealer. Some of those guns belong to him." I replied while choosing for the right weapon.
"A weapon's dealer? He should be careful or else the NBI or the police might arrest him." Raymond said.
"He has authorization by the military. It's not even illegal since these weapons are used by the military. Although he is also a soldier, he is also in charge of the armory at his base." I answered.
"And…uhh…you can use one of these guns?" Raymond said.
"Uh-huh. When Kuya Jerry and I went to Batangas for a summer vacation with his high school friend who is a member of the Blackwater USA, he voluntarily took me in for a crash course in handling and using guns. At first my brother was against it, but now even he wants me to clean his guns. He allows me to use guns IF he permits me to." I said to Raymond.
"Just like Kuya Paolo said, you're scaaarry." Raymond said.
"Hey. I'm not like those gangsters who shoot people out of nowhere. Besides, everything changed now. We have to defend ourselves even if it means putting the law on our hands." I replied.
"Well, let's do it." Raymond said.
An M-16 assault rifle catches Raymond's eye. "All right! I'll use this hot momma!" He decided to use the assault rifle. "Pare, that's way too heavy! What would happen if THEY surround you?" I disagreed. "Awww. Too bad!" Raymond decided to leave it alone. I looked at my brother's worktable and I saw a letter on top of it. It is addressed to me. "For me?" I wondered what the letter says. I started to read it:
Jake,
By the time you read this letter, it means that you really are stubborn to enter my weapons room without permission. Anyway, since you are here in the weapons room it means that you are aware about this "massacre" that has reached the whole Manila area. If you can't contact me it means that the government has cut all the communications except the military line. This means you're on your own to protect yourself. If you want to find me, I'm at Villamor Air Base near NAIA Terminal 3. My men and I at the Armed Forces of the Philippines are fending off those zombies or whatever those freaks are to defend the airline as our last hope to escape. So for the time being, I know you like this part, take all the weapons and ammunitions you need to defend yourself. Just make sure that once you get caught with those weapons, don't tell that it belongs to me. You have the responsibility to use it. Take all the food at the food cabinet. Use our ride to go at the Villamor Air Base. You know where it is, right? I'll see you at Villamor Air Base. Be careful, okay?
Jerry
This letter is enough to be my permission to use his guns. Wait a minute! How much does he know about the outbreak of "THEM"? Hmmm…Maybe they don't want this matter to be released at the public. No wonder the communication cut off. But, judging from what is happening right now, I've decided to go to Villamor Air Base at the south to find out the truth about it. I'll discuss this with the others first. As I keep the letter, Raymond was fascinated at the trophies my brother attained. I, on the other hand, choose the weapons that we can use. I took 3 rifles, 3 submachine guns, 7 pistols, and 1 shotgun. I took the ammunition boxes according to the guns we will be using.
"Hey, Raymond! Will you please help me here? I can't do it alone." I called Raymond's attention.
"Oh, sorry." Raymond approached me and helps me up. "By the way, how did he end up in the military?" He asked me with curiosity.
"My brother got influenced in the military by my uncle. He graduated as a Summa Cum Laude in the Philippine Military Academy. Since my uncle is a Colonel from the AFP, my brother was given a special authorization to become a weapons dealer. He also participates in the Shooters Tournament in Bataan." I replied.
"Uh-huh…I see. Anyway, about these guns, can give me some information about it?" Raymond asked.
"I'll tell you later. The guns are inside the big bag. Carry it inside the house. I'll carry the ammunition boxes, melee weapons and some other equipment." I said.
"Ok." Raymond starts to carry the big bag inside the house. He feels the bag heavy as he lifts it.
"Pare, are you okay?" I asked Raymond.
"Damn! It's so heavy! Maybe I should focus on lifting weights from now on." Raymond said.
"Come on! Or I'll leave you behind." I said.
"Ok. Ok." Raymond replied.
We went back inside the house. We placed the guns at the living room. Clarisse, Jessica and Nina are still chatting to each other. Misha fell asleep in Paolo's shoulder. Paolo is also asleep. It seems like Raymond and I will put the ammo in the magazines by ourselves as we place the ammo boxes at the top of the dinning table. I instructed Raymond on how to put the bullets at the magazines properly. Clarisse saw what we are doing. She left Jessica and Nina for a while and approaches us.
"Jake, are those guns?" Clarisse asked.
"Yes, it is." Raymond replied while putting the bullets in the magazine like an excited kid.
"Where did you get those guns?" She asked again.
"It's…a long story. Anyway, we have to protect ourselves against THEM using these guns." I told her.
"But, I don't know how to use it."Clarisse said.
"Don't know how to use it? C'mon, it's easy! It's like playing a shooting game at the arcade. Just point and shoot." Raymond said.
"Pare, it's different from a game. Reloading the ammo in REAL guns is not like shoot outside the screen or step off the pedal. And the usage, we have to use it sparingly. We have only limited ammo for these." I said to Raymond.
"Wow! You're cool at using these guns. I really love you more!" Clarisse said.
"N-No, it's not cool. Aren't you scared seeing me using these "deadly" toys?" I blushingly replied.
"I don't mind. So, which of these guns I should use?" Clarisse asked.
"Hmmm. You will use this one." I showed her an IMI Uzi Submachine gun with a retracting stock.
"And…How should I use it?" Clarisse asked again.
"Just pull the cocking handle after putting the magazine and release the safety." Paolo interrupted.
"Oh, Kuya Paolo! You're already awake. How do you know this?" Raymond asked.
"That gun is the same gun my bodyguards use. I can't believe you let a girl use this high caliber gun." Paolo said.
"Instead of not being armed at all." I replied.
"Tch! Okay, okay. So, which gun should I use?" Paolo asked.
"This will do." I showed him a M4A1 Carbine Assault Rifle with a forward hand grip and a 4x Day Optical Scope.
"WHOA! This is so good! But, what's with the other scope for?" Paolo points a larger scope beside me.
"For night vision. If we travel by night, this scope will help you aim THEM." I answered.
"Cool! Okay, I'll help you put those bullets for this hot momma." Paolo joins us in our work.
"Hey, no fair! What about me? How come he has the assault rifle?" Raymond reacted.
"The M16 is too big for you. I'll give you this instead." I showed him the weapon same as Paolo but the color is black.
"I, will, use this?" Raymond reacted with sparkles in his eyes.
"Yes. Since you and Kuya Paolo are in the same club." I told him.
"OH YEAH! WOOHOO! This gun is sooo good! Thank you, man! You're the best!" Raymond is very happy about the gun.
"Be quiet! Ate Misha is still sleeping!" Clarisse said while holding her gun.
"Sorry." Raymond replied.
"How about you, Jake? Which gun will you use?" Clarisse asked.
"I'm going to use a shotgun." I showed her the Remington M870P Combat Shotgun. Thanks to my mentor, he modified it with a reflex sight and a speedfeed stock. Well, it IS a combat shotgun.
"A shotgun? You know how to use it?" Paolo asked.
"Don't worry, Kuya Paolo! Believe it or not, he was trained by a member of the Blackwater USA." Raymond said to Paolo.
"No shit? Where do you meet such person?" Paolo was amazed.
"Let's just say my brother has strange and weird friends so much, I always get into trouble." I replied.
"SCAAAARY!" Paolo and Raymond both replied.
"HEY! Knock it off!" I said.
Despite the chaos happening today, we felt like we're in a reality show about housemates full of different people that we watch on TV: I as the problem child, Raymond as the heartbroken cutie, Clarisse as the strongwilled sweetheart, Jessica as the spoiled princess, Kuya Paolo as the hot blooded punk, Ate Misha as the queen of queens and Nina as the shy airhead. Just now, we forget our differences to each other because we only have one goal: SURVIVE! Our table work may not be normal but we enjoyed it so much we did not notice the time. I look at the window and saw the beautiful sunset. This is the first sunset we welcome the REAL nightmare from here on. Misha finally awakes from her nap. She saw us preparing the weapons for tomorrow. Jessica and Nina are sleeping in my room together. She approached us and saw all the guns and magazines we prepared,
"These are so many guns? Where did you get these?" Misha was amazed at the guns.
"They're my…toys." I said to her.
"Your toys? These are real guns. Some of these guns are illegal." Misha reacted.
"Well, not borderline illegal. They were special ordered and licensed by the military. So, they are legally owned by the military." I explained to her.
"Hmmm, I see. Well, Dela Fuente. Which of these guns should I use?" Misha asked.
"This one, if you like." I showed her a FN P90 Submachine Gun.
"Hey! Is that gun I always see at Counterstrike?" Raymond said.
"Yes, this is." I answered.
"A good choice! That gun is perfect for ambidexterous people like her." Paolo commented.
"Really? I didn't know that, love. So Dela Fuente, how should I use this?" Misha asked.
"Place the cartridge at the top and pull the lever at the side. Finally, calibrate the selector below the trigger where S means safe, 1 means semi-auto and A means full auto. If you're using the A option, pull the trigger once for firing a single round and hold down the trigger if you want to fire the full rounds." I instructed her.
"I see. I think I'll practice this against THEM. Thank you, Dela Fuente." She thanked me.
"Ummm…I suggest saving your ammo. Use it for drastic measures." I said.
"Okay." Misha answered. She saw a machete at the bag. She approached the bag and took it out. "Can I use this?" She asked. "Wait. Do you know how to use it?" I asked her. "Hehehe! Don't underestimate her! She's an expert at Kali, just like me. Even without guns, we can fight with knives or swords." Paolo is proud at it. "All right. Use it." I said.
"Love, there is a jungle bolo here. Take it." Misha took out the jungle bolo and gave it to Paolo.
Paolo took the jungle bolo. The preparations finally finished. We checked the time; it is now 5:45pm. "My, it's already late. I should cook something for now. Dela Fuente, can I borrow the kitchen?" Misha said. I didn't mind if she cooks, "Sure, go on ahead." I replied. "Wait! I'll help!" Clarisse voluntarily helps Misha. As for me, time for me to rest up. "Well, time to hit the bush! Familiarize yourselves to the guns, just don't point it carelessly." I said to Raymond. "Leave it to me!" Raymond replied. I went to the sofa and lie down. I'm so damn tired at what happened today. As I close my eyes, I asked myself, what will happen from here on? Guess this will be answered when we get to Villamor Air Base. I just hope they agree to my proposal.
*Sumpak- a homemade shotgun used by civilians from the lower class. Some says it is more powerful than a normal shotgun when handled or made properly.