c h a p t e r 2

VANCE.

I GULPED a lump in my throat. My mind can't react properly for what I've just learned.

It's definitely a wrong move to argue with her. She has the lowest value of number embroidered on her jacket. Killing someone is the most inhumane act I'll ever know. I wonder what crime she did. Should I be afraid of her?

"I don't mind, Mister," finally, I get able to speak after pondering the mistake I did awhile ago.

"Good." He gave me a bright smile as a response.

It's really odd to see a former serial killer who can pull off a smile that can change the awkwardness between us. Kung naging artista siya, malamang maraming nag-fan girl at kandarapa sa kanya. Lamang lang siguro siya ng ilang ligo sa 'kin, maaabutan ko na 'yong level ng itsura niya.

We ate our food and he let me use his spot as he permitted. No one started a conversation the whole time. Pero nakatuon lang ang mga mata ko sa isang tao habang ngumunguya.

Double-o-one.

Muling sumagi sa isip ko ang mga numerong 'yon. Hindi maalis sa isip ko kung anong kaso niya. I'm sure she's younger than me base on her appearance.

It justifies that I must avoid her, not because I'm intimidated or what. I'm too annoyed with the attitude of hers. Uncultured.

I was taken a back when Mister Harrison called me out for staring at her for a long while. "Have some a little mercy, she might dissolve by your stares anytime," He teased me and chuckled.

Shit. He misunderstood.

"No! Mister Harrison-"

"Just call me Ryde, kid," he interrupts.

I put down the spoon and fork. "Yes, Ryde, and correction, I'm not a kid!" I exclaimed.

"Don't be so offensive, inmate obvious." He tapped my shoulder and flashed a grinning smile.

We both stood up from the bench and I followed him. Not being offensive, but I want to explain my side. Ayokong magmukhang interesado sa babaeng 'yon.

I'm still in the process of accepting the betrayal I received. Mahirap nang magtiwala, lalo na ngayon na ang lahat ng kasama ko mga kriminal.

We put down our trays on a wide stainless steel surface, which was attached to the window. Medyo nagtaka pa ako kung paano nagkaroon ng bintana rito. Perhaps, windows and doors here will come out once it's activated by the system of this place.

"I don't like her," I sharply said as soon as I faced him.

Tinitigan niya ako habang nakangisi. Inaasar niya ba ako?

"You don't like her, but you're obviously interested with her?" He arched his left eyebrow.

I immediately shook my head as disapproval. I sighed hard and I heard him chortled. This man is making fun of me, no doubt.

"Do not attempt of messing with her. Just don't," he warned me.

I was about to argue, but Ryde vanished in my sight in no time, as soon as he reached the door to went out.

Ang weird naman niya. Mamimikon tapos biglang aalis kaagad. Hopeless na akong may makasundo kahit isa sa kanila. Bahala sila.

"Hindi ka ba nabusog? 'Yong mukha mo parang hanggang lalamunan mo lang 'yong kinain mo eh." J2 arrived at my place just to annoy me once again.

I ignored what he said. There's no point of arguing with this childish man. I start walking back inside the room where the bed was located. But unfortunately, I couldn't find the door where we went through few minutes ago.

Akmang tatawagin ko na sana ang isa sa mga kasama ko pero nang lumingon ako, wala na sila.

Umalis na sila? Ang bilis naman ata. Hindi ko man lang naramdaman o narinig.

"Looking for someone?" a voice approached me from nowhere.

"A-ano ba! Papatayin mo ba ako sa nerbyos?" halos mawalan ako ng balanse dahil sa kaba.

Pambihira naman talaga, oo! Ang tahimik na nga ng lugar. Bigla-bigla pang susulpot 'tong si Atalia!

Hindi niya pinansin ang tanong ko at may nilabas na maliit na remote mula sa coat niya. May pinindot siyang button sa remote habang nakatutok sa pader. Agad namang may lumitaw na pinto.

Napaawang ang bibig ko sa nakita. Woah. That's pretty impressive.

Sinundan ko si Atalia nang pumasok siya sa loob. Nang nilingon ko ang pinto, bumalik na 'to sa pagiging pader.

Sa tagal ko nang gumagawa ng iba't ibang uri ng computer crimes. Ngayon pa lang ako naka-encounter nang ganito ka-advance na technology system.

Kinuha niya ang monobloc kung saan nakaupo ang isa sa magkapatid kanina. Matapos niyang umupo, muli niyang tinapat ang dalang maliit na remote sa puting pader. In an instant, a wide screen appeared.

Pwede ko kayang hiramin 'yon sa kanya? Makakarami ako ng series dito kung sakali.

Napangiti ako nang bahagya sa naisip at pinuna agad ako ng babaeng kasama ko.

"Pigilan mo 'yan Mister Arden, baka matuluyan ka," komento niya sabay iling.

Pasmado rin pala ang bigbig ng isang 'to. Isa pang mahirap pakisamahan.

Naglakad ako papunta sa single bed na hinigian ni Ryde kanina. Bahala siya riyan mag-isa. Matutulog na ako.

"Hindi ka ba magtatanong kung paano naaprubahan ang parole ng kapatid ng girlfriend mo?" bigla siyang umimik at natigilan ako dahil sa narinig.

"Oops, sorry, ex-girlfriend na pala," dagdag pa niya at sinadyang bigyan diin ang salitang ex.

Nilingon ko siya at sinamaan ng tingin. "Sirang-sira na ang buong araw ko. Kaya please, kung wala kang matinong sasabihin, umalis ka na lang."

Lalo lang siyang ngumisi sa narinig.

"Dagdagan ko pa. Itodo natin, gusto mo?" Atalia provoked me, then she crossed her right leg over another, and sits back comfortably.

My eyes were diverted at the wide screen when I noticed that something was being presented. Larawan ng isang lalaki na naka-detainee shirt. Agad kong nakilala kung sino iyon.
Kapatid no'ng magaling na traydor.

I smirked after I saw his face. His facial features were very similar to his sister. Those pair of eyes. Damn it! I suddenly remembered her face.

As soon as I looked away, I pretended to ignored it, but Atalia spoke up.

"Burglary," umpisa niya, "Eight years ago, Zane almost die because of a burglar."

Si Zane muntik mamatay?

Umakto akong walang pakialam sa mga sinasabi niya at tuluyan nang sumandal sa pader na malapit sa kama. Pero 'yong katawan ko nakaharap sa pwesto niya. Nag-indian sit ako at tumingala para tumitig sa kisame.

Even if I want to know the entire story, I did not bother to ask Atalia. I will just keep silent and let her spill everything. I don't want to look as if I would still care. The moment I was being caught, Zane was there. Pero hindi niya ako kinausap. Wala akong natanggap na paliwanag. At kung ako lang ang masusunod, hindi ko rin 'yon gugustuhin pang marinig mula sa ibang tao.

Atalia continued, "Zane grew up with her brother, but their biological father is different. When their mother neglected her in a very young age, Zane's step brother took care of her. Unfortunately, her brother was working that time and it happened that she's always been left, all alone in their house.

"One night, her brother couldn't able to get home due to the bad weather. A burglar snuck into their house and unfortunately, the young Zane woke up with the noise made by the intruder. Everything didn't work well for the burglar that night as the innocent girl screamed for help. Which led the burglar to knocked her down.

"Zane didn't die that night, because her brother came home. Seeing his sister lying down the floor made him panicked. He tried to catch the culprit, and the man attacked him. Long story short, Zane's brother killed the man as soon as he grabbed a knife from the kitchen," the Major Commander disclosed to me.

This is too much. Pakiramdam ko sasabog na 'yong isip ko sa mga nalaman. Those were the reasons why she didn't let me know about her brother's case? Fuck.

A tear suddenly dropped from my left eye. Why do I have to know these things right now? I am not prepared.

I instantly wiped off the tear from my face. In my blurry peripheral vision, I know Atalia saw what I gestured, but the hell I care? I am over holding back these stupid tears.

I can't stop but start sobbing in silence.

I heard her clearing her throat. "Zane's brother surrendered himself to the authorities right after the incident. He got imprisoned for murdering the culprit. Though, his actions were clearly self defense, it occurred to the investigations that the person he killed was a peer. Your ex-girlfriend's brother was a burglar too," she ended her narrative and clicked the remote.

A slide was presented in a snap. It was the documentation about the murder. A black and white photo of the crime scene. Based on what I'm seeing, the man was awfully stabbed. Ano bang pinangsaksak sa kanya? Butcher knife? Hindi na kasi makilala ang mukha at 'yong katawan niya, halos maghiwalay na.

Nilipat ni Atalia ang slide saka tumayo. Lumapit siya sa tapat ng kama.

"Justifiable naman na siguro sa 'yo kung bakit at paano ka nasuplong ng sarili mong kasintahan, ano?" tanong nito habang nakangisi.

Hindi ako umimik at agad na umiwas nang tingin.

I don't want to think that I deserve this, but at the same time her reason has a point.

Capturing to surrender a real culprit like me, is rational enough for her brother's parole approval.

As I let out a deep breath, Atalia snapped in front of me. "I take that as a yes," she said and start walking back closer to her presentation, "Pero may dapat ka pang malaman, Arden."

Hindi pa ba siya tapos? Pambihira naman! Dinaig pa ang class report.

"What else? You're really gonna ruin my peace of mind tonight?" I infuriatingly asked her.

She immediately faced me and showed a mischievous grin. I heard a click sound as the slide presentation changed.

Prisoner #925 Confirmed Crimes

I gasped and my lips parted.

Confirmed Crimes?
No way!

"Do you actually believe that your uncle's death was an accident?" the tone of her voice is provocative.

I want to speak but my whole system is seemingly disowning me already.

What the heck is she talking about?!

I knew my uncle's death was an accident. He was driving back home that night. We even talked on the phone before it happened. Uncle Chris informed me that he was drunk and will be careful while driving.

But thirty minutes after we ended our call, a police called me for an emergency saying Uncle Chris got into an accident. According to their report, my uncle slept while he's driving.

Unfortunately, his car passed across the intersection road. His car was destroyed in the collision with a ten wheeler truck.

Tapos ngayon kukwestyonin niya ang pagkamatay ni Uncle Chris?

"How rude of you jest about my uncle's death in front of me!" my voice thundered.

Agad akong umalis sa kinasasandalan ko at buong pwesang hinila ang collar ng coat niya.

Sinagad na niya ang pasensya ko! Wala akong pakialam kung babae siya. Who cares about gender equality when respect isn't served anymore?

I start panting heavily as I hold the part of her cloth tightly. She didn't flinch at all. I tend to slightly looked up at her face. Her height got an inch than me. We stayed in that position as I gave her a piercing stares.

My heavy breathing conquered us.

She should thank me. I still get able to control myself to not hurt her.
I dragged and pushed her collar off, after composing my sanity.

Napasandal siya sa pader dahil sa pwersahang pagbitaw ko sa kanya. Pero narinig ko ang bahagya niyang pagtawa.

"Take it easy, Mister Arden. Wala ka namang dapat ika-trigger diyan kung alam mong hindi ikaw ang dahilan ng pagkamatay ng uncle mo." she fixed her posture and coat.

"Take note sa keyword, kung. And one more thing Mister Arden, don't be so aggressive. You have no idea how prerogative I am in this place. You should know the person you're trying to defy," dagdag pa niya bago itinuon ang atensyon sa screen na may presentation.

Mariin akong napapikit at huminga nang malalim saka hinayaan siyang masimula sa kung ano man ang balak niyang sabihin.

"Year twenty-eighteen. . ." panimula niya at nag-flash ang slide presentation na naglalaman ng larawan ng isang logo. Logo ng isang game?

Wait, that's familiar.

"The entire data of a mainstream online game has been corrupted. The players of this game also known as, The Scarlett Saga were unable to access their premium accounts. At first, they only thought it was just a bug troubling the software of the game. But it only took 48 hours, and the online game totally got disabled," Atalia said briefly.

Her presentation flashed into the next slide and I caught a glimpse of a small smirk from her face. The current slide contains of an image of numerous profiles from the said game. Most of them weren't using their authentic names.

"The software was being sold to an underground site which was, in our surprise, controlled by an infamous gamblers," she added.

I gasped of what I heard. She clicked her tongue thrice, definitely in disappointment.

"The game was accessed in the underground site, wherein, once a subscriber purchased an account. . ." she paused and turned her gaze at my direction, "they could able to access the exclusive options which are only offered for VIPs."

"Based on its statistical records we have had gathered, they've sold more than hundred accounts which costs approximately one hundred dollar each. The Scarlett Saga basically turned into a gambling site after they altered the whole software." Atalia looked back at the presentation.

She remarked, "I wondered a lot back then about how much they have paid you for doing it?"

Her question instantly brought me back in time when I was just an amateur and merely striving to learn the skill I have mastered today.

Sariwa pa rin sa alaala ko kung paano ko tinanggap ang unang task na inatas sa 'kin ni Uncle Chris. Hindi ko naman 'yon gagawin kung hindi lang dahil kay Mama.

Malaki ang natanggap kong pera noon. Pero parang napunta lang sa wala kasi hindi naman no'n nadugtungan ang buhay ng nanay ko. She was bedridden that time, the doctors even told us she's not gonna make it any longer. Leukaemia is indeed, fatal, but we tried our best to stay optimistic. Hindi namin pinakita kay Mama na nalulungkot kami sa kalagayan niya.

Mabilis akong natuto kung paano magnakaw at mang-hack ng data mula sa computers, at lahat ng binanggit ni Atalia ay totoo.

In the back of my mind, I tend to feel guilty. My life would have been different if I never did anything for my parent. If I never been too desperate and I just accepted her fate. I'm probably not here, and perhaps somewhere else, doing the best things I can do in life.

I felt a sudden chest pain with my thoughts. I looked up and tried to hold back my tears for once. If I could only have the chance to go back in the past, I'd definitely would, but I can't.

"Awww, softhearted criminal eh?" she commented, "Mata-touch na sana ako. . ." I heard her chortled, "Pero hawak mo naman ang choices mo sa buhay no'ng mga panahon na 'yon. Yet, you have chosen to take the wrong path."

Wala akong karapatan umapila kasi tama naman siya. What ifs and could have beens will probably hunt my ass for the rest of my life as a consequence for my immoral decisions.

"Eyes here," Atalia called me out.

The presentation showed another slide.

Lahat ba talaga ng mga ginawa kong krimen ay may records na sila? Imposible!

"Tumulong ang C.I.U sa National Crime Cooperative para madakip ang politikong nahalal no'ng taong twenty-twenty two. Dahil ang nasabing politiko ay naghanap ng isang tao na kayang baguhin ang resulta ng boto ng bayan." she clicked the remote and in an instant, the culprit's face flashed in front.

Mariin akong tiningnan sa mata ni Atalia. "He was elected but his term didn't last, since, we've been tipped for the malicious result. NCC caught the politician with the help of my team. Nakadistino siya sa National Prison Camp, hanggang ngayon," dagdag pa niya at humakbang palapit sa gawi ko.

"You truly believe that your uncle died, due to an accident? Contemplate everything now Arden."

"Hindi ko alam ang sinasabi mo!" bwelta ko pabalik, napayukom ang dalawa kong kamao. Hindi na ako natutuwa sa tabas ng dila niya.

"Inamin mismo sa 'min ng lalaki na 'yan na siya ang nagpaligpit sa tiyohin mo. Sigurado ka bang kilala mo ang lahat nang pinagtrabahuan ni Chris?"

Hindi ako makasagot.

Dating nagtatrabaho si Uncle Chris sa lalaking 'yon? Paanong hindi ko 'yon alam?

"See? Lahat ng mga maling ginawa mo, lahat iyon konektado. Lahat may kaakibat na hindi magandang resulta. You must and should be regretful by now. It's your time to repent, Arden," Atalia added, clicked the remote for the last time and the screen disappeared.

Pinagmasdan ko lang siyang printeng umupo sa monobloc. Sumandal siya at bahagyang umunat bago muling nagsalita.

"Classified Investigatory Unit is a special prison camp of the government. Ang mga kriminal sa bansa na mayro'ng mabibigat na kaso ay dito tinatago. Tama ka nang narinig. Tinatago at nilalayo kayo sa mata ng senado at mga hukom," paliwanag niya at maigi akong nakinig.

Sumandal ako sa pader na katabi ng kama na inuupuan ko.

"Sa katunayan, nang tumapak kayo sa lugar na 'to, ang bawat isa sa inyo ay mayro'n nang karampatang mabigat na parusa. . . ang Death Penalty."

Death Penalty?!

"Wala ka nang dapat ikabahala dahil ligtas na kayo sa parusang 'yon, sa ngayon."

"A-anong ibig mong sabihin na sa ngayon?" halos mautal ako sa pagtanong.

I admit, I've done too much crimes. Fairly enough to be executed in front of the public. Pero hindi ba ako p'wedeng bigyan ng pagkakataon na magsisi sa lahat ng nagawa ko? Is it too much to ask for a chance to change?

"Bakit anong akala mo, naging imortal ka na?" bahagya siyang tumawa. "Dito na kayo tatanda o sabihin na natin, ililibing. Iyon ang magiging kabayaran sa mga krimen na ginawa niyo," saad niya at tumayo saka inayos ang nagusot niyang coat.

"No communication, no internet or any means of media. But that is better than Death Penalty, do you agree?"

I slowly nodded as reply. Hopelessness crept into my head. As I let out a deep sigh, a loud sound of alarm reverberated inside the room. The lights inside the room oddly changed its colour into red.

Perplexed, I asked Atalia as I got up. "What's happening?"

Imbis na makakuha ako ng sagot mula sa tinanong ko, isang monotone na boses ang nagsalita at hindi ko alam kung saan nanggaling ang boses na 'yon.

Tumingala ako sa bawat sulok para sipatin kung doon ba nanggagaling pero hindi ko maaninag dahil sa pagbago ng ilaw.

"Emergency notice for Major Commander! A grand explosion from National Prison Camp occurred! The prisoners has escaped! I repeat, the prisoners has escaped!" the voice echoed repeatedly.

Prisoners has escaped?!