The Paramount Code (The Odd Ones, Book 1)

047. Lost Boys

"Ano nang balak mong gawin ngayon?" tanong ni Emma kay Axis, na tuluyang sumira sa katahimikang nabuo sa pagitan ng dalawa.

Kumakain sila noon ng tanghalian, at sa pagkakataong iyon ay nauna silang pumwesto sa mesang eksklusibo lamang para sa mga miyembro ng Paramount Class. Ilang minuto rin silang tahimik, pero hindi na nakayanan pa ni Emma ang sitwasyon kaya tuluyan na siyang nagsalita.

"This information that we have is not a joking matter..." dugtong pa ni Emma.

"Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko... Hindi ako makapag-isip nang maayos," pag-amin ni Axis na nakatitig sa pagkain sa plato niya.

"I still can't understand why he wanted her dead... I mean, what for?" ani Emma habang nakatingin sa kaharap, "What's the reason behind it?"

Axis gave her a quick glance, before his jaws clenched in tension. "There's something weird about the program we're in, Emma."

"Of course there is!" sarkastikong tugon ni Emma, "Hindi pa ba sapat na weird tayo dahil meron tayong special abilities? And it's not just the program, but the school itself. Who is in his decent mind to order the death of somebody else?" Emma moved her face closer to him and whispered, "Our school director is a freaking murderer."

Napahinga nang malalim si Axis. "Susubukan ko pang makakuha ng impormasyon... I'll try to eavesdrop more if possible, to spy around... Axis heaved a sigh of frustration. "I'll try to eavesdrop more, to spy around. Kapag may mga nakita pa akong mga gamit na pwedeng konektado sa nangyari, dadalhin ko 'yun sayo... And then you'll tell me what you hear from it."

"Wait..." Emma's brows furrowed, "So I'm part of this now? Tinulungan lang kita noong nakaraan dahil hiningi mo ang tulong ko, pero wala akong sinabing sasali ako sa mga ginagawa mo."

"Wala ka namang choice eh. Kasali ka na rin naman dito kasi parte tayo ng Paramount Program. And besides, if the director can just order his people to kill anyone, who knows what he might do?" Axis told her, "And I've been thinking about this for a long time, but this is the first time that I took it seriously... After discovering our powers, after we graduate here, what happens to us?"

"Of course we go to college. That's what happens. That what happened with the other Paramount Class members before, right?"

"And what about the fact that we're metahumans? Aanhin naman nila ang mga kakayahan natin? Para saan pang pinagkakagastusan nila tayo? Lahat ng perks at special treatment na natatanggap natin... sigurado akong merong kapalit 'yan. All good things come with a price, Emma."

Emma was about to respond, but she was halted when two trays full of food slammed down on the table. Sketch suddenly sat beside her, while Nico sat beside Axis.

"Seryoso natin ah..." ani Nico na may makahulugang ngiti sa mukha habang pinagmamasdan silang dalawa, "Meron ba kaming namiss na tsismis diyan? Share niyo naman."

Isang sarkastikong ngiti ang itinugon ni Emma sa lalaki, "It's none of your business, dummy."

Pinaningkitan siya ng mga mata ni Nico. "Hindi kita tinatanong. Si Axis ang kausap ko, 'no. Si Axis ka ba?"

Emma just stuck out her tongue at him, before eating her food as she rolled her eyes.

Sketch chuckled at the bickering of the two, "Hanggang ngayon ba hindi pa rin kayo sanay sa isa't-isa? Sigurado naman akong magkakasundo kayong dalawa kung gugustuhin niyo eh," pagkatpaos ay ibinaling niya ang tingin sa kumakain na si Axis, "By the way... Ano ba talaga ang pinag-uusapan ninyo kanina? Ayaw naman naming maging tsismoso pero sobrang seryoso niyo lang talagang tingnan kanina."

"Pinag-uusapan lang namin 'yung quarterly assessment natin," agad na tugon ni Axis sa kaibigan, umaasang hindi nito papansinin ang pagsisinungaling niya.