The Paramount Code (The Odd Ones, Book 1)

054. Crowded Mind

Pagkatapos ng regular classes nila, naabutan ni Vladimir si Gwen sa garden na tahimik na nakaupo sa isang malaking sanga sa itaas ng puno. May earphones na nakapasak sa tenga nito, habang pinagmamasdan ang papalubog na araw.

Napangiti si Vladimir, bago inakyat ang puno at naupo sa tabi ni Gwen. Hindi naman siya nag-alalang mahuhulog sila dahil makapal at matibay naman ang sanga na kinauupuan nila. Bago pa man makalingon sa kanya si Gwen, tinanggal na ni Vladimir ang earphones mula sa tenga nito.

Pero sa halip na umangal, tiningnan lamang siya ng dalaga, dahilan para mag-alala si Vladimir.

"Galit ka ba sa 'kin?" tanong ni Vladimir.

"Hindi naman... Offended lang," kalmadong tugon ni Gwen matapos huminga nang malalim, "Baka kasi iniisip mo na gusto ko lang mapalapit sa'yo dahil ginagamit kita. Hindi naman ako ganun."

Napabuntong-hininga si Vladimir, at naramdaman ang guilt sa sistema niya. "Sorry na... Medyo nainis lang ako kasi parang may mga pinaplano kayo ni Jacob nang hindi ako kasali. Hindi ko naman alam na concerned lang pala kayo sa 'kin."

"We don't want to force you into anything, Vladimir," she then told him, "We don't want to make you feel that we're turning you against your father... Kung pipiliin mong huwag kaming tulungan, okay lang 'yun."

Natahimik si Vladimir nang ilang sandali, bago inilipat ang tingin sa mukha ni Vladimir, "If I don't help you, would you hate me? Would you stop talking to me?"

Gwen smiled slightly and looked at him directly in the eyes. "I wouldn't do that. I can't do that to you... And besides, it's you who might end up hating me. Kapag sinubukan kaming pigilan ng tatay mo at ng iba pa, wala akong choice... Blood is thicker than water naman daw, kaya maiintindihan kita."

Isang sarkastikong tawa ang namutawi mula sa lalaki habang nakatingin siya sa kulay kahel na kalangitan sa harap nila. "At sa tingin mo applicable sa aming mag-ama 'yan?"

Gwen looked at him and gave him a concerned look. "Hindi ako maintindihan ang tatay mo, alam mo 'yun. Fathers, they're there to care and guide their children. Yung tatay ko nga, hindi ko naman kadugo, pero hindi naman siya katulad ng tatay mo."

"You and your father, you're not related to each other by blood, but he cares for you like you're his own... While me and my siblings..." Vladimir said, his eyes starting to darken, "We are his children... but he's a stranger to us. Investments lang ata kami para sa kanya. He takes pride in our achievements, and punishes us for our mistakes. Tinatawag niya kaming mga anak niya, pero hindi naman ganoon ang trato niya sa amin. Ginamit niya rin si Kuya Vitto..."

Ipinatong ni Gwen ang kamay sa balikat niya. "Alam kong galit ka –"

"Hindi lang ako galit sa kanya... Takot na takot din ako," pag-amin ni Vladimir, "I'm so terrified of him, and that's what makes me angrier... If he could do that to us – to my brother – I know he is capable of doing terrible things to people he doesn't even know. If the Paramount Laboratories is really enabling experiments on humans and metahumans alike, then we have to stop him. I don't want to imagine how many people were used like my brother..."

"So... Anong gusto mong gawin?"

"Tutulungan ko kayo ni Jacob. Blood may be thicker than water, but I'd choose clear waters over dirty blood anytime."

********

"Hindi talaga ako komportable na may tinatago sila sa 'tin, Sketch... Para kasing may mali na hindi ko maipaliwanag..." reklamo ni Nico kay Sketch habang nakatambay sila sa bench sa harap ng Paramount Building.

Sketch just sighed and smiled at him. While he completely understands Nico's sentiments, he knows that they can't force the other members of the Paramount Class to tell them what is going on with them.