-chapter eighty-four-

FINN

The first twenty hours have successfully passed.

The sky never changes color kaya ang orasan na nasa taas ang naging pamantayan namin. There's still a couple of hours before the main event happens - which I presume to be three hours before the time limit ends.

Ang Blood Vanguard pa rin ang nangunguna, now dominating the North district. Ang kapartner nitong Death Crows ay nasa top 3 at nasa pagitan nila ang Reaper's Oath. The Lone Wolves is tied with Death Crows, having one of the largest territory in the West District and one more at the South. The unfamiliar alliance remained at the last place with a small territory.

Kung titingnan ay mukhang hindi na dapat kabahan sa last place because weaker alliances will probably land in it. Kaya naman may posibilidad na most alliances would fight for the first spot. Para makuha na rin ang kung ano mang benepisyo ang nandirito.

Pero ayoko ring maging kampante. As long as time still runs, may posibilidad pang maiba ang current rankings. Kahit na sa mga maliliit na alyansa pa iyon.

Who knows what monsters they've hidden?

Nagtatago ako sa dilim na dala ng eskinita. Hindi kalawak ang nakikita ko gaya sa taas but down here, I can perfectly watch the players. Naririnig ko ang mga tahimik nilang diskusyon at mas nagiging pamilyar ako sa mukha nila. Mas komportable rin munang gumalaw sa dilim ngayon, lalo na't hindi ko alam kung nasaan ang mga kaaway ko.

Lumiko ako sa isang mas narrow na daanan. The whole city is just similar to a maze when it comes to the alleys. Maraming pasikot-sikot na daanang pwede ka ring ibalik sa kung saan ka nagsimula. Kaya dapat talagang tandaan ang mga nadaanan para hindi rin maligaw. Thankfully, one of my benefits has helped me navigate the city well.

Unbeknownst to them, I have eyes all over the city.

Hindi siya sobrang linaw na alam ko kung sino-sino ang nasa isang lugar, but I could easily perceive how many are there in a certain building and who are guarding it. Dahil isa itong alliance wars, ang buong grupo ay nakapaloob na sa 'players I could never harm'.

Kaya alam ko rin kung saan nakapuwesto ang main base ng Lone Wolves.

I remained hidden in the shadows as I passed three guarding players. The blue and white flag was visible to my eyes as I neared a semi-destroyed building. Mga lima ring players ang nakabantay dito. This is, after all, the biggest territory owned by an alliance. If anyone is ever given the opportunity to steal, siguradong ito talaga ang pupuntiryahin nila.

I also have a feeling that Marcella is eyeing this territory.

The building was deserted. Maliban sa players na kilala ko bilang ka-alyansa, there are also unfamiliar people looming around the base. Their presence are meek but I could spot them. Siguro'y nag-oobserba lang rin sila at hinahanap ang tamang oras para umatake.

Kung hindi lang sa mga identifier for similar alliance members, I wouldn't be able to differentiate who is who. The alliance have never grouped like this before. Talagang isinapuso namin ang pangalan at nagsolo o duo halos lahat sa'min.

I've reached the fifth floor of the building when I felt a presence. I carefully walked around the hallway, feeling the walls closely para malaman ko kung saan ba talaga nakapwesto ang tao.

"Finn."

Mukhang hindi ko na pala kailangang maghanap dahil si Sapphire na ang sumalubong sa'kin.

Humarap ako sa kaniya. Sapphire had this worried look on her face as she scanned my whole body. Nang mapagtantong wala ako masyadong sugat ay nauwi siya sa isang maginhawang ngiti.

"Mabuti naman at ayos ka lang!" she exclaimed, voice filled with concern. "Sobrang nagalala ako nang marinig na inatake ka daw nila June at Marcella sa south territory natin. That June is really the worst! At hindi pa ako makapaniwalang sumunod si Marcella sa plano niya!"

I blinked at her, confused. "Alam mo?"

"I heard it from one of our alliance members. Sabi niya ipinagkalat daw ni June na natalo ka niya at nasa malubhang lagay ka. Of course, we panicked! I immediately sent the guards to the south!"

Eh? Ibig sabihin hindi nila alam kanina na inatake kami?

But, "Thought Maki sent a warning?"

Nagulat si Sapphire sa sinabi ko. "Ha? He did? Finn, w-wala kaming nakuha na gano'n." she paced around, looking troubled. "Do you think there's a spy in our alliance? O 'di kaya'y baka may nangyari at hindi nakaabot sa'min?"

I hardened my gaze at her. Nanatili pa rin ang nalilito niyang mukha. Her emotions and behavior seemed very genuine, that it almost convinced me.

I don't want to make any assumptions, but I also don't want to put my trust in blindly. There has been a lot of suspicious happenings around Sapphire lately. Marami akong bagay na gustong itanong sa kaniya kaya hindi ko pwedeng i-avoid ang confrontation sa ngayon.

I need to know the truth.

"June told us." I said. "You won't allow any back-up."

Sapphire did not even hesitate as she responded, "Finn, I could never do that. Hindi din naman ako ang nagca-call ng shots dito. I'm just here to help Theo out minsan, at kung may kinalaman iyon sa alyansa natin, lalong-lalo na sa'yo, I would always work hard to save you! I could never leave you alone!"

Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. Now, this is a different account from the previous one. It hasn't even cleared up anything. Mas dumami lang ang magiging pala-isipan ko nito.

Siguro mas mabuti pa palang tumahimik na lang siguro ako.

"And... you should never believe June." Sapphire warned. "Alam kong- alam kong mayroon kayong history. June told me herself that because she wanted to convince me. Gusto niyang tulungan ko siya para mas sirain ang buhay mo. Before the attack in the South happened, nakipagkita pa nga siya sa'kin para sabihin 'yon. She told me to make a trap for you to fall in, pero siyempre umayaw ako. I could never let that happen!"

I was taken aback at that. Sinabi rin kasi ni Sapphire ang naging pag-uusap nila ni June kanina. That means that even if hindi niya alam na nakita ko sila, she would still tell me the truth. And maybe this is a version of the truth as well, dahil hindi naman malayong magawa ni June 'yon sa'kin.

Maybe she could really do anything just to erase me from her life.

"Asan si Theo?" tanong ko at luminga-linga sa paligid.

"About that-" Sapphire scratched her arm, looking away. "Sundan mo 'ko, Finn."

Kunot-noo akong sumunod sa kaniya. Parang nahihiya siya o nagsisisi sa kung ano mang ginawa. I'm still not fully convinced about her role in the deaths, but her account is believable. Kagaya rin ng sinabi ko, there's nothing about me that would make Sapphire insecure or jealous about. Wala din naman akong nagawang kasalanan sa kaniya para gawin niya iyon.

She has no reason to harm my life.

The doors passed by us and we eventually reached the end of the hallway. The wall has been destroyed kaya kitang-kita ang labas. It's the perfect place for the territory that we own. Sapphire opened the door next to it, anxiously letting me in. It was an ordinary room with a wide window at the side. Ang hindi lang ordinaryo ay ang nakagapos na Theo sa may pader.

Nanlalaki ang mata akong napabaling kay Sapphire. She gave me a grimace. "I know what you're thinking, but I didn't chain him there because I want to, you know. Nalaman niya ang plano ni June at super grabe ng pagreact niya so I had to do that. I was afraid he'll do something reckless."

Umupo ako sa harap ni Theo. His head was bowed down and his eye was closed. I combed the strands of his hair upwards, inspecting his face closely. Reckless wasn't a word to be associated with Theo. Isa iyon sa mga namuong thought ko nang una kaming magkita.

But seeing the patched eye, I had to think twice.

"When it comes to you, he becomes really reckless, Finn." Sapphire softly explained behind me. "He overheard my conversation with June. Sinaway niya pa ako at gusto na sanang atakehin si June. But I stopped him. I knew she had a lot of players on stand-by, kaya kung papalag kami, we will be at a disadvantage. We couldn't do anything. I couldn't let you lose another person."

Let me lose another person... Could it be that Sapphire really is unrelated to all that has happened? Lahat naman siguro ng nangyari na medyo involved siya ay coincidence lamang.

Pero ayoko ring gumawa ng konklusiyon agad. I have already experienced June - a girl who can change masks very quickly. Kaya naman ayoko munang paniwalaan ang sinasabi ni Sapphire hanggang 'di ko nakikita.

"Sapphire."

"Hm?"

"You-" napatigil ako sa pagsasalita.

Lumingon ako para matitigan siya sa mata. She returned my stare without any fear or anxiety. I wanted to ask her something, but I feel like I wouldn't get the answer I want even if I ask it.

"Kung nagaalala ka kay Theo, papakawalan ko din siya mamaya." she pulled a key from her pocket. "Or gusto mo ikaw na ang gumawa?"

I didn't think twice before taking the key and inserting it into the lock. Inayos ko ang pagkakaupo ni Theo bago hinarap muli si Sapphire. Ang medyo kinakabahan niyang mukha ay napalitan ng pagkagalak habang tinititigan niya kami ni Theo.

"Ang cute niyo talagang dalawa!" she squealed. "Main ship ha! I can never get enough of you two. Ang sad lang at walang camera dito."

I frowned. Ano kayang pinagsasabi niyang main ship? Why is she talking about boats when we're in the mainland.

Hindi na ako nagtagal do'n. I don't know if my questions have been answered but I know the confusions have increased. Hindi ko na alam kung ano ba ang gagawin o iisipin. Hindi ko na rin alam kung sino ba talaga ang paniniwalaan because all accounts made sense.

Maybe... Maybe Theo could be my answer.

Hanggang sa hindi ko siya nakakausap, I would keep my doubts alive. I want to trust in her but there's something in me that is against it. Kaya nagda-dalawang isip ako.

I exited the base and found myself lost in the middle of a plaza. Nakatitig lang ako sa hangin at blanko ang isipan. I came to a realization that some of the connections I've formed here are actually just superficial. These are people who I don't really know. Hindi ko alam ang takbo ng utak nila at ang mga values nila sa buhay. They could say and act one thing, but completely do another.

Bumuntong-hininga ako't napatingin sa langit. I still don't have any answers about Mama's question too. But maybe aside from planning my biggest desires, I should start with something small. Bago ko hangarin na matapos ang larong ito, I should first ask for help as I work to finish the city. And for now, one of my main wants is to protect the people close to me, so I won't lose another.

And I would live.

For the people who lost their lives for me.

I'd live for them and for me.

Sisimulan ko na ang pagplano sa mga gusto kong gawin at pagentertain sa sariling mga gusto. And I won't do this because they said to, but because they opened my eyes on my life. Na hindi ko naman kailangang kunin ang lahat ng problema sa mundo.

Because if June could be selfish all throughout her life, then why can't I think about myself a little too?

Because if they can push their desires to me like I'm paid to finish it for them, then why can't I find and work for my desires too?

I am a human just like them. I can do things I want just like them.

Inihip ng hangin ang buhok ko kaya agad ko itong itinali para hindi na muling magulo. The familiar rhythm of my hands as they worked on the twin buns made me relaxed. Nang matapos ay nanatili ang kamay ko sa hinalikang parte ni Kairo kanina.

I still can't comprehend why they would do such a thing. Si Papa lang ang gumagawa sa'kin niyan. He would do it when he wants to comfort me or congratulate me on something. Kaya talagang nasurpresa ako nang gawin 'yon ni Kairo.

However, the sly fox escaped before I could ask what it was about.

My thoughts broke off when I glimpsed at the ranking board. Wala namang nangyari sa top list of alliances, but the bottom rankings have begun to move. Kumunot ang noo ko nang makita ang nasa second to the last na biglang napunta sa sixth spot. The small map that displayed the different territories also showed the quick changing of own and unowned territories.

May mga maliliit na teritoryong napapalitan ng kulay dahil ito'y tuluyang nakuha ng kalaban. The districts started to flood with more colors than their usual gray. Hindi naman bumaba ang player count, kaya mabuti't hindi masyadong grabe ang labanan nila. But their current competitiveness is very surprising.

Twenty-two hours in and the bottom ranks have already undergone chaos.

A commotion behind made me move. Two small alliances have begun fighting for a territory. Ang nakakabahala ay ang takot na mayroon ang isa at ito'y kasalungat sa confidence na mayro'n ang kalaban niya. Like they were a predator and they found the perfect prey.

Fighting is a natural phenomenon, but they aren't as one-sided as it is now.

This disorganization in the bottom ranks would make the higher ones solidify their defenses. 'Yon o sobrang kampante talaga nila dito. Mayroon lang akong feeling na may mangyayaring malaki dito. I should try to prepare myself for anything.

I should try to investigate this case. Dahil hindi rin ako naniniwalang walang tao sa likuran ng kasalukuyang nangyayari.

Paalis na sana ako nang biglang may humatak sa'kin. I was abruptly spinned around to face an exhausted Wes.

"Finley-!" he loudly called my name, gasping for breath.

Gulong-gulo na ang buhok ni Wes. He also looks tired and a bit sweaty dahil sa pagtakbo. His collar was already loosened and his sleeves were rolled to his elbow. There's something about his look that makes me stare for a bit too long.

Wes shifted, scanning me up and down. Then, he breathed out a sigh of relief before pulling me to a hug.

Hindi ako makagalaw. This was the first time I've ever been this close to him, I think.

"Fuck." he cursed, voice shivering a little bit. "You scared the hell out of me, sparrow. I thought I was about to lose you."

-chapter end-

okylanhnamnako