Chapter 1: Fright Begins

LEX ARTHUR

One year before.

"Dusk Fright features monstrosities of Filipino folklore, one of these is the Tiyanak, a class of limbo-bound, human-consuming, hell babies. And of course, the aswang, the flesh-eating creatures,” pagpapaliwanag ko. 

Buong pagmamalaki akong nakaharap sa ilang mga bisita namin dito sa conference hall. They were all sitting on the cushioned chair while I lounged on my carriage — I mean, my wheelchair.

Lahat kami ay nakasuot ng VR headset at pinanonood kung paano takasan ng player ang halimaw na humahabol sa kanya. I was smiling as I heard someone gasping from the crowd. Siguro ay pakiramdam niya, siya itong nilalasug-lasug ng tiyanak na bumulaga sa mukha niya. 

"Users will be able to see, experience, and understand the destinies of each of the player's crew members courtesy of virtual reality advancements."

Nang dumilim na ang display, ibinaba ko ang aking VR headset, ganoon din sila. Their faces were in awe as they nodded at each other. Well, dapat lang na mamangha sila dahil matagal kong pinaghirapang i-program ang larong ito. 

"This is a brilliant game, Mr. Arevalo," a reporter from Channel NCN praised me. He was here to feature Dusk Fright in the TV stations magazine show. "Can you tell me the inspiration behind this idea?"

"This concept is actually based on my father's book entitled Dusk Fright. Umiikot ang plotline nito sa isang team ng journalists habang bumibisita sila sa isang mansyon. Then the exciting parts will begin. This was actually survival of the fittest." Pinagulong ko aking wheelchair. Pumuwesto ako sa aisle habang tinititigan ang mga mukha nila. 

"Dusk Fright will be released as DLC on Steam and as a standalone game in Oculus, allowing an unprecedented level of immersion and a truly high-end scare. So brace yourselves, ladies and gentlemen," I said and pointed my hand to the door leading to the party proper. "Thank you and enjoy the rest of the night."

Pumalakpak silang lahat. Bago tumungo sa kabilang kuwarto ay kinamayan nila ako isa-isa. Kung makakatayo lang ako, hindi na nila kailangang yumuko. 

"It's an honor to finally meet the mastermind of Dusk Fright, Sir Lex Arthur," a man in a dark suit said as he took my hand for a firm handshake. "I'm sure malayo pa ang mararating nito, knowing that the field of virtuality is on the rise. This is indeed a perfect game for this virtual reality augmentation."

"And we expect the number of users to hit quadruple in two years as presently we have over forty-five million of them," sabi ko at tinapik ang kamay niya.

He was full of amazement in his eyes, ganoon din ang mga reporter na nakapalibot sa amin. Their cameras just wouldn't stop from taking shots of us. 

After a couple of minutes, all of the visitors proceeded to the party. 

Mahalaga ang araw na ito para sa akin. Bukod sa anibersaryo ng Lynx Inc. at launching ng Dusk Fright virtual horror game, ngayon din ang araw ng aking kapanganakan. Ngunit itinatago ko ito dahil gusto kong ang maging sentro ng atensyon ng madla ay ang laro. Ito na lamang ang magagawa ko para kay Papa. 

“Congratulations, Mr. Arevalo…” 

Isang banayad na boses ang narinig kong bumati sa aking likuran. I wheeled around and looked up at the man standing in an extravagant dark suit like the one I was wearing. His hair was gray, almost white. Fine lines were visible at the corners of his eyes as he smiled. I didn’t like the way he smiled, though.

“Ricardo Villaluna, president of Accel Industries,” I addressed him politely but my brows raised. “What brings you here?”

He chuckled and shook his head. “Hindi ba maaaring lumapit ako sa isa sa mga henyo ng ating industriya? Hindi dahil magkakompitensya ang ating mga kompanya, magiging maramot na ako sa pagbati.” He bent forward and whispered, “Sinong mag-aakala na ang isang nakatali sa wheelchair ay titingalain ng lipunan ngayon? You are lucky to have that talent, son. Pero isipin mo, ano pa ang silbi mo kung pati ang talino ay pinagkaitan ka?"

I was clutching the armrest of my wheelchair as I stared directly into his eyes. “Iyan lang ba ang sasabihin mo? Kung tapos ka na sa pang-iinsulto, makakaalis ka na.” God knew how much I wanted to reach for his jaw and punch him. Kumakawala man ang aking puso sa galit, kailangan kong pigilin ang sarili ko. Hindi ako makapapayag na sisirain niya ang gabing ito.

He stood straight and shrugged off. “Wala akong balak na magtagal pa rito. I’m a busy man at kailangan ko pang lakarin ang iba kong pinagkakaabalahan. Gusto ko lang talagang makita ka. Hanggang ngayon kasi, iniisip ko kung paanong ang isang baldadong katulad mo ang mastermind ng horror game na ito.”

I raised my face. I was going to utter a word when somebody hissed behind me. 

“Sir, mas mabuting umalis na kayo. Kung hindi, magpapatawag ako ng security. You are not even invited to this event in the first place.”

I looked over my shoulder. “Freud, let him leave in peace,” saway ko sa aking assistant. But deep within me, I was smiling for his on time approach.

“Well, have a good night to all of you. Lalong-lalo na sa ‘yo, Lex.” He turned around and walked off. Kasunod niya ang isang babaeng sekretarya na may edad na rin. 

Parang binunutan ako ng malaking tinik sa dibdib nang maglaho si Ricardo Villaluna. Matalim man ang mga salita niya, kailangan kong hindi magpaapekto rito. I was used to insults anyway. Pilit ko mang iwasan ngunit simula nang maaksidente ako, tila kakambal ko na ang masasakit na salita. May mga taong humahanga man sa aking mga nagagawa, mas marami pa rin ang humahamak sa akin at pilit akong hinihila pababa.

Pero gaano man kasakit ang mga sinabi niya, ito ang pawang katotohanan. Wala akong silbi kung hindi ako biniyayaan ng malaking utak. Without this gift, I was nothing but a useless bag.  Ako na ni hindi man lang makapagbihis mag-isa. I couldn't even go to bed on my own. Kailangan ko pa ng assistant galing sa pinagkakatiwalaan kong alalay na ilang taon ang tanda sa akin. I was thirty and Freud, my helper, was fifty. Mas matanda siya ngunit mas sakitin ako sa kanya.

I was a healthy man way back in college and an extremely good lover with a series of women clinging around me. Ngunit nagbago ang buhay ko noong maaksidente ako sa kotse isang linggo bago ang araw ng aking graduation. Hindi ako nakapag-martsa sa stage dahil literal na simula niyon ay hindi na ako makakapag-martsa kahit kailan, kahit na ang tumakbo man o lumakad. Kasabay ng trahedya na iyon ang pagpapaheristro ni Papa sa kompanya. That was in 2008.

Itinatago ko ang pagdurusa sa pamamagitan ng pagngiti. I didn't want anyone to show pity towards my condition. Kaya nga nang ipasa ni Papa ang pamamahala ng Lynx sa akin, ginawa ko ang lahat upang maging karapatdapat. Who needed a strong body anyway, kung wala akong ibang kailangan kundi ang aking matalim na utak?

At ngayon, kinikilala na ang Lynx, Inc. bilang pangunahing kompanya ng Entertainment Software at Video Games. At ako naman ang kinikilalang producer ng Dusk Fright series, ang first Philippine-made, virtual reality, horror game. I worked so hard to bring the intensity of virtual reality to the horror scene. Kaya hindi na nakapagtataka kung masungkit namin ang iba't ibang parangal sa loob at sa labas ng bansa. Just last month, I received the plaque as a winner of the Game Festival. The same month, we won the Best Innovation in ASEAN Business Awards 2016 in Korea.

Perpekto na sana ang lahat. Hindi lang stable ang kompanya kundi nangunguna pa sa mga katunggali namin. Mayroon akong asawa na bagama't hindi ko mabibigyan ng anak ay hindi ako iniiwanan. Ngunit siguro nga'y hindi ko maaaring makuha ang lahat ng bagay, lalong-lalo na ang buhay ni Papa. He just died last year. At hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko matanggap ang sanhi nito.