Growing up in a well-known family, Celeste Aragon always lived in unending rules. And among all of the rules, there's one rule she should never violate: Never ever show her special ability to anyone. Her being illusionist should be a secret. But Cel...
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LEANING on the railings, I kept my eyes focused on the field. Iba't ibang gifteds ang tanaw kong naglalakaran doon. My eyes went to the high walls enclosing this place. It was so tall I couldn't even see the establishments laid outside even though I was already standing on the third floor of this building.
Ni walang pwedeng akyatan sa pader. With thousands of gifteds living here, with their different abilities, none of them dared to escape? Oh wait, there were gifted people before who tried to escape, pero lagi rin silang nahuhuli.
Of course, that was the main purpose of electronic bracelets, to track gifteds wherever they go. Pati nga bawat pinto ng apartment dito, may nakadikit na maliit na device. As far as I know, these devices could track whether the gifted living in that room is inside or not.
Napapa-what the fuck na lang ako every time naiisip ko 'yong mga bagay na 'yon. Kahit pa magtagumpay ka na makatakas dito sa institution, you will still end up as a wanted person. Mas lalong lalala ang sitwasyon mo. Being a gifted sucks, right? This society sucks.
I turned my head around when I heard footsteps coming in my direction. It was Kevin whose brows were furrowed.
"Ba't ganiyan itsura mo?" I asked.
Tumigil siya sa tabi ko at nakasimangot na sumandal sa railings. "Kinausap ako kahapon ni Ms. Abaya. Need ko raw umattend sa counseling mamaya."
Nangunot ang noo ko. "For what?"
"Dahil sa pagtrespass at pagnanakaw na ginagawa ko." He lowered his voice.
"E ba't mo nga ba ginagawa 'yon?"
That question made him quiet for few moments. I sensed the hesitation he felt on answering it.
"If you're in my situation, wala ka rin naman ng choice e." He shrugged his shoulders.
"How so? Mismong kapatid mo na nga ang nagsabi na it's up to us kung paano natin haharapin 'yong mga ganitong sitwasyon na binabato sa atin. Meaning to say, lagi tayong may choice."
He nodded. "Mmm. At ito 'yong way na pinili ko. Noong magsimula akong magtrespass at magnakaw nang paunti-unti, walang nagawa si ate kung hindi ang pagtakpan ako. She doesn't want me to end up in an institution like this."
"Why? Because living here feels like a prison?"
Natahimik siya saglit. Napatulala siya sa kawalan, as if he suddenly got drowned in his thoughts. I pursed my lips and didn't say anything more.
"Gifted din kasi 'yong papa namin," he started. His eyes darted over the field. "Lumaki siya sa loob ng IAR, doon sa El Salazar. Noong magpakasal sila ni mama, saka lang siya lumipat at tumira sa labas ng institution. Kaya lang, nagkaroon kasi dati ng gulo sa pagitan ng ilang gifteds. You know, 'yong mga gifted na may rebel side. They were powerful. Unfortunately, nadamay si mama sa gulong 'yon. Dumadaan lang siya noon sa kalsada, she got accidentally killed by a staff from IAR. Dapat 'yong mga gifted ang papatamaan ng bala, e naglaho bigla kaya ayon si mama ang tinamaan." He paused and turned his head to me.
