Game Over, Engineer

QI

THE FIRST OF Kevan's name. . . K

The sky's reflection. . . is the sea. C

An apple. . . A.

J- what I gave. . . J.

Jack.

Huminga siya nang malalim at napatingin sa katabi. Is Jack the one behind this?

All the clues point to him, and the password. . .

There's only one way to find out.

She clicked the link that the encrypted document contained. It's a Send Up link once again, entitled 'Game Over, Engineer'.

Kumunot ang kanyang noo sa nabasa, hininaan ang volume, bago huminga nang malalim at pinindot ang play button ng audio file. Itinapat niya ang speaker ng phone sa kanyang tenga at hinanda ang kanyang sarili sa maaaring marinig.

Congratulations on successfully completing your own game, Jilyanzel. To find enlightenment, call 1785-118-2018

Napakurap siya sa narinig at pakiramdam niya'y nanlambot ang kanyang mga tuhod. Umawang ang kanyang mga labi, and confusion formed across the contours of her face. She brought her palm to her mouth as her fingers began to tremble.

No. . . It can't be.

The audio file sent a lump of emotions in her throat, and confusion filled her mind along with questions which are starting to arise.

Damn. . . how?

Disbelief struck her and she dropped her phone on the bed. She blinked once again, trying to sink everything in. Her mind couldn't seem to process the situation because. . .

Jack is, indeed, not the one who sent her the game.

The audio file is recorded by. . . a female, and the thing is. . .

it's her own voice.

That only means one thing-she was the one who created the game.

She's Kevan the Servant.

NAKATULUGAN NIYA NA ang nangyari, because when she tried to dial the number, the voicemail only stated to call her at eight in the morning.

And the voice of the voicemail was still hers.

Pumikit siya nang mariin at tinampal ang kanyang ulo. Wala na si Jack sa tabi niya, and she bets that he's cooking downstairs.

Fuck. Fuck. Bakit wala siyang maalala?! She couldn't remember making the game and why she made it! Tangina. Ano na ba ang nangyayari?!

The one who hacked her computer is her all along.

Goddamn. Did she just try to hack her own self? And why would she hack her computer?

Napagdesisyunan niyang tumayo muna sa kama. It's still six in the morning-two hours before eight. And she badly wants to call the number already-her number.

And she can't even remember that number!

She tapped her head to clear her mind. May dalawang oras pa siya. She should spend the remaining hours with Jack before she. . . solves her own mystery.

Nag-inat siya at napagdesisyunang bumaba pagkatapos maghilamos at mag-toothbrush, and Jack was sitting topless on the couch, facing his laptop and clearly making new beats. Pansin niya ang headphones nito, at nang makita ang pagbaba niya, mabilis itong nag-angat ng tingin.

Jack slid the headphones downwards and let it hang on his neck. Ngumiti ito.

"Finally, you're awake."