*BOOM*
The Earth suddenly shook. The intensity of the earthquake was unlike any other earthquake that the Philippines has experienced. It was akin to the theorized "The Big One" earthquake, or it might really be the "The Big One" earthquake that is currently happening, or it might be greater than the theorized event.
Inside the train, Felix and the numerous passengers fell to the ground by the sudden stop of the train. While the earthquake was still ongoing, panic starts to set in among the passengers.
One man, a police officer going to work immediately tried to calm down the crowd.
"Everyone! Stay Calm! Everyone stay down and try not to push anyone! Let's wait for the earthquake to subside!"
It was hard to follow the officer's suggestion. Try imagining sailing across the rough ocean with only a yacht while the weather was so bad and with waves as tall as a 5-story building. Everyone was clamoring to grab into something. Everyone was pushing intentionally or unintentionally so it was hard to follow the officer's suggestion.
Felix's situation was a bit better. He was standing near the door of the train so during the earthquake, he immediately grabbed the nearest metal handle that was close to the door and sat down. While he was sitting down, he was oftentimes squashed into the door by the people beside him unintentionally, but he also resists it to some extent. Felix has considerable strength since he practices Taekwondo.
Eventually, the crowd's pushing power won over Felix's strength. He was knocked down to the ground by some of the people, even going to the extent that they are lying on top of him. Some are even stepping on him.
Felix situation immediately went from better to worst in a moment. He was grasping for air because one of the passengers was pushing him down on his chest. He saw his packed lunch scattered on the floor. The fluffy scrambled eggs that he cooked. The Sinigang soup and the rice that he cooked wholeheartedly was strewed across the floor. He kept trying to pry off the passenger that is on his chest but to no avail. He kept trying to scratch, push, pull, or even punch away the person that was on his chest with no success since another passenger soon joined the increasing pile.
Soon, Felix's hope was lost.
So this is how I die, huh....
He began reminiscing his family. His lovely mother whose voice was heavenly and who deserves all the love that can be found in this world. His father who always tries to keep his close-to-non-existent, manliness. His friends from his high school who are still keeping in touch with him. His college clubmates who together with him, experienced numerous highs and lows in his life. His first love who was so beautiful, charming, and good hearted, yet he didn't have the courage to confess to. His neighbors, little Liz and Grandma Kath, who always give him foods and gifts if he has nothing to eat or if they somewhere, vacation or a mall.
Damn, there's still a lot of things that I should've done...
There's still a lot of things I regret..
I still have'nt eaten my breakfast yet....
.....
Mom, I wish you the best of this world,
Dad, please take care of mom,..
Liz, Grandma Kath..., take care,
....
..
.
God, if you are out there, if you do exist....,
If you really do exist...,
he-
help
help me.,
help me!
HELP ME!
Then suddenly, he started to breathe again. He breathed hard. He breathed as if his life depends on it, as if he ran a mile straight from a marathon. He breathed to the point of coughing.
The person that was on top Felix soon stood up. It was a girl, wearing a high school uniform. She stretched out her hands to Felix.
"Are you okay sir? I'm sorry for pushing you down.."
"Cough! Cough! It's okay, it's not your fault."
"I'm sorry again sir..."
"Cough, So, what happened?"
"The earthquake suddenly ended a few seconds ago, sir. Luckily, the one on top of me went flying across the train..."
"Flying....?"
It turns out, the earthquake ended 10 seconds ago, before Felix was 'resurrected' from the dead.
Looking around, Felix noted several things. Numerous people were still on the ground. Some are holding their head due to being bumped into another or something hard. Some are checking their bodies for any injuries. While some are bloody because their head collided with something. Some even have broken bones to the point that their entire arm were bent the wrong way.
He also saw the police officer trying to help others while he himself has blood coming out of his bald head.
Felix still concussed and coughing, immediately attempts to seek a solution.
"Damn..., we should get out of here fast. We do not know when the aftershock will hit us."
"Yes, sir, let's look for some emergency exit, button, or something."
Felix and the high school girl immediately look for a lever or a button to push since they are near the door. Eventually, the girl found the emergency button.
"Here, sir. This is the button."
The girl presses the button but to no avail. The train door didn't open.
"You should look for an alternative, a lever of some sort since electricity is down."
Felix and the girl looked for a lever and it was located at the right side of the door, hidden by the groove before the glass.
"Alright, let's open this, and get out of here immediately."
Felix pulled the lever down and the train door was immediately opened. Felix stood up and was the first to get down to the train tracks followed by the high school girl.
"Everyone! Please make you way here, and please come down slowly."
Everyone started going out of the train. However, due to panic and the paranoia, almost everyone rushed to the doors resulting in a potentially worse disaster. Until...
*Whistleee*