PROJECT: LMSW (Under Revision)

PROLOGUE

"In a far-away land, where magic rules.."

"The princess finally found her prince that'll love her until the end."

"And then they lived happily ever after."

I rolled my eyes as I scan every page of this 18th century "fairytale" book in my hand.

Napahalakhak ako dahil sa mga nabasa ko, tanga ba sila?

I've never expected that the people of 18th to 20th century will be this romantically inclined.

Ew.

Nakakasuka.

I lazily stepped out of the Academy's library, pumunta ako dito para matulog pero nawalan na ako ng gana dahil sa nabasa ko, mahirap na't baka bangungutin pa ako.

On normal days, most of the students will stop, stare and murmur something as I pass them by, pero ngayong araw ay wala kang makikita na kahit na isang studyante dito sa campus.
Well, maliban sa'kin.

Today is the annual assembly,
where every 20 years old were sorted into their factions.
Halos lahat sila ay nagkukumahog na panoorin ang walang kwentang assembliya na 'yon.
Maliban sa'kin.

In a world where everyone is given a number that shows how long they live,
the elders finally found a way to govern the Nation's people.

To divide them into two factions;
Lumos where the leaders and the aristocrats live and Luz where the commoners and people in the poverty line stays.

Kung mataas ang numero na makukuha mo, sa Lumos ka mapupunta, at kung minalas ka, sa Luz ka ibabagsak.

Of all these years, people of Luz had been treated as if we were someone's dog. Magtrabaho mila umaga hanggang gabi para sa mga taga Lumos, hanggang maubos ang kaunting numero, hanggang mamatay.
And if you think, that was unfair, I'm sorry to tell you but this whole world is.

Masaya kong nilahad ang kamay ko habang dinadama ang hangin dito sa rooftop ng Academy.

"Finally! Katahimi—ARAY!"

Napapikit ako dahil sa sakit ng likod.
Pagmulat ko ng mata ay isang mukha ng estranghero ang sumalubong sa'kin.

"Tanga ka ba?! Ang sakit sa likod nun ah!"

"S-sorry, akala ko kasi magpapakamatay ka."
Pinagpagan ko ang hoodie ko bago muling humarap sa lalaking—ang tangkad.
Hindi ko maalis ang tingin ko sa mukha niya, maging siya ay ganoon din sa'kin.

I came back to my senses when the raindrops touched my face.
We stand still facing each other as if we're on a staring contest.
My eyes widen when I noticed something unusual at him.

"Y-yung marked number mo, nabubura."
Hindi makapaniwalang sabi niya habang tinuturo ang mukha ko.

"Ikaw din."

Year 3065, kung saan sukatan ang "Marked numbers" para malaman ang estado at katayuan mo sa mundong ito, ang buong akala ko ako lang akong naiiba.

Tang*na, hindi pala ako nag-iisa.