The Paramount Code (The Odd Ones, Book 1)

056. To Fight and Survive

"Are you going to test my ability on these, Dr. Roth?" tanong ni Emma sa lalaki habang tinitingnan ang mga gamit na inilatag nito sa mesa na nakapagitan sa kanilang dalawa. On it is a necklace, an old copy of Le Petit Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery, and a coin.

Noong hapong iyon, pagkatapos ng regular classes, si Emma naman ang hinarap ni Janus. Siya kasi ang assigned na mag-design ng individual tests para sa bawat miyembro ng Paramount Class, kaya kailangan niyang maintindihan ang kakayahan at abilidad ng bawat isa sa kanila. He wanted to make their own tests perfectly matched to their own abilities in order to make their power become more emphasized. The quarterly assessment is approaching, so he has to be take note and check all the powers each member of the Paramount Class possesses.

"Paano mo nalaman?" tanong ni Janus sa dalaga.

"It's obvious," Emma confidently responded as she looked at the objects on the table. "I can see it from your body language, but that's also really palpable after seeing these stuff on the table. Anyways, ano ba 'tong mga 'to? Are these yours?"

"Maybe," tugon ni Janus sa dalaga na bakas ang interes habang pinagmamasdan ang mga gamit na nakalatag sa harap niya, "Since I have read you have the ability to hear memories from objects...

You're right, I want to test that on these."

Ngumiti si Emma at tumango sa kanya. "Okay then... Confident naman akong magagawa ko 'to eh."

Tumango si Janus at inilabas ang notepad niya, bago ibinaling ang tingin kay Emma. Tinanguan niya ito, bilang tanda na hinahayaan niya na itong magsimula.

The young lady took the necklace first, and as soon as she touched it, she began listening to the memories trapped in it. As she listened, a smile formed on her face, and it looked like she is enjoying the memory. She even hummed along to the tune she must be hearing, before chuckling in fascination.

"I can hear classical music..." saad ni Emma habang nakangiti, "It sounds so fancy... May naririnig akong mga tawanan... Parang may party."

Nang ibinaba ni Emma ang kwintas sa mesa, tumango at ngumiti si Janus. "My grandmother owned this necklace, you know... She always used it when she goes to parties back in the days."

"Talaga?" manghang tanong ng dalaga, "She must have looked really gorgeous wearing that..." Pagkatapos noon ay kinuha niya na ang sunod na item – ang lumang libro na katabi ng kwintas.

When Emma held it, her brows met on its ends, before she startled chuckling. "I can hear voices of two kids... One's a girl and the other's a boy... Parang nag-aaway sila. Away-bata lang naman... Nakakaaliw pakinggan."

"So that's the memory from this book? Interesting..." ani Janus na naging mabagal ang pagtango habang nakangiti, "Well, the boy is me, and I actually own this book... Well, partly."

"Partly? So sino 'yung babae?" Emma asked, looking even more interested than ever, "Kapatid mo?"

"Yes... My twin sister," tugon ni Janus sa dalagang kaharap habang tumatango, "Juno ang pangalan niya. Siya talaga ang may-ari ng librong 'to. Pero pinag-awayan namin 'to noon. Sa huli, ibinigay niya rin sa 'kin kasi mas matanda raw siya ng ilang minuto. She's older so she believes so she has to give up some things for me."

Emma smiled as she laid her hands on the surface of the book. "It's a pretty name... Juno. Nasaan siya ngayon?"

Isang maliit na ngiti ang lumitaw sa mukha ng lalaki bago siya napahinga nang malalim. "Sa totoo lang, hindi ko alam kung nasaan siya ngayon. Years ago, we had a falling out. She stopped talking to me. We stopped communicating. I don't know where she is or what is she doing, but I hope she's safe..."