No Time to Die

Chapter 07

Chapter 07

Together

Kagagaling ko lang sa ospital para bumisita kay Natalia. She's awake but it's hard to talk to her. Hindi kasi siya sumasagot at panay iwas. I understood her situation so I didn't press further. Hinayaan ko na lang siyang magpagaling muna. Pero inalam ko kung sino ba iyong kasama niya noong araw na na-overdose siya. The guy's name is Leandro.

I was also curious with what Colton said about the breach. Kaya naman, sa mga sumunod na araw ay naglaan ako ng oras para daanan ang pinakatagong parte sa east wall ng Origen. For me, it still looked the same. Wala naman akong naobserbahan na kakaiba nitong nakaraan. Nga lang, may iba ngayong araw.

I am not alone staring at the high walls. 'Di kalayuan sa kinatatayuan ko ay nakita ko si Leandro. Hindi niya pa ako napapansin kaya pasimple akong nagtago sa likod ng puno at doon siya pinagmasdan.

Leandro looks like he's talking to someone. Tumatango-tango kasi at bumubuka rin ang bibig. Maybe he's just high? But my gut is telling me that there's something else. Patuloy pa rin siya sa pagsasalita. Nang hawakan niya ang tainga ay doon ko napagtanto na may suot siyang earpiece at may kausap nga. Kinuha niya iyon at mariing tinapakan. Hindi rin nagtagal ay naglakad na siya paalis.

I waited for a few minutes before coming out. Muli kong tiningala ang mataas na pader. There's nothing out of the ordinary as far as my vision can reach.

Nilapitan ko ang pwesto ni Leandro at pinulot ang inapakan niyang earpiece. Durog na iyon pero sa tingin ko ay kaya pa rin namang pag-aralan ni Colton. Technology has never been my strongest suit. I like fighting better.

Yesterday, Colton told me that the two of us are the only students who knew Origen has been breached. Tinanong ko siya kung bakit sa akin niya lang sinabi pero ang sagot niya lang ay isang kibit balikat. I don't even know how I managed to believe that he's telling the truth. Siguro dahil kahit papaano, gusto kong mapalapit sa kanya para mas mapadali ang misyon ko.

"Where's Colton?" tanong ko kay Maverick nang nakasalubong ko siya sa unang palapag ng Empire.

"Kitchen," sagot niya.

Tinanguan ko siya at dumiretso sa lugar. I saw Colton enjoying his ice cream. And wow... he's really just a kid. I've never seen someone so happy eating ice cream. Siya pa lang.

"Hey. I got something for you," bungad ko at nilapag sa harap niya ang durog at maliit na earpiece. I'd say it's cutting edge technology because it's so small and skin-colored kaya hindi masyadong pansin. Definitely made for spying.

Napabitaw si Colton sa kutsara niya at napalingon sa paligid. He discreetly got what I gave him and put it inside the pocket of his fleece jacket.

"Where'd you get this?" he asked in a low tone.

"East wall," bulong ko rin. "Leandro was there and he was talking to someone using that."

"Yeah. Comms are working there because the jammers are down. This is really serious."

For a moment, it felt like Colton's an adult. He's a kid but his mind... it's something.

"Can you check it using your tech voodoo or whatever that's called? Baka may makuha kang impormasyon?"

"Come with me upstairs."

Bumaba siya sa high chair at iniwan lang ang kinakain na ice cream. I don't want it to go to waste kaya kinuha ko na lang din at sumunod sa kanya. Nasa elevator kami nang lingunin niya ang hawak ko at mariin akong tiningnan.

"No food allowed in my lab," he said.

Napataas ang kilay ko. I almost said something inappropriate pero buti napigilan ko. Tinapon ko na lang ang ice cream nang makarating kami sa tamang palapag.