Genius in Distress

Chapter VI: The call

CHAPTER VI

Left alone in the general’s office, Aia looked around the small room. It was a typical military office. There were different flags, maps, and portraits hanging on the wall. One was the president’s. She sat on the general’s chair. There were folders atop of his desk but she didn’t dare touch it. Those folders screamed confidentiality.

She looked for family pictures but there were none. She shook her head. Was it because he was protecting his family or he was just a cold person putting his job first before his family? But who was she to judge? After all pareho lang silang dalawa. Siya, pinili ang Siyensiya. Ito naman ang trabaho nito.

Atlantis was not against the military but she didn’t like it either. The bad side of it was the side with all the bull crap that ties everyone up in red tape, keeps people from doing their job in the most efficient manner; allows the laziest to get free rides throughout and pushes the hardest working guys with more hard work and enough crap to make them down. There were also issues in getting trouble with alcohol, cases of rape, killing of innocent people and wearing uniforms to get laid.  Worst, military was controlled by the government. All they do was follow orders and get paid for it. Even they were not sharing the same interest.

For those who did their job as what they were supposed to do, to serve and protect, she gave them credit for doing something so courageous and standing to their principles, for the bad guys in uniform, F*ck them.

Enough thinking of the military Atlantis go call your dad!

Remembering the General’s last words, she then dialled her dad’s private number using the general’s phone.

After a long while her dad picked up.

“Hey, dad.”

“Hija. How are you? I’m sorry hindi ko agad nasagot ang tawag mo, I’m in the senate right now.”

That explained the loud noise she was hearing at the background.

“It’s okay, dad. Did I disturb you?

“Nonsense! You know you are always the first in my list. “

She smiled. “I just called to tell you that we’re in the camp already.”

“Is everything okay there?”

“Yes, dad. It’s cool,” she said enthusiastically. Pretending she approved of the whole plan. Her father would be upset if he knew she thought differently. “I’m safe here. And the General has been good to me,” she assured him.

She heard him sigh heavily. “Dad, are you okay? You know what? I think it’s better to forget the plan. Uuwi na lang po ako diyan so we could be together.” She was worried about him. Her dad may be in danger too. Hindi maatim ng konsensya niya na ligtas siya tapos ito ay nasa panganib.

“No, hija. I’m fine. I just miss your mom. And of course, ikaw. I, myself wanted you to be here, but under the circumstances, it is very risky kung nandito ka. I already lost your mom. Ikaw na lang ang meron ako kaya hindi ko hahayaan na pati ikaw ay mawala. Life is without meaning pag wala ang mga mahal mo sa buhay. Don’t worry dad is doing everything para mahuli na ang nang ambush sa inyo so that we could go back to our normal lives. Especially, you.”

“I believe you, Superman,” she teased. “I miss you, too.”

She heard her dad laugh upon hearing her call him superman. “Oh, before I forget your, stuff will be delivered tomorrow and I enrolled you in a University there. You can ask the details from Henry. To keep you occupied, of course. I know how you loved school.”

She rolled her eyes. You are wrong dad! I’m actually on break. She and her friends promised to stay grounded from science throughout. Ni wala siyang cellphone ang gadgets. Baka ma tempt lang siyang panuorin at magbasa ng news sa internet sa nangyari sa kanila. Hindi pa siya handa na makita ang mommy niya na ililibing pati ang sarili niya.

“It’s not really necessary dad. I’ll just stay here inside the camp.” Aside from her supposed break, she was afraid to go outside. She’d better hid from the world inside the camp than be in an open place where she could be vulnerable to her attacker and become an open target.

“But I insist. If you’re thinking about security issues, don’t. You’ll have a tight security off camp.  Henry assured me that.”

“Okay dad. Thank you for arranging everything for me. I’ll do well in school, I promise,” she cracked a joke.

Her father laughed again. She felt relieved. Nakakatawa na ito. Not once but twice.

“Hija, I’d be very surprised if you get an F. For a long time I’ve been waiting for you to mess up school. Your mother and I even made a bet.” He laughed once again as he remember that particular memory of him with her mom. “Of couse, she won. Wala namang genius na bumabagsak sa klase. You know, you’ve been studying really, really hard and it paid off. It’s beyond normalcy. Don’t get me wrong. Your mom and I are so proud of you. You’ll do great things in the future. But for now, I want you to experience the normal way of life.”

Normal teenager doesn’t go to school with bodyguards in tow, dad!

“Dad, not you too,” she groaned.

She was nothing but normal, or so she thought. For her, she was just like anybody else her age. The only difference was that she approached life differently. She wanted to widen her horizon and discover new things. She wanted to push her limit.

While ang “in” naman ngayon, teenagers were expected to mess up. Pa easy-easy lang sa buhay. Gimik, gala, night out, boyfriend-girlfiend. Sila na ngayon ang normal. But those who wanted to excel, serious about their studies, sila na ngayon ang odd ones. The irony of life, indeed!

“You owe yourself a teenage life, hija. You’re still young. Enjoy life. Iyon lang ang hiling namin ng mom mo sa iyo.”

Her dad sounded serious kaya napa oo si Aia, “Aye, aye, Sir!”

“Well, good luck. I’ll call you every now and then.”

“Love you daddy!”

They said goodbye and hanged up.

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Lea