Chapter 22: Zero

JESSICA

NANLAKI ang mga mata ko. I can't believe it. Halos hindi na ako huminga habang nakatingin sa lalaking nasa harapan ko.

"Father.." Tumulo ang mga luha sa aking mga mata.

"No. It can't be.." Umiiling ako. "You are already dead.." Nanlisik ang aking mga mata at napatingin kay Cedric.

"What did you do to my father?!" I asked angrily.

"Chill, Jessica. I didn't do anything. He volunteered himself." he sat in the chair.

"What do you mean?" Napakunot ang aking mga kilay.

"I played all of your minds all along." My father answered it without a doubt. "I was never been dead, basically I pretended to be dead."

"What?!" It was like a bomb exploded in my mind. Hindi ako naniniwala nong una pero nang makita ko ang seryoso nitong mukha ay napagtanto kong hindi nga siya nagbibiro. 

"After all of these years, you are really alive? Why?!" It made my tears turned out into a waste after I found out that he was my foe? What the hell is this?!

But somehow I want to know his reasons. He must have his own grudge against the world. He must have been troubled by something— I mean by what happened to my mother.

Deep inside umaasa akong may sense ang isasagot niya pero hanggang asa lang pala ako.

"Because I liked it. I love to play with people around me and making them look like a fool. All of what happened to your mother and the massacre of the Jung Clan in the past was part of my plans. I made an alliance with my rivals to attacked my own clan and it was my biggest success. Fifty percent of my foolish people are killed and fifty percent are the survivors, meaning the ones who are left are the strongest."

Halos hindi ako makapaniwala sa mga naririnig ko mula sa kanya. It was something more evil. Cruel and heartless. I remained my calm kahit sa loob ko ay gusto ko na siyang sugurin.

"Why I made this plan? Why I massacred my own people? Because the remaining ones will be the participants in my inventory—the creation of humanoids." pagdagdag niya.

"Could this mean?.."

"Yes. I am the one who thought of this experiment and I didn't know that its worked. I only thought of this while I am in a mission. Take a look of all of my conclusion.." He pressed the remote button in his hand and the lights was turned on.

I gasped on what I saw. My eyes was wider than it takes. There are millions of people inside the giant testube. All of them, their parts of the body is made of iron and metal, it means they already turned into a humanoid.

"Those are some of my people who survived the ambush. I hunt everyone of them but I can't do it alone by myself so I ask for the Delacroix's help. Oh, by the way, the family Delacroix are the one who are responsible for the ambush if you didn't know."

I clenched my hand. The rage within me is overwhelming. Kaunti na lang, mawawala na ang pagpipigil ko.

So, they are the one who slaughtered my friends and my mother? I know it was nothing to be shocked but I am still shocked and it made me angrier. To think that world is small that I can even meet with those killers.

I can't forgive it. Unforgivable!

"Tinulungan nila akong hanapin ang mga nakasurvived sa nangyari kaya sinimulan ko sa una hanggang sa mapunta kay Tiffany— sa pamilya ng mga Montecillo but because of that damn spy from those twelve brats, my plan on assassinating them and experimenting with them was failed. Curse that Kris! He outsmarted me!"

I can sense his frustration and it made me feel refreshed a little bit. Good thing that his plan was backfired though many people are already become the victims of my father's evil deeds.

"But that doesn't matter anymore since you are here. I want you to come with me. Let's have fun and become like me too." He extended his arm. "You want my attention, right?" he asked.

"I will give you my attention if you come with me. Come with the Almighty One and I'll promised you that I will bring your mother back to life and of course we will live happily ever after. So please save me.." A tear fell from his right eye.

Lived happily ever after? Have a happy family? Live together with my father?

Hmm... Sounds great.

I was about to placed my hand into his palm but I snapped and slapped his hand away from me.

"No! I won't definitely become like you! I don't want to hurt someone whose innocent! I don't want to be with some stranger like you!" I angrily spatted.

His eyes was widened when he heard those words coming from me. "Why? I thought you want your family back? I will giving it to you now. I thought you love me."

"I don't remember myself admiring a humanoid. You are not my father because he is already dead! You are nothing but a fucking humanoid!" I shouted.

"What do you mean?"

"Don't sound like a clueless trash. I know you already knew what I am thinking." My voice become serious. "You turned yourself into a humanoid."

Nagulat siya sa narinig. Napayuko at maya-maya ay gumagalaw ang mga balikat niya then he left out a laugh.

"You are truly genius, Jessica. I think you are a suitable ingredients for me to create a biggest invention that I will use to conquer the world. Cedric isn't lying after all."

"Of course, Master. She's a rare kind. And you must killed her for you to have her." then Cedric smiled evily.

"That was I will going to do, Cedric." he turned to me. "After I killed you, I will go after your friends so that you will be forever with them. I am a good father, right?"

May inilabas siyang isang baril mula sa kanyang bulsa at itinutok iyon sa akin. Nanatili lang akong kalmadong nakatingin sa kanya at sa baril kahit hindi ko alam kung paano maiiwasan ang mga balang nagmumula roon o kung papaano ko yon aagawin sa kanya.

But if I tried to steal it from him, Cedric will probably do something to knocked me out and it will be the end for me.

In this situation, I'll definitely lose. What should I do?

Narinig ko ang pagkasa ng baril at ang paggalaw ng kanyang daliri para kalabitin ang gatilyo.

I cursed in my mind. There's no use unless I tried to dodge it using my reflexes and I don't have any weapon here to deflect the bullet—

Wait? Deflect? Weapon? Bakit ngayon ko lang naisip na may dala akong dagger sa bulsa ko?

Shit! I am really stupid.

Sinabayan ko ang paggalaw ng kanyang mga daliri at dahan dahan kong pinadaan ang aking kamay sa ilalim ng palda ko nang hindi nila napapansin.

At saktong pagputok ng baril ay sinangga ko ang bala at hinagis ang dagger papunta sa kamay niya kaya nabitawan niya ang baril. Bago pa kumilos si Cedric para paputukan ako ay mabilis akong tumakbo tsaka kinuha ang baril na nabitawan ng aking ama at itinutok iyon sa kanya tsaka siya pinatamaan sa sikmura sanhi para mawalan siya ng malay.

Nagdudugo ngayon ang kamay ng aking ama. "You, freaking bitch!" My father hissed at me.

"Yes, I know and this bitch will going to defeat you." I said.

"Defeat me?" He laughed again. "Are you kidding me? You can't even killed your own father. You are trembling while holding that gun. Why don't you pulled the trigger and hit me immediately? I bet you are scared at m—"

Hindi natapos ang sasabihin niya nang patamaan ko siya sa noo niya—kung saan naroroon ang life source niya. I know he was a humanoid and no longer a human so I can kill him in my own hands. I am a killer, anyway.

"Why?!" He breathed heavily and starting to vomit blood. "You love your father, right? Why did you do it to me?"

"I love you though you aren't my father anymore."

"Then, why?"

"I am doing this to make you happy. I was just granting your wish." I said then smiled. "I know you are suffering from you sins. You always blaming yourself for doing something inhuman from the start. You are always tried to kill yourself but you too scared to face death so you failed to atone for your sins. That's why you turned yourself into a humanoid and erased all of humanity in your body and pretended to become a demon because you are a sinner.."

Nagulantang siya sa mga sinabi ko. "How? Why?" He bursted out into tears. I guess I hit the bullseye.

Nilapitan ko siya. "You keep on going to do bad things because you want someone to help you for atoning your own sins. Someone who will say, 'It's okay. Don't be scared to face your own sins.' Someone who will end your suffering so that you can be with my mother together. Admit it, you are lonely and sad for what you've done. You don't really want to be an evil, father." I held his hand. It's cold but I can feel the warmth.

"Y-you are really something, my daughter. To think that I failed to give you my love when you are a kid, to think that I managed to turn into evil just for this selfish reason makes me want to hate myself more. For the last time, I'm sorry for being an irresponsible father to you. I'm sorry if I didn't show you that I love you too. I'm  sorry if I am scared to face my own sins. I'm sorry because I am an evil.. I'm sorry." Nanghihina niyang sambit sakin. Hinawakan niya ng mahigpit ang aking mga kamay.

I smiled. "It's okay. Don't be scared to face your own sins. You can rest now, father. I love you." I whispered then he smiled to me before he closed his eyes.

Somehow, I managed to reconcile with my father before he died. I managed to tell him what I really feel for him back then when I was a child. I finally felt the warmth of his love for a matter of seconds.

But it's strange. I didn't cry. Or maybe I am too tired to cry. I don't know why.

Then something dropped into the back of my palm. I looked in it.

It was a single tear. Single tear yet so heartbreaking and it made me feel pain inside.

"Woah. That was some good emotional drama but the main character was sucked on acting."

Gulat akong napatingin sa aking likuran. I alerted my senses. It was Cedric.

"You shocked, eh?" Ipinakita niya ang isang piraso ng metal sa akin. "This saved me from the bullets. I always have this and good thing I have it inside."

"I see." I smirked. "A luck, huh? If you are saved by that then I will never let it happened again this time." I was about to attack him when he dodge me fastly and appears in my back.

"When did—"

Napahandusay ako sa sahig dahil sa stun pen na itinurok niya sakin. Shit. Shit. Shit. I am so reckless! I tried to move a bit but my body can't be move. Hinang-hina na ako.

"Paano ba yan? Mukhang talo ka na sa larong ito? What will I am going to do with you next?" He squeezed my cheeks.

"Your face in pain made me turned on. I guess, I am not going to kill you but I will do something interesting."

"What—" I stopped when he kiss me hungrily.

Sinubukan kong igalaw ang katawan ko at sipain siya pero wala akong makuhang lakas. His kisses made me feel so dirty. I am ashamed. Hindi ko magawang iwasan ang mga halik niya dahil mas malakas siya sa akin.

His tongue dvelved into my mouth. Umiiyak na ako habang siya ay patuloy akong hinahalikan.

Somebody help me. I'm scared. Kaunti na lang at mawawalan na ako ng pag-asa. This is the first time I am feeling so weak and pathetic.

"You're so beautiful, Jessica." He whispered at dinilaan niya ang pisngi ko maging ang aking tainga.

"I kill you." I said angrily but he just laughed at bumaba ang mga halik niya sa aking leeg.

"Kill me later." he replied then took off his clothes at muling hinalikan ang leeg ko. He even pressed himself against mine.

Not good. I must not lose hope. My comrades are believe in me. They have their own faith in me. I must not give up so easily. I need to think something to make him defenseless. I must found an opening. I must find a way to bring my own strength back.

His hand are now in my tummy and then he inserted it inside my blouse then touched my breast.

While he was busy on touching me, I tried to move my finger, little by little and then my hand too. Kung lalaban ako gamit ang kamay ko ay matatalo PA rin ako dahil hindi pa bumabalik ang buong lakas ko kaya I placed my hand inside my pocket without him noticing me. I keep him busy and lost himself.

I was equipped with some small things that I can use in harming people. It just a small harm but I think it's work. Makakatakas pa ako dito. At kapag nakatakas na ako ay tsaka ako magtatago hanggang sa bumalik ang aking lakas bago ko siya harapin.

Good thing, I've put an acupuncture in my pocket and I'll make it out of my pocket at tinusok ko sa batok ni Cedric, making him scream in pain.

Itinulak ko siya habang abala siya sa pagkapa ng batok niya para tanggalin ang accupunture na iyon at tsaka ako tumakbo ng mabilis without minding my strength. Nasa pintuan na ako nang mapansin kong nakalock ito.

"Holy shit." I cursed and then someone grabbed my hair from behind.

"Ouch." I screamed when he pointed me a stun gun again then I feel numb.

I don't understand what Cedric was saying. My sight was starting to get blurred. Sinira ni Cedric ang butones ng blouse ko dahilan para malantad ang bra ko.

Siniil niya ako ng halik at pinisil niya ang dibdib ko. Then he ran his tongue into my breast while his other hand was inserted into my skirt, removing my short.

I felt disgusted. Bumabalik sa alaala ko ang nangyari sa aking ina. She died in this way, will I died in this way too? Will history repeats itself?

Ah. My head started to get heavy. My eyes can't see anything right now. All I feel is his disgusting touch all over my body but I started to don't care anymore.

I wish before I died, my friends will here and our mission will become successful. I wish they were here when I am about to be buried.

I don't want to die. I don't want to leave them alone. I want to make more memories of them, more, more.

I want to be with him. Kris. That idiot jerk.

I wish I could say I love you and thank you until my last breath but I think it's too late for me now.

Now.. It's the end.

"You can't be give up so fast, Jessica!"

Huh? That voice seems to be familiar. It made my heart skipped a beat. His voice. I love to hear his voice. His annoying voice. His gentle voice.

I want to see him too. Hug him. Kiss him. Cry on his shoulders. I will miss him.

"You are really stupid! This is not the time to say goodbye. You really forgot our promise. I thought you won't die. I thought you will keep yourself safe. I thought you don't give up. I thought you want to be with me. You think something good happened if you give up so easily." It was echoing in my mind though it was just an illusion.

That made me back to my senses. After hearing those words from his voice in my mind made myself stronger. Strange because it bring back my strength and conscious.

I opened my eyes and punched Cedric's stomach. That sudden move of mine made him shocked. Then I kicked him away from me and he banged up in the wall. It causes a great impact on him because it made him bleed. Nawarak pa ang pader na tinamaan niya. He tried to move a bit pero dahil marahil sa fracture na natamo niya ay hindi na siya makagalaw man lang.

Kinuha ko ang blouse ko at isinuot iyon kahit sira na ang butones tsaka nilapitan siya dala ang isang katana na kinuha ko sa kung saan.

"It's a game over for you, Cedric. Try to move or else I'll kill you." I said in a dangerous tone.

"Hahaha. I can't move right now. You are really stupid. I can't believe you can move after on what I did to you. Maybe, I'm underestimated you." Sa mahinang boses niyang sinabi iyon.

"I don't have much strength but because of my friends, because of their faith on me, it made me strong. I can't let them dissapointed in me. It's game over for you, Cedric. Give up to the police or I'll kill you." Tinutok ko ang katana sa leeg niya.

"You think you win, huh? You don't know our trump card, Jessica." he smirked.

"What are you planning to do right now?"

"There was a bomb implanted on every room of this university. Oh, it's not in the room though. It's underground. I knew that we will failed so I'm planning to wipe out everyone inside this school campus. It will explode when it's strikes at twelve and you lose too. Hahahahaha." he laughed evily.

I clenched my teeth. "How can I stop the bombs?" I asked him at diniin ko sa leeg niya ang talim.

He just smirked and move a little bit kaya dumugo ang leeg niya.

"You think you can detonate it huh? It's too late for you. It's already 11:55. Five more minutes until it explodes but I will tell you anyway, the computers in this laboratory. Destroy it so the bomb will stop from detonation, there's a device encoded inside the computer that keeps the bomb in running. Can you really destroy those hundred computers?" he laughed again. "You are really so naive. You think you win. No. I will not let that happen—"

He didn't finished off his sentence when I sliced his neck. Pugot na ang kanyang ulo at mabilis siyang nabawian ng buhay. May spark sa dugo niya at hula ko ay isa na rin siyang humanoid but in an incomplete process.

I'm sorry, Cedric. I will not going to lose!

I started to destroy every computer inside the lab by burning it. And I guess I can't make it so I made a call with everyone.

"This is Jessica. I am here to announced that there are bombs planted in every corner of the campus. I'll advice to get out of this place as soon as possible before the clock strikes at twelve. It only 5 minutes left so please I need your cooperation to get away from this campus. I leave the evacuation to the rest of my comrades. Guide them properly out of this campus. Take the shortest route—climb up the wall or anything that will help you survived. I will stopped the bomb from detonation. That's all."

I hanged up the phone and then breathed heavily. I bet they are making their moves out of this hell. I hope so.

Naupo ako sa gitna ng nag-aapoy na labaratoryo. I guess this is the thing that I can do. Hindi ko na alam kung paano makalabas dito at kung lalabas man ako  ay hindi na ako aabutin pa dahil nanumbalik sa pagiging mahina ang katawan ko.

I need to rest a bit since I already burned up a half of the computer. I will waiting for my death for here to come. I know it's impossible to destroy hundreds of computer in five minutes so  I guess this is my end.

I looked at my wristwatch. It's one minute left. Napatingin ako sa bintana at napansin kong wala ng mga tao sa court kundi mga bangkay na lang. I guess I am all alone now inside this campus.

I smiled on the thought that my hardwork paid off. Atleast my burden will be lessen. It's time for me to leave this world.

I'll leaving the rest to you, guys.

Then the clock strikes at twelve. The bombs is now at zero and then I heard the biggest explosion everywhere. Nagkalat ang mga usok sa buong paligid. 

The mysteries that I've been looking for is now solved. Mission accomplished. This is the end.

Goodbye.