Chapter 6: Hide a Knife Behind a Smile

I think I only slept for three hours before I was awakened by the sound of the doorbell. Hindi ko masyadong sineryoso ang sinabi ni Wolff kanina na papupuntahin na lang niya ang isang financial analyst para i-discuss sa akin ang mga bagay-bagay, but then he wasn't just all talk. He did send an analyst, and here I am now, touring Bane Laboratories.

Sa dami ng kanilang kompanya, why did I choose Bane Laboratories?

Don't get me wrong, this isn't the only company that's soaring high. In fact, bago pa lang ito kumpara sa iba nilang kompanya. Bane Laboratories is the only company founded by Wolff Bane at the age of 15. Wolff is 24 now, and Bane Laboratories is doing significantly well. It has established a name of its own, and Wolff has proven himself to be a worthy businessman.

But why Bane Laboratories?

Simply because I use the stratagem, "hide a knife behind a smile." I read a book about the 36 Stratagems, and one of them is to hide a knife behind a smile, which simply means to charm and ingratiate yourself with your enemy. When you have gained his trust, move against him in secret.

I do not trust Wolff Bane. I feel like he's full of mysteries. That smile, that intelligence, that attitude—there is definitely something about him. What's more puzzling is how he resembles Seven, a man who looks like him and whose intelligence can match his. Siguro ay ino-overestimate ko lang si Seven. Maybe Wolff is even more intelligent, ngunit gaya ni Wolff, Seven is a mystery.

Why is he in Zone Z with a concrete plan on how to leave the place? How come he had approximate calculations of the distance, time, and movements of anything that could hinder the escape from Zone Z? Kahit anong isipin ko, I cannot come up with a sensible theory on how those two are connected.

"Miss Lopez?"

Napatingin ako sa kasama kong staff ng Bane Laboratories na nagmagandang loob na samahan ako sa pag-iikot. "Sorry, what were you saying?" tanong ko sa kanya nang nakangiti. Masyado akong nahulog sa malalim na pag-iisip at hindi na masyadong naalala ang mga sinabi niya tungkol sa bawat bahagi ng laboratory na pinuntahan namin.

"This is the Researcher's Lounge," sabi niya sabay bukas sa puting pinto.

I was welcomed by a wide yet comfortable hall. Malalaki ang mga sofa sa gilid, and by simply staring, I could tell they were soft and comfortable. There was a counter on the side kung saan may bartender, barista, at mga taong nagsisilbi ng pagkain.

There was also an entertainment component on the side. Mayroon ding mga board games at iba pang means to kill time. This place doesn't smell like a laboratory either. On the high walls hung huge bookshelves. My eyes widened as I stared at the walls. Books! There were books here?

The staff probably noticed my enthrallment. "The books are research papers, theses, dissertations, and other publications made by the researchers and doctors of Bane Laboratories. Some were studies made by Wolff Bane himself; others are publications from his studies abroad. Of course, lahat ng nandiyan ay maaaring gamitin ng mga researchers para sa karagdagang kaalaman."

My excitement somewhat vanished. I thought there were books of any kind. Gano'n pa man, it's still good that this kind of place is available inside Bane Laboratories. Lahat yata ng bahagi ng building na 'to na napuntahan namin kanina ay napaka-stressful—sa akin. I do not know much about chemicals, machine operations, and other studies na ginagawa rito.

But since I chose this path, I have to get accustomed to this place. Nakakapanibago na malayo sa propesyon ko ang magiging trabaho ko. I will be the secretary of a certain Dr. Sagittarius Ravago. Sabi ng staff kanina, he is Wolff's right-hand man and a trusted researcher in this place.

I could imagine him as someone strict, maybe an old man who's gained a wealth of knowledge and experience from around the world. Buti na lang ay hindi ako direktang nagtatrabaho kay Wolff! Imagine the torment of seeing him every day?! Presensya pa lang niya ay nakakapanghina na ng loob, how much more if I get to see his intellectual capacity at work?

The staff glanced at the large analog clock on the wall. "Dr. Ravago will be here any moment. You can meet him here."

I just nodded and smiled, silently hoping that Dr. Ravago would be bearable. Sana lang ay hindi masama ang ugali niya. It's important for me not to hate anyone at work, so I really hope I can get along with everyone here—except, of course, for Wolff. He's still a Glass, after all.

Just then, the door opened and a man in a lab coat entered. He held a tablet in his right hand while adjusting his round glasses with his left.

He looked a bit uncomfortable when he saw me, perhaps caught off guard. He bowed slightly and quietly stepped inside. The staff noticed him and turned to me before calling out to the doctor. "Ah, there he is! Dr. Ravago!"

He shyly moved closer, but I could still sense his unease, as if he wasn't used to being around people. His hair hung loose over his forehead, covering most of it. His round glasses sat nicely on the high bridge of his nose, and his lips... His lips were slightly trembling in discomfort, but they were undeniably thin and nice.

Whoah, did I really just give a detailed description of Dr. Sagittarius Ravago? Although he seemed awkward and aloof, he was undeniably good-looking!

Where was the old doctor I had imagined I'd be serving earlier?

He bowed again, still looking uncomfortable, and the staff picked up on it, taking it as his cue to leave. "You can give her an orientation of what she needs to do, Dr. Ravago," the staff said politely before turning to me. "I'll leave you to Dr. Ravago, Miss Lopez. Have a great day."

I smiled at the staff as they left, and Dr. Ravago did the same. When the staff was no longer in sight, I awkwardly turned back to the doctor.

"S-shall we go to my o-office?" he asked nervously. I nodded and followed him. He walked toward the door, and whenever the other researchers noticed him, they'd stop what they were doing just to greet him and show respect.

Dr. Ravago would shyly return the greeting, his voice so low that no one could hear him but himself. It was only after he passed that the researchers seemed to breathe a sigh of relief as he finally entered the door.

I silently followed the doctor, noting how everyone seemed so scared of him. I mean, he's someone who was shy and awkward, but then their guards were up with him around.

Malawak ang kanyang opisina. Compared to the lounge, his office was like a corporate place, not relaxing at all. Inilapag niya ang hawak na tablet at tila kinakabahang tinuro ang mga upuan.

"Have a seat, Miss D-dani..."

I forced a smile. "I think we will be both comfortable if you drop the 'miss' and call me Dani, Doctor Ravago."

Bahagya siyang yumuko. "I-if you wish so, Dani. In that case, you can also call me Sage instead of Doctor Ravago."

Sage? That name suits him since he looked very wise although a bit socially awkward.

"I... I read your CV and Wolff informed me about you," sabi niya. My CV? I don't remember preparing one, so maybe it's a curriculum vitae prepared by Wolff's minions, not me.

"I see," iyon lamang ang naging sagot ko.

"S-sorry... I know you're uncomfortable right now, medyo... medyo aloof lang ako and most people here don't really want to talk to me. I'm... I'm also a bit of an introvert." Maybe because he holds a high position here. Kahit ako ay hindi ko gugustuhing makipag-usap sa kanya nang normal. "But... but please don't be uncomfortable with me," sabi niya. "I want to make friends, but it's hard."

Since I didn't know how to respond to that, nanatili na lamang akong tahimik at nakinig sa kanya. I cannot give him advice about making friends dahil hindi rin naman ako marunong. You know that feeling? 'Yong parang nag-e-exist ka lang but you have no special relationships at all. I have no one to call a "best friend." The closest friend I got is my seatmate back in high school. We're not really friends, but we talked most of the time. We neither told each other secrets nor asked how life was going.

So if Sage says it's hard to make friends, I can relate to that. It's just that unlike him, I am not awkward and distant.

Nasanay na rin siguro ako na wala masyadong kaibigan. It's just that I think it's better to rely on myself than to depend on anyone.

"I'm weird, right?" nahihiyang tanong niya. "Please don't think of me that way. May kaibigan pa rin naman ako. Wolff and I, we're each other's only friend."

Ows, wala rin masyadong kaibigan si Wolff? Sabagay, who would not want to be friends with someone who's insanely genius and incredibly rich? 

"So, ano nga pala mga gagawin ko bilang secretary mo?" tanong ko. I never did secretarial jobs before, kaya hindi ko alam ang mga gagawin, more so if it's a researcher's secretary.

"Nothing much," sagot niya. "Maybe just a few things like producing copies of my publications, instructions, filing, and other stuff." Mayamaya ay napabuntong-hininga siya. "S-sorry, Dani."

Eh? Sorry for what? Nagtatakang napatingin ako sa kanya. "Sorry saan?"

"I know you don't like this, right?" tanong niya. "You seemed so uninterested in this job. I read in your CV that you're a teacher, so I'm surprised you chose to work at Bane Lab instead of choosing Glass Academy or any other company kung saan ka pwedeng magturo. Wolff surely didn't expect that you would choose to work here, so it's his rash decision to make you my secretary."

I'm sure he didn't, but it's good to surprise him like this.

"Buti na lang sa'yo niya ako pinagtrabaho. I don't want to work with him," sabi ko sa kanya sabay ngiwi. "I sort of hate him. Hindi maganda ang resulta ng pag-uusap namin. I find him wicked and rude—" Hindi ko na tinuloy pa dahil naalala kong si Wolff lang pala ang kaibigan niya.

Nahihiyang ngumiti siya. "It's okay. Everybody says that about him."

Not surprising! Hindi nakakapagtakang lahat ay may masasabi tungkol kay Wolff with that cocky attitude!

"But he's amazing. He can make anything possible on his own. He prefers to work alone," sabi ni Sage. Sandali, if he can make everything possible, then...

Hininaan ko ang boses ko. "Then do you think it's possible for him to clone himself or something like that? Para gumawa ng ibang mga bagay, parang gano'n."

Sage looked so puzzled right now. Napakunot ang kanyang noo at tila ba iniisip kung ano ang ibig kong sabihin sa tanong kong iyon. I know it's sort of stupid to ask that, but curiosity just kicked in. "Cloning is no big deal nowadays, Dani. I think Wolff made a perfect clone of something when he was ten."

See!? It would make sense to think that Seven is a clone!

"But cloning himself is not something I could imagine he would do," pagpapatuloy ni Sage. "Wolff is egotistical, and making a perfect clone of himself to do things for him is definitely out of his character. Keep this a secret, okay? Wolff thinks he's better than anything. He's not easily swooned by high-tech machines, advanced robots, and artificial intelligence. He still thinks his mind is mightier than anything, that his brain cells are better than any integrated circuits."

Napaupo ako nang maayos at napaisip. Right, that sounds right. Wolff Bane is the kind who sees himself better than anything. But still, the fact that Seven and Wolff looked alike is bothering.

"Or maybe he has a brother? A twin brother, ano sa tingin mo? One that looks like him but with tan skin and a muscular build?" pangungulit ko kay Sage.

"I think I already answered that question this morning."

Muntik na akong mapatalon sa kinauupuan nang marinig ko ang boses ni Wolff sa likuran ko. Agad akong napalingon, and there he was, standing by the door. Naglakad siya palapit sa amin, cold eyes sliding over me.

"Why, Dani, do you have a fetish for someone who looks like me but with tan skin?"

Ang kapal ng mukha. Hindi ko siya pag-iinteresan! Just because he looked good and he's incredibly rich? I still prefer someone who's not all looks! Mas matimbang pa rin ang matalino kaysa gwapo.

But Wolff Bane is a genius, right?

Ugh.

Attitude! Of course, attitude comes first!

"Is she bothering you with unnecessary questions, Sage?" tanong niya kay Sage. "Do you want me to assign her to Dr. Lee instead?"

Mabilis na umiling si Sage at inayos ang suot niyang salamin. "N-no, it's okay, Wolff. Dani and I are just... getting to know each other para komportable kami sa trabaho."

"I see," sagot ni Wolff at tumango. Nang bumaling siya ng tingin sa akin, pinigilan ko ang sarili kong ngumiwi. That would be so childish to do kahit pa gustong-gusto kong gawin iyon. "You may now leave, we'll have a meeting with Dr. Lee."

Napaangat ako ng tingin at tinuro ang sarili. "Ako?"

Naramdaman ko na naman ang lamig ng tingin niya. "Should I leave then?"

This time, hindi ko na napigilan ang ngiwi. I think Wolff and I will never get along. EVER! Padabog akong tumayo at bumaling kay Sage. "Bye, Sage."

Sage was about to say something ngunit naunahan siya ni Wolff. "You call him by his name?"

"Should I call him by my name then?" I shot back, imitating the tone he used earlier. Mukhang matatanggal na ako sa trabaho kahit hindi pa ako nakakapagsimula.

Sage tapped him on the back kaya natigil ang palitan namin ng masasamang tingin. "I... I was the one who said to call me by that, Wolff."

Right now, I wanted to stick out my tongue and make a face at Wolff, but I managed to hold myself back. Agad akong lumabas doon bago pa tuluyang masira ang araw ko dahil kay Wolff. Paglabas ko, nakasalubong ko ang isang lalaking naka-lab gown. He walked straight toward Sage's office. Napatigil ako at tinitigan siya hanggang sa tuluyan siyang mawala sa paningin ko. His old yet authoritative face looked so familiar!

"The president is so disappointed with you, General. How could you fail in your service, which caused one of the most dangerous criminals to escape this place dahil sa kapabayaan ng mga tao mo!"

"As agreed, wala nang taga-labas na maaring makapasok o makalabas sa lugar na ito."

"Mabuti. 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."

It was the doctor I saw at Zone Z!

#

ShinichiLaaaabs