The Paramount Code (The Odd Ones, Book 1)

027. Sui Generis

Isang alanganing ngiti ang sumilay sa mukha ni Jacob habang nararamdaman ang mga kamay ni Benjamin sa balikat niya. "P-pero, Sir... Hindi po ako telepath... Hindi pa po nagmamanifest ang ability ko, Sir Benjamin."

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya "But... that's impossible. Someone I know, who happens to be a telepath... Ang sabi niya sa 'kin, hindi niya kayang mapasok ang isipan mo. Telepaths' abilities do not work on other telepaths, Jacob."

Jacob is terribly confused. "Pero... Wala po talaga akong ganoong kakayahan. Nagsasabi po ako ng totoo. Hindi po talaga ako isang telepath."

Maging si Benjamin ay nalilito na rin, lalo na't siguradong-sigurado siya sa impormasyong alam niya. "I... I might have been mistaken."

"Pasensya na po, Sir Benjamin."

"No, no... Don't say that, Jacob. It's not even your fault. Don't apologize. Siguro ay nagkamali lang ang kakilala ko. I'm really sorry for dragging you all the way here. I think I scared you."

"Hindi naman po, Sir. Medyo nalito lang po talaga ako sa sinabi ninyo."

Tumango si Benjamin, at napabuntong-hininga. "Again, I'm really sorry, Jacob. You may now go."

Isang alanganing tango ang ginawa ni Jacob, bago maingat na lumabas sa opisina ng school director.

When Benjamin is finally left inside his office all by himself, he fell deep in thought, and started reassessing everything he thought was right.

He then sipped some more from his teacup, and took out Jacob's file from the Paramount Class' folders on his table.

"I know I can't be wrong... It's completely impossible."

********

Tandang-tanda pa ni Gwen ang araw noong ninakaw niya ang lumang bersyon ng Paramount yearbook mula sa mga gamit ni Helga. Matagal niya na itong binabantayan, at gamit ang kakayahan bilang isang telepath, nalaman niya kung saan itinatago ng babae ang yearbook na iyon.

Matapos niyang magtagumpay sa pagnanakaw, itinago niya muna iyon, bago inilagay sa Paramount library dahil napansin niyang tila hinahanap na iyon ni Helga.

She decided to place it on top of the bookshelf to keep it there for a while, but Emma arrived at the library at the same time she was there to keep the yearbook. Dahil wala na siyang choice, kinailangan niya nang gamitin ang kasamahan sa Paramount class. She immediately approached her, and 'programmed' her mind in a way that if she sees the book, she has to hand it to Jacob no matter what.

Matapos niyang gawin iyon, agad siyang lumabas ng library. Pero sakto namang nakita niya si Jacob na paakyat na ng building, at nang basahin niya ang isipan nito ay nalaman niyang papunta na ito sa library.

Gwen knew she should not waste that chance, so she modified the orders she left inside Emma's mind. Dahil doon, nahanap nina Emma at Jacob ang yearbook, at nagsimula nang magduda ang lalaki sa lahat ng tungkol sa Paramount Program.

While she treats him as a friend genuinely, there is a reason why she stays with him. She may be hanging out with him because they are friends, but it is also her goal to stay close to him so she can place psi blocks inside his mind. It is a gradual process which cannot be done in one sitting, kaya kailangan niyang maging malapit kay Jacob hangga't maari.

She wants to make sure that no telepath will be able to read his thoughts, and will have no access to his memories. Alam ni Gwen na maraming nalalaman si Jacob, at hindi lamang iyon mga impormasyon na ngayon lamang nadiskubre ng lalaki, kundi pati na ang mga alaalang pilit na itinago sa kasulok-sulukan ng isipan nito.