Don't you know that
our heart
is the most powerful organ
 in our body?
'Coz our heart has
a mind of its own.

/16/ Project: Afterlife

[JUNIPER]

"YOU never told me that you have a fiancé." Narinig kong nagsalita si Theo, walang bakas ng kahit na anong emosyon sa kanya, nang maiwan kaming dalawa sa loob ng Hema's Coffee.

Kanina pa umalis si Levi nang tanggihan ni Theo ang alok ng nauna, but Levi said that he'll leave Theo to think about his decision and he said that he'll be back again soon. Hindi ko nakuhang makapagsalita at hindi ko na nabigyang linaw kay Theo na dati ko siyang fiancé.

"M-matagal nang na-cancel ang engagement naming dalawa," sagot ko sa kanya at kita ko ang blangko niyang mukha. I can't figure out what he's thinking but I am bothered if he's considering to sell this place because I know Levi, hindi siya titigil hangga't hindi niya nakukuha ang gusto niya.

Levi Ching, he is well known in the industry because at such young age he was able to dominate the business world. Kaya nga hindi na ako nagtataka na siya ang napili ni Ah Ma noon na para ipakasal sa'kin.

I can still remember the first day I was introduced to him, there's something strange in his aura that I can't stand. The feeling of intimidation was there and I never imagined myself having a family with him.

Dahil sa naging desisyon noon ni Ah Ma ay napilitan ako noong subukan na kilalanin si Levi, 'yong mga panahong akala ko ay wala na akong kawala sa tradisyon. We went for several dates, dinala niya ako sa mga eleganteng lugar at wala akong masasabi sa husay at talino niya sa negosyo. He's perfect and it's too surreal for me.

Kung madali lang turuan ang puso na pilitin na magmahal ay baka ginawa ko noon sa kanya, pero hindi—dahil may sariling utak ang puso ko at pinili nito kung sino ang dapat kong mahalin.

"You looked surprised when you saw him." Narinig ko ulit ang boses ni Theo at nakita ko siyang bumalik sa mesa para ayusin 'yung mga papeles galing sa opisina. "So, you're not that alone after all."

Alam ko kung anong piangangahulugan niya dahil minsan kong sinabi sa kanya noon na wala na akong ibang kakilala, kaibigan at pamilya. Hindi ko na tuloy alam kung anong isasagot ko.

Isa sa mga nakasaad sa kasunduang pinasok ko'y hindi ako makikilala ng mga taong kilala ko noon kahit na gamit ko pa rin ang tunay kong pangalan—well, because this body doesn't have a heart. But there are exemptions; there are only two kinds of people who can recognize me: A psychic or a person who has a developed sixth sense, and another Heartless who's under the program like me.

At hindi ko lubos akalain na makikilala ako ni Levi, we're both Heartless that's why we recognized each other's secret. But the most astounding fact to me, Levi's physical appearance is still the same when we got engage... It means... matagal na siyang Heartless?

"What now?" binalik ko lang sa kanya 'yung tanong niya sa'kin kanina. Huminto saglit si Theo subalit hindi niya ako tiningnan.

"I don't know." Malamig niyang sagot at muli niyang tinuon ang atensyon sa ginagawa niya.

Nanatili lang akong nakatayo at nakatitig sa kanya, nagtagal din 'yon ng ilang minuto at naramdaman ko na wala siyang gana na kausapin ako, o marahil ay naghihintay siya na magpaliwanag ako.

Napahinga ako ng malalim at hindi ko na natiis ang katahimikan.

"I'm sorry," iyon ang nasabi ko at naramdaman ko na nag-iinit ang dalawang sulok ng mga mata ko. Pinigilan ko ang luha dahil ayokong umiyak sa harapan niya, ayokong makita niya na pinanghihinaan ako ng puso. "Sorry kung pumasok ako sa buhay mo ng walang pasabi. Hayaan mo, malapit na 'tong matapos."

I don't know why I said that, nabigla rin ako kaya wala akong ibang ginawa kundi lumabas ng gusali. Napahinto ako sa paglalakad nang may humintong itim na sedan sa gilid ko at nang bumaba ang bintana nito'y hindi na ako nagulat nang makita ko siya ulit.

"Levi."

"Hop in, Juniper. We have a lot to catch up in our lives."

Magulo man ang isip namin parehas ni Theo ngayon subalit may kailangan din akong linawin at alamin tungkol sa taong kaharap ko ngayon. Sumakay ako sa kotse ni Levi at humarurot ang sasakyan palayo sa Hema's Coffee.

Hindi ko napigilang lumingon at nakita ko si Theo sa labas.

*****

WHAT happens when we die? It is one of the most taboo questions of humanity since the civilization began. Libu libong doktrina at teorya ang nailimbag tungkol dito, dumanak ang dugo sa kasaysayan sa paglalaban ng mga relihiyon kung sino ang tama at mali. At hanggang ngayon ay wala pa ring makapagsasabi kung sino ang tama.

Hindi ko maiwasang mag-isip ng kung anu-ano habang kaharap ko si Levi. We went to a fancy restaurant in Taft; this is where he used to take me before for lunch. Prenteng kumakain si Levi habang hindi ako mapakali.

"Relax," he said when he felt my uneasiness. Uminom siya ng wine bago tumingin sa akin. "I know you're in a rush, how many days left?"

"Since when did you become a Heartless?" imbis na sagutin ko siya'y binato ko siya ng tanong. I saw Levi's grin.

"You used to be calm and patient all the time, Juniper."

"Answer me, Levi." Sumandal siya sa kinauupuan niya at humalukipkip, mukhang pinag-iisipan pa niya kung sasabihin niya ba sa'kin o hindi kung ano'ng tumatakbo sa isip niya.

"I never thought that your grandmother will give you her voucher for Project: Afterlife."

Napakunot ako nang marinig ko 'yon mula sa kanya.

"What do you mean?"

"And you picked a good host to use, the daughter of a hospital director, Galilee Manzano."

Sa pagkakataong 'to ay nagulat ako sa sinabi ni Levi, he's like dropping revelation bombs right in my face, not giving me a chance to seek the truth regarding his involvement in Project: Afterlife.

"K-kilala mo si Gal?"

"Her father is a friend of mine."

Napakuyom ako dahil hindi ako makakuha ng impormasyon tungkol sa kanya. He's more knowledgeable than me and he's using it against me, hindi ko alam kung para saan at bakit. Naghihiganti ba siya sa ginawa ko sa kanya noon?

"He belongs to the Heartless Society." Napapitlag ako nang marinig ko ang boses ni Azrael at nakita ko siyang nakatayo sa gilid ko. Levi can see him too because he's a Heartless.

"Heartless Society?" ulit ko at mas lalo akong naguluhan.

"Poor, Juniper. Your angel didn't even inform you." Pang-aasar ni Levi na mas lalo kong kinainis.

"Heartless Society is an exclusive group of rich and influential people who secretly and formerly funds the Project: Afterlife."

Wala akong nagawa kundi magpabalik-balik ng tingin kay Levi at Azrael, nakaramdam ako ng tensyon sa pagitan nilang dalawa.

"They're an enemy of ours," narinig ko ulit ang boses ni Azrael. "Because of their greed, they want to live as Heartless forever by occupying different bodies."

"Oh, Azrael, don't be so cold to me," sabi ni Levi at nakaramdam ako ng kilabot sa aura niya. "Your two founders just separated ways, the one is loyally working to us and the other is still struggling to accomplish his noble yet taboo mission."

I looked at Azrael and I saw grim on his face. In reality, there's only me and Levi, amidst the crowd and seemingly normal human lives, they don't know about us.

*****

I can still remember the moment when I woke up to find out that I'm already dead... There's nothing but a vast of nothingness, except I heard a voice. At first, I thought it was the voice of God.

"Hello, Juniper."

"W-where am I?"

"You're already dead and as of the moment you're just a formless consciousness or soul."

It feels weird to know that you are already dead, but I cannot fully comprehend what happened. Suddenly my surroundings changed and I saw all of my memories since I was born, parang iyon 'yung sinasabi nila na magpa-flashback ang lahat bago ka mawala.

Pagkatapos ay samu't saring emosyon ang naramdaman ko, naisip ko noon ayoko pang mamatay. Natakot ako.

"These are all your consciousness' memories."

"Are you God?" sabi ko nang mawala ang mga imahe sa paligid. I heard a slight chuckle and I found it odd, God laughed at me?

"No, I'm not. My name is Azrael, I'm one of the founders of Project: Afterlife."

"Project: Afterlife?"

"Yes. You are lucky because someone vouched for you to sign under this contract. Project: Afterlife is one of the most recent and top secret scientific breakthroughs, a technology that explores human mind, consciousness and heart; these are the trinity of human body."

"What can I do if I'm already dead?" I asked.

"Your body is already dead but your soul or consciousness is eternal, you are currently in a temporary vessel that carries you."

"H-hindi ko maintindihan."

Biglang lumiwanag ang paligid at lumitaw ang isang hologram na tao sa harapan ko. Tinignan ko ang pinagmumulan ng hologram at nakita na nanggagaling 'yon sa isang maliit na butas sa itaas, animo'y nasa loob ako ng sinehan.

"Hi." Sabi ng isang lalaki na sa palagay ko ay nasa mid-30s. Nakangiti siya sa'kin habang kalahati ng katawan niya'y nakaupo.

"Ikaw si Azrael?"

Tumango siya at muling nagsalita, "Let me explain to you what Project: Afterlife is, as I've said earlier it's a top secret technology, therefore walang nakakaalam nito maliban sa mga current sponsors ng program. Now, since you have a voucher for this program, you'll be given a chance to live in a temporary host or a body for thirty days."

"I'm confused..."

"One of Project: Afterlife's mission is to seek heart donors, in exchange of using a temporary body you will donate your heart to the host. Ibig sabihin magkakaroon ka ng chance na bumalik sa mundo sa pamamagitan ng paggamit ng isang katawan na nangangailangan ng puso sa loob ng thirty days, at bilang kapalit ay ibibigay mo sa host ang puso mo."

It was bizarre.

Gulung gulo ako noong mga oras na 'yon. Weird dahil patay na ako pero nagagawa ko pa ring maguluhan—well dahil sinabi niya na eternal ang soul. Pero nangibabaw noong mga oras na 'yon ang pagnanais na makabalik. Dahil ayoko pang mamatay. At dahil gusto ko siyang makita at makapiling kahit sa ganitong pagkakataon.

Kung ito ang paraan ng Diyos para ibigay sa'kin ang hiling ko na makasama si Theo... pumayag ako.

"Very well, Juniper. Here's the contract."

Naglaho si Azrael at lumitaw sa ere ang mga salita.

WELCOME TO PROJECT: AFTERLIFE

A GROUP OF SCIENTIST REVOLUTIONIZED THE HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS AND HUMAN HEART. THEIR ASTOUNDING AND OUTSTANDING DISCOVERIES ARE:

1. HUMAN HEARTS ARE POWERFUL; IT HAS ITS OWN MIND.

2. HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS CAN BE TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER BODY FOR LIMITED TIME.

3. HUMAN MEMORIES CAN BE MANIPULATED AND ERASED.

THE BENEFICIARIES OF THE PROGRAM ARE:

1. AS OF THE MOMENT, THE VOUCHERS FOR THE PROGRAM ARE ONLY AVAILABLE TO THE SPONSORS OF THE PROJECT: AFTERLIFE.

2. THE DONORS WILL HAVE MORE 30 DAYS CHANCE TO LIVE IN THE PHYSICAL WORLD.

3. THE HOSTS ARE CHOSEN SECRETLY WHO ARE CURRENTLY NEEDING BODY ORGANS (MAINLY HEART, ETC.)

UPON SIGNING UNDER PROJECT: AFTERLIFE, THE FOLLOWING ARE THE CONDITIONS FOR THE DONORS AND HOSTS.

CONDITIONS FOR THE DONORS/HEARTLESS:

1. THE DONORS CONSCIOUSNESS WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO THE TEMPORARY BODY, THEREFORE CALLING THEM AS 'HEARTLESS'.

2. FORMER BODY'S PHYSICAL HEALTH MUST BE IN GOOD CONDITION, THE ORGANS ARE NOT INFECTED OR DETERIORIATED ETC.

3 GIVEN 30 DAYS TO USE THE HOST OR THE TEMPORARY BODY.

4. DONORS/HEARTLESS WILL BE GUIDED BY "ANGELS" OR THE HOLOGRAM AGENT OF PROJECT: AFTERLIFE TO MONITOR AND GUIDE THEIR MOVEMENTS ACCORDING TO MORAL AND ETHICAL STANDARDS.

5. THE DONOR/HEARTLESS WILL ASSUME HIS/HER OWN IDENTITY BUT HE/SHE CAN'T BE REMEMBERED BECAUSE OF HER 'HEARTLESS' STATE.

ONCE THE PROGRAM ENDED:

1. THE DONOR'S CONSCIOUSSNESS WILL BE UNPLUGGED FROM THE HOST.

2. THE HEART OF DONOR WILL BE TRANSFERRED IMMEDIATELY TO THE HOST.

3. THE MEMORIES OF THE PEOPLE WHO INTERACTED WITH THE HEARTLESS AND THE HOST WILL BE ERASED.

BREACHMENT:

1. THE DONOR/HEARTLESS CAN DECIDE TO STOP THE PROGRAM EVEN IF THE 30 DAYS ARE NOT CONSUMED.

2. ANY SEVERE UNETHICAL ACT USING THE HOST/TEMPORARY BODY WILL SUSPEND THE PROGRAM.

3. REVEALING THE PROJECT: AFTERLIFE TO OTHERS WILL CUT THE PROGRAM IMMEDIATELY, ALSO ERASING THE INVOLVED PERSON'S MEMORY.

Because of Theo, without thinking clearly, I agreed to undergo to this program.

THANK YOU FOR SIGNING TO PROJECT: AFTERLIFE.

NOW, THE FOLLOWING PROFILES ARE THE CURRENT HOSTS WHO NEED HEART TRANSPLANT.

Lumitaw ang mga imahe ng iba't ibang tao sa paligid ko na parang slideshow. Hanggang sa nakita ko ang isang pamilyar na tao.

Si Galilee Manzano.

At siya ang pinili ko.

*****

BIGLA akong natauhan. Nagbalik ako sa kasalukuyan at nakita ko si Levi na kaharap ko at si Azrael na nasa gilid ko. Naintindihan ko na ang sinabi ni Azrael patungkol sa Heartless Society.

Matagal nang Heartless si Levi dahil kabilang siya sa mga sakim na tao na gustong mamuhay ng matagal.

"Where is the real Levi?" hindi ko maiwasang itanong.

"Levi, is my son," he answered coldly. Kinilabutan ako dahil napagtanto ko kung gaano siya kasakim. "He is my only heir but he is weak and incompetent. With my hands, I can secure my empire forever."

"What happened to Levi?" tumaas ang balahibo ko nang maisip ko na na-atim ng taong 'to na agawin ang katawan ng sarili niyang anak.

"Well, he's in the void, he's consciousness is pretty much alive but I needed his youth."

"You're a monster." Halos pabulong kong sabi.

"Anyway," tumingin siya kay Azrael. "Hindi niyo pala ipinaliwanag kay Juniper kung paano siya nakakuha ng voucher. Well, let me tell you that your grandmother used to fund the Project: Afterlife that's why I was shocked to know that she passed her voucher to you."

Kung gano'n dapat si Ah Ma ang sasailalim sa program? Pero pinamana niya sa'kin ang entry na 'yon?

"Most of the sponsors of Project: Afterlife are old geezers like him." Sabi ni Azrael at natawa bahagya si Levi. Napalunok ako bigla, kung natuloy pala ang kasal namin noon ni Levi ibig sabihin...

"You must be having a good time with the love of your life," sabi sa'kin ni Levi. "Well, sorry to interrupt your lovey dovey occasion, dinala kita rito para pag-usapan ang business."

"What do you want?" minasamaan ko siya ng tingin dahil nakaramam ako ng hindi maganda.

"I need you to convince Theo to sell his property to me, nabili ko na ang lahat ng lote sa paligid niya maliban sa kanya. I'm building a new condo and its location is pretty strategic for business because it's near the mall and a university."

"Why are you doing this?"

"Walang personalan, Juniper, hindi 'to dahil sa kumalas ka sa engagement natin noon, this is purely business only."

"Theo won't sell his coffee shop's property."

Nagsukatan kami ng tingin ni Levi ng ilang segundo bago siya muling nagsalita.

"You can't reveal my secret to him, hindi mo pwedeng i-reveal sa ibang tao ang tungkol sa Project: Afterlife." Pangunguna ko sa kanya kung iyon ang binabalak niya.

"Well, I'm not that stupid to take risk. But I get what I want; you might not like what will happen in the future."