The Paramount Code (The Odd Ones, Book 1)

063. Sonic

Habang patuloy pa rin si Benjamin sa pagsasalita sa harap ng mga tao, piniling ilibot ni Jacob ang mga mata sa buong lugar. Doon niya napansin ang ilang mga dating miyembro ng Paramount Class, kung saan nakita niyang nakapwesto si Elise. Nagtama ang mga mata nilang dalawa, pero agad niya ring iniwasan ang tingin nito bilang pag-iingat.

His eyes then spotted Vladimir's father, Voltaire Garcia, who is seated a little to the front. He is amused by how much Vladimir and his father looked alike, but compared to the younger Garcia, Voltaire is way more intimidating and daunting. His facial expressions look firm, and the kind of stares can seriously put people off.

Nang hindi sinasadyang magtama ang mga mata nina Jacob at Voltaire, agad niyang iniwas ang tingin mula rito. Hindi niya mapigilang ma-intimidate rito lalo na't matalim ito kung tumitig. It was that stern and chilly expression coming out of the man that made him feel really uncomfortable.

Pero ayaw niya namang takutin ang sarili, kaya iginala niya na lang muli ang mga mata sa buong lugar. Nagpalipat-lipat na lamang ng tingin sa mga tao at sa iba pang bahagi ng hall na kinalalagyan nila noong mga sandaling iyon.

Jacob was focused on the faces right before him that he did not even realize that the school director is already done with his speech. He only realized they were already moving to another place when he felt Daniel stand by his side, and touch his back just so he can turn to follow Nico who is already starting to walk, following Axis who is already moving.

Bahagya siyang nagulat at nalito, pero sinundan niya na lamang ang iba pang mga kasama sa Paramount Class. Kasabay nila sina Lara, Janus, at si Daniel, na dinala sila sa isang pinto na nakapwesto sa bandang kaliwa, pagkatapos nilang bumaba mula sa platform.

Pagpasok nila sa loob, nakaramdam ng kakaibang lamig sa katawan si Jacob habang pinagmamasdan niya ang mga puting pader na nakapalibot sa kanila. Pakiramdam niya ay nasa ospital siya kaya bahagya siyang hindi naging palagay sa lugar na iyon. Everything was white and pristine, but he felt so eerie and claustrophobic looking at it.

Habang patuloy sa paglalakad, napansin ni Jacob ang isang malaking double door na gawa sa bakal na nasa dulo ng hallway. Mukha itong isang malapad na elevator na may hawakan, kaya mas lalo siyang naging tensyonado dahil pakiramdam niya ay ikukulong sila sa kung saan.

Dr. Lara then took the key card from her pocket, and pressed it against a small machine on the side. The doors then opened, so they started entering the place.

Kagaya ni Jacob, nagtataka rin ang ibang mga estudyante sa tumambad sa kanila. Napansin ni Janus ang mga ekspresyon ng mukha nila, kaya hindi nito napigilan pa ang bahagyang pagtawa.

"Like I said before, while all of you will take the quarterly assessment all the same time, you will not get the same tests. Kaya ko kayo kinakausap nang magkakahiwalay nitong nakaraan ay dahil gusto kong maintindihan ang mga kakayahan ninyo. I wanted to make a simulation room that is suited for your own abilities, since each one of you have varying powers and skills.

"The simulation room designed for you is labelled by your ranks in the Paramount Class, with the first room to be used by Vladimir, and so on and so forth..."

"At 'yung mga screen sa labas... Para saan 'yun?" tanong ni Emma na kahit pa mukhang interesado ay halata namang kinakabahan.

"There are cameras inside your simulation rooms so that the people at the hall can watch your progress in this quarterly assessment," sagot ni Lara sa tanong niya, "You are a special batch, since this is the first time that we will be allowing other people from the Paramount Laboratories to take part and witness your quarterly assessment. Pero huwag kayong masyadong mapressure dahil dun. Hindi naman tayo andito para paglabanin kayong lahat, at hindi rin namin ikukumpara ang abilities ninyo sa ibang members. We are here to see your powers' extents and limits, and to see how much you have progressed ever since you first began your stay in the Paramount Program. Remember, you are not competing against each other. The only competition you have is yourselves."