Xterminator

Chapter 63

Nanami Yoshino (Katana Light)

Hindi ko inaasahan na tulad ni Umi ay isa ding parasite si Ashen. Pero iba lang ang sitwasyon niya dahil clone ang katawan na kanyang ginagamit at walang ibang kaluluwa doon kaya wala siyang kaagaw habang katawan ko naman ang ginagamit ni Umi ang katawan ko.

Well, I should be honest.

My situation is kinda different because I had to share my body with someone. And it is inconvenient for me whenever we had to switch control over my body just for her to interact with others.

And I will never have a chance to meet her face to face.

"You are not even shocked," ani Ashen matapos sabihin sa akin ang lahat ng napag-usapan nila ni Umi. Matapos kasi ng training nila ni Umi ay nagkwentuhan pa sila ng mga bagay na naaalala nila noon nasa loob pa kami ng laboratory ng ZeRL.

At nalaman nila sa isa't-isa na halos nasa iisang lugar lang pala kami ng mga panahong pinag-e-eksperimentuhan kami ng mga baliw na scientist na iyon.

Halos magkasabay din kung isagawa ang proseso sa amin at sa magkatabing kwarto pa pero kahit kailan ay hindi ako nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na makaharap silang dalawa ni Xhylem.

Well, maybe because their case is different from me. I am a real person who unfortunately match to become a vessel for the parasites that the ZeRL taking care of.

And they are just soulless at that time, created to become a perfect vessel without complications to other souls.

Yes, even Xhylem’s body is just a clone. And they said that he is the failed prototype that is why he can’t use the sight anymore.

Ah, sa mga panahong iyon din naman kasi ay hindi ko na mapagtuunan ng pansin ang ibang bagay dahil sa hirap na pinagdaanan ko noon.

Doon din nila nalaman na ang ginawa kong gulo sa laboratory ang nagbigay ng pagkakataon sa kanilang magkapatid para makatakas doon.

Nauna lang sila sa amin kaya hindi na kami nagkita pa at hindi na din nila nasaksihan ang nangyari sa lugar na iyon.

"I was actually thinking of that possibility," sabi ko sa kanya. "Kaya hindi na ako nagulat."

I think I now know why Maia suddenly detected my late husband's DNA sensor when I was in Canada. At ngayon ko lang din na-realize kung bakit nakakaramdam ako ng koneksyon sa kanilang dalawa.

ZeRL used my husband’s DNA to create a bunch of clones because he is also a perfect vessel for parasites.

And I don’t know if it will change anything to how I feel about them. Lalo na ngayon na nag-confess pa sa akin si Ashen.

It is kind of awkward because basically, they are like Khio’s children. So, I am… like their step-mother?

Arg!

What the hell am I even thinking?

“Are you okay?” tanong ni Ashen.

Tumango ako at ginulo ang buhok ko. “I just realize a lot of things now that you told me everything about you and your brother.”

“And what is that?”

“That you and I will never go to work,” diretso kong sabi sa kanya. “I mean, I like you too. I am sure of that. I like your personality as you. I like what I see in you and I am sure that it has nothing to do with the connection that I am feeling towards you.”

Hindi ko naman kasi nararamdaman ang pagkagusto kong ito sa kapatid niya kaya nasisiguro ko na walang kinalaman ang DNA ni Khio sa feelings ko para sa lalaking ito.

“But because of the DNA that ZeRL used to create your body, I don’t think it will be right to continue these feelings.”

Kumunot ang noo niya. “What do you mean?” tanong niya. “Anong kinalaman ng DNA ko sa feelings mo sa akin?”

“We always wondered why you, your brother and me felt this connection that became one of the factors why we got close, right?” sabi ko na tinanguan niya. “Well, I know that it has nothing to do with the feelings that we have for each other now. But that connection is because of the DNA you have.”

“Wait,” pigil niya sa akin. “Are you telling me that the DNA we have belongs to your dead husband and that is why we feel this connection?”

Tumango ako. “My friend has been detecting his DNA when I was in Canada. Karina, you and Xhylem is also there that is why it shows in our radar,” paliwanag ko. “But that time, I still can’t figure out who holds his DNA hanggang sa nakalimutan ko na nga iyon. But now that you told me everything about you, it just makes sense.”

“And having that DNA will not work between us?” tanong niya. “Not that I am forcing you to have a relationship with me. I already told you that I am content as long as I can stay by your side. But will that DNA become a problem to what we have right now?”

Bumuntong hininga ako. “For now, I can surely say yes.” Mas mabuti na din na sabihin ko sa kanya ang lahat nang sa gayon ay hindi siya mag-isip ng kung anu-ano.

He deserves to know every little thing about what I am feeling right now because I just confessed to him that I like him but now, I am wanting to distance myself from him.

“Khio is also like me,” panimula ko. “Hindi na din tumatanda ang katawan niya at dahil sa ginawa sa amin ng ZeRL, wala nang kasiguraduhan kung hanggang kailan ba kami mabubuhay. We became kind of immortal…”

“But your husband died…”

Tumango ako. “Yes, dahil may ginawa pa din namang paraan ang ZeRL na paraan para patayin kami in case na hindi nila makontrol ang parasites na kanilang ilalagay sana sa katawan namin,” paliwanag ko. “Pero mangyayari lang iyon kung kami ang magdedesisyon na mamatay kami.”

“Then…”

Muli akong tumango. “Khio chose to die leaving me and our kids despite the freedom that we already gain after so many years of yearning for it.” Huminga ako ng malalim.

Sa muling pagbabalik ng alaala tungkol sa pagkamatay ng asawa ko ay nagsisimula ding sumakit ang dibdib ko dahil hindi ko kailanman ginusto ang desisyon niyang iyon.

“And you know what is worse in his decision?” Diretso akong tumingin sa kanya. “He never said anything. He never explains or even talks to me why he suddenly decided to die because all along, I thought that we are happy together.”