Chapter 2: Forced Synchronization — The Terms of Surrender

Ang liit ng office. Masyadong maliit para sa dalawang taong gustong saksakin ang isa’t isa gamit ang tingin. The CEO called this a "secure safehouse," pero para sa akin, isa itong isolation chamber. It was a remote studio apartment converted into a workspace, tucked away in a quiet corner of Tagaytay.

"You can take the desk by the window," sabi ko habang nilalapag ang laptop ko sa main table. "I need the high-speed ethernet port."

Dante laughed, a low sound that vibrated through the small room. "Always the systems, Elena. Ethernet, ports, protocols. Hindi ka ba napapagod maging robot? "

Hindi ko siya sinagot. I opened my spreadsheets and began running the diagnostic on the leaked client data. "The sooner we find the source of the breach, the sooner we can leave. Thirty days is the maximum, Dante. I plan to finish this in five."

"Good luck with that," sabi niya habang humihiga sa sofa na parang nasa sarili lang siyang bahay. "Breaches like this aren't just about code. They're about people. Someone’s 'soul' got greedy or angry. You can't find that in a pixel."

"And you think you can find it by napping?" I snapped, finally looking at him.

He opened one eye, smirking. "I'm not napping. I'm observing the environment. For example, I can see that you're tapping your pen in a 4/4 rhythm. You're anxious, Elena. Anxious because for the first time, your system isn't giving you the answers."

Tumayo ako, my chair screeching against the wooden floor. "You know nothing about me."

"I know enough," he said, standing up and walking toward me. Masyado siyang malapit. I could see the golden flecks in his eyes that I didn't notice earlier. "I know that you built this perfect career to bury something. The 'dirt' you're so afraid of? It's still there. Amoy na amoy ko."

I felt the sting of his words. It was the same feeling as a system crash—the sudden realization that you've lost control. Before I could say anything, the lights flickered and died.

Total darkness.

"System failure," bulong ni Dante sa dilim, right next to my ear. "Now what, Elena? "