13: Complicated than it was

I admit, I was a bit disappointed that Wolff isn't currently staying at the Glass Palace. Hindi naman dahil gusto kong makapunta roon upang makita ang kanilang karangyaan. I just wanted to know more about Wolff's mysterious persona.

Kung alam ko lang na magkakaroon si Wolff ng ganitong epekto sa buhay ko, I should have been more curious even when I was little and joined Lola at the Glass Mansion.

But still, Wolff's unit is located at the heart of the city, in an area full of fancy buildings.

Filthy rich kids.

This place is for the 0.7% population of Sanip— the elite. And Wolff Bane is staying at the penthouse of this enormous hotel, na tiyak kong pagmamay-ari rin ng mga Glass.

When we reached the place, hindi na namin kailangang kumatok dahil may access si Sage. I prepared myself for what I might find inside. Of course, it would be grand—something that would amaze me—ngunit nang makapasok kami, hindi ko pa rin mapigilang mamangha.

If I were materialistic, I would have sold my soul to the devil and stayed in a place like this. But no, I'm amazed, but I find places like this suffocating. This feels more like a dollhouse than a shelter. I'd rather be in a cramped room, teaching children, than in this fancy place doing things I don't want.

The place was quiet, as if no sign of life existed. Halos takbuhin na ni Sage ang daan patungo sa kwarto ni Wolff.

Nakita namin siyang nakataob sa kama, pawis na pawis kahit naka-on naman ang air conditioning.

When I entered the room, I caught a glimpse of his pale back. Nakahiga siya nang walang pang-itaas, and that was the first thing I noticed. His back was broad and pale, but there were visible scars. The scars weren't obvious at first glance—hindi gaya ng ibang peklat na kita agad ang pagkakaiba ng kulay sa balat niya. His skin was still fair, but the scars told different stories.

I looked closer. They didn't seem like life-threatening scars, but they surely had a reason behind them. Scratch marks? Shallow wounds? Who knows.

Inalalayan siya ni Sage upang maayos na makahiga. His eyes were drowsy, and his face was drenched in sweat. Nagulat siya nang makita ako, ngunit mas nanaig ang sama ng kanyang pakiramdam, kaya hindi na lamang siya nagsalita nang mapansin ako.

"H-hihinaan ko ang aircon," sabi ko.

"Yes, please," Sage replied while rummaging through Wolff's drawer, eventually pulling out a few towels. "D-Dani, can you please t-take care of Wolff for a bit while I prepare s-something for him to eat?"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa gulat. Of course, hindi ko alam kung ano ang paborito ni Wolff sa pagkain, but still—what?! Hearing Sage ask for a favor, I couldn't say no. Dahan-dahan akong tumango bilang sagot, and he gratefully placed the towels on the bedside table near Wolff.

"T-thanks, Dani."

I muttered a 'welcome' as he walked past me and exited the room. Nang maisara ang pinto, nakakabingi ang katahimikan sa loob. Well, not entirely, since Wolff was still breathing heavily, with the occasional cough. He wiped his hand across his forehead, probably to dry some sweat, and I noticed the gauze on his hand.

It was the spot I stabbed last night.

Dahan-dahan akong lumapit sa kanya at kinuha ang bimpo. Everything between us was so awkward—mas awkward pa sa pagiging awkward ni Sage. Akmang pupunasan ko na ang pawis niya nang magsalita siya.

"I didn't expect you to come."

Well, I didn't expect to tag along either. Minsan, hindi ko rin alam kung ano ang takbo ng isip ko. Damn.

"If you hate the idea, just pretend it's not me," sagot ko sa kanya. I sat on the bed and started wiping the sweat off his face. "What did you even do to end up this sick?" Kahit hindi ko pa siya direktang hinahawakan, ramdam ko na masyado siyang mainit.

He raised his arm slightly. "Maybe because you stabbed me," sabi niya.

"Wolff!"

"Kidding," he said nonchalantly.

Pwes, hindi bagay sa kanya ang magbiro!

"Everyone gets sick, Dani," he said. He tensed up when my hand trailed the towel from his neck down to his bare torso.

Is it me who's shaking?

"Stop shaking, Dani," he added.

Yes, it's me. Damn.

"I'm n-not shaking!"

"You are," he insisted.

I shot him a glare and continued what I was doing. He chose to remain silent, breathing deeply as I slipped his shirt back on and helped him lie down more comfortably.

His room was huge, even larger than our whole house! Tinungo ko ng banyo at gaya ng inaasahan, I found a first aid kit there. Inilabas ko iyon at muling umupo sa tabi niya, placing his wounded arm on my lap.The gauze wasn't new kaya malamang kagabi pa iyon. He flinched a little when I started undressing his hand ngunit hindi na lamang siya nagreklamo. Nang tuluyan ko iyong matanggal, the stab wound come in sight. May bahagi sa akin na na-guilty sa ginawa ko. 

The wound was round and huge and I bet it's deep knowing my pen went halfway through his flesh!Ano ba kasi ang iniisip ko nang sinaksak ko siya?! I think I really made a wrong move. The skin on the side of his wound is swollen and bruised, more reason to panic because as much as hate it, Wolff Bane has fair skin and anything unsightly on his skin will never go unnoticed, more so if a wound like this.

"I'm sorry."

I could feel his gaze on me, but I avoided looking at him. Was he surprised? Mocking me? I had no idea.

"Everyone gets wounded, Dani," he said softly.

Unable to stop myself, I looked up at him. His face was sincere and serious—nothing like the cocky attitude I'd come to expect. Why was he suddenly being so kind? Was this what happens when someone's on the verge of dying?!

"You're not dying, right?!" I asked, panic creeping into my voice.

He shrugged. "And everyone dies."

"Wolff!" If I hadn't controlled myself, I might've punched him. But no, I wouldn't risk further complications. Instead, I took a deep breath and began cleaning his wound.

Wait, if this wound is right here, looking like this... then there's no way he's Odin Gozon!

I glanced back at his face. I couldn't pinpoint the exact differences, but there was no doubt their faces were strikingly similar. The tiny moles... his jawline... everything about his face! I took a closer look—first at Odin, then at Wolff. The same eyes, hard to decipher...

Muli na namang nagulo ang utak ko. He's Odin, but he's not Odin! He's Seven, but he's also not Seven! How long do I have to struggle with thinking about this?!

"I still don't trust you, Wolff Bane," sabi ko sa kanya habang nililinis ang kanyang sugat.

"Trust is a big word, Dani. I suggest you keep that. It's okay for you not to trust me," mahinahong sabi niya.

Napatingin ako sa kanya. Okay, that sounded creepy... a bit. Is that a threat?

"Tinatakot mo ba ako?" walang pag-aatubiling tanong ko sa kanya, dahil kung oo ang sagot niya, puwes, he has done it. I'm really scared.

"It's okay to be scared too," sagot niya.

Is it just me, or did he sound sad and sincere?

"What, you're scared of something too?" tanong ko, well, maliban sa madilim at cramped na paligid. It's just one of our irrational fears, if it's even right to call it that. Wala akong ideya kung paano nakuha ni Wolff ang takot niyang iyon. Knowing he's someone who acts high and cocky, it must have been tough for him to admit he had such a fear.

"Life is just a series of fearsome experiences, Dani," seryosong sagot niya. His eyes were tired and in pain, but I know he meant what he just said.

Tumayo ako matapos ayusin ang dalang first aid kit. "At least that part lets me know you're human too."

It was an assurance for me. Hindi man gaanong matatag ang assurance na iyon, may parte pa rin sa akin na nagsasabing ang pag-amin niya tungkol sa takot niya ay parte ng pagiging tao.

"More reason to fear me," biglang sabi niya. "Humans are something you should be afraid of."

It perfectly makes sense. Kung tao nga si Wolff, good job in making me feel so much fear about his identity. It wasn't just fear but also curiosity, confusion, and other emotions to make it worse.

Hindi ako nagkomento sa sinabi niya. "I'll check with Sage, baka tapos na siya sa ginagawa."

I immediately left his room and closed the door. Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko nang makalabas ako. Being in the same room with him is enough to make my knees shake, and it was truly suffocating. Pinilit kong makarating sa kusina kung saan natagpuan ko si Sage na abala sa pagluluto.

Gone was that thick specs he wore. There was a white cloth tied around his forehead, and he wore a pink polka-dotted apron.

Eh?!

Ngayon ko lamang siya nakitang walang suot na salamin. Also, his forehead was exposed dahil sa telang nakatali sa kanyang noo. He looked good with that hair all over his forehead and those specs, but what the heck, he looked so damn good without those specs and his forehead exposed.

When did I get a fetish for foreheads?!

"S-sage?"

Napatingin siya sa akin at ilang beses na napakurap. Just like me, he was surprised too.

He's panicking, I could tell.

"My g-glasses... they're covered in m-mist so I had to remove them... ugh..." He started stammering, what's wrong with this guy?

"No, wala namang problema," sagot ko sa kanya. "I'm just surprised, you look good, by the way."

Sinabi ko ba iyon?

And he blushed!

"I m-mean, you look good even with glasses," halos mauutal na sabi ko sa kanya. "But you look better without them."

He blushed harder.

Or baka naiinitan lang siya dahil mukhang kumukulo na ang kung anumang niluluto niya?!

"Ugh, don't get me wrong, Sage," I tried to explain. I wanted to tell him I'm not flirting or anything, that's why I'm giving him compliments, but knowing he's a bit flustered right now, I chose not to say more.

"T-thanks, D-dani..." ngumiti siya at napayuko. "A-also, Wolff is fussy so I have to be careful in preparing his food, baka may mahalong b-buhok..."

Looks like Sage knows Wolff better. Base sa kwento ni Sage, they developed a special bond at a young age, so that explains his worry over Wolff. Isa pa, sa tingin ko ay gusto ring tanawin ni Sage na malaking utang na loob kay Wolff ang kung anumang meron siya ngayon.

Sage is amazing. He made something great of himself from the nothing he once was. It takes a lot of courage to take that huge leap, and ngayon, isa siya sa mga pinagkakatiwalaan ni Wolff.

Biglang sumagi sa isip ko ang nawawalang chemical sa lab.

Paano kung mawala ang tiwala sa kanya ni Wolff kapag nalaman ng huli ang tungkol doon?

It must be tough for Sage. He looked like someone who only wants to make a mistake once, matututo na siya sa maling iyon, and then he'll do better. Pero paano kung hindi na siya bigyan ng pagkakataon ni Wolff?

"Will you tell him now about..." Hindi ko na natapos ang tanong ko dahil mas lalo lamang siyang napayuko. Kahit hindi ko natapos ang sasabihin, alam niya kung ano iyon.

He nodded slowly as he toyed with his fingers. "D-delay on telling him will not d-do any good."

Right. But what if Wolff decides to throw a fit? Can I handle it?!

Pero alam kong wala ako sa posisyon para makialam. Sage knows Wolff better than anyone, so if he decides to tell him now, so be it.

"Uhm... okay. I'll just... check on him while you prepare his food," sabi ko sa kanya. Yes, that's the only thing I can do. I am irrelevant to either of them, at kahit gusto kong makatulong kay Sage sa anumang paraan, I wouldn't do anything that will complicate this matter.

Matapos makapagpasalamat sa akin si Sage, lumabas ako ng kusina. The place is surely huge, at sa bawat hakbang na ginagawa ko, mas nagiging klaro sa akin ang agwat namin sa buhay ni Wolff.

The place was sort of messy, and I can only think it was because Wolff probably messed it up when he moved around despite not feeling well. Inayos ko ang ilang nakatumbang gamit roon. Nang matapos, muli akong pumasok sa silid ni Wolff.

I found him sleeping, though it's evident on his face that he's still not feeling well. Maya-maya, makakakain na rin siya at makakainom ng gamot. I sat on the chair and stared at Wolff closely.

Sa totoo lang, naaawa ako sa kalagayan niya ngayon. I may have hated him at some point, but I cannot deny I am soft when it comes to people who are suffering. At bakit hindi siya pumunta ng ospital? Why not hire someone to treat him? Bakit hinahayaan niyang mabulok ang sarili niya dito sa marangyang silid niya?

Ah, that's too much thinking to do.

I decided to explore his room and found an adjoining door. Mahinang binuksan ko ang pinto at sinilip ang loob.

It was his study.

Pumasok ako roon at tiningnan ang naglalakihang book shelves. Like I expected, mostly were dissertations and other publications regarding medicines and science. There were other books connected to his profession.

Nothing out of the ordinary, I thought. Lumapit ako sa kanyang mesa, pulling one of the piled books on the table. I was surprised to see that it was one of the prohibited publications. It was a political novel!

There's no way that these books circulate around Sanip legally. Don't tell me Wolff got his hands on these by purchasing them in the black market?

Sunod kong tiningnan ang iba pang mga libro. It was no doubt the ones that were banned a long time ago. The writers and publishers of such books are either dead or imprisoned.

Isa lang ang ibig sabihin nito, Wolff is more than just what you see him as. What would these books be of use to him? Maybe a little research on where to find the writers and publishers, or maybe other reasons.

Mas lalo lamang nagulo ang utak ko. I've had enough wondering what type of person Wolff Bane is! Inilapag ko ang mga libro at akmang aalis na roon nang mahagip ng paningin ko ang isang folder na nasa mesa rin niya.

A paper slightly sticking out is what really caught my attention. I pulled the paper only to feel more confused than I was.

It was a newspaper clipping about The Mendicant Suicide Bombing Case a few years ago... the one that Odin Gozon told me about!

Nanginginig ang mga kamay ko nang binuksan ko pa ang folder, only to find more clippings about the case.

...Anong ibig sabihin nito?

Muling pumasok sa isip ko si Odin, even Seven. What the hell is Wolff up to?! And he really has a connection to Odin aside from looking exactly like him! SIya ba ang taong tumulong at nagbigay ng mukha sa kanya?

Napaatras ako at hindi alam kung ano ang iisipin. My mind is too confused to think whether I should leave this room immediately or not.

Bigla akong nabangga sa pader. Hindi ko namamalayan na kanina pa pala ako umaatras. My mind is totally in chaos right now, and I couldn't think straight.

When I turned to see the wall I bumped into, napaupo na lamang ako sa sahig nang makita ang napakalaking mapa na naka-paskil sa pader. It was no doubt the map of Sanip. It looked so complicated, as there were red strings tied on the pins, forming a giant spider web, along with so many newspaper clippings.

This is more complicated than I thought it was.

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