Aberrant: The Other Side Of The World

Chapter 1

In this world, we never used any kind of technologies. Kailangan mong maghirap para lang umunlad ang pamumuhay. Mahirap, pero kakayanin.

Kahit saan ka pumunta, makakakita ka ng mga batang pakalat-kalat, na punit ang mga damit, sira ang mga tsinelas, halos matabunan ang katawan dahil sa mga abo.

Kapag tinignan sila, parang kawawa at walang magulang, pero sa totoo lang, may magulang sila at hindi kawawa.

At bihira ka lang makakakita ng mga hayop. Karamihan, namamatay dahil sa tindi ng init at gutom.

Bihira nalang umulan dito, laging tirik ang araw, laging mainit. At puro maiitim na usok ang makikita mo.

And because we're public servants, we're controlled under our founders.

Napag-isipan nila na magtayo ng munting ospital, para sa mga taong may malubhang sakit, may mga hika, at kung anu-ano pang mangyayaring disgrasya.

We don't have school here, nor malls, market at iba pang mga gusali. But that doesn't mean na wala na kaming pinag-aralan, na wala kaming alam.

Again, our founders decided to divide us into five groups, sectors.

First, the smart one's, the one's who value knowledge and logic, they're in Astute. They know everything.

Civil farms the land. They're always happy, kind and polite to everyone.

Candid tells the truth. They always stick with the truth. They're honest. What they want is you to tell the truth, even when you wish you wouldn't.

And then there's Valiant; brave, fearless, dauntless. Everybody thinks they're crazy. They're our soldiers, police, guardians.

And lastly, under-sector. People who don't fit in any of the sectors.

Even though we're divided into five groups, we still belong to a one family. Or should I say, we're still united. We call ourselves, the Average.

Many people say that, we're in the normal side of the world. And they always think that the Aberrants exist.

But the other people say that the Aberrants were ghosts, they never exist.

Today was the test— a test for everyone. The doctors will test us, so that they'll know where we belong.

"Are you nervous?" My mom asked habang sinusuklay yung buhok ko.

"No." I simply said. "Why? Are you nervous?" I threw back the question.

She shook her head. "Nope, I'm always brave." She stopped para ipusod yung buhok ko. "And besides, papanuorin lang naman kitang pumili, e." Then she laughed.

I smiled. Kapag 20 pataas na kasi, hindi na sila tinetest. Teen-agers lang ang tinetest. 

I took a deep breathe. Naramdaman ko na inalis na ni mama ang kamay niya sa buhok ko, she's done fixing me.

Tumingin ako sa likod ko na kung saan nandoon ang salamin. I smiled as I saw my reflection.

"You always love being simple." I said as I looked at mom's reflection.

"Because you're simple." She answered.

I smiled. "Asan nga pala si papa?"

"Nagreready na siguro doon testing program." She answered at sinabayan ko ng pagnod.

"Let's go?" Mom said and I held her hand at sabay na kaming naglakad papalabas. "Oh, wait— mauna ka na, I forgot my necklace." She said at sinunod ko nalang siya. Nauna na ako.

My name's Tris Lawyer. Hindi ko alam kung bakit panglalaking pangalan ang pinangalan sa akin ni mama. As I grew up, ang lagi niya lang sinasabi sa akin sa tuwing magtatanong ako kung bakit 'yun ang pangalan ko, because it defines courage daw.

My mom— Jackielyn Lawyer, as what I've said earlier, she loves being simple. And my dad— James Lawyer, works alongside our leader in this world— Marco Poberoid.

And then there's my brother— Cage Lawyer. He's really helpful, lalo na't kapag alam niyang nahihirapan na ang isang tao.

"Tris, would you get the other bags?" He asked habang bitbit-bitbit ang dalawang plastic bag na hawak nung matanda kanina. See, tutulong talaga siya.

But something forced me not to get the bags. "I'm sorry." I whispered at mabilis na nilampasan sila.

I don't know kung bakit ko 'yon nasabi. Ano'ng nangyayari sa akin? Parang kanina lang, hindi ako kinakabahan tapos ngayon, kinakabahan na ako?

I guess, when I'm with mom, I'm confident.

Kalma lang, kaya ko 'to. I took a deep breathe and slowly exhaled.

"What if she really needs help?" Biglang enter ng isang boses kaya naman napahinto ako. I looked at it, Cage. Then I continued walking. "Kukunin mo lang yung mga natirang bag, hindi mo pa nagawa?"

"Hindi naman kasi 'yon ganon kadali—"

"Ganon 'yon kadali. A simple help, Tris. 'Yun lang!" Medyo tumaas na ang boses niya. He's really sensitive.

"For you, maybe. Pero para sa akin, hindi 'yon ganon kadali." I answered.

"Just relax, Tris, and trust the test." He said.

Trust the test? The test will tell me who I am.

Am I smart? Kind? Honest? Or brave?

Tatlong napakahabang pila ang nakita namin pagdating sa testing program.

This is it. Once I get through that door, I can't back down but to face the doctors.

"Where's mom?" Cage asked pagkapila namin.

"Bumalik siya kanina sa bahay para kunin yung necklace. Pero mukhang nasa loob na 'yon dahil sa backgate ata siya dumaan." I answered.

Today will be the test, then tomorrow will be the choosing ceremony. Bukas kami pipili ng sector. At once na makapili kami, mahihiwalay na kami sa pamilya namin. At bawal na kaming mag-iba ng sector.

I thinks that's the reason why am I so nervous right now.

It's really hard to live without your family beside you.