-chapter eighty-eight-

THIRD PERSON

Before we continue on the murder that's about to happen, let's wind back the time to an hour before.

"Sa lahat ng pwedeng i-utos bakit manhunting pa? Sa isang man pa na ayaw kong i-hunt?"

Eura's complaint was loud in the dirty streets. It echoed in the empty alleys and scared off the players that hid there. Nagdadabog pa ang paglalakad niya at agresibong nililipad ng hangin ang asul niyang buhok. Gavin who was following her, had to sigh in defeat.

"Ako naman 'yong inutusan, sumama ka lang."

Eura glared at him. "'Di mo ba narinig ang sinabi ni Kairo na dapat mo akong maging babysitter? As if baby ka para samahan."

"Mukha at pwede maging baby ng kahit sino."

Eura mimicked a vomiting sound at Gavin's confident declaration. Ba't ba ang mga taong nasa paligid ni Finn ay paboritong i-hype ang mga sarili na hindi naman deserved i-hype. 'Yong dapat i-hype ang tahimik naman.

"Anyway, ayoko talagang hanapin si Oliver-"

"Bakit niyo ako hinahanap?" came a voice behind making both of them jump.

"Ay putangina sa lahat ng pisteng yawa! Gago ka, huwag kang manggulat, para kang basura!"

"Eura, gusto ko na talagang lagyan ng scotch tape 'yang bunganga mo. Punong-puno na ako." Oliver threatened.

"Uhm... chill, anyways so-" Eura rolled her eyes. "Pano mo kami nakita?"

"Siguro gamit ang mata niya- aray!" at nakatikim ng batok ang sumingit na Gavin. "Oo nga, p're, kanina ka pa diyan?"

"Siyempre, kaya nga narinig ko kayo. Pero ba't niyo ko hinahanap?" Oliver asked, returning this conversation to the very subject. Kapag si Eura talaga ang kausap ay laging nagse-segway ang usapan.

"First of all, bago lumaki ang ulo mo, hindi ka namin hinahanap dahil gusto namin. We're here because we're orderer to. Nautusan kami okay? Na-u-tu-san-"

Nang hindi na makatimpi si Oliver ay tinakpan niya ang bibig ni Eura at nilipat ang tingin kay Gavin. Sa totoo lang ay naiinis rin siya dito. This guy is the closest to Finn, and probably harbors some kind of feeling to her. Kaya sa perspective ni Oli, isa siyang karibal.

Pero pipiliin niya ang karibal over kay Eura na walang-tigil ang bibig.

"Bakit ba?" may angas niyang tanong kasi siyempre dapat dominant.

"Kausapin mo si Finn." diretso nitong sagot. "Naniniwala ka ba talaga na magagawa niya 'yon? Sa pinsan mo na naging kaibigan niya rin dito? Si Finn na kahit lamok ay ayaw patayin-"

Eura feels like this is not the right time to tell them that Finn doesn't really hesitate on some of the cute monsters in here. Naalala niya ang tsismis ni Maki na tinapunan daw nito ng kunai ang pusa.

"-Do you believe what they said? Mula pa iyon sa source na matindi ang galit sa kaniya. Marcella would do anything to dirty her name and June would do too just because she hates her."

Gavin usually looks like an airhead who can't process deep conversations, but he really spits out the most reasonable words once serious.

Natahimik si Oliver. Alam niya rin naman 'yon. Hell, he spent the last hours or days trying to battle over his own internal feelings. Hindi naman madaling mawalan ng pinsan, lalo na't kapag ang itinuturo pang may sala ay ang taong gusto niya. Just how was he supposed ro function?

Should he grieve? Should he go disregard his feelings and fight for Finn? Paano kung totoo nga talaga iyon pero nagawa lang dahil sa isang aksidente?

He knows he should talk to Finn, but could he face her? When this unreasonable mind of his that wants to be selfish and grieve, is willing to accuse her just for the sake of it? While the logical part reasons that she isn't capable of doing such thing? Oliver's too afraid of what will happen that he purposefully avoided her.

"Nesre Shrout-"

"Eww, Eura!" Oliver jumped in disgust when Eura started talking over his hand. He aggressively wiped it over his pants. "Sabihin mo kung magsasalita ka!"

"Ah, tanga. 'Pag sasabihin ko ba, tingin mo 'di ako magsasalita? Ano gagawin ko? Magpapaka-pretty eyes ganern? Kayo talaga, gwapo lang ambag niyo sa mundo 'no."

"Ano ba kasi 'yon?" iritadong tanong niya.

"Nasa South si Finn. In case gusto mong makipag-usap. Pero beware kasi may kasama siyang guard doon."

"Guard?" Oliver suspiciously asked.

Sigurado siyang hindi iyon si Theo, kasi paniguradong nasa base 'yon. Hindi rin siguro iyon si Wes at Kairo dahil baka abala sila sa game, pero posible ring sila. I mean, they're Finn greatest stalkers so he can't really cross the possibility out.

"Oh, huwag ganiyan, bossing." putol ni Eura sa kung ano mang iniisip niya. "Barbie kasama niya."

Oliver frowned, not understanding what she said. Pero hindi na siya nakapagtanong pa dahil tinulak-tulak na siya ng dalawa paalis. And really, the first thing he wants is to leave this two irritating people. Kaya naman pinili niya na lang umalis.

Si Kairo man 'yan o Wes, sigurado naman siyang kaya niyang langhapin hangin nila kaysa sa dalawa.

And so he went there - to the territory that they own in the South. He expected some really tough male, so he was surprised when he saw Maki. Kaklase niya ito sa labas kaya nagulat siya nang makita ito.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" biglaang tanong niya na nagpagulat sa isa. "Are you here to steal our territory?"

"Ay, jusko po! Oli, ano ba naman, pwede bang maginform ka ahead kasi paano pala kung may heart problem ako 'di ba. Tigok na ang diyosa niyo niyan." Maki flipped his hair with an eye roll. "Isa pa, excuse me lang, pero ako nagbabantay dito. Ka-alyansa mo ako."

"Ay talaga." walang interes na sagot ni Oliver at inikot ang tingin sa paligid. "Nandito ba si Finn?"

"Hmm? Ba't mo natanong? Wala naman siya dito. Ako muna nagbantay dito kasi pumunta siya sa main base natin." sagot ni Maki. "Ah, nga pala, tungkol sa pinsan mo.... I'm sorry about what happened. I mean, we're not yet sure din naman 'di ba?"

"Sa tingin mo ba buhay pa siya?"

"I don't want to create possibilities in your head, so I don't want to answer that. Pero... hindi pa rin kasi ako makapaniwala sa mga nangyayari dito. Is it really possible that we'll die in real life too? I heard stories about that, but... hindi ko alam, it just doesn't sound real?"

"The monsters didn't sound real at first, but look at our current world." Oliver said with a shrug. "I- But thanks for that."

"Mm." Maki gave his shoulder a small pat. "It's really freaking hard, and I can't say I know how it feels dahil hindi naman- but I'm pretty sure Caspian wouldn't want you to give up. He wants you to continue on fighting and holding on. He wants you to get out of this alive. 'Tsaka if you're ever thinking that you're the weaker cousin because you depend on him a lot- don't. Dahil both naman kayo na nagde-depend on each other."

Oliver laughed at that. Give it to his classmate to know everything. Isa din si Maki sa mga laging nakakasama sa hang-outs nila kaya alam niya ang dynamic nila ni Caspian. Now, he's a little bit guilty as to why he never talked to Maki in this game. Hindi niya alam na isa rin ito sa magpapabuti ng loob niya.

"Thanks a lot for that, Ma-"

Both of them were thrown out of balance when a massive rock hit their side. Dahil magkaparehas ang magic nilang dalawa, they were able to build a wall of air immediately. Ito ang nagpalipad sa mga small rocks na pumunta sa direksiyon nila.

Hindi na nila kailangan magtanong kung sino ang umatake dahil nagpakita na ito agad-agad. June and her minions landed on top of the massive rock, the leader sneering down at them. They both heard the announcement, pero hindi rin nila alam kung bakit sila ang aatakehin. Lone Wolves did not participate in the stealing that has happened.

Is June's hatred and anger really that deep na kahit walang koneksiyon kay Finn ay dito siya maghihiganti?

She's like an eighteen year old girl trapped in a child's mind.

"Oho. Dalawa na lang kayo ang nandito? How uncanny. I thought Finley would be here."

"At ano naman ang gagawin mo kung nandito siya, chaka ka." malditang sagot ni Maki.

June grinned. "Ano pa? Give my revenge, of course. The villain of my life is suddenly present and you expect me to ignore her? Ano 'kala mo sa'kin, tanga?"

"Actually mula nang makilala kita? Yes." diretsong sagot ni Maki.

June's face showed annoyance, but she was quick to push it down. Kitang-kita pa rin naman sa mga actions niya na naiirita siya, kaya medyo nagha-happy dance si Maki sa loob-loob. Well, until June made the decision to steal their very territory.

The announcement has immediately changed Lone Wolves flags — from blue and white to Death Crows' indigo colors.

"At dahil nakatapak kayo sa lupain ko, you should be eliminated." June suddenly declared, staring at them with evil intent. "No one should trespass the Death Crows' territory."

"Put-?"

Hindi pa nga nakapagreact si Maki nang bigla silang sugudin ng alyansa ni June. Buti sana kung isa-isa o dala-dalawa, but to have ten or so players attack you so suddenly is overwhelming. Napakarami ng kaaway nila at dalawa lang sila ni Oliver.

They were able to stay with their pace for the first few minutes, but they couldn't do it for long. Masyadong malalakas at mararami ang atake na nakukuha nila for them to function and think so fast. Nagde-depensa pa nga lang sila para sa isang suntok, pero may sipa at kutsilyo nang papadating sa may tiyan nila.

Kaya naman nasaksak ni June si Oliver gamit ang ice-pick.

Oliver stopped, the excruciating pain shotting up her whole body. Napaubo siya ng dugo at unti-unting tumaas ang tingin niya kay June, who was looking down at him with a sinister smile. His vision blurred and there's the metallic taste in his mouth. He wasn't functioning well before this already, so to have been stabbed, it certainly does affect him a lot. Physically, emotionally, and mentally.

Still, he wonders as he looks past June's eyes to the everlasting crimson panes, did Caspian die while staring at his murderer? Or was he able to look at something good before the life lost his eyes?

Oliver hopes it was the latter.

He hopes that for him too, it would be the latter.

24:20:42 | 94/95
1. Blood Vanguards - 5 territories
2. Reaper's Oath - 4 territories
3. Immortal Silk - 3 territories
4. Guilty Raid - 2 territories
5. Lone Wolves - 1 territory
6. Rogues of Revenge - 1 territory
7. Death Crows - 1 territory
8. Moon Lagoon - 1 territory
9. Wakizashi - 1 territory

"That's the new rankings, huh. So nakakuha na agad ng territory sina June." Eura muttered.

"It must be freaking big too dahil nakaabot agad sa 7, just a little below ROR and LW na malalaki talaga ang main base." komento ni Louise.

They were hiding in one of Blood Vanguard's smaller territory, as ordered by their boss Kairo. Hindi pa naman sila aatake kaya pinag-aaralan muna nila ang galaw ng mga nakabantay dito. Thankfully, they're not really the Amnesia kind nor like Marcella. Malalakas sila at kilala ni Eura ang iba, dahil streamers ito, but she's also confident na they can handle it.

Eura doesn't stream as much, but hell if she's not capable to be one of Kairo's trusted allies.

"Kay Finn 'yon." sambit ni Gavin na nasa tabi lang nila. "Ang sa south. Their territories have also lessened."

He glanced at his side to see Eura gawking at him. Tumatango lang si Louise pero itong kaibigan niya e parang dadapuan na ng langaw sa bibig. Gavin's really weirded out by her. Maganda sana pero sobrang weird naman. Mas trip niya ang mahinhin at tahimik.

"Grabe, 'di namin napansin 'yon kasi wala kaming mata." pilosopong sagot ni Eura.

Gavin raised a brow. "Ah, talaga. O 'di wow."

"Makakatikim ka talaga ng jombag sa'king musclehead ka."

"Setting your flirting aside," Louise cut them off. The two were about to argue but she continued, "Sa tingin niyo ba dapat pumunta tayo do'n? They might need our help."

Umiling si Fern. "Kairo's already going there."

"Ba't ba ako 'di pwedeng pumunta?"

"Manggugulo ka lang do'n. Magpuputok naman katangahan ni Kairo dahil selos siya sa'yo." sagot ni Eura sa tanong ni Gavin. "Papunta pa naman do'n si Oliver."

"Tch. Ba't ba ang daming nagkakandarapa dito kay Finn ngayon." nakangusong reklamo ni Gavin. "Tapos si Sebastian hindi ko pa mahanap."

Napaisip si Eura doon. Oo nga 'no, they were scouting since earlier pero 'ni hindi pa nila nakita ang apat-matang kaibigan ni Finn. They can always find him because he's with Dierran, Wes, or Marcella most of the time. But they were unable to notice him during this event. Nagtatago lang ba? O baka nasa main main base talaga nila, since they were keeping it a secret.

"Oi, gorilla." mahinang tawag ni Eura kay Gavin.

"Bakit, asul." Gavin answered, rather bored.

"Hanapin kaya natin bro mo. Kapag nagawa natin 'yon, e'di mahahanap na din natin main base nila Marcella!" Eura suggested, eyes twinkling in excitement.

Nanlaki rin ang mata ni Gavin. Nakita ng tatlong babae ang mismong segundo na naintindihan ng lalaki ang plano nila. It's like watching a christmas tree slowly light up.

"Oo nga 'no! Buti naisip mo 'yan!"

"Luh." sinamaan siya ni Eura ng tingin. "Mas magugulat ako kung ikaw nakaisip niyan."

"Umalis na nga kayo. You're too noisy." Fern ordered, a little irritated.

Agad namang sumaludo ang dalawa. "Yes, Madam!"

Sabay nang tumakbo ang dalawa, heading towards the North first, which was where Marcella has made her dominion over. While that's an interesting search, the camera panned towards the South District, where Finn arrived in a heartbreaking scene.

But nobody knew Finn was there. So June felt it was the perfect time to share her secret.

"How does it feel?" she asked, while her weapon was deep inside Oliver's stomach. June completely ignored the way Oliver's face was so pale. "I've always been tiptoeing with death, you know, but I was always unfortunate to see it's end. And I thought, maybe I should try help you cross that bridge between life and death too-"

"Ikaw ba si grim reaper para gawin 'yan ha, feeler kang peste ka!" Maki shouted over the two players who were pointing a weapon at his neck.

"Tumahimik ka kung ayaw mong mapugutan ng ulo. I'll be happy but I doubt Finn can handle the tears of losing you both." biglang natigilan si June. "Ah, Finn~ It's such a pity na wala siya dito para makita kayo. Lalo na ikaw, Oliver. I'd bet it would arouse some memories."

June giggled, twisting the knife over and making Oliver cough blood again. "Like the time your cousin died and Finn witnessed it."

Nanlaki ang mata ni Oliver. The death glare he delivered towards June was almost heart-stopping. Punong-puno ito ng galit.

"Ah~ I hope Finn's here. Hindi ko kasi nakita ang mukha niya nang mawalan ng buhay si Caspian. Marcella was the one who really sat in front of that drama."

Si... Marcella? Hindi makapaniwala si Maki at Oliver sa narinig.

They know and can assume June's fucked in the head, but Marcella to be that too? Ano na ba ang nangyayari sa mga manlalaro dito?

"Anong-" Oliver tried to speak but he couldn't.

"Oho, hindi mo pa pala alam? Finn wasn't able to clear her name in Caspian's death yet. Well, since mamamatay ka naman ngayon. I have a secret to tell you. Marcella was the huge contributor to your cousin's death. Kaya niyang tulungan, pero hindi niya ginawa." June smiled cheerily. "And you know who killed Depore? It was me."

Hindi maipaliwanag ang saya na naramdaman ni June nang unti-unting nawalan ng buhay ang mga mata ni Oliver. His head hang low and his hair covered his eyes, the emotions crossing his face was now unreadable. But June didn't need to see his face to know what he was thinking. He's probably filled with despair and pain, but thankfully, June will help Oliver meet death soon.

Then, Oliver raised his head and stared directly at June. Isang nakakakilabot na ngiti ang ibinigay niya.

"Thank you for that confession, June." said a new voice.

Natigilan si June at inikot ang tingin sa paligid. Earlier, the whole territory was empty save for her alliance and the two idiots. Pero ngayon, ang dami nang tao na nanonood sa kanila. With Kairo leading them all at the center.

What the fuck? Wala ba silang teritoryo na dapat bantayan? Sa isip-isip ni June.

Hinarap niya si Oliver para talagang tuluyan na ito, since she won't have any redemption with this numerous audience kahit anong acting niya. But a sharp dagger was suddenly thrusted in front of her, and Oliver was dragged away, the ice-pick still present in his stomach.

Finn stood there, holding both Oliver and Maki while biting a dagger in her mouth. Kairo stepped closer, hands in his pocket and a lazy smile on his mouth. Tumigil siya sa tabi ni Finn.

"Now, let's give you the most deserved public execution, shall we?"

-chapter end-