Submerge

|| Carlo

"I'll just complete the lock installment here and we're done." I told Adriano on the phone while I'm typing out some programming codes on my laptop, which is connected to a computer.

The laboratory itself is sound proof and spacious. This is perfect for 3 types of engineering work, since 3 engineering students have 3 different specialties. We also installed a command center at the most hidden part of this lab and a subsidary electrical room for all of the electrical equipments here, including the supercomputer. Yes, this room was packed with other rooms in the first place, designed as one of the back-up laboratories if the major laboratories of this research centre failed.

Adriano and I decided to upgrade this facility for we were the ones who were knowledgable of mechanical and electronics fully. Axis doesn't know shit and for the ladies to focus on blueprints and paperworks. I know we could have at least Maryl around for biochem lab upgrade, but we insisted and just have her text the things she needed for research.

As of now, I'm in the command center, feeling nervous. I'm praying that I'll get this in one take. It's saturday night, I shouldn't feel this nervous.

"We're at 90%. We can test the lock in a minute or two."

"Roger that. I'll end the call if it worked." he answered

I counted as I typed down the remaining codes.

"97... 98... 99... 100. I hope it works though."

"The moment of truth." he told me.

A few seconds later, he ended the call.

Phew, that was close.

"Glad it worked well!" Adriano greeted as he approached me. "It's a great idea of yours to make a invisible sticker with a hidden barcode. It worked!"

We called it invisible sticker for it looks like scotch tape pasted on the card. I used an invisible ink to print out the barcode as well.

"I was actually having fear of getting caught earlier, gladly it went smoothly." I sighed deeply in relief.

"Ironic. You're a big fan of nightclubs and sleeping with different ladies, and you are surprisingly afraid of getting caught?"

That question made me silent and stare onto my laptop for quite sometime.

He tapped my shoulder "Yes Mr. Giovanni Montecarlo Fulgenzio, are you alright?"

"That question made me feel scared for my life, not gonna lie." I told him while taking the cords connecting the laptop and the computer.

"Kidding aside Carlo, are you free on Monday? Around lunch break?" he changed the topic.

I turned the office seat for me face him. "I have Differential Calculus class at around 12pm, why?"

"Let's take the three on a tour, and paste the stickers on their ID as well."

"Do they all have AXU-RC ID though? I mean, we do know that Maryl owns one."

"I bet they all have, AXU-RC can be made at admission's office upon request."

"But the real question here is..." Adriano made a thinking pose, with his fingers under his chin. "Won't the invisible sticker be detected upon entrance? I mean, nakadikit ang sticker above the AXU-RC barcode. Won't there be a conflict?"

"It won't." I answered. "I pasted mine before entering AXU-RC."

And besides, no one will know how we did it, we're future engineers anyways. Unless leaked, of course. I'm hoping somebody won't though.

I handed Adriano three plastic strips from the one of the pockets of my jacket. "Regarding to the stickers, kindly give these to them on Monday since I won't be able to see y'all."

He took those. "Sure, no problem."

-----

|| Reign

"Submerge in five... four... three... two... one."

Nagsisimula na yung fifteen-minute timer at binabad na namin sarili namin na nakachain ang kamay sa likod pati paa.

Hinarap ko muna yung kamay ko, ipinasok yung lower body ko sa chained arms ko. Mas mahirap siya na gawin pag nakagapos rin mga paa mo since walang gaanong balance. Kinuha ko yung susi na nasa floor at nagsusi sa mismong tubig. Medyo madali na sa pagsusi; inuna ko kamay tapos sa paa.

Natest yung focus ko dito ah.

Noong natapos na ako, umahon agad ako sa 10 ft. pool na nagflofloat. Yep, 10 feet. Eto na yung pool na pinakamalalim sa school kasi kailangan sa underwater training.

"Coach muntik na ako mabalian ng buto dun ah!" pangaasar ko.

"Buti nga seven minutes lang inabot niyo ni Ms. Liu. Well done guys!" Bati niya sa amin at pinatay niya ang timer. "Okay guys lunch break muna tayo bago ako magdiscuss." at lumabas siya ng swimming area ng college gym.

Lumangoy si Maryl papunta sa pool stairs at umahon, sumunod ako. Chineck niya ang suot niyang one-piece black rash guard. "Akala ko this will rip habang sinusubukan kong maging flexible sa ilalim. Oh fudge there's one on the back part and it's kinda big."

"May suot ka naman sa ilalim?" I asked.

"Yeah." Tinanggal niya yung upper part ng rash guard at tinali ang sleeves around her waist. "I need to buy a new one. Noong senior high pa kasi natin 'to eh."

"Nagtataka nga ako kung bakit yan pa rin suot mo although luma at napaglakihan mo na." Tanong ko.

"Napaglakihan nga, nasira naman sa lower flexibility test."

"Maryl, Reign, there you are. We--"

Lumingon kami kung sino nagsasalita, nakita namin si Ian at Axis napatulala na parang di nila ineexpect na may nakablack sports top at one-piece swimming suit na official swimming uniform naman talaga. Parang di sila dumaan ng swimming gym sa reaction nila.

Parehas silang nakauniform ng main uniform ng college level. Yung uniform na panlalaki na black coat, navy blue vest and pants, green necktie. Paano kaya sila nakatakas sa guard?

"We didn't expect how toned you guys are..." reaksyon ni Ian.

"Eh? I don't even have much muscle mass." sagot ni Maryl.

"Kaya pala maraming sugar daddy si Maryl." asar ni Axis.

Ian cleared his throat at namumula mula siya.

May crush ba ang isang Donte Adriano Marco Martinenghi kay Maryl Juneaux Liu? Hmm...

"Okay moving on, yung station natin is open for use already. We'll just have to buy spy cams at Divisoria." pagiba ni Ian ng topic.

"Divisoria dude? Sure ka?" Pagtatakang tanong ko.

"Yes! When are you guys free? This Saturday?"

"G ako Sabado." sagot ko.

"Me too." sagot ni Maryl na may tango at pagcross arms pa.

"Lahat pupunta ah? Walang talk shit." pagwawarning ni Axis.

"Ba't si Carlo di mo sinabihan?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Carlo is currently in his Differential Calculus class, but we already relayed the message to him." sagot ni Ian.

"Wawa walang lunch break." lowkey na asar ko.

"Tayo nga may lunch break pero di pa kumakain eh." pagbackfire ni Maryl.

"Di ba magkaiba kayo ng course at college, bakit parehas kayo ng swimming class?" pagtatakang tanong ni Axis.

"Once a month lang naman kami excused sa ganito pag nagkataong Monday ang schedule. Part kasi ng physical training namin ito, dagdag na rin ng ROTC. Dahil dito, wala na kaming PE." sagot ko.

"May ganyang ekek pala sa school na 'to?" curious na tanong ni Axis.

"Oo naman. Pero alam kong di ka rin magpaparticipate." pagbara ko.

"So is there something more to discuss?" agad na pagsegwey ni Maryl.

"If you guys are free, then we can take you to our main laboratory." sagot ni Ian.

"Since lunch break pa namin. Magbibihis lang muna kami. Be right back." sagot ni Maryl at dali dali naming kinuha ang mga towel namin sa beach lounger para ipangpunas at itapis namin, at dali daling pumunta sa females dressing/shower room.

Agad namin kinuha ang toiletries at main uniform namin at pumasok sa seperate na cubicle para magshower at magbihis. Lumabas ako at agad na naglagay ng powder at red lipstick na nakaharap sa salamin. Ganun din ginawa ni Maryl pagkalabas, pero inayos niya muna ang strap ng Louboutin Mary Jane pumps niya. After niya magayos ay naglagay ng bb cushion at red na watery liptint. Naglagay rin ng konting eyebrow color ang babaita tapos sinuot yung salamin niyang oval-shaped.

Yung main uniform ng college women ay parehas din sa lalaki, except may choice kami kung pencil skirt na may slit sa right side or pants. Ang suot namin parehas ngayon ay pencil skirt.

Habang nagaayos siya ay chineck ko yung phone sa locker at nakita kong may text si coach.

"Teh may text si coach." at napatingin sa side niya.

"Anong sabi?" sabay lingon siya sa akin.

"Class dismissed na raw kasi may emergency meeting ang PE profs."

"Really?" gulat na tanong niya.

"Oo check mo sa iyo mamaya."

Pumunta si Maryl sa locker kung saan nakalagay yung bag niya, nagayos at chineck yung phone.

"Oh right. We could stay at the laboratory as much as we could." at kinuha niya yung backpack niya.

"Tignan natin kung pwede akong matulog dun." Kinuha ko rin yung akin at sabay kaming lumabas ng shower room. Kinuha rin namin yung mga ID namin sa bulsa at sinuot namin habang naglalakad.

-----

|| Adriano

Was surprising Maryl and Lawreign a great idea? I felt like I was the one who got surprised. I didn't expect them to look different without their uniforms, especially Maryl. It was Axis' idea, the only theory I could think of is to prank them both.

Yeah, I knew them by name and appearance, and we had little to no interactions in the past, so maybe this is why Maryl's... I mean their toned body got me astonished. They look somewhat normal in their uniforms. Axis on the other hand, I tend to interact with him often because of my family's frequent dinner plans with the Salvatierras.

I first talked with Maryl last meeting, and that was our first official meeting as well. Her vibe is absolutely something. I wanted to get to know her more, but I think we'll be gradually and I don't want to bombard her with questions.

"Layo ng iniisip mo Ian. About ba yan dahil sa karga mo buong engineering department sa planong to?" Axis asked, na sa tingin ko may halong meaning.

"What do you mean? I wasn't expecting much anyways. I bet the machines themselves are easy." I answered quizzically.

"Sorry na. Alam mo namang bobo ako sa science eh." he apolgized.

I sighed deeply and had my arms crossed. "Besides, there are 3 engineering students in our team. They are one of the smartest and the most reliable."

He nodded. "Sabagay."

We were waiting for them to come out of the shower room and we're currently nearby the swimming area. It's been around 20 minutes and they haven't come out yet. Women do take a lot of time in their bathroom to make themselves presentable and confident, don't they?

"Nandito na sila." Axis said, at nakatingin siya sa bandang may shower area.

We saw Maryl and Reign in their uniforms approaching us, and it's my first time to see Maryl in her glasses. I have to admit, she looks cute. It's also my first time to see her in glasses, personally.

"Tara?" yaya ni Reign.

I took the plastic strips from my pocket and gave it to them and they looked at it confusingly. "Carlo made a restricted lock, and he ordered to put the sticker above the AXU-RC ID's barcode."

"Hindi ba magkakaconflict?" Reign asked quizically, the same question I asked Carlo.

"Carlo said it won't. We can try 'pag nandun na tayo." I answered.

They took out their AXU-RC IDs from their ID cases and attached the stickers above the bar code. They immediately returned the IDs to their cases after. Axis just followed the instruction because he doesn't know what the heck we're talking about. We walked from the gym to Alexandra University Research Institute. It was a little far and Axis complained about why we didn't opt for a school golf cart ride. To be frank, I think his laziness is the reason why he isn't losing weight. I didn't hear a single complain from the ladies, partida nakaheels pa silang dalawa at ilang inches pa ang taas.

We tapped the AXU-RC ID with the sticker on and we didn't experience any conflict. Everything went smoothly from AXU-RC entrance to our laboratory. We tested our IDs one by one to check if all of those stickers work. Axis was astonished of Carlo's work; he didn't expect that the simple plastic strip could do "amazing things", like opening a laboratory.

The testing was done and Axis asked "Seryoso ka bang si Carlo ang gumawa nito?"

"Di ba kapani-paniwala?" I answered. "You haven't seen the best part yet."

They roamed around the facility, and I can feel they were happy with the results. Axis was the least knowledgable in engineering, so of course, everything seems like magic to him.

Axis and Reign were busy roaming around and checking some stuff and Maryl was scrutinizing at the equipments at the command center. I approached towards her and stared at the computer screens.

"Do you like it?" I asked and stared at her curious face.

She crossed her arms and looked at me with an astonished gaze. "Let me guess, you made this, no?"

I shook my head. "No. Carlo installed all of the electronics and locks here. I let him because I can see his abilities, he's just lowkey."

She nodded, but I can see her expressions turned bland. "I didn't expect this. His skills are amazing."

I nodded back in subtle awkwardness and refocused onto the computer screens. "Again, Carlo is very lowkey with his skills, I know you know."

"I know he's great, but I didn't expect to be this shocked. How many weeks did he invest for this?" she looked around the area.

"1 week in total. He spent his free time in this facility." I answered.

I did help for the large parts, but Carlo deserves the credit. Siya ang kumakalikot sa motherboard at lahat ng details needed for these machines to work. And of course, to impress her with his work. I presume that she's into bad boys like him. I could be wrong, though.

Maryl nodded and sighed. "Anyways Adriano..."

"Yeah?" I gazed at her.

She looked back. "Axis told me that he might recruit Jinyoung for our team. Is it okay with you?"

Her expression changed. Is she worried about me?

"I don't care actually if he'll do. But personally, I can't trust Jinyoung." I answered honestly.

"Is it because of the rivalry?" curiousity ran onto her words.

"No. I'm getting a hunch that he's two-faced." I looked at the computer screens again and placed my hands in my pants' pockets.

"What do you mean two-faced?" she asked again.

"You're his friend, I won't spill for now, for you gotta see it for yourself. Or he has to reveal himself." I answered.

_____

Beyond the Spectrum | Wave 5: Submerge • © mxylms