All Up In My Head [Completed]

9 Stupefied

Stupefied

“Saan ba kasi tayo?” naiinip niyang tanong habang naglalakad sila patungo sa College of Engineering. He didn’t say anything. Nakasunod lang siya dito. They walked along the silent hallways of the building. Some classrooms are even lit at this hour. May iilang nagkaklase pa.

“I have something to show you,” he answered.

Lila bored her eyes on him, still not convinced.

He softly chuckled. “Trust me!” he exclaimed.

Napahalukipkip siya. “The last time I trusted someone...” She paused. “…forget it.”

There’s no reason to mull over the stuff which ended a long time ago. Pumasok sila sa pinakahuling silid. Nakita niyang nilagyan ni Ewan ng upuan ang pinto para manatiling nakabukas. Lila guessed that he really learned.

“Leaving it open. Baka may baliw na mang-lock sa’tin.”

He turned the lights on and Lila witnessed the humongous pile of junk. Cable wires, glasses, woods, metals and whatnot are present. The stuff inside are familiar and alienating all at the same time.

“Mga projects namin noon. Look, our fingerprint scanner is here.”

Sinundan niya ang lalaki. She was carefully striding. She might break something valuable.

“Para saan ‘yan?” she asked.

Ewan is holding a piece of wooden board. Attached to it are electrical board, some cable wiring and what seems to be a locking mechanism.

“Lie detector test. Isang scan lang malalaman mo na kung totoong may nararamdaman ka sa’kin.” He looked serious.

Lila heaved a sigh. She knows he’s just making it up. His jokes are not funny to her. Mukhang alam naman nito.

“Biro lang. Door lock talaga ‘to. We used fingerprint sensor and a servomotor.” He continued explaining things and telling her technical terms that she can’t really comprehend. Tumango-tango na lamang siya.

“Saan ka pupunta?” tanong niya nang akmang aalis si Ewan.

Malapad ang ngisi nito. “Miss mo na agad?”

Sinamaan niya ng tingin ang lalaki. He only laughed and left saying he’s going to get something. Why is he so excited? Napasandal si Lila sa gilid habang hinihintay ito. Ilang sandali lang ay dumating naman agad ang lalaki na may dala pang laptop. Where did he get that?

He opened the laptop and rummaged through it.

“It can store up to 130 fingerprints. Let’s add yours,” ika nito saka kinuha ang kamay niya para ilagay sa scanner. He continued typing something on the laptop. Sumilip siya sa ginagawa nito ngunit lalo lang sumakit ang kanyang ulo sa nakita.

“Pwede ko nang tanggalin?” she asked after some time.

“Huwag!” Nagitla siya sa singhal nito. What did she do this time?

But he flashed his stupid grin again and said, “Huwag mong tagalan.”

Lila breath inwardly. “Alam mo, masasapak talaga kita,” singhal niya. Tumwa lang ito at sinabing pwede na niyang bitawan.

“Try it,” he said gesturing to the scanner again.

Nilapat niya ang hintuturo. “Whoa...” she whispered when the locked slid to the side responding to her fingerprint. Ilang beses nilang sinubukan. Ewan was saying that it isn’t really impressing because it’s only a beginner’s project. Lila wondered what else are they building here.