Chapter 29: My Way

I stared at myself in front of the mirror and think of every bad thing I am. I am impulsive, I know. But on my defense, If I wouldn't act immediately I may doubt or worse I'll be filled with fear.

I am whiny. Who else isn't? Come on, every one has a whiny side, iyon nga lang, palagi kong ini-express and pagiging reklamador ko.

I  am not smart ass like Triangle, at alam ko rin iyon. Wala akong patent na para sa lahat.

But I have the courage to fight for what's right. It still matters, right? My tears fell on my cheeks. Triangle hit me with words at masyado iyong tumagos. All these time I was just being a talker without any contribution at all?

Bumukas ang pinto at pumasok doon si Megan. I should have hide my face at huwag ipakita sa kanya na umiiyak ako but I am so down right now to the point that I don't care anymore.

She stared at me through the mirror. "What's the matter?"

Ayaw ko sanang sumagot dahil baka ayain na naman niya ako ng inuman. Puto, it's broad daylight and I might say yes! "N-nothing."

She crossed her arms and made a face. "You don't cry for nothing."

Napakagat ako sa labi ko. Tama si Megan. I don't cry for nothing. "I-I'm a useless bitch who's just good in whining and ranting pero wala namang ambag sa lipunan." Puto, naiiyak na naman ako.

"Who said that?" she asked.

"Doesn't matter. It's the truth anyway." Why did I only notice it now? All these time I am just a useless bitch.

Lumapit siya sa akin at tiningnan ang repleksyon ko sa salamin. "You know I really don't like you."

I frowned and nodded. "I know. I don't like me, too."

Bigla niyang hinawakan ang balikat ko at hindi inalis ang tingin sa akin sa salamin. "But you're the bravest bitch I've ever known. And it's not 100% true that you only whine and rant. Ang ibig kong sabihin, 80% true iyon dahil doon ka naman talaga magaling, but Sunny, you saved a lot of people and you've been a great help."

Puto, hindi ko alam kung niloloko lang ba niya ako o gusto niya lang akong i-comfort. I was so convinced that Triangle is right but now, she's making me doubt.

"Remember when you taught your friends at the prep class to be brave? That was great."

My mind filled with the thoughts of their faces when they smile. Margo and Iris said before they will be brave, too, and that's because of me.

"Remember the old folks at Foster? That was chaotic but you save their lives as well as their family. Imagine their pain kapag lahat ng matanda roon ay ginawang de lata?"

Bumalik naman sa alaala ko ang magulong pangyayaring iyon. I fought for their freedom, I fought for their lives.

Megan smiled. "You even eliminated the prep class made everyone enjoy every perks of the Academy."

Naalala ko ang araw na iyon. I was announced as 10th place in the Royals so the director gave me a favor and I asked to eliminate the prep class. Triangle was there, too, disguised as Pentagon.

Mas lalo akong nalungkot nang maalala ang Triangle na iyon. It's an annoying Triangle back then but I'd rather have that kind of Triangle than the one he's become now.

"You see, there are a lot of things not likeable about you but Sunny you are great." She frowned. "I hate to say this but you also made me brave and I am thankful about that. Still, I don't like you."

Pakiramdam ko ay na-recharge ako. Parang naging isang daang porsiyento ang lakas ko sa mga sandaling ito. Pinunasan ko ang mga luha ko at hinarap si Megan.

"I owe you a drink," wika ko sa kanya bago tumakbo palabas. Mali si Triangle. Hindi totoong wala akong ambag!

Puto, parang hindi ako ang Sunny na anak ni Papa kanina. Bakit ba nagpapaapekto ako kay Tatsulok?! He's a troubled guy who vents his frustration on others and I don't wanna be one of them. Hindi dapat ako natitinag sa pinagsasabi niya. Kahit pa si Satanas Jr. siya, wala akong pake! I got halo above my horns, too!

When I went out of the dormitory, halos matigilan ako nang makita ang mga graffiti sa bagong pintura na mga dingding. That familiar penis graffiti just made it harder for me!

Nandito na ba talaga si Pentagon?! What the hell is he doing?! Bakit hindi na lamang siya magpakita? Kailangan niyang putulin ang sungay ng kambal niya!

Siya nga kaya si Nikon? Is he playing a guessing game kaya hindi niya inaamin na siya talaga si Pentagon? I think I can ask one person to clarify that thing to me. Hindi na ako nag-aksaya pa ng panahon at pumunta sa Research Lab. Being part of the P:RUM team really comes in handy dahil agad akong pinapasok ng mga nakabantay sa labas.

Like the usual, the halls were empty except the transparent walls of the rooms kung saan tila abala ang mga doktor. I walked passed them and went to the elevator. Nakasalubong ko rin ang ilang mga fake astronauts ngunit hindi lang nila ako pinansin.

Nang makapasok ako sa elevator ay walang pag-aalinlangan na pinindot ko ang 69th floor.

I have to find out straight from Dr. Luther kung sakaling may nagpaayos nga sa kanya. It could be Gon at marahil iyon ang dahilan kung bakit hindi agad namin siya nakilala.

My heart was heavy as I waited for the elevator door to reach the 69th floor. Maraming bagay ang gumugulo sa isipan ko sa mga sandaling ito. Dumagdag pa ang mandatory death na gagawin ngayong hapon. And I need to find a way to prevent that from happening!

Nang bumukas ang pinto ng elevator ay tila gusto kong umatras. Am I ready to know the truth? I throw away all my hesitations. My footsteps echoed on the corners of the 69th floor.

Hanggang sa marating ko ang pinto ng opisina ni Dr. Luther ay puno pa rin ako ng takot. Takot ako na makuha ang sagot niya. What if Gon hasn't been in this place? What if Gon is somewhere other than this place?

Masyado na akong naloloka dahil sa mga pinagsasabi ng kapatid niya sa akin. Inaamin ko na kalahati ng pagkatao ko ang umaasa na kapag bumalik si Pentagon, babalik na rin ang dating Tatsulok. Kahit pa ilang itlog at pancake mix ang sayangin niya, ayos lang! I just want to get rid of the current Triangle.

Hindi ko maintindihan kung ano ang plano niya, that is, kung meron man. Pero paano kung pumapanig lang talaga siya kay Moran? No, that shouldn't happen. Triangle must not waste his intelligence by being a pawn of Moran!

Pero paano kung kontrolado na rin siya? What if Moran made something like P2 that works on any type of blood?

Inalis ko sa isipan ang bagay na iyon. If that's the case, e‘di sana ay ginamit na niya iyon sa akin.

I knocked few times on the door  before I heard a voice coming from the intercom to come in. Walang pag-aalinlangan na pumasok ako sa loob at natagpuan kong abala sa ilang mga papeles si Doctor Luther.

"Uhmm, hello?" I asked to get his attention.

Nag-angat siya ng tingin at tila inalala kung sino ako. Then he smiled widely. "Oh you're here, dear! Did you change your mind already?"

Hindi ko mapigilan ang mapasimangot. Puto, bakit ba gustong-gusto niya talaga akong mag-undergo ng surgery?! Pusangina, ilang beses niya bang ipapamukha sa akin na hindi ako maganda? Oo alam ko! Tanggap ko!

Lumapit ako sa kanya at hindi na nagpaligoyligoy pa. "By any chance, may nagpunta ba rito sa 'yo na lalaki?" The chips exploded on his hand kaya malaki ang posibilidad na sunog ang mukha niya kaya kailangan niya ng surgery. "His face is burnt or anyone whose condition is closed to that."

Dr. Luther fixed his glasses before he smiled at me. "Sorry but my clients’ identity are confidential."

Confidential, eh, sinabi na nga niya sa akin ang tungkol sa mama ko. "You told me about Venna Ruiz."

"You doubted my credibility that time," sagot niya.

Gusto kong mainis sa nga sandaling ito pero ayaw kong lumala ang sitwasyon. Kapag pinairal ko ang inis ko, I might not be able to get any information.

“Please,” pagsusumamo ko. I have so many things that bother me right now at kung pwede lang kahit isa lang doon na magpapatahimik sa akin. If possible, I want to know who’s Gon now. Alam kong papansin si Gon minsan but why this way?

“I’m really sorry,” sagot niya.

I sighed heavily. Mukhang desidido siya na huwag akong pagbigyan sa hinihingi ko. I left his office with a heavy heart. Nang lulan na ako ng elevator ay hindi pa rin mawala sa isipan ko ang tungkol sa graffiti. Gusto ko ngang isipin na medyo mainit lang ang ulo ni Tatsulok dahil sa graffiti na iyon kaya nasabi rin niya ang mga bagay na iyon sa akin.

Pero puto, kahit na! How dare him?! bahagya akong nagulat nang huminto ang elevator sa 30th floor at may pumasok. To my surprise, it was Trench. Parehas kaming nagulat nang makita ang isa’t isa. Nagmamadaling lumulan siya sa elevator at isinara iyon.

“What are you doing here, Gallego?” tanong niya.

“I have to check something,” sagot ko. “The graffiti bothered me a lot. Ikaw?”

“The mandatory death really bug me since the first time they did it,” he replied. “I tried digging up last week and found nothing pero naghihinala pa rin ako. The cremation process is still questionable to me. Paano kung hindi totoo na cr-in-emate nila ang mga matatanda pagkatapos ang mandatory death? What if they staged it all and the truth is that they still used human meat?”

Bigla akong kinabahan sa sinabi niya. Puto talaga sa lahat ng puto si Moran! Ano na naman ba ang naisipan niya?! “Anong ibig mong sabihin?”

Trench lowered his voice. “I overheard some doctors discussed about a certain meat.  I didn’t get to hear what meat it is but they described it as extremely delicious that no other animal meat can be compared to it.”

Napasabunot ako sa buhok ko. Talagang hindi pa tumitigil si Moran sa kahibangan niya! And another mandatory death is scheduled this afternoon! “Did you find anything?”

Trench shook his head. “Nothing suspicious. If only I’m part of the P:RUM team, I can have a closer look.”

I feel bad for him for a while. Dahil iyon kay Tatsulok! Although it’s Trench’s fault dahil siya naman ang may gusto na ibigay kay Triangle ang project niya pero gayunpaman, ng kapal naman ng mukha niya para panindigan iyon as if he’s really the one who did it! Inagaw pa niya ang pwesto ni Trench sa Royal! And speaking of Royals, I remember Triangle’s Solar Water.

“It’s Triangle’s fault,” I mumbled.

He shook his head. “No, it’s my choice and I never regretted it, Gallego.”

Tsk. He’s really selfless. Pentagon should really return at nang hindi lang si Tatsulok ang maituwid niya kundi maging si Trench. Noong nakita kami ni Triangle sa kwarto ni Trench, ang titanium net ang pakay niya noon. “I just remembered something, bakit nasa sa ’yo ang titanium net na bahagi ng research ni Triangle noong Royals?”

“He asked me to do it.”

Napangiwi ako. Kung gayon, ibig sabihin ay tila tinulungan pa siya ni Trench at iyon lang ang igaganti ni Triangle? Now I hate him very much! Bumukas ang elevator door at nasa ground floor na kami.

“He already sold his patent to Moran,” sabi ko.

Trench just nodded his head. Wala man lamang siyang kahit na anong reaksyon. Hindi ba siya naiinis sa pinsan niya? Trench is so selfless at kabaligtaran naman si Tatsulok! Ang selfish niya!

“Did he even ask you if you agree that he’ll sell the patent? After all may ambag ka naman  pala sa research niya. He even used that against you,” naiinis na sabi ko.

“I don’t mind,” sagot niya at napatingin sa kanyang wristwatch. “Mayamaya ay mangyayari na ang ikalawang mandatory death. I really feel sorry for the old people and their families in case totoo nga ang hinala ko. What if they prepared ashes beforehand para kunyari nai-cremate ang mga matatanda when in fact they’re really kept and subject for meat study?”

Napakuyom ako. Iniisip ko pa lamang iyon ay hindi ko na maiwasang isumpa si Moran. “If that’s the case, I’ll do some preventive measures.”

Bahagya akong nagulat nang hinawakan ni Trench ang mga palad kong nakakuyom. “Gallego, please...” He sounded worried and his blank eyes didn’t leave mine.

“What?”

“I don’t want you to do dangerous stunts again,” tila nagsusumamong wika niya.

“Hindi ko nasisikmura ang ginagawa ni Moran! I need to do something about it, Trench. Ayaw kong hanggang sa pagtutol lamang ako. Ayaw kong ipakita kay Tatsulok na tama siya. Na hanggang salita at reklamo lang ako!” Puto, sumasakit na naman ang dibdib ko kapag naaalala ang mga masasakit na salitang binitawan ni Tatsulok.

Trench looked at me as if he’s trying to read me. Mayamaya ay napabuntong hininga siya. “I know I cannot prevent you from doing what you want. How are you suppose to do it, Gallego?”

“I’ll do it my way,” nakataas  ang noo na sagot ko.

***

I arrived at the Capital Circle fifteen minutes before the second mandatory death takes place. Puno ang lugar ng mga pamilya ng dalawang daang matatanda na naka-schedule na patayin ngayon. They stood on the side and almost everyone is weeping.

I squeezed myself into the crowd. Nakatayo na sa harap ng mga cremation box ang matatanda. The box is where they were supposed to be killed in a painless way and simultaneously, they will be cremated so that their family members will be able to take their ashes home.

Nakahanda na sa harap ang ang podium na tiyak ko kung saan tatayo si Moran. Napakalaki rin ng screen sa harap and I’m sure Moran prepared a montage for the old people. Tsk, ang plastic lang! Gusto ko sanang i-check ang mga box ngunit may mga nakabantay na Capital army.

Ilang sandali ay sinimulan na ng Capital na i-flash sa malaking screen ang mga larawan ng mga matatanda. I was right when I thought it will be for a montage. They were thanked for their lives and contribution to the Capital at kung anu-ano pa. Pakiramdam ko ay mas nag-apoy ako sa galit sa Capital at sa bulok na sistema.

Few minutes before the mandatory death starts, I snuck at the backstage where the operators are. Tumahimik ang buong Capital Circle nang umakyat sa maliit na entablado si Moran at pumunta sa podium.

He cleared his throat and flashed a sad face. Puto, ang galing umarte!

“Good day, citizens,” panimula niya. “I know this will be another gray day for us but you are all aware how important this day is. Hopefully you will see this day as something valuable to you. Our loved ones will be hailed as hero as they leave this place and rest eternally.” He continued his speech telling how hard life could be with a high number of population. May paawa effect pa siya but none of the people in front of him seems to understand his words. They were pained at the thought of losing a family ngunit kahit na hindi man sila pumayag, wala silang magagawa. Moran has the absolute control in the Capital. Disobedience means insubordination. Insubordination means resistance to the authority. Resistance to authority means imprisonment or worse, death.

Matapos ang speech na puro lang naman kaplastikan ay iginala ni Moran ang paningin sa paligid. “Please watch the montage that we prepared.”

Another video flashed on the huge screens at handa na sana akong gawin ang plano ko. Yep, I’m about to do something stupid again. Paninindigan ko ang kasinungalingan ni Papa. Pipigilan ko ang mandatory death and I will inform everyone about the device in my heart and what’s supposed to happen kung sakaling  bawian ako ng hininga. I will taunt Moran that I’ll kill myself kung sakaling ipagpapatuloy niya ang mandatory death.

Kung ipapaalam ko iyon sa lahat, that will cause fear to them and that way, hindi lamang ako ang tahasang tututol sa mga walang kwentong desisyon ni Moran. This can cause another revolt, like what happened before at posibleng kahit ngayon lang ay mapagbigyan kami ni Moran. Walang kasiguraduhan but I will still try anyway.

Paakyat na sana ako ng stage ngunit biglang na-interrupt ang montage. An image of a shadow in a hood flashed on the huge screen at kasunod niyon ay ang penis graffiti!  I froze on my track. I saw that image before!

Noong pinaalam namin sa Capital ang tungkol sa human meat! Pentagon’s hacking signature!

Nagkagulo ang mga nag-o-operate at isa sa mga iyon ang lumapit kay Moran at may ibinulong. I saw how Moran’s face turned red at bahagyang tumaas ang kanyang boses.

“Anong ayaw gumana?! Kahit ang system ng mga death box?!” galit na sabi nI Moran sa lumapit sa kanya. Napansin kong nawala ang mga ilaw sa mga box na nasa baba. Murmurs filled the place at mas lalong nagkagulo ang mga operators. Some of the boxes sparked at ang ilan ay umusok kaya nagkagulo ang mga tao sa paligid at nagmamadaling kinuha ang mga matatanda na nasa harap ng box.

Mas dumami pa ang mga nag-spark na wirings at maging ang screen ay biglang namatay at umusok. The crowed panicked and I found myself stuck in the middle. I tried squeezing myself out dahil baka sumabog ang mga death box na naroon ngunit nahihirapan ako dahil sa dami ng mga tao.

Suddenly, a bionic arm grabbed me tightly and lead me out of the commotion. My eyes traveled from the bionic arm up to the face of that person. My eyes widened in surprise.

“Hello, Kitten!”

#

VOTE AND COMMENT
Thankeu❤