CODIE: Revenant Protocol

THE WARNING

"Nakita ko nalagpasan ni Kaelen pangalan mo sa scoreboard ah?" Cleo teased lightly.

"I bet that's why you're distracted today," Runa added. Codie only returned a small, controlled smile to them. The scoreboard wasn't the real reason. She could get her name back on top easily. She was thinking of something.

She opened her locker. Bumungad sa kanya ang mga nakadikit na family picture nila. Her hand went instinctively to the picture of her twin sister, Connie.

"She really looks like you," Runa said, peeking over her shoulder.

Codie smirked faintly. "Kambal ko siya, Runa. Common sense."

"Not always," Runa replied. "You know in science, even identical twins can end up looking different. Depends on their environment, stress, food, how they grow up. Epigenetics ang tawag dun. Even if they have the same DNA, their bodies express it differently."

"Ang daming sinabi." Cleo chimed in, rolling her eyes. "Na para bang hindi kami ang Doctor dito." Biro pa niya na tinawanan lang ng iba.

Then Baron piped up with a grin. "Have you heard of Mina Marcos? Yung sister ni Jace?"

Runa arched her brow. "Why? Type mo na naman?"

Baron raised both hands, grinning. "Why not? I heard she's a P-pop idol."

"Ano ngayon?" Cleo smirked. "Sige, gamitin niya talent niya habang bumabaril. Sana manalo sila."

"Sure!" Runa said, deadpan. " Sabihin ko sakanya sayo nalang itama yung baril para mawala kana."

The moment passed quickly, hawak parin ni Codie ang picture ng kapatid niya nakangisi ito pero ang utak ay wala na sa mga kasama niya. Pinanood lang siya ni Baron na nakatulala sa litrato habang sinusuot ang gloves sa kamay niya.

Codie didn't know what topic of their talk; she just felt Baron and Cleo's soft pat on the back before they walked off.

As the room became quiet, Codie's smirk faded before closing her locker door slowly hearing only the soft metallic click of her locker door.

She walked over to the lonely bench where her duffel is located.

As she sat down, she noticed a small pink keychain peeking out from the side pouch of an old charm Connie had won at a carnival. Codie almost smiled again.

"How are you?" She whispered, tracing the keychain cheek with her thumb. It had been five years since her sister left, saying she was just going to live with their mother and pursue her medical study with her but after that.

Walang tawag, text, kahit ano kahit ang nanay niya ay walang paramdam.

And Zone 9 is still closed. As if the government already forgot to re-opened it.

While tracing the keychain Codie let herself lean forward and put her elbows on her knees, she closed her eyes. Trying to meditate behind the sounds of her teammates who're laughing and bickering outside the locker room, seconds later it becames a blurred hum in her ears.

"The hospital needs your blood."

"Your sister Connie needs your blood." Napa dilat si Codie habang hinahabol ang hininga niya dahil sa narinig. Naalala na naman niya ang baliw na Scientist na humarang sa kanya kanina bago siya pumasok sa Training hall, pilit siya nitong pinapasakay sa kotse niya.

Buti nalang at nakita ito ni Baron.

"I need to report him to the mental hospital." She whispered before she tucked the keychain back into the duffel and stood up to her locker. She sighed, peeled off her gloves, and reached for a fresh pair. Then chalked her hands, thinking that Kaelen Vireon might've been at the top today, but she had something more important to aim for.