The Paramount Code (The Odd Ones, Book 1)

060. Double-Edged Sword

Kalagitnaan na ng araw, pero sandamakmak pa ang mga appointments ni Voltaire kaya paniguradong gabi na siya makakauwi ng bahay. Abalang-abala siya noong umagang iyon, kaya hindi mawala ang pagsasalubong ng mga kilay niya kahit pa kinakausap siya ng sekretarya niya.

He was trying to concentrate on his work when all of a sudden, the office door opened, and in came his son Vladimir with a girl that is unfamiliar to him.

Binigyan ni Voltaire ng isang malamig na tingin ang anak, bago ibinalik ang tingin sa mga papeles niya sa mesa. "May kailangan ka ba? Say it now because I'm very busy –"

"We would like to ask you some questions, Mr. Voltaire Garcia."

Napatigil si Voltaire sa ginagawa, bago itinuon ang tingin sa babaeng nagsalita. He gave her a sneering look before chuckling sarcastically. "A straightforward young lady..." he said, sounding impressed, "Vladimir... Who is this? This is the first time you brought a friend to introduce to me."

Nanatiling tahimik si Vladimir kahit pa tinanong siya ng ama, kaya nagsimulang magduda si Voltaire sa pakay sa kanya ng dalawa. Nakangiti pa rin ang babae, habang tahimik lamang siyang pinagmamasdan ng anak.

He swiftly reached out for his phone to call for the guards, but when he tried to dial some numbers, the phone immediately went off. The other gadgets inside the office went berserk, and the CCTV cameras started freezing.

"What the heck is happening?" Napunta ang tingin ni Voltaire sa anak na kalmado pa rin at tila naiintindihan kung ano ang mangyayari.

"Huwag kang magpanggap na wala kang alam..." mariing saad ni Vladimir, "Hindi ako tanga."

"Kung may kinalaman ka sa kung anumang nangyayari ngayon, itigil niyo na 'to." Tumayo si Voltaire palapit sa anak niya, pero bigla siyang nanigas sa kinatatayuan.

Gwen moved closer to the man and looked at her with a smile on her face. "You're going to sit down on your chair, and you're going to answer your son's questions. Nagkakaintindihan po ba tayo?"

Bumagsak pabalik sa upuan niya ang katawan ni Voltaire, at itinuon niya ang tingin kay Vladimir. "Ano ba ang balak ninyong gawin?"

Gwen just smiled at him, before moving towards the couch on the side of the office and took a piece of chocolate from the small glass container on the table. Vladimir, on the other hand, stood right in front of his father's table, and looked down on him because of their positions.

"May ilang tanong lang ako, Dad..." Vladimir said, "At gusto kong magsabi ka ng totoo..."

Voltaire sighed in frustration. "Ano ba ang gusto mong malaman?"

"Ano ba ang ginawa mo kay Kuya Vitto, Dad? Alam kong alam mo kung bakit siya nagkaganoon..." Vladimir said as he looked into his father's eyes, eager to get answers from him.

"Wala akong ginawa sa kuya mo –" Naputol ang pagsasalita ni Voltaire nang maramdaman niya ang matinding sa sentido niya, "Ano ba ang ginagawa ninyo?" he then said angrily, almost growling.

"Every time you try to avoid the truth, I will cause pain inside your head," Gwen told him ominously, "Subukan mo pang magsinungaling o umiwas sa pagsagot, at mas titindi pa 'yan..."

Voltaire glared at the girl. "You are that monster, are you? A telepath..."

Gwen smiled eerily and nodded. "I am a telepath, yes. I am a metahuman, but I'm not a monster. The only monster here, Sir... is you."

Pagkatapos noon ay lumapit si Gwen sa tatay ni Vladimir, at hinawakan ang ulo nito. Sa pagtama ng kamay ng dalaga sa balat ni Voltaire, bigla na lamang itong nakaramdam ng pagkahilo.