Timtara's Point of View

Day two ko na rito nang dalawin ako ng nakangiting si Ma'am Kharm. Dalawang araw na rin kasi akong nakatambay lang sa silid. Hindi sa ayaw kong lumabas kun'di ayaw akong palabasin. May naghahatid naman ng pagkain sa akin kaya lang walang cellphone o laptop o computer dito kaya kain, tulog, at tae lang ang routine ko.

"Ma'am," pagbati ko rito. Umupo siya sa gilid ng aking kama.

"Hi, I just want to say, I am torn between saying sorry and not. I want to say sorry because you got dragged here and you almost got killed. Yet I am not sorry that you are here since I know you are safe here. The people chasing you, won't care about your wellbeing as long as they got the Apohixen. Here, the Realm can offer you the best options with a maximum interest for you."

"Realm?"

"This is the name of the place."

"Yeah, I heard from Nightwind but where am I exactly?"

Natigilan siya nang ilang segundo bago ngumiti. "You're somewhere safe. You just need to know that."

"And why am I here? I won't believe your safe shit story so save it for later."

"We need your Apohixen. We need it to save someone," may lumbay sa boses ni Ma'am Kharm nang sabihin niya 'yon.

"Ha! I knew it! You guys are no different from them!" Duro ko sa kaniya. Dahil sa pagtaas ng boses ko ay biglang pumasok si Sir Seeichi. Itinaas naman ni Ma'am Kharm ang kaniyang kamay sabay iling. Tumango lang si Sir Seeichi at ngumiti sa akin bago lumabas ng silid. Kumalma naman ako nang bahagya.

"Listen well, Tim. The world we lived in is not as colorful with rainbows and unicorns. The world for mad scientists like us is a life full of watching behind our backs. The decisions you made will either make you or break you in a long run. I am like you and O'Hara Industries has been backing up this Realm for many years for protection and loyalty. You knew me, I choose my friends well. And the people here? They are not just friends to me, they are my family. So believe me when I tell you that you are safe here especially that the Phoenix will protect you."

I can hear the truth behind her words so I nodded as I absorbed her words in which she returned with a smile.

"So, are you done sulking here? 'Cause I'm gonna take you to your very own playroom," hinila niya ang dalawa kong braso na para bang ang gaan ko lang. Balewala lang niyang nilampasan ang mga guards at ang asawa niyang nasa labas lang. Hindi rin sila sumunod sa amin. Kami lang ni Ma'am Kharm ang naglalakad sa hallway.

Ilang elevator rides at ilang hallways pa ang dinaanan namin bago kami huminto sa isang dingding. Yeah, isang beige colored na dingding na may isang wall frame lang na desinyo. Ugh?

Pinalapit niya ako sa wall frame na kapantay lang pala ng mukha ko.

"Look closer."

Inilapit ko nang ilang dangkal ang mukha ko sa frame na may drawing lang naman na baka. "Uh, I am staring at a cow's butt? Look, I don't see anything special here."

"Just look a little more closer," hinawakan niya ang likod ng ulo ko at mas nilapit pa ang mukha ko sa frame nang biglang nawala ang drawing ng frame at may tila scanner na lumabas at nag-scan ng mukha ko. Ang dingding na kulay beige kanina ay naging salamin bigla at bumukas ito. Nakaakbay si ma'am sa akin at pumasok na kami. Nagsara naman bigla ang salamin. Nang lingunin ko ito ay totoo ngang salamin ang inakala kong dingding na kulay beige. Nakikita ko kasi ang hallway mula sa kinatatayuan ko.

Ibinalik ko ang tingin sa harap, medyo madilim siya at wala pa akong malinaw na naaaninag. "What are you waiting for, the fucking Christmas? Turn on the lights."

Mabilis kong hinagilap ang switch sa pinakamalapit na dingding pero wala, "It's not here. Did you forget to put some switch?"

"Of course not, Tim. Say the word 'Lights activated'."

I looked at her funnily but she just shrugged so I grumpily followed her. Laking gulat ko na lang nang umilaw nga at kulang na lang mahulog ang panga ko sa aking nakikita.

All the modern technology can offer is here in front of me, damn right, my dream playroom. May nakita rin akong isang maliit na kitchen at isang sala set sa bandang gilid.

"So you're saying, I can use these babies? For real?" Kulang na lang ay magtatalon ako sa tuwa at pagkamangha nang tumango si Ma'am Kharm.

"Everything here is voice activated. And to secure the safety of the information, it is your voice alone that this system recognizes."

"Cool! Then, system activate."

Umilaw lahat ng mga makina pati ang napakalaking screen sa dingding, "Welcome, Tim. I am your personal system. Just call my name ATLAS short from Apohixen Trials Laboratory Apprentice System." Salita bigla ng boses mula sa loob ng silid. It's like the voice is everywhere.

"W-wow! This is beyond cool! Looking forward to work with you, Atlas." Hindi matanggal ang malaking ngiti sa mukha ko.

"Starting today, you will be staying here. There's a small room with a personal comfort room behind the kitchen over there. All the files from all of your studies have been transferred here and were sorted by Atlas. You just need to say the word and she'll do it for you."

Tumango lang ako dahil overwhelmed pa rin ako na naintindihan naman niya. "So I'll be leaving you then to do your thing. Don't worry, there's no CCTV here. Nightwind insisted to remove all the CCTVs here even our access to your system."

Nightwind did?

Mabilis na umalis si ma'am at naiwan akong tulala mula sa nalaman ko sa kaniya. Nang masiguro kong hindi ko na makita sa likod ng salamin si Ma'am Kharm ay hinarap ko ang higanteng screen.

"Atlas, show me what you know from Underworld Realm City."