CHAPTER 8 — Lihim sa Likod ng Korte
777 Words
Umaga na, at parang tahimik ang buong villa, pero alam ni Jade na kahit ang pinakamaliit na paghinga ay sinusubaybayan. Ang mga drones sa kisame, mga holographic feeds sa hallway, pati ang mga social media metrics ay parang nagbabantay sa bawat kilos niya. Hindi ito simpleng laro. Ito ay chessboard na may bilyong mata at bawat galaw ay may epekto sa real-time audience.
Hawak ang tablet, nire-review ni Jade ang mga reactions mula sa gala at maze. Iba’t ibang opinion, debate sa virtual audience—pero may pattern na lumilitaw. Subtle, pero malinaw sa strategic mind niya. “Perception is power,” bulong niya sa sarili habang ini-scan ang metrics. “And power is leverage.”
Habang naglalakad siya papunta sa dining hall, may naramdaman siyang presence. Tahimik sa shadow si Silas sa balcony, nakatingin sa courtyard, parang sinusukat ang bawat galaw ng villa. Parang alam niya agad ang iniisip ni Jade.
“You analyzed too much last night,” sabi ni Silas, minimalist lang, pero may weight sa tono niya.
“And you watched me too closely,” sagot ni Jade, steady ang tinig, hindi nagpapakita ng kahinaan. Parang dance na walang musika, kung saan bawat hakbang ay may meaning.
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Next Trial: The Court of Decisions
Ngayong araw, ipinaalam ng system ang bagong trial: “Court of Decisions.”
Sa hall, may holographic courtroom setup. Mga virtual plaintiffs—mga character na nagrerepresenta ng ethical dilemmas sa society: isang CEO na nagbenta ng defective products, isang activist na gumagamit ng radical measures para sa advocacy, at isang politician na may secret agenda.
Contestants ang jury. Ang task: gumawa ng desisyon na may immediate social consequence at long-term moral effect.
Si Jade, nakatayo sa harap ng virtual judge, hawak ang tablet. “Strategy must align with morality, but not sacrifice logic,” bulong niya sa sarili. May pressure: audience voting agad, social media trending hashtags, at live scoring.
Silas, sa kabilang dulo, nakatingin, silent observer. Alam ni Jade na bawat move niya ay sinusuri. Hindi lang audience, hindi lang contestants—kahit ang algorithm mismo, parang may sariling consciousness.
“Jade,” isang contestant na medyo idealist, lumapit. “How can you judge when outcomes affect lives?”
“By thinking beyond the obvious,” sagot niya, calm. “Not just what’s right, but what prevents harm. Principle without results is just pride.”
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Decision and Consequence
Step by step, pinili ni Jade:
Penalize the CEO but impose measures to prevent collateral damage sa workers.
Guide activist to safer methods without losing effectiveness.
Expose politician’s secret agenda, but provide proof for fair judgment.
Audience reaction: instant, mixed. Praise for strategy, criticism for perceived manipulation. Discussions trend online. Real-time metrics update: Jade’s influence score rises, pero may pushback.
Silas, quietly, nods slightly. Subtle sign—approval, observation, curiosity. Hindi niya sinabi, pero may tension sa hangin.
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Private Encounter
Later, sa rooftop, nag-iisa si Jade. Tanaw ang sunset sa dagat ng Palawan, drones kumikislap sa paligid. Huminga siya, tinignan ang lumang larawan ng ama. “Every algorithm has its flaw. Every game has its player. I will be both.”
Biglang may presence sa shadow. Si Silas, nakatayo sa sulok. “You’ve grown into your role,” sabi niya, minimalist.
“And you?” tanong ni Jade, controlled ang tinig. Parang invisible tug-of-war. “Are you the system… or just another player?”
Tahimik siya sandali, parang sinusukat ang bawat possibility. “Maybe both,” sagot ni Silas, half-smile. “But some truths are better revealed slowly.”
Ang tensyon nila—intellectual, moral, subtle romantic undercurrent—ay unti-unting lumalalim. Hindi pa love, pero may seed na nagsimula, nakatago sa laro ng strategy at trust.
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Chloe’s Move
Si Chloe, meanwhile, sa kabilang wing, nakatingin sa digital metrics ng Court of Decisions. Nakangiti, calculating. May alam siya, may leverage—pero sa ngayon, silent observer lang. Strategic ang bawat move, parang predator sa prey.
Sa puso ni Jade, alam niya: Chloe is a real threat, hindi lang sa gameplay, kundi sa perception ng audience. “Trust no one,” bulong niya, “observe everything.”
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Night Reflection
Sa kwarto, nire-review ni Jade ang footage. Flashing red lights ng drones, subtle hints sa hallway movements, audience reactions, at microexpressions ni Silas. Pattern emerges:
Every contestant has weak points.
Every trial exposes moral flexibility.
Every glance from Silas carries more than observation.
Hawak ang lumang photo ng ama, huminga siya. “I won’t let mistakes define the truth. Not his, not mine. Not yet.”
Drones hum, holograms flicker. Laro ng Glass House ay mas malalim kaysa sa trials—psychological chess, strategy, morality, at… anticipation.
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