While Paulo and Justin were walking back to ALAB University, no one said a word to them. Justin remained expressionless even though Paulo couldn't take his eyes off him. But because he couldn't take it anymore, he confronted Paulo.
"Why do you always stare at me like that, Paulo?" Justin asked, which surprised Paulo.
"I can't afford to suspect Justin. He is just too innocent to be true,"Paulo said to himself.
"I don't know if you have something to say to me. I always notice how you intently stare at me. Do you think I don't notice that?"Justin said and introduced himself to Paulo.
Because they were in the car, the distance between them became smaller because of what Justin did.
"He notices that? But why doesn't he react?"Paulo said to himself and his forehead furrowed slightly.
"Are you really Justin?" Paulo asked Justin.
Although Paulo's question surprised Justin, he just heaved a sigh and crossed his arms in annoyance.
"Dad is right, Paulo is smart. He probably already realized it. But should I tell him already? Can I trust him?"Justin still thinks.
But Justin dismissed that idea because he remembered what his father had said.
"Paulo is your nemesis, Justin. You should not be fooled by his schemes. Kinakaibigan ka lang nya for his own advantage. If he is really your friend, then why didn't he relinquish the top spot even for a year?" Chairman De Dios's sermon to his son.
Justin no longer pursued the idea of telling Paulo the truth.
"What kind of question is that, Paulo?"Justin said angrily.
"I don't need to build such intimacy with this person,"Justin said in his mind.
"Justin, do you know a guy named Sejun?"Paulo asked Justin.
Justin's annoyed expression towards Paulo was immediately erased because his mind was drowned by the wordSejun.
---
"Let go of me!"He heard a young man scream.
In four years, he finally heard a human voice. For four years, the only sounds around him had been the sounds of machines and scientific apparatus.
"Julian, that's right. It's a human's voice," Julian said to himself.
The vault where Julian was inside opened and it spat out a man being carried by guards. The man struggled but was immediately stunned when his eyes met Julian's.
"Why... am I there?"Julian asked in his mind.
"Who are you? Why do I look like you?"the man asked Julian.
Julian couldn't answer because even he had no idea what was happening. In the four years his father had imprisoned him, this was the first time he had seen such a creature that looked exactly like him.
During those four years, he silently followed his father's orders. Every day, various tests were performed on Julian's body, but he never complained once because the only thing on his mind was...
"You Julian will be the best of all. But I can't let you out yet because it's not the time yet. But I promise you that when I let you out, you can do whatever you want to do,"said his father.
"What's going on? Damn! Let go of me!"The man continues to struggle.
"Finally, the two of you have met already," said a voice familiar to the ears of the two men who looked alike.
It's their father, the chairman of ALAB University.
"Julian, meet Justin. Your twin brother and the one whom you will be replacing," said Chairman De Dios.
As soon as the siblings heard these words, they knew that their world was about to get doomed.
"Dad...w-what do you mean? Replace me? N-no. No!" Justin shrieked anxiously.
Julian could only stare at his father with bafflement.
"Haven't I told you that your punishment is this? You have clearly underestimated the weight of my words, Justin," Chairman De Dios said and turned to Julian who was just intently staring at him.
"Are you happy, my son, Julian? Finally, you can now get out of here and beat the other elites, especially John Paulo Nase," Chairman De Dios said with excitement.
"Father, I'm pleased to know that I'm finally be able to get out. But I'm extremely puzzled in this situation," Julian said with seriousness.
Chairman De Dios couldn't help but to smile with pride. He has successfully did a great job raising Julian as his son couldn't contain his skepticism and intelligence.
"Julian, you know me very well, right? I am the chairman of the most prestigious university in the Philippines. Thus, I won't let anyone ruin my reputation, not even my own blood and flesh. So, I tried something to test who is more worthy among the two of you. Julian, you have patiently listened to me all through these years and never complained even once. But you Justin!" Chairman De Dios said.
"You have utterly disappointed me during the past four years. While your twin brother Julian is working hard inside here to please me, you have did nothing but to fail me. This only proves how Julian is more worthy to be my son and pride!" Chairman De Dios said and smiled at Julian.
Although Julian wanted to get out of here as soon as possible, he doesn't want Justin to sacrifice in his stead.
He glanced at his brother with sorrowful expression and turn to his father again.
"Why can't we live with each other father? He is my twin brother after all," Julian asked.
Chairman De Dios expression turned dark with Julian's question. He thought that Julian grew with no mercy and sympathy but he was wrong.
"I don't want any failure in my life, Julian. Thus, Justin will stay here until he become someone worthy as you, Julian," Chairman De Dios said.
Julian can't express his distress in front of his father nor show his sympathy to his brother. He knows how strict Chairman De Dios is when it comes to being emotional.
"Well, I let you two talk first and catch things up. After all, I still have some mercy left." Chairman De Dios said and signaled his underlings to leave.
The two brothers were left alone inside the vault. As soon as Julian felt that all of them left already, he rushed towards his brother and helped him stood up.
"I'm sorry, Justin," Julian could only said as he is out of words to say.
Upon staring at his brother's face up close, Justin couldn't help but cry. The suffering that Julian had to go through is evident to his face, making Justin regretful.
"Dad never told me about you. I never knew that I have a twin brother. But...what's this? Paano nangyari to?" Justin asked with tears.
"I can't explain everything now as we don't have much time. But one thing for sure, I will save you Justin. This place...is hellish. You don't belong here," Julian said and wiped his brother's tears.
"You have to endure everything, Justin. Avoid contradicting father too much as it will only make you worse. Trust me, Justin. I will save you and end our misery," Julian said to reassure his brother.
"But Julian, Paulo is really innocent. It is my fault because I can't beat him. Please save him from our father," Justin said that made Julian wondered.
"Are you close with Nase?" Julian said.
"Yes, along with the rest of the elites. I even call him Sejun because he likes that name so much," Justin said.
Julian was about to said something but he heard footsteps coming to their direction. That's why he immediately backed off from his brother and punch him. This scenario was witnessed by Chairman De Dios that instantly pleased him.
"You are nothing but a disgrace to the De Dios family," Julian said with utmost coldness that made Justin shocked.
But at the back of his mind, he had to show this to his father to avoid rising suspicions to him.
"You never fail to please me, Julian. That's right. Teach your brother a good lesson," Chairman De Dios said.
---
"Yes, I know that, of course, Paulo. Sejun is your nickname," Julian, who is pretending to be Justin, answered to Paulo's question.
Upon hearing this answer, Paulo was ultimately relieved.
"He is Justin!" Paulo exclaimed in his mind. He couldn't contain his happiness and hugged Julian.
"W-wait, w-what are you---" Julian complained but he couldn't continue as Paulo interrupted him.
"Thank you, Justin. Thank you for giving me hope!" Paulo said while hugging him.
"You don't know how much it means to me that you still know my nickname. You don't know how happy I am that at least, you are with me, Justin," Paulo said emotionally.
Julian was lost of words but can't shove Paulo away.
"If you want to be the best, you must never feel even the tiniest emotion, Julian. Because that emotion will be the beginning of your upcoming failure."
Julian knew at that moment that he might disappoint his father for the first time.
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