-Alexi-

"Mr. Arellano said, they haven't perfect it yet. It might take them another few years to study the experiment until they achieve the results they want" I added. Hindi ko pa sinasabi ang kumpletong detalye sa kanila pero parang umiikot na ang sikmura ko habang iniimagine ito. I was the first one who read the notebook and the content of it is still fresh on my mind. Pinipilit kong hindi pangunahan ng kaba dahil ang mga susunod kong sasabihin ay tiyak na karamihan sa kanila ay hindi sasang-ayon.

"Where's Mr. Arellano?" Kaiden joined in. This must be the question he's hesitant to ask since earlier, and he finally gathers his confidence to bring it up. "I mean, we can go to him or invite him here. Why write it in a notebook when he can personally tell it to us?"

"He's dead" napatingin silang lahat kay Caleb na siyang sumagot. Diretso lamang itong nakatingin sa whiteboard. Marahil tinatago ang emosyong maaaring puminta sa kanyang mukha. I know he's still in the process of acceptance and us talking about Mr. Arrellano must be hard for him to bear.

Nagkaroon ng saglit na katahimikan hanggang sa binasag ko ito para magpatuloy. I breathe deeply, avoiding my voice to stammer or crack in case my tears betray me. I may not know Mr. Arrellano that much but the fate he'd gone through saddens me. "I spoke to him personally. Once. I got to hear his story and he's a Mobster. I persuaded him to tell me some information that might help our plan. But I didn't know it would cost his life. We made a deal. Matapos ang unang araw ng pag-uusap namin, nagbilin ito na balikan ko siya. We don't have enough time to discuss things since Red Lady will fetch him that day, they'll bring him to the laboratory. The day came when I was supposed to meet him again, I went to the clinic and he was not there"

My gaze shifted to Caleb. "That's also the same day I met Caleb. He's the one who told me Mr. Arellano is dead already," my voice weakened as I looked down. "He was executed by lethal injection. He got killed because he refused to give the remaining formulas that would complete their experiment. Mr. Arrellano mentioned on the note that keeping the formulas from Sonkan will only delay their research. He knew they'd eventually find it out in the next few years since they're ready to kill him"

"Kung gano'n, posible ang immortality" biglang sambit ni Felicity. Hindi ito patanong. It's like she knew there is a chance it would be.

"Mr. Arrellano didn't mention it is possible but--"

"It is" Felicity cut me off. Tumaas ang gilid ng labi nito. "That doctor refused to give the formulas meaning he knew it is possible"

"And he wants to stop it" I spat at her, wearing my serious face. Muli ko silang binalingan ng tingin isa isa. I spoke with all sincerity "Sonkan held captives for three years. They're all 29 above. I don't know how many of them. Mr. Arellano never mentioned it. They're all sane until they become guinea pigs. Imagine how bad their current state is because of the test they're conducting on them. Gusto 'yong tapusin ni Doc Sigmund. Pinagsisisihan niya na naging parte siya ng eksperimentong 'yon. He wants to destroy the research. That's what he wished me to do" saglit akong tumigil at mariing pinagdikit ang labi ko. It's not my intention to pass the burden to them but since we're on a team, they had to know. "For us to destroy the whole experiment, we need to kill all of the captives there"

The last sentence made my chest so heavy that I had to swallow my morals to say it frankly. Bumaling ako sa notebook at nanginginig ang kamay na nilipat ang pahina para i-discuss sa kanila ang planong nilatag ni Mr. Arellano. I'm afraid to look at their reaction. I know how it shocks their whole system. "Doc Sigmund made a plan for how we can go inside the laboratory. I know it's risky to do and we need to think about it a hundred times---"

"How it would benefit to us" Callista interrupted, raising her hand. She smiled fakely. "I mean no offense; the experiment is indeed terrible, and I get that we will have a chance to save the world by destroying it, but how would it benefit our plan? What's next after that? May mahahanap ba tayong clue para makaalis sa lugar na to?"

Huminga ako ng malalim at matapang na tiningnan ng diretso sa mata si Callista. "The person who can help us to get out of here was imprisoned in the laboratory. He's a big asset for Sonkan because of his intelligence in technology. His name is Mr. Barri. Coriolanus Barri. Most of technologies that Sonkan has came from his invention" bahagyang humina ang boses ko sa mga sumunod na linya "But Doc Sigmund warned us that we need to convince him first to be on our side. That person believes Sonkan's research about immortality would bring his dead daughter back to life that's why he's letting them use him"

"Teka lang" biglang tumayo si Shane na nakahawak sa dalawang sintido. "Andaming information. Hayaan nyo muna akong i-absorb lahat"

"How can we convince Mr. Barri if we're going to destroy the experiment?" Sunod na sumabat si Felicity. "His last hope to revive his daughter?"

"That's what I'm not sure of" my voice weakened upon realizing her point. The chances might be slim if we're going to convince him.

"I don't agree if we're going to kill the captives" dumapo ang tingin ko kay Kaiden. Bakas ang gulat sa aking mukha na agad ko ding tinago. Sa unang pagkakataon ay ito ang unang beses na tumutol siya sa akin. Madalas ay nagkakasundo kami sa opinyon ng isa't isa kahit hindi kami gano'n kadalas nag-uusap. When everyone oppose to do the right thing, we're the first people who insist to do it. But now, it seems changed.

"I don't claim my hands are clean since we're gangsters. Minsan dadating sa puntong kailangan namin pumatay. But those captives are innocent people. Killing innocent people is totally out of our league" he added.

I hope I could tell him that it is hard for me as well lalo na't ako ang unang nakabasa ng notebook. The first time I read the notes left my judgment clouded with grief. But this isn't the right time to defend my righteousness in his sight.

Matapang ko itong sinagot. "They're part of the research and for us to destroy every particle of it, we must also get rid of them. Sonkan will kill more in the future for the sake of that experiment if we don't destroy it now. I know it is impossible but we have a plan. Someone just died for this information--"

"Us? We?" Nanunuyang sambit ni Callista na may kasamang mahinang pagtawa. "The reason why I joined your team is to escape here. The same goes with my brother and Kaiden and our co-Mobs. We extended our alliance because we thought you could help us to get out of here. Now you're asking us to invade Sonkan's lab, destroy the experiment, and kill innocent people there? This isn't what we signed to"

"Kilala ko si Doc Sigmund. He's a good person" Caleb joined in. "Alam kong hindi niya 'yon sasabihin kung wala itong makabuluhang dahilan. We need to kill the captives for a reason. Doc Sigmund must be stated that because there's a possibility they're not human anymore or they might harm other people"

"That makes sense," Coleen seconded. "Considering Sonkan is crazy about merging animal genes with humans, we don't know how it would affect their system. Baka nga patay na sila at machines nalang ang bumubuhay sa kanila" Coleen darted her gaze at Callista and Kaiden. "Besides, the fact someone revealed it to us to stop their madness is something heroic right?"

Callista shot a blazing glance at her. "We're gangsters, not heroes. We're still not sure if those captives are normal but if they are, then don't count on us to support that plan"

Nakipagsukatan ng tingin si Coleen sa kanya. "Have you heard Caleb? He knew Doc Sigmund more than any of us in this room. If he's a good person and his conscience is clean then he wouldn't suggest that in the first place unless it will bring a good cause to everyone"

"But it's still risky" Kaiden firmly said. His face remained serious. "It's like declaring a war against Sonkan. Considering our numbers, I don't think if we can stand against them. Kailangang pag-isipan ng mabuti ang planong ito. Let's think further if this plan is really worth of sacrifice. Buhay natin ang maaaring maging kapalit kapag nabigo tayo"

I feel my mouth went dry to speak so I let them talk. I also take it as a chance to think how our thoughts would get along. We should be in the same page. Kailangan nagkakasundo kami, hindi yung ganito. Salungat sa isa't isa. I'm starting to get anxious dahil hindi ito ang inaasahan kong magiging resulta ng pagpupulong namin.

"Sang-ayon ako kay kuya Kaiden" sunod na nakisali sa usapan si Fare. "May pagkakataon tayo para iligtas ang karamihan sa eksperimentong ginagawa ng Sonkan pero para tayong babangga sa malaking pader. I've seen Sonkan Guards. They're all armed. It's also possible if that laboratory were surrounded by armed people. We don't even have a gun. It's really a big risk and I'm hesitant to say this but I'm afraid. I don't think I'm brave enough to join on this operation"

"Same with Fare" nahihiyang sunod na nagtaas si Chad nang may pag-aalinlangan. "Naiisip ko palang yung mga armadong nakabantay sa dorm natin noong Friday parang gusto ko nalang magtago. Kung siguro madami tayo at may mga armas, posible tayong makapasok sa laboratoryo at sirain ang eksperimento nila"

I pursed my lips. Sa pagkakataong 'yon ay hindi ko maiwasang hindi masaktan. Parang may karayom na tumusok sa dibdib ko. I should see this coming. Not all people have enough courage to stand against Sonkan. I thought when we created this group, our braveness already molded into a fine stone. After what we've been through at purging, akala ko'y sapat na 'yon na dahilan para mag-alab ang kanilang mga puso sa paghihimagsik.

"What now, Alexi?" Felicity threw her gaze at me. "Seems we have two different side" para itong neutral na huradong walang kinakampihan at nag-eenjoy lang panoorin magdebate ang dalawang panig.

"Hey, ghost Lady" Shane called her. "Which side are you?"

Kibit balikat lang ang tugon ni Felicity sa kanya.

"It's okay if you don't go" matapos ang sandaling pananahimik ay muli akong nagsalita. "Hindi naman ito sapilitan. Ayokong isipin nyo na may tinatago kaming impormasyon lalo na nasa iisa tayong team. It's risky yes. It might cost our lives. But even if we don't do anything our lives is still at stake. Gaya ng patakaran tuwing Friday. They're not allowing us to stay indoors anymore. Ngayon ay may pagkakataon tayo para pigilan ang isa sa kasamaan nilang ginagawa. It will cause destruction in outside world once they succeeded and publicized it"

If Sonkan can manipulate the people's minds in the outside world to slip from their wrongdoings, so this experiment. Imagine how many powerful people in government will take advantage of it. Ang mga masasamang tao may mananatiling buhay magpakailanman at patuloy na gagawa ng kasamaan. I'll never favor the immortality research. God gave us a limited life for a reason and we humans should stay according to the number of years we're oath to live. We shouldn't extend it in eternity. Maybe that's what also Mr. Arellano wanted.

"Iyon ang huling kahilingan ni Mr. Arellano bago siya mamatay. He wrote to me to destroy the experiment" I added with all conviction in my voice. "I would understand if you don't go. I'll do this no matter what. I want to keep my promise to Mr. Arellano"

"Oh yeah, playing hero again" Callista sarcastically said with a laugh. "Make sure you won't get yourself killed which is impossible. Unless you expect someone to be your knight and shining armor to save you just like what you did recently"

"Cali" biglang dumagundong ang boses ni Reigan. Blanko itong nakatingin sa kanyang kapatid. "That's too much"

Imbes na matinag ay tumawa lang ito. "Whoah? Now I'm being too much? Okay. But that's the truth. Mukha lang siyang tapang tapangan pero hindi naman niya kaya ang sarili niya. She even recruited us to be on her team para ano? Para gamitin tayo sa propaganda niyang ganito. She'll paint herself as a hero" she paused for a sec to point her finger at me. "But she's just using us all"

Wala akong nagawa kundi matulala habang tinatanggap ng aking tenga ang mga sinasabi nito. I was clueless that all along, that's what she's thinking about me. I was too speechless to utter a word. It's like I got stiffened on my standpoint.

"She's not using us, Cali. You know that" sa pagkakataong 'yon ay tumayo na si Reigan at matalim na tiningnan ang kapatid. All eyes were turned to them. "She have a vision. Her intention is pure. Ang gusto niya lang ay makaalis tayong lahat dito at hindi na mapaglaruan ang mga buhay natin. Our lives is at stake already. It's just a matter of what you think is worth to risk for. And this thing she's telling us is our hope that is worth to risk"

"You're defending her because you're head to heels on her" Callista cut her. "You're a Mob leader, Kuya. You are supposed to take care of our co-Mobs. But instead, you always stick around her, following what she says. I hope you realize that the reason why the Dean leaves us untouched is because we're gangsters. Now, if he learned that we're going against him, you know what will happen to us. Mobsters. We're gonna wipe out"

"Hey, panda girl" mataray na sambit ni Coleen sa kanya. "Sana naisip mo 'yan bago ka sumali sa grupong to. You know this group is for revolution. And this secret meeting we're doing for the past few months is already against with Dean" pinasadahan nito ng tingin ang bawat isa. "Ngayon kung para rin pala kayong mga duwag na walang bahag, then you shouldn't join here in the first place. Because unlike you, we have no plans to stuck in here forever"

"Enough." I cut the tension between them before it rose. "I think we need to calm our heads down. We'll continue discussing it tomorrow. Anyone who would show up here tomorrow will be considered counted and for those who won't means out in the operation. No grudges for those who won't join. I'll truly understand" nanatili akong nakatingin sa baba dahil hindi ko sila kanyang tingnan sa mata. "Sa ngayon, dito natatapos ang pagpupulong na ito"

"I'm out of it." Callista raised both of her hands as if she was done with us. She grudgingly looked at Reigan. Her brother. "I know you'll join her. If you do, then forget me as your sister" saka ito naunang maglakad palabas at pabagsak na sinara ang pinto.

Tumingin sa akin si Reigan na tila nanghihingi ng permiso para sundan ang kapatid at kausapin ito. Tumango lamang ako kahit wala siyang binibitawang salita. "Go. Talk to her"

Sumunod na ding nagpaalam si Kaiden. I gave him a nod, permitting him. Napabuntong hininga ako ng malalim at naisuklay ang kamay sa buhok dahil sa frustration. I didn't expect the meeting to go like this. I supposed to broadened their minds but it seems got worst.

Isa isang tumayo sina Fare at Chad. Tumingin sa akin si Fare. Nangungusap ang mata nito na tila may gustong sabihin ngunit pinili na lamang hindi ituloy. Nauna sa kanila si Shane bago silang dalawa sumunod. They walked through the door and I feel like that will be the last I'll see them. Sumunod si Felicity na lumabas. Naiwan kaming tatlo ni Caleb at Coleen.

"I'll go with you two" Caleb said to us. Tipid akong ngumiti sa kanya.

"You should think about it first" tugon ko sa kanya.

"Even if I think of it, the answer won't change." He smiled back and looked at us two; he probably sensed we needed a moment, so he bid his goodbye before he made his way to the door. He halted when Coleen called her.

"Hey, what's your name again?"

Caleb shot a glance at her. "Caleb"

Tumango si Coleen bilang tugon. "Okay, Caleb. Lock the door"

Nangunot ang noo ni Caleb at napailing na lamang ng lumabas ng pinto. He locked the door through the inside before he vanished on our sight. Lumapit ako sa bakanteng upuan at saglit na naupo doon. Lahat ng upuan dito ay may desk dahil kinuha lang namin 'yon sa mga abandonadong classroom. Nilapat ko ang ulo ko sa desk at doon na tuluyang bumagsak ang luha na kanina ko pa pinipigilan. I cried with my lungs out. Almost screaming while my head is burying on the desk. Para akong batang naagawan ng laruan at walang ibang naisip na gawin kundi umiyak ng malakas.

Callista's words are so much that it's hard to unhear it on my mind.

Naramdaman ko ang paglapit ni Coleen. Marahan nitong hinagod ang likod ko. "Shh. You know all of she said is not true. She's just a coward. Only thinking about their group"

I don't want to be exaggerated but I feel like a teenage girl who was left out by her friends and only one stayed by her side to cheer her up.

"What if they're right..." Dahan dahan kong inangat ang ulo ko at pinunas ang mga luha nang kumalma na ako. "It's impossible. Masyadong delikado para sa atin. If we're going to fail then we will never have a chance to get out of here"

Umupo si Coleen sa tabi ko. Malalim itong napabuntong hininga. "We'll never know unless we try. Like what you said, you want to keep your promise to Mr. Arellano, then let's do that"

Sumilay ang maliit na ngiti sa labi ko habang patuloy na nagpupunas sa natirang mga luha. "May punto din sila. Wala tayong armas at kakaunti lang tayo"

Sa mga discouragement na narinig ko ngayon, hind ko na alam kung saan huhugot ng lakas ng loob. I thought they're with me. I thought we're carrying the same fire. But why?

"Now you're doubting yourself" Coleen firmly said. "That's not the Alexi I know. I still remember how rigid your voice is when you told me, you want to bring Sonkan down" diretsong tumingin sa mata ko si Coleen suot ang maliit na ngiti. "Sana hindi mo 'yon nakakalimutan, Alexi"

Hindi ako nakasagot at nanatiling tahimik. I feel drained and hurt. Maybe I need to calm down myself first. My emotions are still high.

Marahang tinapik ni Coleen ang balikat ko. "Don't stress yourself out. Let's have a cheeseburger at Bob's"

*************

Thanks for reading!