✔Dating the Undead [Books 1&2]

OCTO

Professor Samuel Castillo had been the head scientist at ESO. But during the peek of his career in 2007, biglang nasunog ang ESO Research Compound at hindi nakaligtas si Professor Samuel. Pati ang mga pag-aaral niya, nilamon ng apoy. Other personnels died of the fire too, and ESO hadn't been reopened until 2011, noong natapos ang reconstruction. Iba na rin ang naging head scientist na hanggang ngayon, ay pinamumunuan ang ESO.

Pero hindi nila mapapantayan si Professor Samuel Castillo. That guy's a legend! He even found a cure for cancer. Sadly, ESO keeps it private and exclusive for Eastwood only until further notice.

Ang daming nagawa ni Professor Samuel at hanggang ngayon ay binabasa ko pa rin ang mga aklat na sinulat niya. I want to be like him someday.

At ngayon, kasama ko sa loob ng bedroom-laboratory ko ang kanyang anak na dalawang taon nang patay pero nagagawa pa ring laitin ang salamin ko.

Algea sighed. "Let me guess, you idolize my dad?"

Lumawak ang ngiti ko. Naka-recover na ako sa gulat. "You have no idea."

Bahagya siyang natawa at naupo sa gilid ng kama. "Ang dami talagang fans ni Daddy. Kaya pala parang sinukahan ni Albert Einstein ang kwarto mo." She gestured the interior of the room. Lahat na yata ng space sa pader, nadikitan ko ng science trivias at physics equations. Pati mga motion diagram, at scientific names ng mga halaman, nakadisplay.

Nahihiya kong kinamot ang ulo ko. "Uh..yeah. Bakit hindi mo sinabi na si Professor Samuel ang daddy mo?"

Nagkibit siya ng balikat. "Di mo naman tinanong eh."

Oo nga naman kasi Levi. Hindi mo tinanong. Ni hindi ka nga nagtaka na magkapareho sila ng apelyido eh.

Napatingin ulit sa poster si Algea. A small smile on her lips. "You're just like him. Bago namatay si Daddy, obsess rin siyang makadiskubre ng bagong mga bagay. He wanted to help humanity, and sometimes, I couldn't even bother him when he was in his office."

Nakakatuwa naman. I feel so honored to be compared to the man I idolize by his own daughter. Pakiramdam ko tuloy, isa na akong totoong scientist.

But Professor Lopez's words still haunted me..

"Do you have proof to justify your claim? Mahirap paniwalaan na nabuhay ang patay, Levi."

Napatingin ako kay Algea. Paano kung dalhin ko siya kay Professor Lopez o sa ESO Compound? Siguradong maniniwala sila sa'kin! That's it! They will never doubt my Paranometer ever again. I felt a grin making its way on my lips. Algea raised an eyebrow at me, clearly confused at my expression.

"Why are you smiling like that?"

"Nothing."

"It's creepy! Stop it."

Psh.

At muli, namayani ang katahimikan sa pagitan namimg dalawa. Newton was at the other side of the room, trying to get his claws at my albino mice. Nang pagmasdan ko ang katabi ko, mukhang malalim ang iniisip niya.

"Siguro kung buhay pa si Daddy, he'll help me rest in peace again."

"W-What?"

Something in Algea's eyes bothered me. "I'm suppose to be dead, Levi..wala na akong pakialam kung paano ako nabuhay ulit. I just want to crawl back in my grave and die again."

Gusto ulit niyang mamatay? "You can't be serious?"

"Mukha ba akong nagbibiro?"

Napaiwas ako ng tingin. She's DEAD serious alright (Not a great time for jokes, sorry). Pero siguro nga kung buhay pa sana si Professor Samuel, alam niya ang gagawin ngayon. He might even discover why Algea rose back from the dead. And most importantly, he'll be able to find a cure for her..para malagay na ulit siya sa payapa.

She wanted to die again, and I can't blame her. Life's not all sunshine and butterflies afterall.

I sighed. Pero bago siya mahimlay, kailangan kong dalhin si Algea kay Professor Lopez. Kailangan kong tuparin ang mga pangarap ko. What if..?

"Hey, Algea?"

"What?"

Hinawakan ko ang mga kamay niya. "What if I promise to help you?"

Kumunot ang noo niya. "What do you mean?"

"I'll help you rest in peace again. Gagawin ko ang lahat para matulungan kita, but in return, I need your cooperation.."

Suspicion crossed her hazel eyes. "What kind of cooperation?"

"You'll find out soon. You trust me, right?"

Ang kailangan ko lang naman ay dalhin si Algea kay Professor Lopez o sa kung sinumang siyentipiko sa ESO para mapatunayan sa kanilang gumana ang Paranometer ko. Kapag nakita nilang gumana ito sa katulad ni Algea, they'll never doubt my invention again. After that, I can even ask them for help in finding a cure for her condition. It's a win-win situation.

Algea laid her back on my bed. "Do I have a choice? Wala naman akong ibang pwedeng pagkatiwalaan."

Nahiga ako sa tabi niya. "It's a deal then."

Umirap siya sa'kin. Makalipas ang ilang minuto, nagsalita na naman siya. "By the way, sino si Vanesa?"

Umurong yata ang dila ko sa tanong niya. Nang hindi ako sumagot, nagpatuloy siya, "Last night, I heard what your mother said.. Nakipagbreak ka raw kay Vanesa?"

Pagak akong natawa.. "Um.. Well, it was the other way around. She couldn't keep up with my awesomeness, so she broke up with me."

Algea deadpanned. "Maybe you just didn't satisfy her. I mean, there are cases like that."

Namula ako sa sinabi niya. Ano bang kinalaman ng 'satisfy' na yan sa pagiging henyo ko?! Psh. "Look who's talking."

She smirked. "Oh please, I had seven boyfriends before I died. As far as I can remember, I'm no good girl. So, I guess I can teach you a lesson or two." At kumindat pa talaga siya sa'kin!

Damn it.

Napaupo ako sa kama, "This is not some shitty Wattpad story," I adjusted my eyesglasses and gave her a serious look, "At hindi ko kailangan ng tulong sa sexual life ko! I'm a genius, remember? How hard can it be?"

But Algea was still smirking playfully at me. Bahagya niyang inilihis ang paldang suot niya. I got a good view of her thighs. Napalunok ako nang sunod-sunod. What the fuck Levi?!

Algea laughed at my reaction.

"So, you're still a virgin. Interesting."

PAANO BA KAMI NAPUNTA SA GANITONG USAPAN?!

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