Chapter 32: Déjà vu

Where am I?

For a moment, I thought I saw two people bent over me. Nakasuot sila ng puting lab gown, but their faces came out as a blur because of my hazy vision. Their voices were muffled and unfamiliar as they hovered over me.

Hindi ko tuluyang mabuksan ang mga mata ko kahit anong pilit ko, but then suddenly, I found myself in a dark abyss with what looked like a small aisle, just enough for me to fit. Bawat hakbang ko ay lumiliwanag ang daanan, but the surroundings were pitch black, and it scared me to think of what's behind the darkness.

What's going on? Is this the same lucid dream I used to have?

Dani?

Ayan na naman ang boses na tumatawag sa akin.

Dani?

It was a desperate call full of longing and concern. It sounded like my mother wanted me to come to her and just wrap me in her arms.

Which is odd. Ni minsan ay hindi ako tinawag ni Mama sa pangalan ko. She can't even dare to look at me in the eyes, much less breathe the same air as me. Kung pwede pa lamang ay pigilan niya ang kanyang paghinga.

Not one good memory of me with her. She would look at me with disgust, sadness, fear, and hatred.

What did I even do for her to hate me that much?

Dani?

I don't want to hear it, because it brings so much pain. It was not my mom, because my mom would not call me in such a soft and sweet voice. Tumigil ako sa paglalakad at agad na tinakip ang mga palad sa tainga.

Stop it.

Stop.

Get out of my head.

Dani?

Nakita kong pigurang papalayo, pero pilit niya akong tinatawag. The shadow ran towards the dimmer side, at natagpuan ko ang sarili kong sumusunod.

The darkness was filled with fog, which made it harder to see. In rubbed my eyes at ilang beses na napakurap hanggang sa naaninag ko ang pigura ni Mama.

Mama?

Dani...

She looked the same as the last time I saw her, tila ba hindi siya tumanda— but what do I know? I barely see her. Also, ito ang unang beses na nakita ko siyang hindi galit sa akin. Instead, her eyes were looking at me gently and so filled with longing.

Mama...

That barely came out as a whisper. I knew I was dreaming, but something tugged at my heart.

"Gising ka na pala."

Agad na bumuka ang mga mata ko, at ang puting kisame ang una kong nabungaran. I turned my head to the side, kung saan nakaupo si Sage. His face was filled with worry, ngunit pinaalala ko sa sarili ko na hindi siya mapagkakatiwalaan.

"Sage?" Sinubukan kong bumangon ngunit nahihilo ako kaya muli akong napahiga.

"P-please don't force yourself, D-dani. Magpahinga ka na m-muna," wika niya sa akin.

I tilted my head and blinked at him. "What happened? Nasaan ako? You promised to get me out of here. You said Wolff told you to get me out of here, bakit nandito pa ako!?"

I was starting to get hysterical again, ngunit pilit kong kinalma ang sarili. Losing myself would only be beneficial to them, kaya kailangan kong magpakatatag.

He sighed deeply and gave me a reassuring nod. "Ilalabas k-kita rito, but for now, let's j-just cooperate. You're not well, Dani. Kung anuman ang s-sinapit mo, it surely affected you kaya kailangan mong manatili rito so you can be treated."

"I'm not sick in any way, Sage. Anong treatment ang sinasabi mo?" I looked at him with sadness.

"Creating imaginary people, being aggressive, hallucinating, iilan lang iyon, Dani. P-please, just cooperate so I c-can get you o-out of here."

I looked at him intently. "Do you know you tend to talk straight and don't stutter when you lie?"

Naramdaman kong bahagya siyang natuod sa kanyang kinauupuan at hindi agad nakasagot. "Just please cooperate. I... I will get you out of here, D-dani. I promise."

"Sage..." Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya. Blowing up will do no good, at tiyak kong mas lalo lamang nilang ipagpipilitan na may mali sa akin at sa pag-iisip ko. I have to change my strategy. "I don't want to be here. I kept having bad dreams of Wolff. I need to talk to him. I need answers."

Lies—but just using Wolff's name surely threw him off a bit.

"W-what dreams?" tanong niya.

"Tinatawag niya ako," sagot ko, sticking to the lie I started. "He was calling me, but I... I can't find him."

Gusto ko ng mga kasagutan tungkol sa mga panaginip ko kung saan tinatawag ako ni Mama, but it's good to throw them off by making them believe it was Wolff. Still, the question that lingered on my mind is bakit naririnig ko ang boses ni Mama?

He stared intently at me as if he was trying to ascertain if I was telling the truth. He pulled the blanket and inayos ang pagkakalagay niyon sa akin. "Your mind is holding Wolff accountable for what you've been t-through, that's why you kept hearing his voice. For the m-meantime, kailangan m-mo munang magpahinga."

See? Stuttering on the lie.

Bumaling siya sa gilid at nagsalin ng tubig. He then handed me at least eight pills ranging from different sizes to colors.

"What are those for?" tanong ko.

He smiled at inayos ang kanyang salamin. For once, I saw the shy and awkward Sage na una kong nakilala sa Bane Lab. Back then, I was willing to protect him from the world. What happened to that Sage? Why does it seem like it's the world I have to protect from him?

Isa-isa niyang tinuro ang mga gamot. "For the headaches, to calm you down, to ease your anxiety, anti-depressant, for appetite control dahil hindi mo halos ginalaw ang pagkain mo, this one is for your good night's sleep, and this big one is an energy booster."

See? Another lie.

I shook my head and acted nauseous. "Napakarami naman niyan. Can I... just take some of them?"

He nodded and picked out the pills. "You need the appetite control, anti-depressant, and energy booster."

He handed it to me along with the water, kaya wala akong nagawa kundi inumin iyon. He watched my every move, at pagkatapos uminom, ay muli akong sumandal sa kama at nag-iwas ng tingin sa kanya.

"P-please don't be m-mad at me, Dani," he said, ngunit hindi ko siya nilingon. "I p-promised you na ilalabas k-kita rito."

I crossed my arms at mas lalong nag-iwas ng tingin. "Yet, I'm still here."

"D-dani..."

I turned away at humiga, my back facing him. I hope he gets the message that I'm dismissing him. Narinig ko ang mahinang pagbuntong-hininga niya.

"I'll l-let you rest. Babalik ako m-mamaya."

Hindi ako sumagot at mas lalo lamang hinila ang kumot. I can hear his footsteps hanggang sa tuluyan siyang makalabas ng silid na inuukupa ko. I waited for a while bago bumangon at siniguradong wala na siya roon. Then, I pricked my throat with my fingers, at ilang sandali, ramdam ko ang pag-akyat ng ininom ko. I gagged a few times, but it was worth it dahil lumabas ang tatlong gamot na ininom ko.

Wolff's ways come in handy.

Tinago ko ang mga gamot sa ilalim ng unan at pinakiramdaman ang sarili. There was a tube connected to me, kaya kahit masakit, tinanggal ko ang naka-IV sa braso ko. I winced in pain but successfully did it.

Bumaba ako ng kama at lumabas ng silid. I was still inside the room we entered. On the side was the 3D DNA helix rotating, with blue pulsing light. Ang mga naglalakihang tube ay may kumukulong kulay asul na likido. I walked towards the tube kung nasaan ang katawan ni Seven.

His body was suspended in the same blue fluid. Silver cables held him to stand straight. Umikot ako sa likuran at tiningnan ang augmentation na naroon. The nodes connected to his forehead and back were pulsating, na tila ba sumasabay iyon sa bawat tibok ng kanyang puso.

What are you up to, Seven?

No, what are you up to, Wolff?

Bumalik ako sa harap at tiningnan ang kanyang mukha. His face was serene, like he was cuddled peacefully, ngunit alam kong dulot iyon ng sedative. I can't wrap my head around things, and there was even no assurance that he is really Wolff, but I am sure this time that he is.

But it seemed like even Seven himself doesn't know that. He doesn't know a lot of things, like how long it's been since I first escaped from Zone Z. And that's why I have to know about these gaps in his memories and his identity.

"Why are you here?" I heard a voice ask from behind. I can also hear panic in his voice kaya napalingon ako sa kanya. He tried pressing something, who knows what it will do.

"Hi," kinakabahang bati ko. I kept my hands behind my back to avoid shaking. "I... I was just looking around."

"You're supposed to be resting," sagot niya, at ilang saglit lamang ay bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si Sage. He looked like he ran on his way here, so maybe that was what the button was about.

"D-dani..." Bumaling siya sa doktor at bahagyang tumango. Whatever that nod was about, agad iyong naintindihan ng huli at umalis doon. When he left, Sage walked closer towards me. "You're s-supposed to be resting."

I smiled. "Sorry. Medyo inaantok kasi ako, so I decided to walk around. Am I not allowed here?" I gestured around the lab and raised my right hand as if doing an oath. "I won't touch anything, I promise."

He fixed his glasses and shook his head. "H-hindi naman. It's j-just that you have to r-rest."

I looked down in an attempt to hide my annoyed expression. "Oh."

He sighed, bago bahagyang humawak sa siko ko. "A-alright. I'll accompany you f-for the meantime."

Nag-angat ako ng tingin at ngumiti. "Thank you." I debated with myself kung yayakapin ko ba siya, but I realized it was overdoing it, so I settled with a smile.

Bumaling ako sa katawan ni Seven na nasa loob ng glass tube. "He looked exactly like Wolff, but at the same time, they looked so different. Look at him, mukhang sanay na sanay sa mga gawain while Wolff... Wolff looked like he doesn't even lift a spoon to eat."

Bahagya siyang napangiti at tumango. "Couldn't agree m-more. Wolff's mind is more hardw-working than anything. Did y-you know he developed his f-first healthcare AI at 7?"

At this age, AI is not surprising, but at 7 years old? He should be playing, not making AIs!

"It was his c-coping mechanism to grieve over his l-loss of Lizzy, his pet l-izard. I... I guess what he was trying to achieve was an AI that can s-stop death, but I don't think that ever existed. D-death is inevitable."

He sounded proud and sad at the same time. What was that about? Ano ba talaga ang motibo niya? Is he working against Wolff?

"At 7, I tried holding my breath to see how long I could hold it," kwento ko. I cannot speak for Wolff, but was his childhood nice? I mean, did he get to do things a normal kid would enjoy?

Sage smiled, ngunit may kung ano sa ngiting iyon. It was like a sad smile, at hindi ko alam kung ano ang kahulugan ng ngiting iyon. Sa halip, nagfocus na lamang siya kay Seven na nasa loob ng tube.

"Will he be safe?" tanong ko.

He turned to me with confusion. "W-who?"

"Seven."

Matiim na tiningnan niya ako bago muling tumingin kay Seven. "Of course. They will just see w-what his augmentation is about."

"Hindi masamang tao si Seven," nakangiting sabi ko. "He's smart, a bit arrogant, but I know hindi siya masamang tao."

"Do you like him?" Tila may diin sa kanyang boses.

Agad akong napalingon kay Sage na nakatitig sa akin. Wala akong mababasang kung ano sa kanyang mukha, maliban na lamang sa kaseryosohan sa kanyang boses. I swallowed a lump in my throat at agad na nag-iwas ng tingin. What was that seriousness all about?

"Dani, d-do you like him?" This time, mas buo ang kanyang boses, and he sounded more serious than ever.

Tumawa ako at agad na umiling. "I like him like how I like most people who are good to me—"

"No, m-more than that reason."

Tiningnan ko ulit siya at sinubukang intindihin kung ano ang tinutumbok niya. He looked serious, and it seemed like he was not asking just for the sake of conversation.

I laughed dryly, trying to brush off the tension. "What, no! Why would I like someone who... who looks like Wolff? I hate him, so... so liking someone who looks like him is ridiculous."

And why am I stuttering?

Sage crossed his arms and looked at Seven. "They... they don't look bad."

Napangiwi ako at agad na tumawa. "Yes, but hindi ako ganoon kababaw. What's the point of appearance if the attitude isn't pleasant? No thanks."

Hindi man lamang nagbago ang ekspresyon ng mukha niya kahit na tumawa ako. His eyes scanned my face, as if he was trying to read what I was thinking. He took a deep breath, adjusted his glasses, and stepped closer to me.

"Uhm, Sage? What... what are you doing?"

Hindi siya sumagot at patuloy lang sa paghakbang. Napaatras ako at bahagyang nataranta. He took another step, so I took a step backward until I felt the cold glass of the tube behind me.

"S-sage?"

He walked towards me until there was barely any space between us. He lowered his head and stared at my face. His eyes scanned every detail, memorizing my features. Then, he tightly closed his eyes and sighed before standing up straight and stepping back slightly.

"I thought... I thought y-you knew," he said, his voice tinged with sadness.

Umayos ako ng tayo at bahagyang lumayo. "I know what?"

Nag-iwas siya ng tingin. "Just c-cooperate with the d-doctors here, D-dani, para mailabas na kita ri-rito."

Malungkot na tiningnan ko siya. "Why do you keep lying to me, Sage?"

Ilang beses siyang napabuntong-hininga bago humakbang papunta sa sulok. He put his palm on the glass, and in a few moments, the controls appeared. He pressed something, and suddenly the lights dimmed and the mirrored doors shut. The mirrors that reflected light deactivated, and the blue lights from the massive glass tubes became the only source of illumination inside.

My mouth gaped open as I watched the fluid clearly boiling, and the place felt so cramped dahil sa pagsara ng mga pinto. Suddenly, there was a crackling sound.

Agad akong napatingin kay Sage at gaya ko ay nagulat rin siya sa narinig.

"W-what..."

Halos magkasabay kaming lumapit sa containment tube na kinaroroonan ni Seven. He was still there, standing suspended in the blue fluid with various tubes connected to his body— ngunit muntikan na akong mapasigaw nang makitang nakabuka ang kanyang mga mata at matamamg nakatingin sa amin.

I froze when I saw the corner of his lips twisted into a smirk. The tube's surface flickered, and a small crack formed. Unti-unti iyong kumalat, like a spiderweb spreading accross the surface.

"Anong nangyayari..." I took a step back and when I turned to Sage, his face was filled with horror and disbelief.

Bago pa man kami makagalaw, a loud groan filled the room as the containment glass shattered outward, shards scattering across the lab's floor. The cold fog of the containment chamber spilled out, as the siren and red lights started blaring.

My heart races as I watched the splintering of glass everywhere. My breathes became quick and shallow, as I watched Seven stepped down from the broken containment.

Through the thick haze of dread, I harshly sat up, clutching my chest at napatingin sa paligid. My eyes scanned the place only to realized I was in the room, on the bed. May ilang mga tubo na nakakonekta sa katawan ko mula sa makinang nasa gilid.

There was no shattered glass anywhere, and definitely no Seven who escaped the containment tube. There was a beeping sound from the machine ngunit hindi ko iyon pinansin at kinapa na lamang ang dibdib. I blinked and shook my head, trying to clear my mind from all confusion. It was a long dream— or was it?

Which part of it was real, which part was not?

"Gising ka na pala."

I immediately  turned my head to the side, kung saan nakaupo si Sage. His face was filled with worry, but I know I cannot trust him.

"Sage?" Sinubukan kong bumangon ngunit nahihilo ako kaya muli akong napahiga.

Bigla akong natigilan. This felt like this already happened.

Déjà vu.

"P-please don't force yourself, D-dani. Magpahinga ka na m-muna," sagot ni Sage sa akin.

I tilted my head and blinked at him. Pakiramdam ko ay sasabog ang utak ko. "What happened? Nasaan ako? You promised to get me out of here. You said Wolff told you to get me out of here, bakit nandito pa ako!?"

He sighed deeply and gave me a reassuring nod. "Ilalabas k-kita rito, but for now, let's j-just cooperate. You're not well, Dani. Kung anuman ang s-sinapit mo, it surely affected you kaya kailangan mong manatili rito so you can be treated."

"I'm not sick in any way, Sage. Alam mo iyan! Anong treatment ang sinasabi mo?"

"Creating imaginary people, being aggressive, hallucinating, iilan lang iyon, Dani. P-please, just cooperate so I c-can get you o-out of here."

See?! This already happened! I knew it!

I looked at him intently. "Do you know you tend to talk straight and don't stutter when you lie?"

He sighed at nag-iwas ng tingin. "Just please cooperate. I... I pr--"

"You will get me out of here? You promise?!" Putol ko sa kanya. He looked surprised but he made no comment at sa halip ay yumuko na lamang. "Hanggang kailan ako aasa sa pangako mong iyan?" I held his hand tightly. "I don't want to be here. I kept having bad dreams of Wolff. I need to talk to him. I need answers."

"W-what dreams?" tanong niya.

"Tinatawag niya ako," sagot ko. "He was calling me, but I... I can't find him."

He stared intently at me as if he was trying to ascertain if I was telling the truth. He pulled the blanket and inayos ang pagkakalagay niyon sa akin. "Your mind is holding Wolff accountable for what you've been t-through, that's why you kept hearing his voice. For the m-meantime, kailangan m-mo munang magpahinga."

Everything that will happen here is so clear in my mind at hindi ko alam paano nangyari iyon.

Inilahad ko ang palad sa harap niya. "Then just give me my meds."

Sage froze, at kunot ang noong napatingin sa akin. "W-what m-meds?"

I shrugged, at mas lalong inilahad ang palad sa harap niya. "The meds for the headaches, to calm me down, to ease my anxiety, anti-depressant, for appetite control, for my good night's sleep, and the energy booster."

He stared at me with confusion in his face ngunit sa huli ay wala siyang nagawa kundi mapabuntong-hininga. He took out the bottles from his coat pocket at inilabas ang mga gamot.

"T-there's so many of them. S-sa ngayon, you can take the appetite control, anti-depressant, and energy booster."

He handed it to me along with the water, kaya wala akong nagawa kundi inumin iyon. He watched my every move, at pagkatapos uminom, ay muli akong sumandal sa kama at nag-iwas ng tingin sa kanya.

"P-please don't be m-mad at me, Dani," he said, ngunit hindi ko siya nilingon. "I p-promised you na ilalabas k-kita rito."

I crossed my arms at mas lalong nag-iwas ng tingin. "Yet, I'm still here."

"D-dani..."

I turned away at humiga, my back facing him. I hope he gets the message that I'm dismissing him. Narinig ko ang mahinang pagbuntong-hininga niya.

"I'll l-let you rest. Babalik ako m-mamaya."

Hindi ako sumagot at mas lalo lamang hinila ang kumot. I can hear his footsteps hanggang sa tuluyan siyang makalabas ng silid na inuukupa ko. I waited for a while bago bumangon at siniguradong wala na siya roon. Then, I pricked my throat with my fingers, at ilang sandali, ramdam ko ang pag-akyat ng ininom ko. I gagged a few times, but it was worth it dahil lumabas ang tatlong gamot na ininom ko.

Tinago ko ang mga gamot sa ilalim ng unan bago hinigit ang mga nakakabit sa katawan ko. I winced in pain and a little blood come out from my arm ngunit ininda ko iyon at agad na bumaba ng kama at agad na lumabas sa silid na iyon.

I was once again on the laboratory kung nasaan kami kanina. On the side was the 3D DNA helix rotating, with blue pulsing light. Ang mga naglalakihang tube ay may kumukulong kulay asul na likido. 

I walked towards the tube kung nasaan ang katawan ni Seven only to find it empty.

What the heck?!

#

A/N: I know you miss WETS (and I miss you all too huhu) but super busy ang lola niyo sa work plus school works (walang hanggang research proposal, case studies, oral presentations, defense, exams, etc, anue na IIT ang hirap mong mahalin huhu) so I hope you will bear with me huhu when this is all over mabilis na UD ulit huhu (at nagconduct na si lola nyo kaya mas lalong tumagal update HAHAHAHA)

kidding aside, I kept thinking about WETS kaya kahit gaano kabusy I will updaaaate! Thank you for your patience! Love you!!!

Tammii/ShinichiLaaaabs