After eating his breakfast, Mang Tomas switched the TV on and watched the morning magazine show. Indeed, Dr. Alvarado's new medical facility would be officially opening that day. He believed that such happening should not be making quite a stir but clearly, it was a big news.
"If not for the outbreak," Mang Tomas whispered.
Again, he was reminded of his conversation with the boys last night. Could it really be that their friend was in trouble? And that he was kept inside the new medical facility?
Mang Tomas dismissed the thoughts inside his head and went on doing some chores. His days were recently turned upside down and he did not want another trouble bothering him again. Being detained in the local police station for accusation of instigating social gathering was problematic already. Just to have some peace of mind again, he would refrain from involving himself with the boys' dangerous adventure.
Yet, as he went on with his day, his conscience kept tagging at his sleeves. He knew that what the kids would be doing would place themselves in harm's way but he chose not to do something about it. Each time his guilt was haunted, he shook his head in the hope of shaking the thought as well.
"What do you want me to do?" he finally yelled at no one.
The wall in front of him stared back at him, still silent and unmoving. It was already past one in the afternoon and his conscience was being troubled for hours. Without further thoughts, he went out of his house and turned around the back to his old garage. The small structure was old and worn, product of oppressive years of negligence and inattention. Sitting there was his old sedan car which he had never driven for weeks already. He recently had no business driving around town so the vehicle remained untouched in the garage for quite a time already.
"Will you still run, my boy?" Mang Tomas asked the car.
Immediately, he removed the items placed atop the vehicle and thoroughly cleaned it. He sneezed occassionally because of the thick clouds of dusts. When it was all cleaned up again, Mang Tomas smiled in satisfaction.
0p
"Time to get you moving."
He inserted the key into the ignition switch and after several trials, the car whirred into life. Mang Tomas jumped and rejoiced. He could not believe his luck. Afterwards, he changed into new clothes and packed some things into his bag. With renewed enthusiasm, Mang Tomas drove the car around the neighborhood.
Despite the faulty air-conditioning, Mang Tomas drove with contentment and confidence. It felt refreshing for him to be behind a wheel again and moving through the lonely streets of the district made him feel alive again.
"Well, we are going into an adventure, my boy."
Mang Tomas dropped by a convenience store and bought some supplies, particularly food and medicines just in case the boy was hungry and needed some medical attention. He really had no clue as to what could happen to their mission. There was nothing in his dreams last night that hinted anything. Unsure of things, he just bought any item in sight which he thought could be used later. He also dropped by his old-time favorite pizza joint and ordered a slice.
By four, Mang Tomas was all geared up and so with a new found energy, he went to Silverio Alvarado Medical Suites. As he expected, a good number of people attended the event, evident by the countless vehicles parked around the perimeter of the new facility. He stopped his car and looked for a place to park. He wanted his car to be as near as possible to the facility but as far as away as possible from the other vehicles. It would give him, and even the boys, plenty of space to escape from anybody who could possibly chase them. Yet, he fervently hoped that they would not come to that point and that they would easily find the missing boy.
To his wonder, Mang Tomas spotted three bikes parked under an acacia tree, an area he thought was an ideal parking space. He moved his car towards the tree, and as he was inching closer, a thought suddenly came to his head.
"Do those bikes belong to the boys?" he asked himself. "But there were only two who approached me last night. Well, if indeed they were theirs, then it means they are already here. I just needed to find them fast enough."
Mang Tomas parked behind the three bikes. Quickly, he disembarked and looked around him. To his luck, he saw three small shadows moving behind a large bush. He smiled, knowing that he had already found them. Happily, he silently moved to them.
Mang Tomas surprised them from behind. They were initially frightened that they fell on the ground but after recognizing him, they ran up to him and embraced him. One was even about to cry.
"You're here!" Kiko declared with a trembling voice. "You came for us?"
"Of course," Mang Tomas answered. "I could not refuse anyone asking for help, especially if I know that I could give it."
"You are a kind person, Mang Tomas," Tonton said and tightened his hug around his legs.
"Thank you," Bogart mouthed and smiled wide.
Mang Tomas smiled at the boys and caressed their hair.
"So what's the plan?"
The Biker Brothers quickly relayed their plans. They told him everything they would be doing in order to save their friend.
Mang Tomas: "So we need to get the keys first before going inside the building."
Tonton: "Yes, but we are not sure where we could find them."
Kiko: "But I thought the facility would have a central room where all the keys are kept."
Bogart: "We need to find that room first. That's where we will be going."
Mang Tomas, after a long thought, said: "I think I know where that room is. Back at the store, I was able to talk by chance with one of the workers who constructed the facility. He said that there is a small structure behind the main building. It's another separate building which served as the maintenance and stock room. He really did not specify what is in the building but I believe the keys we are looking for can be found there. "
Tonton: "Are you sure?"
Mang Tomas: "Like you, I am not. But it is our best chance."
Bogart: "Then let's do it."
Kiko: "We have to be careful. We have to go around the back first, through that crowd of people."
Mang Tomas: "Plus there would be guards on that small building."
"What do we do now?" The boys asked altogether.
"Don't worry, I got an idea."
Mang Tomas smirked at them.....