A/N: 

Hello! How are you? I hope you're doing fine.

2021 pa pala nung nastart ko 'to tapos ano na, 2024 na? HAHA But yes, WETS has been haunting (char) my dreams kaya despite my super duper busy schedule, I have to republish this here sa Wattpad and I need to continue writing this. Please be patient if the update would take loooong (naghintay kayo ng 3 years, so more paghihintay pa? haha) 

But it is my commitment to continue writing this becoz why not, diba? And hi sa mga nagmemessage na hinahanap ang story na 'to hahaha. Kinukwento na lang yung plot eh kasi hindi na maalala yung title.

I promise  will squeeze writing this despite my super busy sched (work plus school plus mom duties plus so many things)

Thank you so much for patiently waiting!

Lovelots, 
Tammii/ShinichiLaaaabs

Chapter 1: SANIP Year 3020

The day I stumbled on the worn and fragile flooring of my great-grandmother's house remains etched as one of the most remarkable moments in my life. Sariwa pa sa alaala ko ang nangyari limang taon na ang nakalilipas.

Umalingawngaw ang sigaw ko sa pag-aakalang ang madilim na lugar kung saan ako nahulog ay maaring patungo sa maruming septic tank o 'di kaya ay sa mga subway kung saan maari akong madaganan ng rumaragasang tren.

But reality had a different plan for me. I landed on something firm and dusty.

I stood up in search for a switch and when I found one, the light flickered in a with a yellow, dull light after the click. Isa iyong lugar na hindi ko inaasahan. Ang matigas na bagay kung saan akong bumagsak kanina ay mga libro na nasa sahig. It wasn't just it, there were thousands of them in the dusty shelves!

I couldn't help but be awestruck as I gazed around the unexpected chamber.

Books!

Yet books have been banned and burned long ago.

The government thought books will only poison the mind of the populace so all books were burned and information will only be derived from anything approved by the state. Sinasala ang mga articles na umiikot sa internet and only few sites are accessible to the public. In case someone breach this policy and continue to access sites that were prohibited, expect to have the police knock on your door after a minute. Kung paano nila nalalaman iyon, the public doesn't know how.

Whoever circulates hate comments to the system will be shoot dead in a minute. Sharing intellectual thoughts was considered a criminal act.

When I discovered this place five years ago, I realized the information that was fed by the system to its people are all shallow and superficial. I only knew about the world's history when I get to know this place. There were theories about the space, human evolution, probes and discoveries by most people from the past that were unique and revolutionary. The world was filled with hidden truths, secrets, and knowledge that had been concealed from the public, apart from what the government wished us to know.

These were not informed to the public and Sanip's education system were all basic learning and universal language lessons. Tila binura ang kasaysayan, binago at ipinagkait sa bawat mamamayan.

Hindi madali ang buhay sa Sanip. Despite its diplomatic relations to other nations, leaving and entering the country is a daunting task due to the government's control. Though there were few foreign investors; imported products are illegal unless it's the government who made the deal for the country's use.

With all these restrictions, most people revolted against the government and thus, they were dehumanized. Tinanggalan sila ng karapatan sa lahat ng kanilang mga ari-arian, and even their identities were removed from them. They were thrown to Zone Z along with lifelong criminals sentenced to forced labor and other hardships within the prison city.

Zone Z was a secluded city within Sanip, boasting a massive barn-like facility serving as the communal residence where inhabitants slept and ate. Other parts of the city were dedicated to various types of labor, determined by the authorities. It was the largest prison city in the country, surrounded by electric fences charged with lethal voltage to deter any escape attempts. Kung sinuman ang sumubok na tumakas ay malamang matutosta.

My train of thoughts was interrupted by the voice of one of the prison guards, na siyang madalas kong naririnig sa tuwing nandito ako.

"Miss Dani, pasensya na pero hindi ko kayo mapapapasok mula ngayon," malungkot na sabi sa akin ng gatekeeper na si Magi. Naging kaibigan ko na siya dahil sa ilang beses na paglabas-masok ko sa Zone Z bilang tagapagturo ng mga bata na nasa loob.

Bakit may mga bata? They were children of the revolutionary people o 'di kaya ay mga anak ng mga inmate sa loob ng siyudad. They hadn't been subjected to the same dehumanization as their parents, yet they bore the consequences of their lineage. Kapag lumaki sila at makitaan ng potensyal, maari silang makalabas ng Zone Z at magbigay ng serbisyo sa Sanip bilang normal na mamamayan.

Teachers like me are allowed to enter Zone Z to teach the children basic education. The teaching position carried no compensation, leading to a scarcity of volunteers. I chose to do it because it is my passion, but the job doesn't pay at all, not even for fare.

Pero anong sabi ni Magi, hindi na pwede makapasok?

"Hindi na pwede mula ngayon?" pag-uulit ko sa sinabi niya kahit klaro naman ang pagkakarinig ko. "Bakit?"

Tumingin muna siya sa paligid bago mahinang sumagot. "May nakatakas kasi at may nagreport sa nakatataas," sagot niya.

May nakatakas? Sinulyapan ko ang napakataas na bakod. May nagawang tumakas sa bakod na 'to? Not only that the fence was so high, on top of it were the most advanced security system na nakamamatay. Seriously, the walls that enclosed the city was the highest, na tila ba high-rise building iyon sa siyudad.

I don't want to be nosy but I want to hear the details of it. "Paano nakatakas?"

"Isa sa mga nagpanggap na magtuturo ang nagpuslit ng damit at fake pass," sagot niya.

Sinarili ko na lamang ang isipin na may palya rin sa security ng military force na nakabantay sa Zone Z. As far as I know, ilang proseso at checkpoints pa ang dadaanan bago ka tuluyang makapasok sa loob. How come did the perpetrator slipped the clothes and fake pass inside? It could be an inside job case or bribery or just a mere failure in security.

Ngunit hindi iyon ang iniisip ko ngayon. I promised the children I have to finish the story I told them yesterday. They were so excited about it but halfway through the story, the city's alarm system buzzed, ibig sabihin ay pinapalabas na lahat ng mga bisita sa loob ng Zone Z.

While my curiosity grew, I also recognized the terror in Magi's eyes when he spoke earlier.

"Please, Magi!" pagmamakaawa ko sa kanya. I don't want to disappoint the children. They were really into it yesterday, and I would have read them a hundred or more stories kung hindi lamang dahil sa maikling oras na laan.

"Sorry talaga, Miss Dani--"

"Kahit isang oras lang!" pagpupumilit ko. An hour or so wouldn't hurt right?

"Hindi talaga pwede, Miss Dani, malalagot ako kapag nalaman nila--"

"Thirty minutes, please?" That will be more than enough. Malamang naghihintay na sa akin ang mga bata sa loob so I don't have to waste few minutes waiting for them to be complete. They promised me yesterday that they will be complete even before I could arrive.

Umiling si Magi bilang sagot.

I am determined to get inside. "Twenty minutes, please Magi para makapagpaalam na rin ako sa mga bata?"

"Sorry, Miss Dani. Kapag nahuli ka hindi lamang ikaw ang mananagot kung hindi pati ako. Ayaw ko pang mamatay Miss Dani--"

"Magi please, twenty minutes lang naman eh. Hindi naman tayo mahuhuli kapag mag-iingat diba? I promise to be back after twenty minutes. Sige kahit, fifteen minutes lang, please?" pagmamakaawa ko sa kanya. Twenty minutes is just twenty minutes. What could go wrong?

Magi let out a deep sigh and tapped Sanip's insignia on his uniform. "Fifteen minutes, Miss Dani."

Naging malawak ang ngiti ko at mabilis na tumango. "Thank you, Magi!"

"Malakas ka sa akin eh," sabi niya at napakamot sa ulo. Tinawag niya ang isang kasama at nagpaalam na ito muna ang magbabantay sa malaking gate at sinamahan niya ako patungo sa mas malaki pang gate ng Zone Z.

"Siyanga pala Miss Dani, ilang taon ka na?" tanong niya. Malawak ang lupain bago marating ang gate ng Zone Z kaya marahil pinili ni Magi na magbukas ng usapan.

"24," sagot ko.

"Eh bakit naisipan mong magvolunteer dito sa Zone Z?" tanong niya. "You know this job doesn't pay, right? Matalino ka naman, bakit hindi ka nagtatrabaho sa Central?"

When I was young, I used to dream that but that dream ended when I stumbled upon the books in the underground of our home. I realized it wasn't actually my dream to be one of Sanip's public servant, that was what Sanip want me to dream. Unfortunately, I no longer want to become someone what Sanip wants me to be.

"Gusto ko lamang tulungan ang mga bata," iyon ang naging sagot ko kay Magi.

Huminto kami sa tapat ng mataas na gate. Napakataas niyon na kung titingalain mo ay mangangawit lamang ang iyong leeg.

"Fifteen minutes lamang, Miss Dani ah? Hihintayin kita rito sa labas," sabi niya. Kinausap niya ng ilang sandali ang mga nagbabantay. From a distance, I know he was begging them to let me in for a while at makalipas ang ilang sandali ay pinapasok na nga ako sa loob ng Zone Z.

Walang nagbago sa loob. Tuloy pa rin ang pagtatrabaho ng lahat ng tao na nasa loob ng Zone Z. I wasted no time and run towards the lounge kung saan naabutan ko ang mga batang tila nalulungkot sa paghihintay. I felt my heart tightens watching them in such state. They were so young and innocent, oblivious to the harshness of the world. They didn't deserve the cruelty they were born into.

"Hinihintay n'yo ba ako?" malakas na bati ko sa kanila.

Napaangat sila ng tingin at halos mapunit ang mga labi sa labis na ngiti nang makita ako.

"Teacher Dani!" sabay-sabay na tawag nila. Some even dashed towards my direction for a tight hug.

"Akala namin ay hindi mo na matatapos ang kwento ni Hansel at Gretel," sabi ng batang si Analiza.

"Makakauwi ba sila sa bahay nila?" tanong naman ni Andoy.

"Nag-aalala na ba ang tatay nila?"

"Makakain ba ng witch si Hansel?"

Their voices were so full of excitement. It was so fulfilling to hear them that way kaya masakit sa loob ko na ito na ang huling kuwento ko sa kanila.

I smiled and find a place to sit. Ipinagpatuloy ko na lamang ang pagkukuwento sa mga bata. Deep in my heart, I know why fairy tales like Hansel and Gretel weren't told these days in Sanip. The government maybe thinking that this could influence the thoughts of people since this shows a form of deceit and others that could spark a thought of rebellion among its people.

Natapos ko ang kwento nang wala pang sampung minuto. I decided to spend the remaining time to bid the children goodbye in a less obvious way. Alam kong gaya ko ay malulungkot din sila at ayaw kong maiyak dito kaya hindi na lamang ako direktang magpapaalam sa kanila.

Bigla na lamang tumunog ang malakas na buzzer ng Zone Z at sunod-sunod ang pagdating ng mga combat vehicles. The buzzer sound was different from the one I always hear kapag uwian ng mga bisita. This alarm was unlike the usual one during visitor departures. It was more urgent, more alarming, and fear washed over everyone. The children panicked, and some began to cry, while the workers abandoned their tasks in terror. Agad naman akong nagtago sa gilid. It was in plain sight but hopefully no one can see me.

The armies inside the vehicles got off wearing combat uniforms at dala ang naglalakihang mga baril. One shot a fired somewhere on the side kung saan natamaan ang ilang plastic drums ng anumang likido na iaangkat sa iba pang bahagi ng Sanip.

This caused the people to calm a bit despite their shaking fear at lahat sila ay dumapa sa lupa. Maging ako ay hindi alam ang gagawin kaya dumapa na rin ako sa takot sa kung anuman ang mangyari. The other combat vehicles moved to the side at naglaan ng maliit na espasyo sa gitna kung saan may mga sasakyan na ang mga nakadikit na plate number ay para sa mga opisyal ng Sanip.

Bumaba mula sa sasakyan ang ilang mga doktor-- I presumed, basing on their white laboratory gowns. An old yet authoritative doctor looked at the people who dropped in the ground due to panic. Naririnig ko ang pagkabog ng sariling dibdib dahil sa labis na takot sa nangyayari.

I watched the man approached the leader of the military army kung saan sumaludo pa ito sa kanya.

"The president is sorely disappointed in you, General," umiiling na sabi ng doktor. "How could you fail in your service which caused one of the most dangerous criminals to escaped this place dahil sa kapabayaan ng mga tao mo!"

Nanatiling nakasaludo ang general at nakatingin sa malayo, handang tanggapin ang tahasang mga salita na binibitiwan ng doktor kahit pa naririnig iyon ng lahat.

"I hope this time you won't fail us. Wala ng taga-labas na maaring makapasok o makalabas sa lugar na ito."

"Sinigurado iyan ng mga tao ko Sir," kampanteng sagot ng general.

I am so screwed!

I silently prayed they will just leave immediately so I could slip out before anything could happen.

"Mabuti," sagot ng doktor. "Now conduct a headcount and segregate the children and old people from those we can convert as NEW. The annual picking will be happening soon."

Pagkatapos iyong sabihin ay muli itong bumalik sa sasakyan kasama ang iba pang mga doktor at umalis sa lugar na iyon. When their car was out of sight, the general ordered the soldiers to carry out the doctor's orders.

Gustuhin ko mang sabihin na hindi ako taga-Zone Z ay hindi ko magawa. Paulit-ulit na bumabalik sa isipan ko ang takot sa mukha ni Magi kanina habang nagsasalita.

"Sorry Miss Dani. Kapag nahuli ka hindi lamang ikaw ang mananagot kung hindi pati ako. Ayaw ko pang mamatay Miss Dani--"

Now I'm torn whether to tell them I do not belong here and put Magi in trouble or to find an opportunity to leave this place later.

I had chosen the latter option.

#

ShinichiLaaaabs