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 5: Open Book
I blinked a few times, almost questioning if the man standing before me was an apparition. But no, he was real, and he looked visibly annoyed by my reaction. He adjusted his slightly crumpled necktie before speaking.
“I know it’s surprising to see me here at this hour, but as you know, I’m a busy man, and this is my only spare time,” sabi niya sa baritonong boses. His voice was reminiscent of Seven’s—though his carried more authority, confidence, and intelligence. Hindi naman sa hindi tunog matalino si Seven pero iba ang aura ng lalaking nasa harap ko. It's the kind that makes you feel small in his presence.
Bahagya akong napaatras, still unable to find my words. Alam kong mukha akong tanga sa harap niya. Facing Wolff Glass Bane—how could anyone act normal after that?
He glanced at his watch, almost signaling not to waste his time. I wasn’t getting any of his unspoken cues, so he took something out of his wallet. It was a business card from Bane Laboratories, bearing his name. Nagtatakang nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin ko sa card at sa kanya.
“Sorry for being rude, but this could cause a scandal, and a few hours later, you’ll find yourself in the news. Let’s take preventive measures and talk inside, shall we?” he suggested.
Tila saka lamang ako nagising. I opened the door wider and he entered. I half-expected the black-suited guards to follow, but they remained outside, standing watch. Pumasok sa loob si Wolff na tila ba alam na alam niya ang bawat sulok ng bahay.
I watched his every move. Tila bawat hakbang ay pinag-iisipan. Or perhaps it was just his presence. He seemed out of place in this house, more suited to a palace or a vast laboratory filled with high-tech machinery and equipment.
“You must be Dani,” he began once comfortably seated on the sofa. Napatango ako, kahit na may pagtataka.
Earlier, I had felt a different level of nervousness, and now this? His presence made me feel like I was escaping Zone Z all over again!
“I regret not being able to come home during Governess Emily’s wake.”
Hindi ko alam kung ano ang isasagot kaya nanatili akong tahimik.
“She was my favorite governess.”
He rose from his seat and walked around the room. He picked up some picture frames from a side table, briefly inspecting each before selecting another one and smiling.
“I remember this picture,” he remarked, lifting one of the frames. “This was during the ribbon-cutting of—”
“Excuse my rudeness, pero I'm sure hindi ka nagpunta rito pata makipagkuwentuhan tungkol kay lola,” I interjected, trying to regain control of the conversation. It took a lot of courage to say what I had in mind, pagod ako at napakaraming katanungan sa isip ko. I just wanted to rest and forget everything that had happened, as if my heart was about to burst with all the different emotions I was feeling.
