10:40 am
San Roque, Arba, Talibon Bohol.
———
"Is everyone ready?" Freyah asked as everyone settled in for lunch.
The people who would accompany Freyah including her two best friends, Monica and Gwenette; Prince Florence; Harley, the good boy; Cheryl and Cheral, Timothy’s two grandchildren who had persistently begged to join them since yesterday; Eman; and, of course, Uncle Thomas, their guide, accompanied by three of his n.
Everyone sat at the dining table, a palpable tension hanging in the air as their departure drew near. Freyah’s supportive parents joined them for lunch, along with other elders and villagers who had co to offer their blessings.
"Freyah, dear, you should eat more,"
"opo" Freyah nod,
Freyah’s mother said worriedly, adding more food to her plate. Alberto, her husband, rubbed his wife’s back reassuringly, trying to ease her worries. Despite knowing their daughter’s remarkable resilience and ability to handle danger, they were still just ordinary parents, their hearts filled with the natural anxieties any parent feels for their child.
Freyah smiled at them, continuing to eat the food her mother provided, savoring these precious monts of simply being a child in her parents’ loving care. Sohow Freyah felt at ease in their care. Her siblings, Julie, Mark, Luke and John were also there, showing their support to their Ate.
"I’ll be back soon, Mama and Papa," she said, looking at them with a warmth that spoke volus. Her gaze held theirs, a silent reassurance playing across her features as she sought to alleviate their concerns. She wanted to reassure them, to quell the anxieties she saw reflected in their eyes, to sohow make the impending separation less daunting.
"And I’ll bring back plenty of at for you both!" she added, her voice light and teasing, a playful attempt to lighten the mood and ease their worries.
The promise of a bounty of at was a lighthearted jest, yet it carried a deeper aning – a promise of her safe return.
"for too Ate!!"
" too, I want lots of at!"
Both Luke and John even raised their hands in excitent and Freyah, her parents and siblings laughed softly.
Everyone continued eating, savoring this last al together before their departure. Prince Florence, though focused on his own food, stole occasional glances at Freyah’s parents, their tender treatnt of her a stark contrast to her usual strong and capable deanor. He couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly at the scene.
’The almighty Lady Lima, treated like a baby,’ he mused, shaking his head with a fond smile as he continued eating. The image of Freyah, usually so composed and self-assured, receiving such doting care from her parents, struck him as unexpectedly endearing. After all, it’s rare to see this side of her.
anwhile, Cheryl and Cheral happily ate their lunch, their grandfather, Timothy, offering them a mixture of advice and encouragent.
"You two," he said firmly, "don’t give your Ate Freyah and the others any headaches. Obey their instructions and don’t cause any trouble." The twins, excited for the adventure ahead, eagerly nodded their heads in agreent.
"Yes, Lolo!"
"Of course! Everything will be fine!" they exclaid simultaneously, their enthusiasm bubbling over. Timothy sighed, his worry for his grandchildren palpable. Sensing his apprehension, the twins giggled.
"Oh, co on, Lolo, don’t worry!" Cheral patted his back reassuringly, her light touch a comforting gesture.
Timothy sighs and takes a deep breath, quietly praying for her grandchildren’s safety.
"Eat up, boys! We can’t afford to be weak!" Thomas chuckled, heaping a generous scoop of brown rice onto Harley and Eman’s plate. Harley nodded while Eman gave a smile with quiet determination, already halfway through his al.
"Yes, sir!"
Thomas chuckled again, a mixture of amusent and empathy in his eyes as he look to them, He’d heard the story of Harley’s difficult past, about his aunt. Despite his outward strength, Harley was still just a child, just like the others in their company. Thomas glanced at Florence, who was quietly eating, his gaze fixed on his food. ’He may be strong, like Freyah,’ Thomas mused, ’but he’s still young, too.’
’If it weren’t for the zombie apocalypse.’ he thought grimly, ’everyone would still be in school, living normal lives.’ Of course, Thomas didn’t know that Florence was from another world.
A deep sense of responsibility settled upon Thomas. As the oldest mber of their group, he felt the weight of their safety and well-being rest on his shoulders. He knew the terrain of Bohol intimately – it’s lands, its unforgiving hills, and the waters – and he was determined to guide them safely through it all.
***
11:30 am
The loud roar of Uncle Thomas’s truck engine echoed through the clearing as he perford a final engine test. This sturdy vehicle, once used solely for transporting grain after the harvest, was now about to embark on a completely new set of adventures.
"Alright, buddy," Thomas said, giving the truck’s steering wheel a reassuring pat, as if addressing an old friend. "Don’t let down now." His voice held a mixture of confidence and affection, reflecting the deep bond he shared with his trusty vehicle.
Freyah approached the open tailgate of the truck and leaned against it, her arms crossed. "Uncle, is everything ready?" she asked, her voice carrying a hint of both anticipation and concern. Thomas climbed down from the driver’s seat, giving a hearty thumbs-up. "Ready, ready!" he shouted, his voice full of boisterous energy.
He then gestured towards the others, signaling for them to load their belongings and settle into their places. The air crackled with a mixture of excitent and nervous energy as they prepared for their journey.
Simple bamboo chairs were arranged on either side of the truck bed, and everyone began gathering their belongings and settling into their seats. Near the cab, Cheral and Cherellyn sat close together, waving enthusiastically to their grandfather.
"We’ll be fine, Lolo!" Cheral called out, her voice bright and reassuring.
"Yes, don’t worry too much about us!" Cherellyn added, echoing her sister’s sentint.
"We’ll be back soon!" they both said in unison, their voices filled with youthful confidence, trying to ease their grandfather’s obvious concerns. A wave of warmth passed between them, a testant to their strong family bond.
Across from Cheral and Cherellyn, Monica, Gwenette, and Freyah sat towards the back of the truck bed, a comfortable distance apart. Monica and Gwenette’s families exchanged heartfelt goodbyes, their words a mixture of affection and concern.
Florence sat at the very back of the truck, opposite Freyah. Beside him sat Uncle Thomas’s three companions: Juanito, Pablo, and Enchong.
Juanito, a lifelong friend since Thomas’s childhood, occupied one side. Next to him sat Pablo, Thomas’s second degree cousin, and beside Pablo was his son, Enchong.Thomas’s nephew as well and Thomas sat behind the wheel, with Harley and Eman in the passenger seat of the truck.
They each carried small bags containing a few necessities, and their food supplies were sufficient for a week.
Their families bid them farewell, offering warm wishes for a safe journey. Only after Thomas started the truck’s engine did Freyah’s father, Albert, give him a quiet nod of trust. "Take care of them," he said, a smile playing on his lips as he entrusted his daughter and the others to Thomas’s care.
Thomas gave a reassuring nod, offering a silent promise of safety and care to everyone. His expression conveyed both confidence and a quiet determination to ensure their well-being.
A crowd of family and friends had gathered to see them off, their silent prayers for Freyah and her group’s safety hanging heavy in the air.
"BYE-BYE ATE FREYAH!!!"
"BE CAREFUL!"
"CO BACK SOON AND PLAY WITH US!!!"
"PLEASE BE SAFE!"
"DON’T FORGET THE AT!"
Freyah’s siblings shouted, their voices filled with a mixture of excitent and apprehension, as the truck began to move. Freyah waved goodbye to her siblings, who ran alongside the slowly moving vehicle, their small figures growing smaller and smaller. Finally, they left the village, the gate closing firmly behind them. The guards stationed there waved a final farewell, their faces a mixture of concern and well wishes.
Uncle Thomas expertly navigated the truck along the hilly, rocky road. It wasn’t an ideal route—far from a smooth, well-maintained highway—but his years of experience driving these challenging paths made the journey manageable. However, they were eventually forced to stop on a particularly steep incline.
Understanding the situation, everyone willingly climbed down from the truck and helped push it upward, their collective effort slowly but surely moving the vehicle up the difficult ascent.
"Push!!"
"PUSSSHHH!!"
Monica and Gwenette, along with the twins, pushed with dramatic shouts and strained exertion. This scene highlighted the very reason they hadn’t brought many belongings—to keep their journey as light and manageable as possible, even with the unexpected need to push the truck uphill. Their combined efforts, though noisy, were essential to overcoming this obstacle.
Freyah chuckled, her laughter infectious and easing the tension. The others joined in, montarily lightening the mood despite the shared understanding that this challenging ascent was rely the prelude to their many adventures ahead.
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