"Pero patay ka na... Pinaglamayan at nilibing ka na," ani Leia na punong-puno ng gulat at pagkalito ang tinig habang naglalakad papasok sa pavilion, "Paano po nangyaring buhay ka?"
Helga looked at Daniel first, before the two of them chuckled. She then sipped some from her cup of coffee before moving her eyes on the young lady approaching them.
"I died, yes. But you see, among my mutations is the ability to have multiple lives. Five lives, to be exact. Pagkatapos kong mamatay, ginawan ng paraan ni Daniel na makuha ang katawan ko sa morgue. I may have died, but my system was just... sleeping," Helga explained calmly, "I needed 24 hours to reset my system, before I got up again like nothing happened."
"Kung buhay ka, ano 'yung pinaglamayan namin? At pati na rin 'yung pamilya mo... Alam ba nila ang tungkol dito?"
Helga released another chuckle. "Take a seat first, will you, child?"
Leia, despite feeling hesitant, sat opposite Helga while giving the two suspicious looks. "Ano po ba talaga ang totoo?"
Napahinga nang malalim si Helga bago nginitian ang kaharap na dalaga. "Those were just ashes from burnt wood and pieces of paper. Walang magchecheck nun, hindi ba? At 'yung pamilya ko? Ni hindi ko nga kilala 'yun eh. Wala na akong pamilya. Kung sino man sila, siguradong nahanap lang sila ni Elise sa kung saan. The others probably did something to make my death more convincing and real to everyone. We're metahumans, sweetheart. We can make the impossible, possible."
Bahagyang nagsalubong ang mga kilay ni Leia. "Hindi ko pa rin maintindihan ang mga sinasabi ninyo..."
Daniel smiled as he gave Helga a meaningful look. "Helga, maybe you should start from the real reason why she went here..." he then moved his focus on Leia, "You want the truth, right?"
Isang tango ang itinugon ni Leia sa lalaki, bago muling ibinaling ang tingin sa babaeng kaharap niya.
Muling humigop si Helga mula sa tasa niya, at pagkatapos ay huminga nang malalim bago muling nagsalita. "About your father, Tobias... Just like you and me, he's also a metahuman. You see, a lot of metahumans, we all live harsh lives. Natatakot ang mga normal na tao sa atin at sa kung ano ang mga kaya nating gawin... Ang iba sa mga katulad natin, lumayas sa mga tinitirhan nila. Ang iba naman, tinapon at nilayuan ng sarili nilang mga pamilya.
"Lucky for us, there are a group of metahumans called the Sanctum who are taking in our kind to help them and protect them. While the adults and old people are not a big problem since they can fend and think for themselves, the children were a different case. Dahil doon kaya nagkaroon ng isang 'family system' sa Sanctum. Metahumans who are strong and capable enough to protect young ones are assigned to become a 'head of the family', and can take in young metahumans and raise them as their own. Ang iba sa kanila, mahilig sa mga bata at gustong magkaroon ng mga anak. Yung iba naman, gusto lang talagang makatulong. Merong mga mag-asawa, meron namang mga mag-isa lang.
"Yung biological father ko, half-British siya, at nakatira siya sa London... He was among those metahumans who took the young ones... Namatay ang nanay ko pagkatapos akong ipanganak, kaya kinailangan niya akong palakihin nang mag-isa. He had it hard, and he was struggling to find a job because no one will take care of me. That's when we were found by the Sanctum, and helped him get on his feet. Para makabawi sa tulong na ibinigay nila, pumayag ang tatay ko na maging foster father sa ibang mga metahumans na nahiwalay na sa mga magulang nila. He was more than eager to do it, since he always dreamt of a big family, and I wanted siblings...
"Tobias was older than me by six years, and I first saw him when he was brought in by my father at our home... Tatlo silang inuwi ng tatay ko nun, at pare-pareho silang lalaki. Together, we all grew up as siblings... I was even the youngest, and the only girl, in fact. Parang katulad lang sa sitwasyon ni Gwen... Your father and I, we were raised together like we were true family despite not being bound by blood...
"We grew up together until he is finally able to support himself. Gaya ng mga mas nakatatanda sa amin, pinili niyang iwan ang bahay namin para bumuo ng sarili niyang buhay at subukan ang kapalaran niya. Alam mo, pareho kayo ng tatay mo. Just like you, he has the ability to manipulate plant growth, that's why his fruit plantation is a success... As a businessman, he had to travel a lot, so he ended up meeting your mother. And then, he had you.
"However, as much as Tobias loves you, it will be dangerous if he stays with you and your mother. Pinaghahanap din siya ng mga nasa Paramount Labs, kaya kung mananatili siya, siguradong mapapahamak kayong mag-ina. That's why he prepared that home for you... You see, it my home. It's yours. Tobias told me that if ever his child goes to that house, he wants me to take care of him or her. And then you came... Doon ko na nalaman na ikaw pala ang anak niya, kaya gagawin ko ang lahat para maprotektahan ka..."
"Pero bakit hindi man lang niya ako binisita?" tanong ni Leia, "Gusto ko rin siyang makita at makasama..."
"Sa ngayon kasi, medyo kumplikado 'yun..." Helga heaved a deep sigh. "Tobias took over the role of my father. Now, he is tasked to be a family head."
The young lady's brows furrowed, feeling a little upset. "So nag-aalaga siya ng iba pero hindi niya ako kayang puntahan?"
"Alam kong mahirap, but I want you to understand the consequences. He can't even visit you because of the danger that might come in your way if he –"
"Bakit? Ano ba ang pwedeng mangyari?"
Kinagat ni Helga ang pang-ibabang labi, at ibinaling muna ang tingin kay Daniel bago muling tiningnan si Leia. "Just as how people with different beliefs and internal conflicts go into war, it also applies to us metahumans. The Paramount Laboratories, they want us dead."
"The Paramount Laboratories – You mean, yung partner ng school para mabuo ang Paramount Program?" Bakas sa mukha ni Leia ang labis na pagkalito, "Pero doon kayo nagtatrabaho..."
"We do," Helga responded, "That is why we know the truth about the atrocious experiments they are conducting on people, whether they are metahuman or not. At 'yun ang gusto naming mapatigil, kaya kinakalaban namin sila. Right now, I have been exposed, and obviously they're trying to destroy us. Benjamin is the one responsible for my death. He hired an assassin – who is also a metahuman – to kill me. He injected a serum that induced a heart attack which caused my death.
"Marami pa ang mga taong nagmula sa Sanctum na nagtatrabaho ngayon sa Paramount Laboratories, and they are trying their best not to expose themselves so that we can protect the other metahumans that are with us.
"And that's what I want to do with you, Leia..." Helga continued, "I want to protect you from all of these. Right now, as a member of the Paramount Class, you are too close to the fire. You are too close to Benjamin, and Janus, and Lara... who are all loyal to the organization and to its visions. Sa ngayon, may mga plano kaming ginagawa para matapos na ang kasamaan nina Benjamin, pero hindi ko hahayaan na masala ka sa –"
"Leia?"
The three of them moved their heads to the direction where the male voice came from, and there they saw Jacob standing, confusion filling his face.
Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Leia nang makita si Jacob, pati na si Gwen at ang tatlong lalaking kasama nito. "Jacob, Gwen... Anong ginagawa ninyo dito?"
Natahimik sina Jacob at Gwen, bago itinuon ang tingin kay Helga at Daniel na nagpapalitan ng tingin.
Pagkatapos ay napangisi na lamang ang class adviser bago tumikhim. "This is quite an eventful day, isn't it?"
*******
Janus needed no use of his telepathic abilities since anyone could basically see the suspicion and aversion on Vladimir's face as he sat with him that afternoon. He was testing his abilities to absorb data, as well as assessing his technopathic abilities.
Ginamit niya ang isang telebisyon, at inutusan si Vladimir na ilipat ang mga channels nito gamit lamang ang paggalaw ng mga mata. Madali naman iyong nagawa ng estudyante, na nagawa pang patayin ang telebisyon gamit ang kakayahan niya.
After Vladimir's showcase of abilities, he made some notes on the journal he is holding, before closing it and placing it on top of the table beside the pen he used.
Janus then clasped his hands as he looked at the young man in front of him kindly. "Aside from being able to absorb knowledge from other people, you're also a technopath... Interesting. Aside from the high intellect and fast analysis of data that you have, you also managed to absorb information from the minds of other people and even reading materials. Para ka na ring telepath, kung tutuusin. Iyon nga lang, impormasyon lang ang nakukuha mo, which is still an excellent ability. By the way, do you still get discomfort using your technopathic abilities? I heard you were complaining about a headache last time."
"Wala 'yun... Nararamdaman ko lang naman 'yun kapag masyadong malayo ang inaabot ng technopathy ko. Pero ginagawa ko naman ang lahat para mag-improve at palawakin pa ang scope ko."
Janus nodded as he then opened his journal again and wrote something. "Did you develop new mutations recently? From your files, nakita ko na ikaw pala ang naunang nagdevelop ng secondary mutation."
Binigyan ni Vladimir ang lalaki ng nagdududang tingin habang umiiling. "Wala naman... Nothing that I know of."
Tumango si Janus habang nakatingin pa rin sa file ng estudyanteng kaharap. "Well, we'll never know. Maybe you developed more mutations and were just not aware of it. I mean, hindi nga natin alam na matagal nang nag-manifest ang abilities ni Gwen, hindi ba? We really have to expect the unexpected all the time."
Vladimir's brows slightly furrowed when Gwen's name was mentioned, and he gave the scientist a stern look. However, he remained silent, like he was waiting for him to actually offend him.
"Gwen is indeed a strong telepath, isn't she?" biglang dagdag ni Vladimir, "I can't even get into your head properly because of the blocks she placed in it... Magnificent. I should really –"
"Sino ka ba talaga?" tanong ni Vladimir kay Janus, "I searched about you. Maliban sa pagtatrabaho mo sa Paramount Laboratories, wala na akong ibang makuhang info tungkol sa'yo maliban sa mga articles na nahanap ko sa internet. Those are just basic information about who you are and what you do. Wala akong makuhang detalye sa kung saan ka nanggaling. Also, you have a complete biodata but it's just... too good to be true."
A smirk slowly formed on Janus' face. "You really are intelligent... Pero sinabi ko na sa'yo, hindi ba? I'm neither a friend or a foe."
"Pero bakit mo kami tinulungan ni Gwen doon sa laboratory?" Vladimir then asked, his voice both stern and full of skepticism.
"A story isn't complete without its main characters, that's why I helped you. That's the extent of what I can do for the chronicle you are in since I'm just here to... watch."
Vladimir's eyebrow lifted a little. "Watch what?"
"Everything..."
Binigyan ni Vladimir si Janus ng isang mahaba at malamig na titig, bago napabuntong-hininga dahil sa inis. Pagkatapos ay tumayo ang binata mula sa kinauupuan.
"Wala kang kwentang kausap. It is pointless to talk to you when you wouldn't even tell me the truth."
Janus chuckled and smirked at him. "The truth is for me to know... and for you to find out."
Hindi na tumugon pa si Vladimir, at sa halip ay dumiretso na palabas ng kwartong iyon. He went towards the glass door, pulled it strongly to open it, before releasing it carelessly as he just peevishly leaving the room.
Naghintay muna ng ilang segundo si Janus bago tumayo mula sa kinauupuan niya at lumapit sa pinto na hinawakan ni Vladimir ilang sandali pa lamang ang nakakalipas. Tiningnan niya ang bakal na hawakan nito, bago inilapit doon ang dulo ng hintuturo niya.
When the tip of his index finger touched it, his body was startled because of the mild electric shock that he felt from it.
As he moved away from the door, he smirked, looking accomplished as he wrote down some more notes on his journal.
*******
Pagkatapos ng trabaho niya noong gabing iyon, inayos na ni Janus ang mga gamit sa ibabaw ng mesa niya at naghanda na para umalis at umuwi. Pagkatapos noon, lumabas na siya ng Paramount Building at dumiretso sa parking lot papunta sa kotse niya.
Pero bago pa man niya mabuksan ang pinto ng sasakyan, isang babae ang lumitaw mula sa likuran. She was dressed in a black trench coat, with a white blouse underneath. Her pants where black too, in contrast with the white doctor's gown and black shirt Janus was wearing.
Napangiti si Janus at mabilis na lumapit sa babaeng nakatingin sa kanya. "I thought you'd never visit me –"
"Isang hakbang pa at papatayin talaga kita," the woman said, lifting a hand, as she collected light energy from all over the place, turning it into a small ball on her palm, "At hindi kita binibisita. Kinukumpirma ko lang kung andito ka na talaga sa Pilipinas."
Napahinga nang malalim si Janus at pinagmasdan ang babae, bago humakbang paatras para maglagay ng sapat na distansya sa pagitan nilang dalawa.
"Is this how you'll treat your twin brother, Juno?"
"After you tried to kill me? Your own twin sister?" Juno then smirked as she sarcastically responded, "Of course I do. Dapat nga mas malala pa ang trato ko sa'yo, pero hindi ko kayang gawin dahil may konsensya naman ako. Pwede rin kitang patayin, pero hindi ko gagawin 'yun dahil –"
"Dahil wala kang choice," nakangising tugon ni Janus sa kapatid.
"Bakit ba kasi hindi natin pwedeng piliing mamatay na lang?" Janus then rolled his eyes as he leaned his back against the car, "Hindi naman ata patas na hindi tayo binigyan ng kakayahan na patayin ang sarili natin."
"Gusto mong mamatay para takasan ang mga kasalanan mo? Mga inosenteng tao ang pinatay mo, Janus –"
"Kung hindi ko pinatay ang gagong 'yun, hindi mawawala si Alice sa 'kin..."
Napahinga nang malalim si Juno. "Patayin mo man o hindi ang lalaking 'yun, hindi na babalik si Alice sa'yo. You killed that man and you messed with the timeline just because you didn't want the love of your life to perish... But in a funny twist of events, she still died in childbirth bearing a baby that isn't even yours," Juno said, her tone sharp and aiming to insult, "You can mess with the flow of events if you want, but you can't cheat death. Those who will perish will perish, one way or another. We are just here to see it all... to watch it unfold before our very eyes."
Janus then gritted his teeth as he clenched his fists, frustration visible on his face. His expression was completely different from his usual calm and collected demeanor, and the seemingly permanent charming smile is gone from his face.
"You must have seen the visions from the past..." ani Janus, "Galit ka ba sa 'kin dahil nawala sa'yo ang pinakamamahal mong si Edmund?" tanong niya sa kapatid.
"Wala naman akong magagawa eh. Kasama ko man siya o hindi, mamamatay pa rin siya. You already saw his death in your visions of the future, so what should I expect?" Juno said sternly, averting her eyes away from his twin brother. "Hindi naman ako kasing tanga mo pagdating sa pag-ibig."
Huminga nang malalim si Janus habang nakasandal ang katawan sa sasakyan niya. "Hanggang kailan ba tayo mananatiling ganito? We've been alive for so long... We have had so many lives, names, and identities... I am so exhausted of watching everything unfold, Juno. Ni hindi nga ako pwedeng magpakamatay eh... Kapag sinaktan ko ang sarili ko, nasasaktan ka rin. Kapag nagpakamatay ako, ikaw ang mamamatay... At kapag pinili kong mamatay, ikaw naman ang mawawala. Palaging isa lang sa 'tin ang matitirang buhay..." isang mapait na ngisi ang lumitaw sa mukha ni Janus, "Patayin mo na lang kaya ako?"
"Kapag pinatay kita," ani Juno sa kakambal, "Eh 'di natapos na ang paghihirap mo... Ayokong mangyari 'yun. Gusto kong maghirap ka. Gusto kong magsisi ka. Gusto kong makonsensya ka. Gusto kong magbago ka..."
Janus then smirked as he looked into his sister's eyes. "Paano kung ikaw ang patayin ko?"
Juno responded with a smirk, and using a flash of light she collected in her palm, she gave Janus' face a thin and long wound. Blood oozed from it, dripping down to his chin. Juno then traced the wound that emerged on her face, a laceration exactly the same with the one on Janus' cheek.
"Subukan mo..." malamig na tugon ni Juno sa kanya, bago ito tuluyang umalis. Sinundan na lamang ng tingin ni Janus ang kakambal, bago napailing habang pinupunasan ang dugo na umaagos mula sa sugat niya.