Chapter 49: Physical Beauty Above All?

Wala akong naririnig kundi ang mga hakbang namin na nag-eecho sa paligid at ang malakas na kabog ng dibdib ko. Napatingin ako sa kamay ni Megan na mahigpit na nakakapit sa kamay ko. Trench is holding my other hand tightly samantalang sa kabila naman si Megan. She’s cold and shaking, and so am I but these two holding my both hands give me strength and courage. Trench led the way ngunit mababakas sa mukha niya ang pagkalito. The place is not familiar to him. Gayunpaman, I can see that he’s now focused.

“Did you come alone?” tanong ko sa kanya sa mababang boses na sinagot niya ng mahinang tango. Biglang uminit ang ulo ko. Wow, is this a one-man stunt to save us? Paano kung may mangyaring masama at madamay siya? Pusangina, akala ko ba ako lang ang umaaksyon ng hindi nag-iisip?! “Tanga ka ba?”

He gave me an expressionless look before his attention was focused again on our way. “It’s late, ayaw kong gisingin sila. And even if they’re awake, I don’t want to drag them to this situation. Takot ako Gallego. Natatakot akong gawin ulit ni Gon ang ginawa niya noon. And the thought that this time he may not be able to return scared the shit out of me kaya ayaw kong humingi ng tulong sa kanila.”

“Paano mo nalamang nandito kami?” tanong ko.

“I was at the rooftop,” he replied. “Nakita kitang naglalakad sa gitna ng gabi.”

I sighed. Trench still hangout at the rooftop. I used to talk with him before, iyon nga lang, nasa katauhan siya ni Bunny. Ayaw ko nang salungatin pa ang sagot niya. If I were him, I’ll do the same. I won’t drag Triangle or Gon or kahit siya. Mga pabida kasi sila minsan, feeling superhero. And just like Trench, it scares me knowing one day I will lose them in a situation like this.

“Kanina pa tayo nagpaikot-ikot,” bulalas ni Megan. “There’s no way out. Look at this place, ito rin ang dinaanan natin kanina.” Her voice was a bit hopeless at tama siya, tila umikot-ikot lang kami sa lugar na ito. Why can’t we find a way out?

“Teka,” sabi ko at bumitaw mula sa pagkakahawak nilang dalawa. Looks like we’re running in circles and we can’t really find a way out. “That means we have to make a way out.” Lumapit ako sa salamin na bintana at tinanaw ang labas. Muntik na akong mapasigaw nang makitang ang taas ng gusali. We’re probably at the Research Lab.

Goodbye to my plan of jumping down the window.

“We can’t just jump,” sabi ni Trench nang tila nabasa niya ang iniisip ko. “Nasa 70th floor tayo ng Research Lab.”

Mas lalo akong pinanghinaan ng loob. See?

“But something’s contrived,” ani Trench. “Nakapunta ako rito nang walang kahirap-hirap. Why can’t we escape easily? Isa pa ay hindi ganito ang daan namin kanina.”

“That’s because this is a revolving floor.”

Sabay kaming napatingin sa speaker na nasa sulok ng ceiling kung saan naririnig namin ang boses. I’m pretty sure it’s Doctor Luther-- isa pang salot sa lipunan. Argh! Nangigigil ako kapag naaalala ko siya! “Sorry pero wala na kayong kawala pa. You think you did good escaping there? Sorry, big brother’s watching you.” Sinabayan pa niya iyon ng malutong at nakakaasar na tawa.

I gritted my teeth and clenched my knuckles upang pigilan ang sarili kong sagutin siya ng mga walang kwentang salita gaya ng walang kwenta niyang pagkatao. His laughter lasts long and when it stopped, the room was quite eerie. Megan grab a hold of my arm, maybe just wanting something for support. As if on cue, the door opened at pumasok doon ang limang fake astronauts at limang men in black na may dalang mga armas.

Ang mahinang pagmumura lang ni Trench ang huli kong narinig bago ako nawalan ng ulirat dahil sa isang syringe na nakaturok sa leeg ko.

***

When I open my eyes, unang nabungaran ko ang nakakasilaw na ilaw. My forehead wrinkled as I tightly closed my eyes again at tinangkang bumangon ngunit hindi ko maigalaw ang katawan ko. I pulled my hand but something’s preventing me to do so. Sinubukan ko ring igalaw ang paa ko ngunit gaya ng kamay ko ay hindi ko magawa.

Bahagya kong ibinangon ang kalahati ng katawan ko upang tingnan kung ano ang pumipigil sa akin at napamura ako nang makitang nasa kama ako. My hands were tied on both sides, gayundin ang mga paa ko. Another belt was on my stomach to keep me in place. Right above me was a light na gaya ng ginagamit ng mga doktor tuwing nag-oopera.

Sinalakay ako ng kaba kaya napatingin ako sa paligid ko. Puto, I was at a clinic! A plastic surgery clinic!

“My patient is awake.”

Puto! Tila nasira ang buong araw ko nang makita ko si Doctor Luther sa gilid ko. Naka-pile sa gilid ang mga plastic surgery instruments and equipment at hindi ko maiwasang mapalunok nang sunod sunod. I panicked and pulled my arms but to no avail. Unti-unti siyang lumapit sa akin at may dalang syringe kaya mas naging triple ang kaba ko.

“Anong gagawin mo?!” I had a wild guess of course, but pusangina, nakakatakot.

He smiled evilly. “You know I hate ugly sights right? I want the Capital to be filled with beautiful people. Not ugly, not plain-looking but pretty.”

“Mukhang nahihibang ka na nga! You’re too obsessed on physical aspects gayong ang ugali mo ay hindi na kayang operahan ng kung ano man dahil sa labis na kapangitan nito!” I shouted at him. Puto, nagagawa ko pa talagang magsabi ng mga ganitong bagay sa sitwasyon ko. I can help it!

He smiled bitterly. “At ikaw naman, masyado kang convinced na mas mahalaga ang panloob ng tao? Dear, I’ve been alive for years more than you and I saw people saying things like that ngunit sa huli ay mas pipiliin pa rin ang mga magaganda. To be honest, people are hypocrite. They go claiming that physical beauty doesn’t matter as long as you have the heart but at the end of the day, they contradict their statements. Kunyari ay sasabihing mas pipiliin nila ang mabuti ang ugali kaysa sa magandang mukha ngunit mas gusto namang maghanap ng mga taong angat sa pisikal. Look around you dear, kahit gaano ka kabait, kahit gaano ka kagaling, wala kang panama sa maganda.”

Doctor Luther sounded sad when he said it and I took that opportunity to delay whatever he’s about to do.

“Y-you sound like you experienced it...”

Ngumiti siya at dahan-dahang tumango. “I was one of the kindest man here in the Capital but then no one appreciates me. I do good deeds but people acknowledge someone who looks good, heck they even do appreciation posts for them. Minsan ka lamang makakakita ng appreciation post para sa mga taong mabait. Maybe they will recognize your kindness for a minute or two, then forget it and focused on people who are physically pleasing to their eyes. Do you want to hear a story?”

I nodded my head and looked at him. He pulled a chair and sat there, looking sad than ever. Nakaka-bwesit ang mukha niya pero sa mga sandaling ito ay ininda ko na lamang iyon. I guess he has a story worth hearing for. Huminga siya nang malalim bago nagsimula.

“Few years ago, there was a man who’s not good-looking enough to everyone’s eyes. His teeth has gaps, he has freckles all over his face, his nose was round and his lips was crooked but he was a living angel. He spent his life helping people, animals and things. ‘yong tipong kahit wala na siyang pera ay ibibigay pa rin niya ang kahuli-hulihang kusing na meron siya sa taong mas nangangailangan. He’s hard working and he’s doing well in his job ngunit kapag nakikita niyang nahihirapan ang mga katrabaho niya, he will leave his post to help them and end up getting scolded dahil iniwan ang trabaho niya. Nawalan siya ng trabaho but still, he’s kind enough not to blame his workmates or his employer. Kapag may nakita siyang hayop sa daan ay itatabi niya or he will adopt them at sa araw-araw ay mas lalong lumiliit ang supply niya ng pagkain dahil marami na siyang pinapakain.”

“Kahit umuulan, di baleng mabasa siya basta ba matulungan niya ang asong umiiyak sa gitna ng daan. Kahit ma-late siya sa trabaho, he never hesitates to help people along his way. Kahit simpleng dumi nakakalat sa daan ay pagtitiyagaan niyang pulutin kahit anong oras pa ‘yan. One day he found this lost kid on the road. Galisin, payat, maruming-marumi but he looked at that kid with adoration. He asked him kung nasaan ang mga magulang niya o kung may nag-aalaga ba sa kanya and when the kid replied none, he brought him home at inalagaan siya na parang anak. Life was never easy lalo na sa tuwing taghirap. He always give away his all. ‘yong pagkaing isusubo na nga lang niya, ibibigay pa niya. His jacket was old and worn-out ngunit tuwing taglamig ay ibinabalabal niya iyon sa bata. No matter how hard life is, he was always kind and positive and the kid learned so much from him...”

“Isang araw ay hindi siya umuwi galing sa trabaho kaya hinanap siya ng bata and after few days, the kid found him at the Capital Jail--- and was on death row for stealing. The kid cannot believe it, paano niya nagawang magnakaw eh hindi siya ganoong tao? So this kid inquired and asked the police how was he caught and can you believe what they said? Sa dalawang suspect, siya raw ang mukhang magnanakaw. The other suspect was a fine-looking man while he’s ugly to others’ eyes. At the time, no concrete evidence was presented but the robbery victim wants to seek justice so he was convicted of crime. Despite the testimony of the kid that he’s not that kind of man, mas marami pa rin ang pumanig sa taong maganda ang hitsura. You see? People will favor you because of how you look, and not because of how beautiful you are inside. Kahit may gawin kang maganda, iilan lang ang makaka-appreciate sa’yo dahil doon and they will only adore you based on your physical appearance. Hindi sila titili sa’yo dahil mabait ka, titilian ka nila dahil may hitsura ka. He died as criminal for a crime he never committed. People will judge you on how you look, hindi nila titingnan ang ugali mo. That’s how bias this world is. And that kid... that kid who learned so much from his kindness ended with the same fate as him. The kid grew up so smart but unappreciated because he’s just plain-looking... That’s why he wanted to change the world by making everyone handsome and beautiful.”

His serious smile faded at napalitan iyon ng kanyang nakakainis na ngiti. “So masisisi mo ba ako kung gusto kong gawing maganda at gwapo ang lahat ng tao? When everyone will be physically pleasing to the eyes, then they will focus on your inner beauty. Iyon lang ang gusto ko dear and yet, you try to lecture me na para bang alam na alam mo kung paano tumakbo ang mundo?! You still have so much to learn; you haven’t seen enough of this world.”

“So you think it’s better to make everyone beautiful and focus on the physically beauty kaysa sa ipaglaban ang sa tingin mo ay tama? Dahil sa ginagawa mo, parang kinokonsenti mo ang mga taong humusga sa taong iyon. You tolerated their inhuman act of judging someone because of how they look kaysa sa itama ang mali nila?” I faked a laugh. “Sa halip na ipaunawa sa kanila na hindi mahalaga ang panlabas na anyo ng tao, parang mas nag-aagree ka pa sa kanila. You think it’s physical beauty above all? Akala ko ang talino mo, bobo ka pala.”

“I’m helping people!” he screamed. His face was red at mababakas ang galit sa mukha niya.

“Helping? You’re turning them into someone they aren’t. At ano? Nagpauto ka pa kay Doctor Aaron!”

“There are lucky and unlucky people dear. The lucky ones will turn pretty, unlucky ones will turn to meat. It’s just as simple as that.”

Hindi ko mapigilang manginig sa inis. It’s as simple as that?! Pusangina, anong klaseng utak meron siya?! I am not smart like him pero hindi naman ako kasingkitid niya na iisiping ganoon na lamang ang mangyayari. And he thinks it’s just like that?!

“Paano kung hindi pala ganoon? What if you think he only used the unsuccessful ones ngunit ang totoo pala ay kahit hindi dumaan sa clinic na ‘to ay ginagawa niya pa ring karne?!” I can’t help it, I’ve become hysterical a bit because of what I thought.

“That’s actually the case,” sagot niya at kung hindi lang ako nakatali sa pesteng kama na ‘to, baka nasapak ko na siya dahil sa labis na galit na nararamdaman ko sa mga sandaling ito. “But it’s actually a wise move. You solve hunger, and at the same time you solve overpopulation. Mas marami ang populasyon ng babae so turning them into delectable and nutritious meat is genius.”

“You are a monster!!!” I shouted. Puto simoai siopao kutsinta putobumbong nila! Anong klaseng nilalang sila para maisip na tama at matalinong desisyon iyon?!

“Your opinion about me doesn’t matter dear,” sagot niya sa akin. “No matter what you say, I will dedicate my life to people who wanted to be socially acceptable. You know you will only fit in this world if you are pretty and has a sexy figure. If you have those you have nothing to worry about.”

“Kaya mas gusto mong alisin ang mga taong hindi nagfi-fit sa society instead of eradicating what the society’s standard of socially acceptable is? You are putting people in a place where they are imprisoned in their so-called beauty standards. Why are you so obsessed in seeking approval from the society when you only need an approval of yourself? If that man in death row is alive, he must be very disappointed on that kid.”

I attacked him right with my words. I saw anger flickered in his eyes. He stood up and picked the syringe that he set aside when he was telling me the story. “Whatever dear, I still get what I want. And to be honest? You’re not pleasing to my sight so I need to do you a miracle.”

I closed my eyes at ilang beses na napamura habang hinihintay na lumapat sa katawan ko ang karayom. I screamed my lungs out ngunit sumakit na lamang ang lalamunan ko ay wala akong naramdaman. Nang binuksan ko ang mga mata ko, I saw Stella unstrapping the belts on my arms and feet. Sinulyapan ko si Doctor Luther na walang malay at may nakaturok na syringe sa leeg.

Pinanuod ko si Stella habang walang kangiti-ngiti sa kanyang ginagawa. I just watched her with curiosity hanggang sa matanggal niya ang lahat ng nakatali sa katawan ko.

“Umalis ka na sa gusaling ito Sunny,” sabi niya sa akin. “Wag mo na hanapin pa ang mga kasama mo. Tinulungan rin ni Thea si Megan so ang kailangan mo na lamang gawin ay umalis. Save yourself.”

Bumangon ako mula sa pagkakahiga at bumaba sa kama. “How about you? Umalis ka na rin dito. I don’t think it’s safe--” Napakurap ako nang ilang beses nang lumagapak sa mukha ko ang sampal niya. My head turned to one side and I was surprised by such slap kaya dahan-dahan akong napatingin sa kanya.

Pusangina?! I was slapped?!

“Bakit iyan pa ang sinabi mo?!” sigaw niya sa akin. Her tears were flowing freely on her face. “Nilinlang kita, ako ang dahilan kung bakit nandito ka ngayon sa halip na mahimbing ka na sanang natutulog tapos ganoon pa ang sasabihin mo sa akin?! Magalit ka, murahin mo ako! Tinraydor kita Sunny, puta, why do you have to sound so concern to me after what I did?!”

I gave her a slap too, to be fair kasi pusangina, ang sakit masampal lalo na kapag hindi mo inaasahan! Wala akong pakialam kung may hindi man mangyaring maganda sa bago niyang mukha, I just want to return the slap she gave me. “Plastik ako kung hindi ko sasabihing hindi ako nagalit dahil sa ginawa mo but still, you’re my friend.”

Her sobs became louder at tila batang napapasipa siya. “Pagkatapos ng ginawa ko sa’yo kaibigan pa rin ang tingin mo sa akin? Ikaw na mismo ang nagsabi, hindi na ako ang Stella na kilala mo.”

Nilunok ko ang bikig sa lalamunan ko. I didn’t prevent my tears, I just let them flow ngayong nakikita kong umiiyak si Stella. “Still, I know deep within you, naroon pa rin ang Stella na kaibigan ko. You wouldn’t be here right now if she’s totally gone.”

She covered her mouth and cried more. “Alam mo bang nang makita kita sa Capital Circle ay masaya ako? Hindi ako masaya dahil ipapahuli kita at ta-traydorin. Masaya ako dahil dumating ka, dahil pinagkatiwalaan mo ako, dahil pinili mong pumunta sa halip na paghinalaan ako.”

“I didn’t regret trusting you Stella,” I replied as I wiped away my tears. “But I regretted coming alone.” because I came alone, this happened. I should have asked for help.

She smiled and nodded. Her crying face looks happy knowing I trust her despite everything. “Umalis ka na bago ka pa mahuli ng mga marshals.”

“How about you?!”

“Kailangan ko pang itama ang mga maling ginawa ko,” sagot niya.

Hindi ko maiwasang mapataas ang kilay. Puto, ano magpapaka-hero rin ba siya para iligtas ako?! “Anong pinagsasabi mo?!”

“Ayaw kong mapunta sa palengke ang katawan ng mga babae Sunny,” sagot niya. “Sa tingin ko ay kailangan ko silang tulungang makaalis sa lugar na ito bago pa maging huli ang lahat.”

“Pero--”

“Just go Sunny,” pagpapaalis niya sa akin. “Kailangan ko lamang ilabas ang mga babae sa hibernation tubes para makaalis na tayong lahat dito.”

“I can help--”

Again, she cut me off. “I know Doctor Luther’s clinic more than you kaya pakiusap umalis ka na. Kaya ko na ‘to.”

Her eyes were pleading me to go and leave everything to her. Huminga ako nang malalim bago umatras ng ilang hakbang. The look in her face still didn’t change; she’s determined to let me go kaya agad akong umalis doon bago pa ako mahuli ng mga fake astronauts o men in black.

I run towards the place looking for exit and I luckily found an elevator. Pumasok ako at pinindot ko ng ground floor button. As the elevator moves down, I silently prayed it won’t stop at sana walang pumasok.

I thought I was lucky enough as the elevator moves down dahil hindi iyon huminto hanggang sa makarating sa ground floor. I was more relieved when the elevator across me opened at lumabas din doon si Megan na akay-akay si Trench na tila hinang-hina.

“What happened?” tanong ko at sinalubong sila. I helped keeping Trench walked straight. He looked awful. His face was beaten to death at sigurado akong hindi gugustuhin ng kung sino man ang bumugbog sa kanya na malaman ‘to ng kambal. I’m sure he will suffer double beating from the twins for messing with Trench!

“No time to explain now,” sagot ni Megan. “Umalis na muna tayo rito hanggang hindi pa nakakabalik si Doctor Aaron.”

Tumango na lamang ako kahit curios ako kung ano ang nangyari. Megan’s face was a bit bloated na tila ba galing siya sa matinding pag-iyak. I could only tell she had a confrontation with Thea or so. We heard noises around ngunit hindi na lamang iyon pinansin at nagmamadaling lumabas ng building. When we opened the metal door, we we’re welcomed by a crowd with their tarps and banners.

Natigilan kaming tatlo. The last time I remembered I was here at night time ngunit ngayon ay tirik na tirik ang araw. We stayed long inside the Research Lab? Also, bakit ang daming tao na tila nag-aalsa?

“WE WANT MORE P:RUM 2.0 PRODUCTS!”

Iyon ang nakita kong malaking nakasulat sa dala nilang mga karatula. They were shouting incomprehensibly. Nagkakagulo pa sa isang sulok dahil gusto nang pasukin ng iba ang Research Lab ngunit pinipigilan lamang sila ng mga marshals. Nagkasakitan na at mas lalong nagkagulo. Everyone was getting wild over human meat?! Puto, anong nangyayari?!

We were frozen on our track and cannot believe our eyes. People are tolerating this Project:RUM?!

There was a noise coming from the large speakers na mula sa maliit na etablado sa harap ng Research Lab kung saan nakaharap ang lahat. I heard a voice cleared and mic testing at mukhang tama ang hinila ko, it’s Doctor Aaron who was standing there in front of the crowd who has gone crazy asking for more human meat.

“Calm down everyone!” sabi niya sa mikropono. Puto, the people seriously calmed down and focused on him. “Kailangan ninyong pumila nang maayos. If you will not be in decorum, we will delay the sale of P:RUM 2.0 meat!”

The people lined up immediately at tila excited na excited. Puto, ngayon lang yata ako nagalit ng ganito dahil sa pagiging masunurin ng mga tao. They really wanted to buy P:RUM 2.0 products kahit alam nila kung ano iyon? Is this how Doctor Aaron was able to poison their minds?

I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING!

#

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A/N: Thank you sa lahat ng pumunta sa DoaWC ng PSICOM❤ thank you for joining me on RFYL's book launch.