Wake me up in 2395

Chapter 21: A Secret Meeting with Chun Lee [Part 2]

Chapter 21: A Secret Meeting with Chun Lee [Part 2]

“What is the ROSE Society?” Ito ang unang tinanong ko kay Chun Lee. Si Delilah naman ay tahimik lang na umupo sa gilid habang pinagmamasdan si Pantaleon, mukhang namamangha ito sa robot na aking napanalunan sa Imperium Auction noong ikatatlong araw ng selebrasyon.

Chun was silent for a few seconds, and then he looked at me, straight in my eyes, and finally spoke. “ROSE actually is an acronym that depicts the four core goals of our society.” Chun started, ako naman ay tahimik lang na nakinig. “R stands for rise. Mankind has gone downhill, and we have caused our own downfall... But it is time to rise, without restrictions set by the Imperium Union. O stands for overthrow. You know that our goal is also to topple down the Imperium Union and replace it with a more justified system. S, for save. We aim for salvation, and E is for emancipate, we have to liberate everyone, especially those who are discriminated, from these labels that have been given to them.” Seryoso lang si Chun habang nagpapaliwanag. Ako naman ay nakikinig lang at si Delilah naman ay bahagyang nilalaro na si Pantaleon, who seems to not mind at all since this lion was stoic, like a statue.

“Tell me, what exactly is going on around?” Tanong ko kay Chun Lee. I demanded to at least know the situation, all I have ever been exposed to is the grand life of the elites, hindi ko alam kung ano ang katayuan ng mga middle class, at ang mga ‘lower’ class na siyang tinatapon sa labas ng pader dahil wala silang silbi, sabi ng Empress. I guess the work of the lower class has been replaced by robots, which is why they are now the ones who are outcasted. The thought of it somehow pains me, because I know it was not their fault that they belong to the lower class.

“What do you mean?” Chun asked, as if telling me to further specify.

“At the broadcast a few hours ago, before it was interrupted, the girl on the screen that spoke, she said that there are more of us outside the wall, at sinabi naman ng Imperium Union, that what lies beyond the wall is a wasteland and it is uninhabitable.”

“The Union lied to keep everyone in check, and so that they will no longer have any desire or curiosity to find out what lies beyond the walls.” Chun answered, “but the truth is far from that. There are only certain regions of the outside world that are dangerous and hazardous because of the nuclear war that occurred a few hundred years ago, and most parts are already submerged underwater. The main base of the ROSE Society is actually at Uno, at there are also branch bases around the districts, right outside them—most members were those who were saved, the outcasts, refugees, and there are also others born outside the wall, and such. There are actually cities outside the walls too, initially, they were just refugee camps, but then more and more people joined and were found, so, the population grew and such...”

Hindi ako makapaniwala sa aking narinig, but I guess everything is starting to make sense already. But I have to process the information that I am getting. “What is the purpose of the Union in hiding the fact that the outside world is livable?” I asked.

“To confine the people inside the walls and remove their desire of the outside world,” he replied. “The Union knows we are outside the walls, and they have sent explorers in order to search for clues to where we are, in order to obliterate us. But we are well-hidden, and they have no idea where we are located at.” Aniya.

Explorers...

I gasped, “Lag’s parents are one of them... The explorer scientists...”

“Lag?” Kumunot ang noo ni Chun.

“Lucius, my brother.” I smiled awkwardly. Ako lang pala ang tumatawag ng Lag sa kaniya.

Chun’s mouth was slightly ajar for a few seconds, then he nodded, as if realizing that it was a nickname I gave that also based on his acronyms, like of the ROSE Society. “But yes, you are right. Lag’s parents are one of those scouts sent by the Union in order to search for us, because they know we are steadfastly growing, and the Union is starting to see us as a real threat. They can no longer contain the disease that they have started, and it will only be a matter of time before they are exposed, until the truth is learned by the people. There were more to the supposed-to-be broadcast a few hours ago, but before it was finished, the transmission was jammed. But at least, people knows now that there are still more of us outside the wall, and thus, it will spark questions and curiosity on what really is beyond the walls.”

I nodded. “Anyway, why is it that Lag and you are on bad terms? I thought he was your friend?”

“Yes... We were co-scientists in Project Light. And I also trusted him the way I trusted you. I exposed myself, and told him what I was... That I was a rebel, and that I want to change the system of the world.” Chun sighed, “I thought I could convince him to join the movement and the cause, but he did not and I understand where he is coming from since his family served the Union since its foundation, and that it is also expected of him as a legacy passed by his ancestors.”

“If he knows and you still are roaming free, then does that mean he kept quiet? Lag still protected you, somehow...” I declared. Ngayon ay naiintindihan ko na si Lag kung bakit ganoon na lang siya kapag si Chun ang usapan. I guess he does not want me to be involved with these political affairs, but despite of how much he has tried to stop it from happening, it still happened anyway.

“Yes.” Chun chuckled, “we are still friends, after all. Despite the hostilities, well, his hostility towards me. I cannot blame him, but I am thankful that despite of the fact that it seems like our friendship has went downhill already, he still chose to not tell anyone about me.”

“I am starting to connect the dots already and it boils down to the fact that you have exposed yourself to me, is it safe to assume that you want me to join the ROSE Society?” I asked.

Ngumiti si Chun Lee, si Delilah naman ay tila naging interesado na sa usapan dahil bigla siyang lumapit, at tila hinihintay ang sasabihin ni Chun. He simply nodded, confirming whatever it is that was on my mind.

“I want to join.”

I do not know what I am signing myself up for, but I felt this sense of hope, and change. And somehow, power.

“Welcome to the ROSE Society,” Chun Lee smiled, “though you are still not an official member, but a recruit. There are initiations before one becomes a full-pledged member... We do not really let anyone into our ranks that easily, until they have proven themselves. Are you up for the challenge, Primrose?”

“What do I need to do?” I asked.

“Standby, wait for the ROSE Society to contact you... When the time is right, you shall know.”

I nodded, “what if I will never receive something from the ROSE Society?”

Chun chuckled, as if I asked a very stupid question. But I know he did not mean it that way, “eventually, you will.”

As it was getting late already, Chun decided to call it a day and he left with Delilah, back to their quarters which was on the 75th floor of the Palace Hotel.

Sobrang daming katanungan ko ang nasagot na. I somehow meditated and sorted things out before I went to sleep. Also, I made a promise to keep everything confidential too.

Tama ang aking hinala na tinatago talaga ni Union ang katotohanan, but I have a feeling that there is more to that which is why they are hiding the fact about the outside world.

No... It is not that they are hiding the truth about the world outside. Biglang bumilis ang pintig ng aking puso. Suddenly, it made sense. The Union is not hiding the truth about the outside world, they are hiding the fact that there are enemies outside the walls. They want to appear to be loved and benevolent, and that there is no one who shall dare to cross their paths and challenge them. Sobrang laking suntok sa buwan ang nangyaring pagsabog kanina, at hindi na maco-contain pa ng Union ito dahil live na napanood ito ng mga tao sa iba’t ibang distrikto. And the fact as well that no one was harmed along the way when the Capitol was bombed, it also tells greatly how much the ROSE Society values life. But I know, when the time comes and a war breaks out, they will have no choice but to engage in a battle where death is just an inch away.

Great sacrifices will be done for great causes.

I closed my eyes, finally satisfied to have quenched my curiosity. When I woke up, it was already the next day.