chapter 17

Krist POV

Puno ng pagkalito ang aking utak sa ipinakita na namang ugali ni Singto na kay hirap intindihin. 

He's acted okay but most of the time bipolar which hard for me to fathom his real persona. Katulad na lang kanina. 

I once tried browsing some information about Singto PI but I couldn't find any bizarre information that gaving me the exact answers for my baffled mind.  

Halos hinahalughog ko ang buong information drive list sa cabinet ng office ni Mrs. Mantra, but still couldn't find any accurate information. Everything that written on his PI was typical data about life's matter. 

I once asking the infirmary head nurse for the matter, begging her to spare me their own research about Singto, but she never allowing me. I knew it is too confidential. 

But one information that shaded me with clue was his illness history, written underly his history of health. 

One clue but not enough for me to depending it as an evidence.

Arrghh! Why should I care him and being bug by his unpredictable persona. 

Forget it, It's his life! Kumbinse ko pa sa sarili

My phone beep. A text message coming from Dean, he reminded me for the interview tomorrow. 

Isinilid ko agad sa aking bulsa ang phone pagkatapos kong silipin ang mensahe at saka tinanaw ang nagmamalimos na babae na palaging nakikita ko rito sa tuwing daan ako sa ally way na to. 

Nabuwal ako bigla, buong akala ko babagsak ako dahil sa biglaang pangyayari ngunit naging maagap ang nakabangga ko. 

Nakabunggo na pala ako ng tao. 

" Sorry,  my bad! " hinging paumanhin nito. 

"He's voice is so familiar" I thought! 

" It's okay! " maagap ko namang sagot saka inayos ang pagkatayo ko. 

" You okay! Really?! " he asked. 

Tumango lamang ako, pilit na inaalala sa kukote ang mukha nito dahil napakapamilyar ng boses nito. I am so sure that I heared his voice somewhere else,  pero baka may kapareha lang. 

I find it so alarming! 

His face shaded with dark pitch light. Ang pagkagat ng dilim ang nagpalabo sa paligid, tanging lightpost lamang sa magkabilang gilid ang nagsisilbing ilaw sa kinatatayuan namin at dahil naka trimmed ang hair cut nito masisilayan ko pa rin ang buong pigura ng mukha nito. 

" My bad too" nasabi ko na lang atsaka inunahan ito sa pag-alis. 

He's voice was so familiar. 

Iwinaglit ko na lamang iyon pansamantala atsaka nakangiting tinungo ang kinauupuan ng may edad na babae sa gilid ng sirang pader. 

Sa tuwing mapag-isipan kong maglakad pauwi diko talaga makaligtaang bigyan ng kunting pagkain o kaya'y pera itong matanda. Minsan matipuhan ko pa ngang asarin ito ng mga batang napadaan na ikinasama ng aking kalooban. 

" Ito po yong pagkain Nay" nasisiyahan kong abot rito ng pagkain kong dala. 

Binili ko ito sa fast food na nadaanan ko kanina ng maisipan ko ang matanda. 

"Salamat Hijo! " nakangiting tugon nito. 

Minsan naisipan kong tulungan itong ipasok sa Home for the aged pero di ko na itinuloy sa huli sapagkat minsa'y nakita ko ito na pumasok sa magarang bahay noong panahong nagkaroon kami ng field trip. Maayos naman itong magdamit maging ang hitsura yon nga lang may problema ito sa pag-iisip pero alam ko sa sarili na may kaya ito sa buhay. Yon nga lang ang issue rito kong bakit hinayaan ng mga kamag-anak na magpalagoy-lagoy ito gayong marami ang masama, at mapang abusong tao. 

I knew,  may issue ito kong bakit nangyari ito sa kanya. Pero di na ako nag-abalang tanungin pa sapagkat iba ang kadalasang sagot nito. 

Off topic,  nakakalungkot. 

Palaging bukambibig nito ang asawa, mga anak,  taksil o ano pa mang salita na nakakahabag sa damdamin. 

After doing my usual evening routine, I once checked my phone atsaka isinalampak ang katawan sa kama. 

Pinatay ko muna ang oras sa pagtihaya hinayaan ang sarili na humimlay at dinama ang lambot ng kama. 

Lumipas ang ilang minuto, inabot ko ang laptop sa bedside table, binuksan ang laptop dahil kailangan ko pa lang magresearch about sa eksperiment na nadiskubre nina Singto at Dean. 

I tap the search, lumabas naman agad ang impormasyon na tinipa ko. 

Anti-psychotic Drugs................ 

I was wandering why Anti-psychotic drug were part of the chemical used for their experiment in the first place it is only for those person who've suffering Schizophrenia, ayon sa isinaad ng google. 

I dig thoroughly the side effect, hazardous impact and the level of dosage that the bodies only consumed. 

There's no such uptight medical proven that Anti-psychotic drug is effective medication to those who have a severe brain cancer?

How they would come up such conclusions and experiment?

Pulido talaga ang pagkagawa nila di man lang sumabog ang laboratory dahil sa bizarre experiment na nadiskubre nila? 

Maybe, they have a secret potion amidst the making! 

Ewan ko! 

Cannabis Sativa..........

Mas lalong napakunot ang noo ko sa nadiskubre. 

Cannabis Sativa is a marijuana, in medicinal purposes,  the used of this is to suppressed pain or a pain reliever. This is also proven as illegal in the process and the government policy prohibited to used this raw.  

How come? 

Mas lalo akong nalilito sa nadiskubrehan. 

Lahat ng ginamit nilang chemical sa eksperimento ay walang kinalaman sa brain cancer treatment. Lahat ay may relasyon sa Schizophrenia. 

Parang sasabog ang isip ko sa kakaisip kong paano nila nabuo ang eksperimento gayong napakaimposible ng mga kemikal na hinalo nila. Palpak ito kong tutuusin. 

"How come?" tanging pagtatanong sa isipan nalang ang nagawa ko. 

"Ayoko na" 

Naisip ko, na bukas ko na lang tatadtarin si Dean sa mga katanungan kong inihanda.

Kaya napagdesisyunan ko sa huli na isara ang laptop. Nasa akto ko na sanang isara laptop pero may nahagip akong reccomendation sa Culture ng Thailand, nag pop out bigla ito sa advertisement section. 

Pero natagpuan ko na lamang ang sarili na tinitipa sa keyboard ang "Culture ng Norway". 

As I'd free reading randomly the article, may isang section ng kultura nito ang kumudlit ng aking atensiyon. 

In Norway, as an outsider it might be pretty hard in the beginning to see through the unwritten social rules like “you shall not seek eye contact or start randomly speaking to a stranger on the bus”. However once discovered, it’ll be much easier already to interact with the locals. 

This information make sense though, kaya pala may issue si Singto sa pagtitig ko sa kanya no'ng unang encounter namin parte pala iyon sa kultura ng Norway, but he's a half-filipino he should have atleast a consideration; not to calling me out a disrespectful or what?! 

Pretty skeptical attitude yet my comfort zone. Ayoko ko sa lahat ang titigan ako. You can asked but just don't prolonged your stares to me. 

Thinking about Singto! God! 

Muling nanumbalik ulit sa aking utak ang pagninig namin sa isipan . I could not still forget how I ascending the stairs hastily after I dismissed my flesh from the office. Kinalbog ko ang pinto ng banyo saka itinapat ang sarili sa shower. My body really need a cold shower gayong nag-init yong katawan ko, nanglalagkit maging yong ibaba ko. I felt something wet down my private part. 

Kong hindi lang sana ako nakigulo sa awayan nina Lester at Singto. Malabo pa ang pagkakataon na madiyahe ako sa ugali ni Singto ngayon, hindi sana ako mapeste at malagay sa "wet dream" na pinagsaluhan namin ni Singto sa isipan. 

At first I thought,  after the peace talk at the court chamber,  both families sides could settled for good,  gayong parehong maimpluwensiya ang pamilya ng dalawa at shareholders pa sa paaralan.  At isa pa, papel iyon na nagpapakita ng magandang relasyon ng dalawa at maging alyansa ng mga ito. But unknowingly for the second thought around, ako pa ang nadiyahe, Singto keep on bugging me, pestering me over his love on issues which I hardly believe. How could you believing it if he's always shows unsteady attitude like gaining my attentions makes him fond at the same time as if I am the pipes that airways of his emitted unpredictable attitude. 

What I need to learned more is his real persona. Tanging kakaibang pagkatao niya na nakatago sa ugali, ipinakita ngunit kailangan ko ng maraming pruweba upang mapatunayan na tama ako sa hinala. 

I need to unbox Singto secret! 

Sa sobrang pagiisip ko,  di ko na namalayang kinain ako ng sobrang antok saka mahimbing na nakatulog. 

KINABUKASAN

After wearing my hazmat suit and lab mask, I went after to Dean who's currently washing his hands from the faucet sink. I'll do likewise and wore pair of gloves. 

" Is it okay if I record the interview?" I asked. 

He just nodded. 

Pinangko ko naman ang aking buhok. Gamay na sa akin ang mga protocols sa loob ng LAB, pero nababahala pa rin ako sa tuwing nandito ako sapagkat nagkakahalaga ng milyon-milyon ang nasa loob at kadalasan glass ware pa ang nakahilera sa bawat sulok. 

" Ipaalala ko lang sayo na kasama ngayon sa interbyuhin mo si Singto" He betoken. 

He cleared his throat after he caught my priceless expression. 

What? 

" I'll never once inviting him for an interview? How come?! " tanong ko. Muling sumibol ang kabang nararamdaman ko. 

Come to think of it, he's pestering me for that matter yesterday and so I'll expected his presence whether I like it or not! 

" Obvious naman na may gusto sayo si Singto aka Exchange student guy" ani at saka tiningnan ako ng kakaiba. 

Muntik ko ng masagi ang microscope na nasa malapitan ng siko ko. 

" Oh my god! Krist! It cost million?! " agap agad nito sa microscope muntikan ng matumba. 

Nagulat lang ako sa sinabi nito. He sense too? 

" Oh my god,  I'm so sorry!" aligagang paumanhin ko sa katangahang ginawa ko. 

Muntikan na, god! 

Isang buhay ko lamang ay kulangin sa pagbayad ng bagay na to. Paano na lang kong lahat ay madiyahe ko. 

Every corner has its own labeled of equipments that situated on standard work benches, cabinets convenient storage, classical fume hoods,  panoramic view classrom furnitures, and even on high chairs there's a lot of labeled materials situated. 

To put an end, my lowly life couldn't stand the enormous messed if ever and chose to dealt my death than enduring of paying all this messed. 

" Huwag kang mag-alala, babayaran to lahat ni Singto,  if ever you broke all of this things here. " He joked. 

He still had the guts of putting humor huh! 

" You were just misinterpret his maneuvered moves Dean. I told you, he's just messing around" I explained.

I breath deeply. 

Dumistansiya ako sa sink at saka umupo sa high end chair na malapit sa akin. 

" Hindi ganoon ang nakita ko sa mga mata niya Krist. Matinding pruweba na din yong ginawa niya sa akin kahapon! " Pagdidiin nito. 

Nang-aasar pa itong tumingin sa akin. 

" You were just deceived by your eyes Dean. Scientifically, your theory is null and void" I insisted. 

He laughed then, shade a teasing looks. 

" You can't rectify your theory but that doesn't mean null and void alone, if you were in an actual observations, just like those days when I made my mantra to Singto issue "staring", and you know what Krist?  Nakikita ko talaga sa mga mata ni Reigan na natamaan siya sayo sa tapon lang ng titig mo sa kanya.  It's  a must proof Krist! " Pagpapa-alala nito. 

Napakurap ako sa sinabi nito't naiilang. 

" Mas mabuti na sigurong, magdepende ka na lang sa Theory ng mga scientist Dean kesa sarili mong theory, you were curtailing the reality with that theory of your's. Again,  you were just deceived Dean! " Sabi ko na lang at di na sineryoso pa ang sinabi nito. 

All I saw with Singto attitude towards me was just a pure fond for his own purposes. No more no less. 

" But we may realized our reality if we dealt sometimes with our own philosophy Krist. Love started with our own philosophy that both cultivated by the person's who's seen as your apple of the eye,  and it so happened to both of you" He reminded. 

Parang nabuhusan ako ng malamig na tubig sa sinabi nito. 

He's certified love guru tangent,  makes me realize somehow. He's right, own philosophy is better but being hit by Singto were far from being better if all I could see is just a pure fond. 

" From science adept to being a love guru huh! " I joke. 

Parang nasabugan ako sa sinabi ni Dean. Kong nag-aapoy lang ang  mga mata kong nakatitig ngayon sa alcohol burner at bunsen burner,  paniguradong natupok na ang buong laboratory. 

" To put an end, open your eyes and see to it if he is serious or not. Kong ako nasa kalagayan mo, alam kong di ko rin seryosohin ang pinagagawa ni Singto knowing how bipolar he was. I understand you. Mag ingat ka kay Singto, Krist, you weren't knew him well and we cannot ass---------" 

Someone interrupted. 

Nasa aktong naguguluhan at puno ng katanungan ang utak ko sa mga sinabi ni Dean pero nawala bigla ang lahat ng iyon ng umagaw bigla ang boses ni Singto. 

" Did I miss something" Entrada nito. 

With all his glory, he wore the same LAB suit. His hair was a bit messy, it's look like he's coming from a marathon but damn he looks so good. 

Nagmamadali ba ito? 

Sana hindi ko na lang sinayang ang oras at sinimulan agad ang interbyu kay Dean kesa pag-uusapan ang walang kwentang bagay. 

Nasa huli ang pagsisi, ngayo'y napagtanto ko. 

Ipinalis ko na lamang ang paghanga ko rito atsaka kinuha ang phone sa bulsa ng LAB suit. 

" We're about to start Mr. Prachaya" ani Dean,  trying to act unbothered. 

Nag-iba bigla ang atmospera sa paligid sa pagsulpot bigla nito. 

Iginaya naman kami ni Dean sa special purpose chair para sa visitors atsaka tahimik na umupo. 

The floor were coved up walls to ensures spills cannot penetrated underneath, and so the chairs were non-pervious allowing itself to be smooth and comfy. But a typical foam that easily dried out and resistant to any liquid flow. 

" So let start" putol ni Dean sa panandaliang katahimikan. 

I shifted with my seats with all discomfort when Singto portrayed again with his usual stoic expressions. 

" You can start now with your agenda Mr. Perawat?! " Mando ni Dean. 

He's acting different, way professional. Kanina lang sa palayaw niya ako tinawag, alam talaga nito kong kelan magpakapropesyunal.  

I set the record and skip my gaze towards Dean. 

"  Together with your pair, what makes both of you motivated to experiment the universal cure, to name brain cancer remedy?" Diretsahang tanong ko agad ngunit kay Dean lamang nakatuon ang titig ko. 

Walang sinumang sumagot. Parang nagtatalo ang kalooban ng dalawa sa naging tanong ko. 

"Hmmmmm" I cleared my throat addressing their attention. 

" It's his ideas! " Singto peered at me, so I looked away avoiding his gaze at me. 

" It's my idea yeah! " tumango-tangong pagsang-ayon ni Dean. 

Our situations right now were too awkward knowing how the two talking so limited. 

I anticipated a lot of answers from them,  if not Singto then I am routing off to Dean but he seems dependent on Singto, when he was able to talked or go signal.  

We're wasting our time really! 

" Ahhhmmmm!  Of course  I was just thinking that brain cancer were rampant nowadays because of new invention technologies and its abusive used" Dean save the silent atmosphere. 

I peak over Singto and he seems fond of looking at me like without almost batting an eye. Better yet ignore. 

" Common reasons, genetics occurences were one" tipid na dugtong naman ni Singto.

Napatungo lamang ako sa sagot nito lalong inignora ang titig at presensiya nito.

"How both of you come up with chemicals which you think is a possible cure? How sure are you the possibilities of this treatment?" Segunda ko namang tanong,  as usual my eyes bored at Dean. 

Nagtalo na naman ang kalooban ng mga ito kong sino ang unang sumagot. Dean take a look at Singto, maybe he's asking with his permission. Singto just shrugged lamely. 

" Since it is only a student task work and a teacher's were just guiding to fathom our capabilities. Me and Singto decided to undergo thorough research, reversing some theories, digging concrete study to some unfinished thesis and we made our own series of conclusion about the unfinished books afterwards take down notes about the lapses and flaws of each research.  And all, information that being gathered was compiled into one then, thorough study again the polished compiled information to validate our conclusions and to come up a treatment and to disclose a particular disease that has something related to brain courses ailments." He revealed. 

Nahilo ako don! 

Isang madugong pag-aaral pala ang naganap lingid sa aming kaalaman. 

Dean gifted brain isn't new to me. Halos lahat ng mga mag-aaral dito ay may kahalintulad na talento kay Dean, but him was way ahead even if he's denying and claiming his certainty. His tons of awards is an enough proof of his unbreakable skills. 

" And the trivial part, we undergo traditional test experiment" dagdag naman ni Singto. 

Even though his answers were limited he still on point but very broad. 

" Can you specify what was it all Mr. Prachaya? " Pagkaklaro ko pa. 

He seems not aware that his answers was too broad.  

" Not until, you spare a look over me.  Do you think it's a prim and proper having a one sided interview as if I am not existing here and part of the interviewee? You'll never learned the basic protocol huh! " Kastigo nito sa akin. 

Napalunok ako sa sinabi nito. Kumebot kebot naman ang bibig ni Dean pero pasimpleng tinakpan lamang ito sa mga kamay niya sa huli. 

" I am so sorry" malugod kong paumanhin. 

I guess,  he is right! More so,  I am just too personal with my grudge with him which making me forget to act accordingly. 

Tumuwid ako ng upo atsaka iniinda na lamang ang kakaibang titig nito sa akin at sinalubong ang mga tingin. 

He's acting weird again. 

" Whatever. Well anyway, I want you to know that we're observing it first by mixing the said chemicals through our own traditional equipments. If the chemicals doesn't acting bad then that's our basis to undergo and to pushes a proper simulations of the experiment" Him. 

His weird ghost smile were still palpable even though he looks so serious. Or I am just hallucinating?

Erased! 

"If ever it is proven,  how sure are you that it is safe and harmless to one's health? Can you pinpoint the sides effects and the dosage of this injectable cure that being quota by bodies system? " I protruded my questions. 

" We're waiting for the samples results.  And as per claiming by our labeled dosage, the volume must depend on persons stage of its illnesses and no,  there's no harmful side effects. Only a normal dizziness due to dissolve working remedies" Sagot ni Dean. 

As the interview goes along the way, everything's went well and I was able to adjust Singto meanest stares. Dean, is on his usual comfortable state. 

"Are both of you willing to provide copies of your new discover experiment if ever alliances university proposing the credit of your work as an aid for funding as well the cure, to spend the product making and to sell it to the market?" Patuloy kong tanong. 

" We're being funded, so it is very possible and our UNI has the right to put a decisions, of course our credentials must considered too" Dean clarify. 

I just nodded. 

"One person that you dedicated for your success? Are you willing to help her/him if ever the person is suffering from the current disease?" Patuloy kong tanong. 

Nag-iba bigla ang timpla sa mukha ni Dean sa tanong ko. It is very obvious that he is affected. 

What's wrong? 

" I will" Si Singto na ang sumagot. 

Dean keep on lowering his head. He breath deeply and trying his self to suppressed something which he felt not something right. 

" Of course! " taas-noong sabi nito pero ang mukha niya'y may lungkot. 

Nakokonsyensiya ako sa padalos-dalos na tanong ko at nahahabag sapagkat nananariwa muli sa aking isipan ang nasaksihan kong bully noong nasa sekondarya pa ako ng kolehiyo. Isang Freshman ang pinagtutulungang binully at pinagdiskitahan ang ultimong ina nito.