In the year 3020X, as the population continued to surge while economic growth declined, the government faced an unprecedented challenge. When the economy hits rock-bottom and spiraled into despair, the government made a solution- to leverage human g...
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Chapter 35: WIth Eyes to See
Hinayaan ko si Kruger na umiyak. We remained that way, and there was an awkward silence between us matapos niyang ikuwento ang kanyang pinagdaanan. For once, I forgot he was the Kruger na tila mataas ang tingin sa sarili.
He was just a lost boy, a child.
"Alam mo ba kung ano ang problema ng Sanip?" tanong niya habang pinupunasan ang luha.
"Lahat ay mali sa sistema," mahinang sagot ko.
He let out a dry laugh before shaking his head. "Akala ko rin dati na mali ang sistema ng Sanip, but then I realized, the system isn't wrong. It's how they designed it, so they can keep in power."
His voice carried no anger, just cold understanding. A bitter truth he'd long accepted. At ayaw ko mang aminin, pero tama siya. Iyon ang katotohanan.
Tumayo siya at lumapit sa akin. "Mapagkakatiwalaan ba kita, Hope?"
His question felt so heavy, at hindi ko alam kung tama bang sagutin ko siya ng oo. I don't trust myself, but what's there to lose?
"A-anong binabalak mo?"
"I say we plan a coup," buo ang loob na sagot niya.
I stared at him na para bang nagsabi siya ng isang biro, ngunit puno ng determinasyon ang ekspresyon ng kanyang mukha.
"You don't think we can do that?" tanong niya nang mapansin ang reaksiyon ko.
I shook my head. "We can do that, but is it worth it?"
"You're still meek. A little less meek, but still meek," komento niya at tumango sa sarili. "Hindi kita pipilitin kung ayaw mo—"
"I didn't say I don't want to," basag ko sa sinabi niya. "Ayaw ko lang gumawa ng bagay na sa umpisa ay wala naman talaga akong laban. Ayaw kong magpakabayani, Kruger. I won't pretend to care about Sanip, the system, at sa lahat ng mamamayan. I only care about myself at sa mga taong mahalaga sa akin. Now, if this coup helps me live in a better country na mayroon akong mga karapatan, if this coup improves the system I am in, and helps the people I deal with, why wouldn't I cooperate? Ang punto ko ay hindi para sa lahat ang iniisip ko. I'm only thinking about myself."
Kruger stared at me like I said something funny. He smiled before shaking his head. "You only care about yourself. Yeah, sure."
"Pero Kruger, paano natin iyon gagawin?" Sanip has been this way for ages, and here we are planning to change that. Sa paanong paraan?
"How did you get here, Hope?" tanong niya.
How did I get here? Come to think of it, I was here for public service. Gusto ko lang namang magturo sa mga bata. Mga batang nakakulong dahil lamang anak sila ng mga preso. Mga batang hindi pa namulat sa mundo at iniisip na ang pader ng Zone Z ang hangganan ng mundo. It may be cruel inside Zone Z because everyone is forced to do labor, but what's beyond the walls of Zone Z is worst.
