Cord Connection

SHE'S A GEEK

Chapter Six

Natagpuan na lang namin ang aming mga sariling nakaupo sa gray benches kaharap ang isa't isa. Tahimik at wala man lamang nagsasalita sa aming lahat sa lugar kung saan kami nakaupo. Dito sa lugar rin na ito ako pinagtawanan nina Cedric at ang official na pagbibigay nila ng pangalang Juts sa akin.

Napailing na lang ako habang i-naalala ang mga bagay na iyon sa aking isipan at napangisi na lang ng patago.

Nang mapatingin ako sa gawing kaliwa ko. Napansin kong naroon si Cedric na may matalim na tingin sa akin. Alam kong may bahid pa rin ng tanong ang kaniyang mga mata. Sinusubukan ko na lang umiwas sa kaniya ng tingin, subalit ramdam ko pa rin ang presensiya niya.

Ipapaliwanag ko naman sa kaniya ang lahat, sadyang humuhugot lang ako ng bwelo kung kailan ko sasabihin. Gusto ko rin kasing malaman ito ni Dr. Faraday, sapagkat bihasa ito sa ganitong uri ng bagay. Upang mas lalo na rin akong malinawan sa kakayahang mayroon ako sa kabilang mundo.

"I got the informations how they installed the coaxial cables behind you, Juts," pagbasag ni Dr. Faraday ng katahimik. Nanlaki na lang bigla ang aking mga mata. We fix our eyesight on him intently.

"Wow, really?" I uttered.

He nods his head as a response on what I just said. "I believe, I can replicate the features they installed behind you, but there's something unique in yours which I can't figure out," nangunot bigla ang kaniya noo habang nagsasalita. "...it's more complicated,” Dr. Faraday explained while he was throwing us a meaningful glance.

Napalaki lalo ang aking mga mata habang nakatingin kay Dr. Faradays. He was really amazing. How can he figured it all at least just a couple of minutes? I believe, we just spent minutes at Asymptote Universe, but he knew what the features I had? Great!

"Ang husay ng gumawa ng pagkalagay ng mga wires sa batok mo, Juts. Napaka-unique at complicated. I wonder how they put those in order," paliwanag ni Matt kaya't napatingin kaming lahat sa kaniya.

Napatango si Dr. Faraday sa inusal ni Matt saka umusal, "The coaxial wires installed behind you has the Tranciever." Kunot-noo kung tinapunan ng tingin si Dr. Faraday sa kaniyang mga sinabi. He turns his eyes on me. Seriousness found all over his face.

I saw his mustaches moving upon uttering the words. He looks as if the famous scientist: Albert Einstein.

“Tranciever? What's about it Dr. Faraday?” asked by Cedric. Tila naging interisado na rin ito sa mga inuusal ni Dr. Faraday. Mukhang bago rin ito sa kaniyang pandinig. Maging ako ay gayon din ang naging reaksyon.

Napatingin lang ako kay Dr. Faraday at hinintay siya sa susunod niya pang i-papaliwanag.

Tranciever was unfamiliar to me, since I didn't study electrical engineering. Wala ring sinabi sina Dad at Mom tungkol doon. Siguro kung may oras pa akong kasama sina Dad at Mom, sigurado akong ipapaliwanag nila ang lahat sa akin.

May Mom was an Electrical Engineer too, as well as my Dad. They are both Engineer I must say. They know what kinds of electrical wires needed upon looking on some things. They can compute what the exact meters of wires, kinds of coppers and other specific wires need.

Tanda ko pa rati habang nakatingin sila sa nilipatan naming bahay. Na-compute na agad nila ang wires na kakailanganin nila, kung ilang ilaw ba ang i-lalagay at mga door bells. Plus mga Cameras at hiding audio recording sa loob ng bahay. Parang napaka-basic na lang sa kanila ang lahat.

Dr. Faraday was same as my parents, he can deduce wires, their names and their kinds by observing on it. They're different and genuis!

“Tranciever is a combination of transmitter and receiver. Transmitter is responsible for sending messenges while the receiver responsible for receiving a message," he explained. Napatango si Cedric sa kaniyang mga narinig. Habang ako ay unti-unti pang ninanamnam ang kaniyang mga sinabi.

"I didn't expecting this... I thought, it couldn't be combine as one in the wholes behind the nape. So, I didn't put it to you Matt and Cedric," sabi nito habang isa-isang tinatapunan ng tingin sina Matt at Cedric.

Ilang sandali lang ay i-bibalik nito ang kaniyang tingin sa akin at tinignan ako ng diretso sa aking mga mata. "Juts... you're just like a living mobile phone,” he seriously bubbled without blinking his eyes.

I gulp while my eyes went widen. My throat as if gets drain upon hearing what he just said. It makes me petrify for awhile.

"M-My Mom never told me this before Dr. Faraday," I said. "I thought, I was just an ordinary Traveller. But, she just told me that I can able to send and receive messages without bubbling a words, instead using my mind, I can communicate. Now I know what the exact call to it. Tranciever pala ang nilagay nila sa batok ko,” I affirmatively said to him.

“Your Mom?" Napakunot siya bigla ng kaniyang noo. "...so? It's your memories back?” he asked while looking at me intently.

I just beck my head as a response on what he just said. "Hmmm... It goes back when I enter the Asymptote Universe, I don't know how..." I explained.

Binigyan niya ako ng mahinang ngiti, “T'was great, then...” he smilingly said. “Good for you.”

"Should I say, good for us?" balik kong tanong na nagpakunot ng kaniyang noo. Pero, bigla rin akong nanlumo ng may sumagi sa aking isipan. Napako ang tingin nilang lahat sa akin at pinagmasdan ako habang nakayuko lang.

"Something bother you?" Dr. Faraday asked me.

Tumango ako saka nagsalita, "I guess, after all. It was not, Dr. Faraday,” I said while frowning. Napayuko na lang ako.

"Why?" he asked.

Nakatingin lang sa aming dalawa si Cedric at Matt. Tila napipi na ang dalawa habang pinagmamasdan nila kami.

“Because, I don't know where they are now, the last time I remember is, I enter Asymptote Universe and woke up at the garbage places. I mean, it triggers me to find them,” I added.

Ramdam ko ang unti-unting pagbigat ng aking dibdib. Parang may mabigat na dumadagan doon. Tila hindi ako makahinga ng maayos.

“Oh...” Dr. Faraday muttered. May simpatiya sa tuno ng kaniyang boses. “But, do you still remember your place or it's name?” he asked me.

Parang may nais siyang malaman sa pinagmulang ko. I lift my face and fix my eyesight on him.

I nod my head and said, “Yes, it was look like this. It was five feet under the ground and we called it Holmanians Campsite. My father and his team built it,” I answered him.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Dr. Faraday. "Holmanians, W-what?” tanong nito sa akin.

“Hey, siya nga pala, maiba ako... about the Computer here last time. The binary numbers are glitching, I and Dr. Faraday received a radio frequency from the Asymptote Universe. Something like, there's someone trying to communicate with us,” Matt butts in.

Napatingin kaming lahat sa direksyon ni Matt. Sa wakas ay nakapagsalita na rin ito mula sa pagkawalang kibo.

“It was me... I was trying to communicate, but I failed,” I replied.

“Prescisely, I told Juts to try his ability,” Cedric assented. “And it worked!”

Nanlalaki ang mga mata ni Matt habang nakatingin sa amin ni Cedric. "Ikaw iyon? Punyawa?!" Napahawak siya sa kaniyang labi. Pero, kalaunay kumunot bigla ang kaniyang mga kilay.

"Pero, static sounds lang narinig namin dito eh,” he answered me. "Hindi namin maintindihan, akala namin may interruption na naganap sa cord," he explained.

“Indeed!" sigaw bigla ni Dr. Faraday habang nakaturo ang hintuturo sa i-taas ng ceiling. "...we can't able to heard him  because we never turn the frequency that link to Juts. So, it wouldn't connected. We need to fixed the frequency first to match the MHz in our computer in order for us to decipher the messages he sent," paliwanag nito na nagpabuka ng aming mga bibig habang nakatingin sa kaniya.

Gano'n siguro ang ginawa ni Mom dati. I saw her when the first time I enter the Asymptote Universe. She was typing some binary numbers to the Keyboard. Sigurado ako na i-kino-connect na nito ang frequency sa cord na mayroon ako sa aking batok para ma-decipher niya ang message ko sa kaniya at makapag-sent din siya ng message sa akin.

"I will work on it! Pag-aaralan ko kung paano nila ginawa ang frequency na iyon. So that I could talk to you without any devices. It's more safe for us upon entering the Asymptote Universe. Mas mapapadali ang lahat,” Dr. Faraday briefly explained.

That it is, Dr. Faraday can talk in Filipino. Napangisi pa ako ng bahagya habang nakatingin kay Dr. Faraday. He was fluent in both language.

“Hala? So, makakausap natin si Juts sa Asymptote without the ABI knowing it?” Matt amazingly uttered.

Nanlalaki ang mga mata nito sa kaniyang mga narinig. Si Cedruc naman ay walang naging reaksyon, dahil na rin siguro sa sinabi ko na ito sa kaniya nang pumasok kami sa Asymptote Universe.

Napatango kami ng sabay ni Dr. Faraday bilang sagot sa tanong ni Matt.

Dr. Faraday reroutes his gaze in me. "I need to replicate the feature behind you so that we can easily communicate with each other without the ABI tracing it. And I will put it too to the cord behind Matt, Cedric and Ellina's napes."

Tumango lang ako bilang pagsang-ayon sa kaniya. "One more thing po, Dr. Faraday,” I said that shut him.

They fix their eyesight at my direction. “My Mom told me that I had the unique ability in that world, and I think I knew that thing...”

Tinignan lang nila ako at naghintay sa susunod ko pang sasabihin. “I can freeze the time at the Asymptote Universe.”

Their jaw partly dropped. Nanlalaki ang mata nilang lahat sa inusal ko sa kanila.

Matt gulp. “Cool!” It's Matt.

“Aha!” Cedric yelled. We fix our eyes on him. “...that's the time when we are in the train terminal, is it Juts?” he added.

Sa wakas ay nalinawan na rin si Cedric. Alam kong ito ang hinihintay niya sa akin.

“Yes, I saved the little boy,” I answered him.

Nanlaki lang ang mata nilang lahat. Si Dr. Faraday ay tila hindipa makapani wala sa mga sinabi ko sa kaniya. Wala pa rin itong nagiging tugon.

Napakalong baba si Dr. Faraday na animo'y nag-iisip. Si Matt naman ay manghang-mangha pa rin.

“Wait, 'asaan nga pala si Ellina?” It's Cedric.

He's right. Kanina pa kami rito pero hindi ko panakikita si Ellina. Lagi talagang wala iyon dito. Iniiwasan yata ako ng isang iyon. Simula ng mapunta ako sa lugar na ito, siya lang itong walang tiwala at laging inis sa akin kahit wala naman na akong ginagawa.

“Dad!” It's Ellina. “Matt!” she's rushing unto us.

Napatingin kaming lahat sa kaniya. Papalapit na ito sa amin at bakas ang takot sa boses nito na parang nakakita ng multo.

“What?” Dr. Faraday inquired.

“Sabi ko naman kasi sa inyo may Multo sa Lavatory! Bakit ba ayaw niyong maniwala?! May kulot na naman na buhok doon!” she murmured. Nanginginig pa ang kaniyang boses.

Matalim niya kaming binigyan ng isang nakamamatay ng tingin.

“Pft.”

“Here she is again,” Cedric muttered alleviated himself to laughed.

Nanlaki na lang ang aking mga mata. Ito ang bagay na pinagtawanan nila noong unang pasok ko sa lugar nila.

I wonder what those ghosts are? Bakit laging nag-iiwan ng ebindensya?

“Ellina, ghost aren't true, Okay?” Dr. Faraday trying to explained. “... Ghosts are not existed, there's no scientifically evidence that they are, okay?” he added but Ellina seems won't believing.

Umuusok pa rin ang ilong nito. Bigla siyang napakibit ng balikat at saka ngumuso.

“Not all, Dad!” she opposed. “Not everything here needs to be proven of what so called science. Scientifically explaination or evidences, Dad!” she about to cry.

Nakita ko ang pagpipigil ng tawa ni Cedric at Matt sa mga nagiging tugon ni Ellina sa Dad niya.

Pinagmasdan ko lang silang lahat habang nagtatalo. Sa katunayan, hindi ko talaga sila maintindihan.

“Everythin' needs an explanation with facts and supported with evidences, Ellina. Haysst... Stress mo ako! Mana ka talaga sa Nanay mo!” Dr. Faraday irretably said.

Nanlaki bigla ang aking mga mata. Nagta-tagalog pala si Dr. Faraday kapag nagagalit na. Namumula na rin ito habang nakatingin kay Ellina.

“Dad, not all the statement needs facts!” she insisted. “Consider those who witnessed the crime, they don't need to proof their claim, because they are the living proof!”

Pinagpipilitan pa rin nito ang gusto niya. Napangisi na lang ako bigla sa inusal niya. That was it when you have to defend your side even when it's wrong. Nagawa ko na rin ito rati kina Mom and Dad. She just doing it to lift up and fights for her pride. Napailing pa ako. Ngayon ko na-realize na napa-cringe pala pakinggan na ipinagpipilitan mo ang isang bagay na alam mong mali.

“Pft,” Matt said gripping his laugh.

She fixes her eyes to everyone of us. “Won't believe me?”

“Ghost ain't true!” Dr. Faraday insisted. “Those curly hairs are belong to me. I shaven my mustaches last time okay? Stop hallucinating things, Ellina.”

“Fine!” she left us while stamping her feet.

Nabuga ng hanging si Dr. Faraday habang papalayo si Ellina sa aming lahat.

“Pasensya na kayo sa Anak ko,” Dr. Faraday awkwardly smile. “By the way.” He cleared his throat. “...Back to our topic.”

“Dr. Faraday, I'd notice lang kanina sa computer po,” Matt started. He fixes his sights on me. “Where did you freeze the time?” asked by Matt.

I blink my eyes twice. Everyone turns their eyes on me.

“Train terminal, why?” I replied.

“That was the time the computer gets lag and hang for a minutes Dr. Faraday. Akala ko nga na-virus na eh,” uttered by Matt.

“Hmmm... If Juts freezing the time the computer here hang as well.” It's Doctor Faraday. Napahawak siya sa kaniyang baba at marahan iyong hinagod.

“Dr. Faraday, Couldn't you replicate the ability he had? So that each one of us have that ability too,” Cedric dowelled.

Napatingin kaming lahat sa kaniya. May punto si Cedric. Pwede nga kayang kopyahin iyon ni Dr. Faraday?

“I told you, it's more complicated. I can only replicate the Tranceiver not what the ability Juts had,” he explained that shut our mouth.

“Alert! Alert! Alert!”

The robotic girl's voice resonated the whole place.

“What's going on?” Asked by me, but they won't answered me.

Dali-daling nagtungo si Dr. Faraday at Matt sa harap ng kanilang mga computer at naupo sa swivel chair. Agad silang nagtipa sa keyboard ng computer.

Sumunod kami ni Cedric at pumunta sa bandang likod ng dalawa upang pagmasdan ang ginagawa ni Dr. Faraday at Matt sa harap ng computer.

“What's happen?” asked by Ellina.

Lumapit na rin ito sa amin at mataman na tumingin sa harap ng Computer.

“The ABI tracing our location, they must knew we entered the Asymptote Universe while ago,” Matt seriously uttered without removing his eyes on the monitor. “I think, I can handle this, kaya kong iligaw ang IP address,” he uttered.

“How'd they know?” Cedric inquired.

“Maybe they saw what Juts did there.”

Nanlaki ang aming mga mata sa naging sagot ni Matt.

“f**k, it's accessing denied!” Matt exclaimed. “Malalaman nila location natin!” taranta niyang sabi.

I gulp. I got as if petrify for a second.

“Kasalanan mo ito eh!” Ellina shouted. “Kung hindi ka naging pabibo sa Asymptote Universe hindi tayo mati-trace!”

So, she was listening to our discussion while ago huh?

“Ellina, I know you can fix this! Help Matt, stop blaming him, okay. No one wanted this,” Dr. Faraday mumbled.

Inarapan ako nito. Nakakasugat ang kaniyang mga tingin sa akin.

When we fixed our sights to the monitor, the binary numbers are now glitching. Ellina sat down and face the computer. She altered Dr. Faraday's position.

“Hey, Matt stops double clicking! It might triggers the virus they send us. Mas mahihirapan tayong ma-shut down ang pag-trace nila, use Enter button instead of double clicking okay,” Ellina irretably explained.

Napatingin ako kay Cedric with my inquiring eyes. “She's a genius computer geek than Matt. Is it?” I asked.

Tumango si Cedric. He bitterly smile and give me a peace sign. Ang dami ko pa palang hindi alam sa babaeng ito.

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