"You have to return, Vol. I'll be so mad at you if you don't come back in 10yrs." Mom said with tears streaming down her face.
Telly said nothing. Her head is down while patting mom's back.
Dad suddenly hugged me really tight. "In five years I'm coming there. You have to stay alive, Vol. You have no choice but survive no matter what ever." Dad's voice cracked.
My eyes blurred with tears. I hugged him back. "I'll miss you too, dad."
And my family hugged me. This sad sentimental moment was cut short when a car horn echoed outside our house. First to break the hug was my dad. He fixed his bearings and stepped out the house. Mom then kissed my forehead. And as for my sister, I just pat her head. It's obvious to me she's trying to fight the need to cry.
"See you in 10yrs, Telly. You better have kids by then."
I finally stepped out of our house and found my aunt and my dad hugging.
"...please, you're still my little sister... don't get yourself bitten out there. If I lose one more in my family, I might just lose it."
"Kuya, I am ranks higher than you. I'll be fine. I won't miss you, I love you though. See you in 5years."
Ok, that made me envy their relationship. My sister's too prideful to admit it. Then, the two turned to look at me.
"Last thing, take care of my son. I know he's 34 but he's still my kid."
"I will, I will. Come on, Vol." Then Aunt Pheene got in the car.
I walked towards aunt's car and opened the door. I then sat inside and looked at my dad one more time. Dad never looked this sad, even when grandma passed away. This is the most somber I've seen him.
"See you soon dad."
"See you soon, son."
And then, I closed the door.
"Ready?" Asked Aunt.
"Yeah..." I said wiping my tears off.
And Nigel drove away.
"That's right, never say goodbye." Said Aunt. "But, Vol, I will be strict on you. You are the newest inclusion in my team and you have no experience being on field. Defy me and I will kick you out immediately. Got it? I made a promise on your dad to keep you out of danger. If I have to send you back, I will not hesitate to. It's by me that you got in my team and it's by me you'll be out. And since Nigel told me you failed your simulation twice, I decided that you'll be my team's cover. You can't engage in confrontational combat. Am I clear?"
"Yes but..."
"No buts, Vol, that's an order."
Minutes passed, it was quiet in the car. As far as I know it's a 12hrs drive. That's... without traffic. But we're a private vehicle? Well, one thing is for sure we'll all be swapping and get a turn stirring the wheel. And then, Aunt Pheene played some music. It's...uhh...I don't recognize the song she's playing. But it's a love song.
"And since it's Nigel's driving, it's his turn to have his playlist played. In three hours it'll be my turn. N then it'll be Jarren and last is you Vol. I hope everyone prepared a 3hr playlist cause I sure have." Aunt laughed.
I did prepare my playlist last night because Aunt Pheene insisted so.
"What's your genre Nigel?" I asked out of curiosity.
"Mostly Ballad, I also listen to some party music."
"What about you Aunt Pheene?"
"Oh you know ol' me, I listen to metal. But not just metal, groove metal. Cause I don't like too much growling, I like my music moody n stuff."
Oh boy...metal...
"Well, how about you Jarren?"
"Oh...uh...I listen to OPM's."
"Like Parokya ni Edgar or Sponge Cola?"
"Kinda, but mixed from 90's to 2025's."
Well, the outbreak started during 2027 and there has been no knew music since then. As in nothing new, entertainment wasn't a priority nowadays. There's no entertainment industry in this new world. But it's not exactly prohibited, anyone can listen to music or watch shows or even play games, there's just nothing new. According to Aunt Pheene, it's the only department she won't sign up to be established for now. Maybe later she might because she's sick watching Narnia and Lord of the Rings over and over. But for some reason she's not fed up with reading? And she never get sick playing horror survival games... Seriously, where does she get all the time for leisurely activities with her stupid high rank?!
3hrs passed, Nigel stopped at a gas station for bathroom breaks and restocking on snacks. They also switched sits so when we left, she's driving and playing her loud ass music which she sings along to. Now that I'm eating my...I lost count how much bags of snacks have I consumed... Honestly, I wonder why bagged chips are still in production when it's not exactly healthy? Some decisions of my aunt just don't make sense to me.
Another three hours and we stopped again. This time to a restaurant within a whole different region, a city within a different province. In there we ate lunch and did our bathroom break. After doing our business there, aunt and Nigel sat at the backseat to nap while Jarren took the wheel. Jarren then played his music.
While driving, when the two at the back are now sleeping, Jarren turns the music volume down.
"You know, your situation wasn't too different from Nigel's."
"What do you mean?" My brows furrowed.
"When Nigel first became an Expander, mom also made him part of BBF. And guess what, he was their group's cover. And guess why."
"Uhh... because he wasn't experienced enough?"
"Nah, more like out of fear of losing him. To keep him farthest from danger, she made him the group's cover shooter."
"I guess he finally graduated from that position now that aunt is giving it to me."
"Ahaha, no. He's only in that position for like 3weeks."
"Huh?!"
"Yeah, not very long. In fact, his inclusion gave way to Uncle Danin's retirement."
"You call Kuya Danin uncle?"
"Yeah but that's besides the point. Nigel had to prove himself to mom. Now, if you don't want to stay in your position, you also have to prove yourself to her."
"How tho?"
"By doing my job efficiently and following every single order precisely." Nigel answered.
"I thought you were napping?" I asked, surprised.
"I tried, but can't. It's common for drivers."
"Yeah pretty much." Aunt Pheene butts in.
"What in the, so you two have been listening all this time?!"
"Mhm," they both answered.
Jarren laughed and turns the volume up of his music. 3hrs passed and we stopped to a gas station to refill the tank and switch drivers for the last time. Now, I'm the one driving. Another 3hrs before arriving to the port, I guess nobody really liked my own playlist. I don't think it's shitty, but no one's vibing with my music. This family sure makes me feel different because my mates vibe with this stuff. Can't believe they aren't into pop. I expected at least my cousins to sing along with my kind of music. Instead, all three of them fell asleep?! REALLY?!
Finally after 12hrs of travel, we're finally here. Pagudpud wasn't exactly a port, it was originally a popular beach. I went here before when I was a kid and it was a very beautiful yet quiet place. But now, it's different. It was adapted into a port. And there's this huge roofed parking lot which was made in less than a year. It's made for private vehicles of course and considering aunt's ranking and team, she's probably reserved a good spot. Arriving at the gate, Aunt Pheene handed me her ID and reservation slip. We were given a number ticket 1, it's the very first parking space sitting by this gate. My goodness, what privilege!
I then parked the car butt first. That's right, I call the back of the car butt because why not?
We then got down the car and some guy in a uniform walked up to us. Aunt then gave him a duplicate key. These people aren't just gonna park the cars, they will maintain them too. 10yrs of cars being stuck here, they will need people to look after them indeed.
And then, we all head to the port. As we walk, the smell of the ocean breeze purmiate the air. I haven't been to any beaches for years, this air feels so clean. It's not like the smell of smoke and fumes in busy highways.
As we get closer to the shore, standing tall at the end of this long deck was this towering cruise ship that they've adapted to be a war ship. I know cruise ships are meant to be huge...but...wow...
"Big, ain't she? Ship's name is Dolores. She can already accommodate 2000 passengers. And we only fill in about a thousand. Few of the extra rooms were made into storage units, labs, and even gyms. And of course, we still weren't able to use all 2000 rooms so all the remaining rooms are for rescueis." Aunt explained.
"Aren't we gonna send the rescueis here in Philippines?" I asked.
"Nah, that's to prevent casualties in here if ever some wonky shit happens. Besides, our job is to help them reclaim their country n not exactly take them in." Aunt shrugged her shoulders.