March 16, 2020 when President Rodrigo Roa Duterte implemented a nationwide lockdown. It was because of a virus discovered late 2019 that was said to come from a country then known as China. The virus spread so fast that it almost put a stop on the world.

Businesses closed, hoping that it will only be temporary. Families stayed indoors in order to keep their family safe. Education was put on hold. Hunger, poverty, death. That was all because of the virus called Corona Virus or COVID-19. It's main symptom? Flu.

Scientists worked nonstop to find a cure ro eradicate the virus, or at least to stop it's spread. But COVID-19 kept mutating into a deadlier variant. Numerous vaccines were created, but the virus kept spreading. Millions upon millions died, and many more were left heartbroken for the lost of a loved one.

Until 2022 came and a pharmaceutical company called Global Pharmaceutical announced that they've found the cure. It was the miracle that everyone was waiting for. Indeed it was. Then was the month of September when the miracle cure for COVID-19 was distributed all over the globe.

On the first month, there was no new COVID case reported. On the second month, the world went back to what it was before the pandemic. But on the night of December 24, as everyone was ready to celebrate that year's Christmas eve. At 11:45 in the evening, while families are gathered inside their homes. Some had travelled from far away just to see their loved ones.

Everything happened so fast.

*

In the Philippines, women were supposed to act properly. Through the historical past of the country, women were supposed to take care of the house and the family. Men provides for the family, and the women are expected to follow her husband.

Young ones are expected to be obedient to their parents, up to a point that their parents are the only ones who can decide their fates. When your parents told you that you have to be a teacher, all you can do is nod and say yes. When your parents told you that you can't date a guy who doesn't have a stable job and his own house, all you can do is nod and say yes.

And when the world changed and grew, the Filipino thinking remained the same. Well, at least for the older ones. But the young one, they became rebelious. They wanted freedom. They wanted to grow up so fast. One of those young ones was Alicia Delos Santos.

Erratic, liberated, and adventurous. Her parents worked so hard to send her to school. They weren't rich, all they had in their name is a small house on the slums of Tondo, Manila. But Alicia had different things in mind. She skipped her classes regularly until the school kicked her out. She had her first boyfriend when she was fourteen.

Heartbroken, disappointed, and angry, her parents didn't bother to give her another chance. For them, they had done their part. So when Alicia got pregnant when she was sixteen, her parents forced her to live with the father of her child.

Alicia was young, and unprepared. But her parents' words were the law. They made her think that she disgraced their family, and the only way to right her wrong is to face the consequence of her mistakes.

'Alicia, you will live near your in laws. You have to learn to grow, now. Always follow your husband. Do not attempt to overpower him. Be a good wife and a mother to your child.'

Those were her mother's words that she carried with her when she left their home. She had to be a good wife. Her husband is the law of the house and she's the follower. And even though Alicia never wanted it, she faced the consequence of her mistake, and more.

Every day of her life with her husband, Alicia did her best to be a good wife. She took care of him and their first born. Cooked his food, washed his clothes, and cleaned his home. But none of it was enough for him. She was not enough for him.

'Why do you have to do this? I am doing everything I can to take care of this family! Why do you have to cheat?' Alicia caught her husband sleeping with one of his friends.

'Because you destroyed my life! I never wanted this! You are the reason why I can't do the things I used to do! I hate you!"

'I never wanted to get pregnant! I didn't do that to myself! We both had parts to play! Don't you dare blame it all to me!' Every day, Alicia had to endure her husband's cold treatment. She thought—she kept telling herself that he was just tired from work.

'I asked you to abort your pregnancy! I told you that I wasn't ready! But you were so selfish!'

'He's your son! He's our son and I am not a murderer!'

Her mother told her to be good wife, but she talked back to her husband. Maybe, she failed to be a good wife. So when her husband slapped her hard across her face, all she could do was to shut her mouth. She lost count of how many times she had cried silently and kept everything to her.

Ten years after, year 2032, everything in the world is dead. From the air, the trees, the land, everything. It all started with one noble deed. A dream of helping the world. One good intention turned the world into a domain of the dead.

"Russel, we're running out of supplies."

"Then, go out and get some. You don't have to tell me."

"Can't you be a man, even just for once? I'm the woman, yet I'm the one going out there risking my life just so you could eat!"

"How dare you!"

It was a big mistake talking to her husband like that. Because whenever she does, all she would get is a bloody nose or lips. She should have not said anything. Now, she doesn't have a choice but to go out and face the danger alone if she doesn't want her kids to die of starvation.

*

People used to say boys will always be boys. All they care about is fun, friends, and fooling around. They used to say men won't change unless they want to. They won't grow up unless they decided to. And if you force them, they will retaliate the only way they could. That is to hurt you.

In the Philippines, men are taught to be responsible, especially with their family. Their parents brought them up as men who will do everything they can to provide for their family. As well as facing the consequence of their mistakes.

But the younger generations started to change. They started to stray from the noble culture of Filipino men. Younger generations became uncaring, irresponsible, and shameless for mistreating the women of the society. They became the disgrace to their ancestors' names. One of those men is Russel Cruz.

An only son, and a spoiled brat. They may not be that rich, but their life is better than most in their neighborhood. His parents did everything they could to give him a good life. They let him do whatever he wants as long as he's not setting his studies aside. Everything was going good for him. Until Alicia's parents came knocking at their door.

'Russel got our daughter pregnant. He needs to take responsibility of what he did. We are not asking for anything, material or otherwise just that he face his responsibility.' Alicia's father said to his dad.

'I never taught my son to run from responsibility. There's a house for rent not too far from here. We'll pay for the rent, and they can live as a family there.'

That was the beginning of his life destruction, well, at least in his mind, it is. He's not yet done with his teenage life. He's not done playing basketball whenever he wants to. Or drinking with his friends until the sun comes up. He's not yet done studying. Despite his happy-go-lucky personality, he wanted to graduate.

"Papa, why do you always let Mama go outside with all those zombies? She could die out there." His eldest son said. In the boy's twelve-year-old mind, he fully understand the danger of the world his living in.

"She's a grown up, she can take care of herself. Let her be."

Russel didn't even care if he looks bad in the eyes of his children. He just simply hate his wife and it would be a blessing for him if those zombies would finally kill her. All he wanted is to get rid of her.

*

Life in England is not as easy as everyone likes to think. Just like other countries, English people also have their struggles. What's great about the English people is that they are naturally calm and radical thinkers. They can think clearly despite the chaos happening around them.

But they are also human. They feel tired too, they feel weak as well. They can lose their bearing too. Although, English people are naturally strong-willed, at some point, they can also break. Just like the Ambrose family.

They are not rich, but all of works hard to survive day by day. The father of the family works three jobs, the mother cooked and packed lunch everyday, and sell it to different establishments. The eldest son, Lester, worked at a famous diner while studying medicine.

Until one day, a disaster hit their family that forced them to live their country. Because of his father's dream of giving them a comfortable life, he entered a business that gave them temporary comfort. It was great then, however, it didn't last. The business that his father entered turned out to be a pyramid scam.

Lester and his family moved to the states, even though his family proved his innocence in the English Law. The shame of being accused of such crime already tampered his father's reputation. Even though Lester was against it, he doesn't have a choice but to come with his parents.

'Don't be sad, man. We can't call each other anytime. And when you're finally a doctor, you can come back here. Who knows? Maybe, we'll be the one to visit you in the states. We will see each other again.'

Those were the last words of his best friends before he left. Words that he clung to until the outbreak happened. He wanted to see them again. Boy, he missed his best friends so much.

'Finally, we reached the Philippines. We can now go back home.' Lester's co-pilot exclaimed.

'You're right. I missed my mom and my brother.' Lester replied with a smile.

He always wanted to be a doctor, but when they moved to the states, he realized that being a pilot would be better. He realized that he wanted to go to places around the world. So he became a pilot instead.

And his plane was the last plane than landed when the outbreak erupted.