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 3: Bad Genes
I swear I heard Seven mumbling curses under his breath.Gaya ko, nagulat din siya nang makitang nakasunod pala sa amin ang lalaki. We thought everyone was asleep when we left!
"P-please maawa kayo sa akin. H-hindi ko kayang mabuhay rito sa loob," mangiyak-ngiyak na sabi nito. He gripped his beannie hat, removed it from his head, and brought it to his chest. "Please--"
Napabuga na lang ako ng hangin at pumayag. Nagulat si Seven at tiningnan ako nang masama. "Are you out of your mind? The plan is only for one. You cannot take anyone with you--"
"Pero nakita na niya tayo!" apela ko. I hate to admit it, but I am soft-hearted when it comes to people who look harmless. Kahit naman mukhang mapanganib ang tao, nakakaramdam pa rin ako ng awa.
"The more people escape, the higher the risk of getting caught!" matigas na tanggi ni Seven at bumaling sa lalaki. "Hey, what's your name?"
"B-Bean."
Ah, his beanie. I got the reference. Marahil iyon ang pangalang itinawag sa kanya sa loob.
"Hey, Bean, sorry, but it's not possible," walang pag-aalinlangang sabi ni Seven. "Go back to the hall and keep quiet about what you've seen."
Napansin ko ang pagsimangot ni Bean, at tila lalo pang sumama ang loob niya. "O-or... or I-I c-could report you."
No, he's not going to do that. He's afraid to do so. Sinasabi lang niya iyon sa pag-aakalang matatakot kami. But Seven is having none of that. He pushed me towards the small space in between the rocks.
"Just go," sabi niya. "I'll deal with this guy."
Humakbang ako ngunit agad ding napatigil nang marinig ang mahinang pagsinghot ni Bean. Bumaling ako kay Seven at taas-noong nagsalita. "If I go alone, there's still the risk that I'll get caught. If I take him with me, the risk is higher. Can't you see? Either way, there's still a risk. I've made up my mind. I will take him with me."
Napabuntong-hininga si Seven at napamasahe sa ulo. He pressed his eyes closed as if he was controlling his temper. Nang muli niya akong harapin, malamig ang tingin niya sa akin. "Kung anuman ang mangyari sa inyo, I'm out of it."
Tumango ako sa kanya. "The moment we take the raft, we're responsible for ourselves." Tiningnan ko si Bean at tinawag siya. "Come here carefully."
Tila batang tuwang-tuwa siya, ngunit naroon pa rin ang lungkot sa kanyang mga mata. Before we exited, tila inis na lumayo sa amin si Seven. Lumapit si Bean sa kanya, nakakuyom ang palad. Itinaas niya iyon at binuklat sa harap ni Seven.
"I'm n-not sure if you will accept this, pero ito lang din ang meron ako," sabi niya. Bumaba ang tingin ni Seven sa nakalahad na kamay ni Bean, kung saan may nakapatong na whistle. It was tied to a black string. Tiningnan lamang iyon ni Seven kaya kinuha ni Bean ang kamay nito at ipinatong ang pito. "This is all I've got, at mahalaga ito sa akin. Pero wala nang mas mahalaga pa sa kalayaan."
