Chapter 47: Terrible Things

Kanina pa ako umiikot-ikot sa sala ng Bldg. 1485 at hindi mapakali. Pasado alas dyes na ng gabi ngunit hindi pa rin umuuwi si Megan. The others are still up too dahil sa pag-aalala. Bigla na lamang akong hinila ni Tatsulok paupo sa tabi niya.

"Pancake umupo ka," seryosong turan niya. "Walking back and forth doesn't help, malulula ka lamang."

Huminga ako nang malalim at nag-aalalang napatingin sa kanila. Pentagon looks so serious while staring at his wristwatch. Si Coco naman ay nilalabanan ang antok. KL was half-asleep on the side at naka-charge naman sa gilid si AndE. Puto nasaan na ba kasi si Megan? Huling kita ko sa kanya ay kausap niya si Thea.

Pusangina, paano kung...

No. Hindi dapat ako mag-isip ng kung anu-ano. I won't attract negative thoughts. Megan is still alive and kicking. Hindi pa siya nalalata or what, that's for sure... or am I sure?

Puto, ano ba naman 'tong iniisip ko? Of course, she's still alive. She must be somewhere bitching people with her spicy words. I don't like Megan but I have to admit she's one of the bravest and smartest people I know. Hindi pa siya patay okay? She's somewhere, maybe drinking alcohol. She's not the type who dies that fast. No way. Masamang damo rin 'yon kaya hindi 'yon madaling mamatay.

"Puto, hindi ako mapalagay, hindi ba natin siya pupuntahan?" I blurted out which made them looked at me.

"Don't fret Kitten," sagot ni Gon. "Megan usually comes home late."

"Paano kung hindi ito gaya ng mga dati na uuwi lang siya nang late? Paano kung-- argh, I don't want to say it." Napabuntong-hininga ako. Pusangina, napa-paranoid ako. Pero may rason naman na nagiging paranoid ako hindi ba? The last time I saw her, she looks like she's arguing with Thea who now has the same face as her. She told her things she didn't mean, paano kung pinagpalit ni Doctor Luther ang mukha nila? Pusangina, wag naman sana.

Puto, I'm really thinking too negative.

Hinawakan ni Tatsulok ang kamay kong nakapatong sa tuhod ko. "Relax Pancake, okay? Just relax."

Puto, may gana pa silang sabihin sa akin na magrelax eh nagpapanic na ang kalooban ko! Fine, iisipin ko na lamang na ayos lang si Megan. Of course, she's someone smart and strong. She will not fall for anything that will harm here.

As if on cue, the door opened at pumasok doon si Nikon. He looked at us without an expression on his face at tila hindi rin siya nagulat na naroon pa kaming lahat sa ganitong oras. I immediately stood up and run towards him, holding the collar of his shirt.

"Saan ninyo dinala si Megan?" I blurted angrily. This is an accusation, I know. Pero knowing na loyal siya kay Doctor Aaron ay hindi ko magawang hindi maghinala. Megan could be in danger lalo na kung mga babae ang ginagawa nilang subject para sa P:RUM 2.0.

Hindi man lamang siya nagulat nang makita ako. Since I returned, I haven't seen him at the dormitory and I could only guess he's providing his loyal service to Doctor Aaron sa mga panahong wala siya. Puto, kahit pa sabihing niligtas niya ako kahit papaano nang pinauwi niya ako sa Tussah hindi ko pa rin siya mapapatawad kung sakaling may mangyaring masama kay Megan.

Women doesn't deserve to be treated like this. Hindi kami pagkain na magsa-satisfy sa gutom nila. Like them we're human too, nakakaramdam din kami. Nasasaktan. But look what that crazy Aaron Rosco did. Meat for their satisfaction and to fulfill his obsession in making his project successful?! Pusangina lang!

"I don't know," sagot ni Nikon.

Mas hinigpitan ko ang pagkakahawak sa kwelyo niya at hindi man lamang niya tinangkang kumawala. His eyes turned to the others who were also looking at him, waiting for his honest reply. But we got nothing but a sigh.

"Sumagot ka Nikon!" I shouted ngunit tinitigan niya lang ako.

"Let him go Kitten," narinig kong wika ni Gon sa seryosong tono.

I gritted my teeth before I harshly let go of him. Nikon sighed again before he fixed his collar and walked towards the stairs, papunta sa kwarto. I kept giving his back deadly glares. Kung nakamamatay lang talaga ang tingin, malamang isang hakbang pa lamang niya ay patay na siya. Puto, hindi ako naniniwala na hindi niya alam kung nasaan si Megan. I know he knows something. Ayaw lang niyang magsalita.

"He knows something!" frustrated na baling ko sa kanila.

"Pero wala tayong mapapala sa kanya," sabi ni Triangle. "Nikon can be a good friend, but he's also your worst enemy. His loyalty is on another level. We'll figure out everything on our own for now."

***

Pasado hatinggabi na ngunit hindi pa rin bumabalik si Megan. The others are probably asleep on their respective rooms samantalang hindi ko man lamang magawang umidlip kahit saglit. When I turned sideward, I saw Megan's empty bed kaya mas lalong hindi ako mapalagay.

I stood from my bed and sat on her bed looking for nothing. Napatigil ako nang tumunog ang cellphone ko nasa mesa. I immediately stood up to check it at nagulat ako nang mabasa ang text.

"Sunny, pwede bang magkita tayo sa Capital Circle?-- Stella."

My knuckles immediately clenched. I still cannot believe that she's the new Stella that I knew. My best friend for years has become someone I didn't know anymore. Ang dami ko na ngang iniisip tapos dumagdag pa si Stella.

But what if she wanted to apologize to me? We both know how deep we value each other. We're not just friends; we're family. Sariwa pa rin sa isipan ko ang mga ginawa niya para sa akin noon. She's my partner in everything I do. She always cheer me up whenever my insecurities with Jean-Claude strikes and in return, ipinagtatanggol ko siya kapag may umaaway sa kanya noon. Be it male or female.

I wanted to ignore her message and continue waiting for Megan but what if Stella has something important to tell me? Like she's sorry for the wrong decision she made nang nilason ni Doctor Luther ang isipan niya? At puto, I admit that hearing from her somewhat relieved me. Inaamin kong nag-aalala ako sa kanya dahil baka isa siya sa mga ginamit na babae at ginawang karne para sa Capital. Pusangina, naiisip ko pa lamang iyon ay hindi ko maiwasang malungkot.

Muntik na akong mapatalon sa gulat nang magring ang cellphone ko at rumehistro roon ang pangalan niya. I immediately answered the call.

"Stella."

"Sunny..." her voice was heavy. Pangalan ko pa lamang ang sinasabi niya ay nahihimigan ko na ang lungkot sa boses na iyon. She may have different face but her voice is still the same. And I know that tone very well. She always used it to me lalo na kapag malungkot siya o di kaya ay nangangailangan ng kausap. Kapag naiinggit siya sa kapatid niyang lalaki na tila pinapaboran ng mga magulang niya, ginagamit niya ang tonong iyon para makipagkita sa akin. And damn, I miss Stella so much. I miss my old best friend.

"Sunny, pwede ba tayong mag-usap?" wika niya.

I bit my lower lip to prevent myself from sobbing. Ang dami ng nangyari sa Capital. Ang daming nawala. And that's when I thought I don't want Stella to be included in those things that disappeared or just go away.

"I'll be there," I said with a sigh bago pinatay ang tawag. Humigpit ang hawak ko sa cellphone ko. I grabbed my jacket and dashed out the door upang pumunta sa Capital Circle.

Sa daan ay hindi ako nag-isip na baka may masamang balak si Stella sa akin. She wouldn't do that much betrayal. May tiwala ako sa kanya. Kahit nagbago na siya, alam kong nariyan pa rin sa kaloob-looban niya ang Stella na kaibigan ko. I walked on the way in the middle of the night, avoiding the guards who were taking rounds around the academy.

It didn't take long before I arrived at the Capital Circle where I saw Stella sitting on one of the benches there. She was staring at her foot as she waits for me. Looking at her from a distance, kung hindi ko alam na siya si Stella, tiyak kong hinding-hindi ko talaga siya makikilala. She's very pretty now-- even if artificial lamang ang ganda niya. Siya na 'yong tipong nakikita mo sa mga magazines o di kaya ay 'yong tila mga nakaphotoshop na pictures pero mas maganda pa roon plus alive and still.

I knew Stella for a long time-- or maybe I used to. Hindi ko naman alam na may tinatago pala siyang insecurities sa katawan at hitsura niya. Or maybe Doctor Luther just successfully poisoned her mind thus making her decide to undergo plastic surgery.

I walked closer and cleared my throat to get her attention. She turned to look at me and from the lamp post around the Capital Circle, I saw her eyes glistened. She cried, obviously.

"Nandito ka na pala," she said at tumayo.

I forced a smile. "Bakit gusto mo akong makipagkita sa'yo Stella?"

Yumuko siya at mapait na ngumiti. When she raised her head, I saw a tear escaped her right eye. "I'm sorry Sunny."

I stood confused about everything. Humihingi ba siya ng tawad dahil sa naging usapan namin noong nalaman kong siya si Stella? Or did she wants to say sorry for kissing Triangle? Or is she sorry for becoming someone I never knew anymore?

Naging sunod-sunod na ang pag-agos ng kanyang mga luha. "I'm really sorry Sunny."

Hahakbang sana ako palapit sa kanya at sabihing ayos lang ang lahat ngunit hindi ko pa man naaangat ang magkabilang paa ko ay naintindihan ko na kung bakit siya humihingi ng tawad at umiiyak. Two men in black was in front of me with their guns aimed at me. I took a step backward ngunit mayroon ding mga men in black sa likuran ko.

Natigilan ako at pinigilan kong mapaiyak. So this is how it felt to be betrayed. I trusted Stella so I came here alone, without telling anyone. Para ano? Para hulihin?

Siguro karma ko na rin 'to. I did the same thing to Triangle before. And I swear it doesn't feel good. It feels like my tummy's turning dahil sa ginawa ni Stella. She sold me to Doctor Aaron who's now standing in front of me, smirking.

Hindi naman mapigilan ni Stella ang kanyang iyak. And I'm certain she felt the same guilt I felt before. Gayunpaman, it doesn't change the fact that I trust her that's why I feel so betrayed. And I feel so disappointed right now.

Mapait na ngumiti na lamang ako sa sarili ko. Stupid Sunny. Puto akala ko ba nag-iisip na ako bago umaaksyon? I guess I really need Gon or Triangle to bind me so that I wouldn't do things out of impulse.

"Surprise?" tanong ni Doctor Aaron sa akin.

I tipped my head to meet his eyes. Tiniyak kong maanghang ang mga tinging binibitawan ko. "Anong kailangan mo sa akin Doctor Aaron?"

He laughed annoyingly. Puto, isa pa pala 'tong annoying na 'to! Akala ko si Moran, Palomo at Doc Luther lang! Why am I so blind? All this time ang lapit-lapit lang pala ng demonyong 'to sa akin?! Puto, I was even on the same research team handled by him!

"I thought Nikon is successful in sending you away," sabi niya.

"He did pero wala naman sa napagkasunduan namin na hindi ako babalik," sagot ko.

Doctor Aaron signaled on his men at gumalaw naman ang isa at hinila palayo roon si Stella. She was still crying as she glanced at me before she was successfully brought inside the car parked just few meters away at umalis doon.

"I see," wika niya. "Nikon said you have something in you that's why we should not kill you." An annoying smile appeared on the side of his lips. "And guess what?"

I mentally rolled my eyes. Kinakausap niya ako, as if naman gusto ko siyang kausap. Hindi ako interesado sa sasabihin niya. I turned my head away ngunit agad din naman akong natigilan nang marinig ang sinabi niya.

"It's all bluff. You have no device, it's all a ploy. Bilib na bilib talaga ako kay Mozart," wika niya at bahagyang natawa. Wow, nakakatawa 'yon? Siraulo nga yata 'to si Doctor Aaron.

But then realization hits me. Kung alam na niya, that means he can kill me any moment he wants.

"Imagine, noon pa man ay nalinlang na nila si Moran?" sabi niya at bahagyang lumapit. "Nang tinangka niyang tanggalin ang device kay Mozart, there was an explosion in the 5th ward that almost annihilated the ward but then I found faults in that. It was actually Sir Nebuchadnezzar's doing at hindi dahil sa missiles ng Tussah."

"Your point?" tanong ko. I don't want to beat around the bush anymore. Isa pa nakakawalang gana siya kausap.

"I can kill you anytime I want."

I suppressed my sigh. See? That's what he really wants. Pusangina, huling gabi ko na ba ngayon?

"But I won't do that," dagdag niya. "Or at lest not yet." Lumapit siya sa akin at umikot. "Do you know how much of a hassle you are?" I rolled my eyes. I've been called worst. "Panira ka sa plano. You see? Pakialamera ka. Gusto ko lang maging successful ang Project:RUM pero anong ginawa mo? You blow up my plan. Mas nakakairita ka pa kaysa kay Moran. And you should know terrible things will happen to people like you."

I twitched a little. Wow, kinumpara niya ako kay Moran. So tama nga ang hinala ko. It's not really Moran who planned all this. Nagpadala lang siya kay Doctor Aaron Rosco na ikababaliw yata kung hindi na naman maging matagumpay ang P:RUM 2.0.

"Nasaan si Megan?!" naiinis na sigaw ko sa kanya. He took a step backward before he smirked.

"Where do you think?"

"Pusangina mo Doctor Aaron, hindi ako nakikipagbiruan sa'yo!" I felt my rage kicking in. Sana ay hindi pa huli ang lahat. I can still see Megan right? Tumawa siya na tila siraulo. Bigla na lamang akong hinawakan ng dalawang men in black athalos baliin na ang mga braso ko sa likuran. The only thing I can do is glare at them and groan in pain.

"You mean my potential meat?" tanong niya. "Don't worry, you'll see her later. Also, I'll let you taste how delectable and nutritious a smart and beautiful woman's meat it." Sinabayan pa niya iyon ng malutong na tawa. "That's what my research is about Sunny Gallego. Mas maganda at mas matalino, mas de kalidad ang karne. At ikaw? I will let you witness my success before I'll cut you into pieces tutal hindi ka naman masyadong de kalidad. Some parts will be displayed in the market, some will be canned and sold to the poor, how do you like that?"

Lumapit siya sa akin at tinapik ang balikat ko kasabay ng nakakairitang tawa niya. Sinubukan kong manlaban ngunit hindi ko magawa dahil hawak ako ng mga men in black. I feel nothing but disgust and eagerness to save Megan. Pusanginang mga men in black 'to! Pusangina din ni Doctor Luther at higit sa lahat, pusangina mo Doctor Aaron!

May gana pa siyang insultuhin ako. And yep, he must be right when he said I can't be a quality meat since I am not that smart. In fact I was so dumb. I was so dumb to overlook everything about him. All this time, he's there! He's the real enemy and he's close behind. Damn, we should have run as fast as we can!

#

VOTE AND COMMENT
Thank you! <3

A/N:
thank you for your advance greetings and congratulations! hehe labyou❤