Wake me up in 2395

Chapter 22: Becoming friends with the Tribute-Champion of Tre

Chapter 22: Becoming friends with the Tribute-Champion of Tre

I was a recruit of the ROSE Society. Though I was still not a full-pledged member and an initiation will happen at the right time, I can feel this adrenaline rushing in my veins. I wasn’t much of a conformist even before all of this happened. Which is also why President Duchelli, the president during the year 2020 of Philippines, was disappointed at me and called me a man woman.

It was already the next day and just as Empress Wynzelle has announced, despite the ‘terrorist attack’ at the Central Square of the city-ship, the preceding events of the foundation week shall still occur and push through. She will not let the incident to take a toll on the celebration, because that will only mean giving the enemy what they want.

But I know more than her what the enemy really wants—they want liberty. Their authoritarian role that kept this world peace and orderly is not ideal for me. They govern through fear, and the people who do not conform are treated as outcasts, and they are thrown outside the walls.

That in itself is already contradictory, they never saw it coming. The fact that those people whom they discarded like trash will come together and also build an opposition which they are now afraid of. They started it, and they shall also end with it. They caused their own downfall.

I did the same morning routine... For this day, I wore a black floral dress that I customized again. I felt like my hair is too long already too since it fell until my waist, and so, I decided to have the Tech-Wardrobe to cut it into a pixie-cut, somehow I got this idea from Delilah too. My hair was shorter now, and my head feels lighter too. I don’t know what has gotten into me and I did this with my precious long hair, but I guess this is a symbol of change, for me... A manifestation that I finally know the answer to my questions, but not entirely. Still, I was no longer left in the dark like what Lag wanted me to.

Nang dumalaw na si Lag sa aking kuwarto upang kumain na rin ng almusal ay tumitig lang siya sa akin, as if processing whatever physical change that occurred. “You cut your hair.” He said, after realizing it. “I liked your long hair better, but you still look pretty. You can actually pull off any style that pleases you.” He smiled after.

“Thanks for the compliment. I just wanted a change.” I smiled at him. Kumain na kaming dalawa. Pagkatapos ay bumalik na siya sa kaniyang kuwarto upang magbihis. Maagang magaganap sa araw na ito ang event. It was the Exhibition of Innovations and Inventions. I wonder what kind of inventions shall be presented today at the Arena.

When Lag is already prepared, sinundo na niya ako sa aking kuwarto at tumungo na kami sa rooftop ng Palace kung saan naghihintay na ang hovercar namin. Sa loob nito ay nandoon na sina Mayor Elizabeth, Mayor Marina, at saka si Cassandra, the champion-tribute of Tre. Wala na ang mga lalaking kasama ng dalawang mayora. I looked at Cassandra, she was casually sitting beside Mayor Elizabeth and her facial expression is blank, as if she is already devoid of emotions. But I can sense the pain in her eyes, after all, she lost her lover—Percival.

Umupo na kami ni Lag at dahil kompleto na kami ay umandar na ang sasakyan at lumipad na kami papunta sa Arena.

“Hi.” I awkwardly smiled at Cassandra.

She looked at me and nodded as a sign of acknowledgement, “hi.” Tipid na sagot din nito.

“I’m Primrose Ghani.” I introduced myself to her.

“I know... You’re famous now as the girl who made quantum teleportation possible.” She smiled at me, “laman ka ng balita since day 1.”

“Oh...” I said.

“Even until now.” Saad niya.

Napaisip ako—perhaps it was just a diversion to divert the attention of the people from the actual bombing incident that occurred last night. Rather than putting all the attention to the event that has tainted their reputation, of course they will just divert the attention of people. Kaya kahit ganoon na lang ang nangyari, they are still pushing for the event that shall happen today. It is the only logical explanation.

“Well, ikaw din naman ang laman ng balita rin—the girl champion of Tre.” I smiled at her, it seems like I hit a sensitive spot, since she was rendered speechless. Ah, crap. Ang tanga ko talaga minsan, hindi ko naisip na gusto niya na lang kalimutan ang nangyaring Battle Royale, dahil doon namatay ang kaniyang kasintahan.

As if on cue, the hovercar landed and we were already at the Arena, the door automatically opened and I awkwardly hopped out of the car. Sumunod na rin ang iba. Habang naglalakad kami papunta sa aming dibisyon sa Arena ay tumabi ako kay Cassandra.

“I’m sorry, that was insensitive of me back then.” I whispered to her. Si Lag naman ay naiwan sa likod kasama ang dalawang mayora na naglalakad din. Nauna kami ni Cassandra.

“It is okay.” She faked a smile, she was mourning. I can tell that by her black clothes too and her puffy eyes that tells me she cried herself to sleep. I can also feel this dreadfulness in her that she wants to be anywhere but here, at the exact stadium where Percival died. Ramdam ko ang bigat ng kaniyang mga hakbang. I wanted to hug her, but instead, I held her hand, at bahagya kong pinisil ang kaniyang palad.

“It is okay to not be okay.” I smiled at her, “I admire you—I sincerely do. And I am sorry for your loss.”

Namuo ng luha sa kaniyang mga mata, but she blinked her tears away.

She grinned at me, trying to make it look as genuine and real as possible. “Appreciated, Primrose.”

“Just Prim.” I grinned back.

“Just Cass, then.”

“Alright, Cass.”

“Alright, Prim.”

We both chuckled in unison. Magaan ang pakiramdam ko sa kaniya, I am glad that I finally got the chance to talk to her.

Nang nasa dibisyon na namin kami ay nandoon na ang iba pang mga elites ng Tre, there is a reserved space for us though which was in front. Gayon din ang sa iba pang mga dibisyon kung saan sa unang row lamang nakaupo ang mga mayor at kanilang partners, sa likod na nila ay mga ibang nobles at elites. Napansin ko si Chun kasama si Delilah rin at nasa 1-division sila. They were acting normal, as if they were not rebels. I looked at Duo, at napansin ko na dalawa na lang ang mayor na nandoon.

Ares Washington, Electro City of Duo... This guy who raised the concern about a conspiracy theory is no longer around. Naalala ko naman ang sinabi ng mga kasama ko noon—that is was a dead man already. I gulped the lump in my throat. Ano kaya ang nangyari sa kaniya? Bakit siya pinarusahan? He did not mean any harm.

I just found myself sending a timed message to Chun.

Primrose: Do you have any idea what happened to Ares Washington?

I looked at him from a far, and it seems like he has received my message already as he rotated his M-ring. A few seconds later, I received a reply.

Chun: He’s dead. Killed at the night you had dinner with the Astarria. He will be replaced sooner or later.

And after I read it all, the message he sent was automatically erased, as if it was never sent in the first place, like my message to him.

Ramdam ko ang biglang pagbigat ng aking dibdib. Namutla ako at pinagpawisan ng malamig, tila napansin ni Lag ang nangyari kaya naman kumunot ang noo nito, “is anything wrong?” He asked.

I faked a smile at him and shook my head, “I’m good... I just feel a little bit dizzy. But you have nothing to be worry of.”

I looked straight into the center of the arena that was now showcasing a stage with different inventions, they were all separately being projected at the holograms and screens around the arena. I looked at 0-division and saw the Empress along with her family. She was on her iron throne, which somehow glistened along with her platinum-blonde hair. She was regal and beautiful, as if unaffected by the incident yesterday. Well, why would it affect her? She was still the most powerful lady of this era.

He’s dead.

Ares is dead.

Iyon lang ang nasa isip ko sa mga sandaling ito. Suddenly, I felt suffocated by this city-ship. I wanted to get away, to get out. But I could not. I have to wait for the ROSE Society to finally proceed to my initiation. I had no idea what waited for me and what kind of test they will give me, but I just hope they will give it now because the more I know of this government, the more I want to bring it down.

They treat human life as something that can easily be disregarded and disposed of. They treat human beings as puppets to be controlled. They rule through fear. And this peace that they offer is at the expense of one’s liberty.

I don’t want that.

Propter nos homines.

I suddenly remembered this again and what it meant... Glory to mankind.

And I know more than anyone else, the Union has taken it away already... And I have this purpose now, and goal, to bring it back to mankind.