Alluring Remedy

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19.

"Phoenix, Valorion. You're all dismissed from the simulation. Report to central tent. Now."

Halos lahat ng taong nakakita sa nangyari ay napahinto at halata ang gulat sa hitsura. Parang may biglang pumindot ng pause button sa buong simulation field.

Si Elric, hawak pa rin 'yung panga niya, habang si Perzeus, wala ni katiting na makikitang pagsisisi sa mukha niya. His jaw was clenched, chest rising and falling heavily. He's fuming mad.

Si Atlas agad ang unang lumapit. "Putangina, Perzeus," he whispered, not in a scolding tone but more like worried. "Gago, ang daming nakakita."

"He deserved it," sabat ni Baste. "You all heard what he said," dugtong niya, halatang nagpipigil din ng galit.

Elric was still glaring at Perzeus, but he didn't come any closer. He was probably trying to avoid another punch from him.

"Ganiyan pala kayo sa unit niyo?" sigaw ni Calix, ang pang-apat na lalaking miyembro nila, habang nilalapitan kami. "Kaunting init ng ulo, sapakan agad?"

"Kaunting init ng ulo?" Yssa turned to him sharply. "Your leader mocked someone's trauma. If you think that's okay, ewan ko na lang sa values ng unit niyo."

"Psh. Drama lang 'yan," sagot ni Trixie, 'yung isa pang babaeng member nila maliban kay Mira. "You Phoenix kids are too emotional."

I heard Savi scoff. "Better than pretending to be perfect then running your mouth like cowards."

"Perfect?" tumawa si Elric, kahit halatang masakit pa rin ang panga niya. "Don't flatter yourselves. You're nothing but a bunch of misfits who got lucky."

Perzeus stepped forward again, but Atlas quickly held his arm.

"Don't," Atlas muttered. "Not here."

But Perzeus didn't even look at Atlas. He was locked in on Elric. "You talk like you're better than everyone, but all you've ever done is step on people weaker than you. That's not strength, Elric. That's cowardice."

"Cowardice?" ngumisi si Elric. "Says the guy who sucker-punched someone instead of acting like a real agent. You think that makes you righteous?"

"No," sabat ni Atlas, hindi na rin nakapagpigil. "It makes him human, something I'm not sure you still are."

After that, dumiretso na rin kami sa central tent. Tahimik kaming lahat pero umaalingasaw ang tensyon sa bawat paghakbang namin. Nang makapasok kami, bumungad naman sa amin ang kumpletong heads ng operation. Si Commander Silva, Lieutenant Rivas, at si Director Talavero, 'yung laging mukhang gutom pero nakakatakot kapag nagsalita. Lahat sila, seryoso ang mga mukha.

"Punching a fellow agent during a government-sanctioned simulation," panimula ni Commander Silva, nakatingin kay Perzeus. "I expected better."

Perzeus stood straight, hands behind his back. "I accept full responsibility, sir."

Lieutenant Rivas leaned forward. "But you're not apologizing?"

Perzeus didn't flinch. "No, sir. I won't apologize for defending someone from that kind of insult. Especially not after what Elric said."