-chapter eighty-nine-

THIRD PERSON

The public execution that June once held for Finn was now being experienced by her.

Napapalibutan siya ng mga taong masasama ang tingin. Their eyes held doubt, fury, and disgust. The stares they directed at June were deadly. Na para bang papatayin na nila ito sa tingin. The words they whispered at each other were also harsh and ruthless - labelling June as a monster who wears a pretty face.

A monster who destroyed someone else's life.

And who were they to judge that? June wonders as she closes her fist, long nails digging to her palms and drawing blood. How could they judge her destroying somebody else, when no one even punished those who destroyed her? Some people doubted Finn's innocence when she was publicly criticized, but June couldn't feel a bit of empathy from the others.

How is it so unfair? She turned her dark glare towards Finn whose face was shadowed with her hair. Bakit laging may tao sa tabi ni Finn at pinapatawad siya sa mga mali niya? Bakit laging pinapahamak si June sa mga mali niya at hindi man lang siya pinapatawad?

Was it so wrong to ask for love and attention? Was it so wrong to wish for them? Was it so wrong to hope for a happy and supporting circle of friends?

And was it so wrong to take it from other people?

Kairo stepped forward, now aiming to get closer to June. Ngunit bago pa mangyari iyon ay gumalaw na ang babae. And she did what her messed up mind prefers to ignore the wounds.

Blame Finn. Blame Finn. She's the reason for everything. She was the one who showed you what you're lacking and desperately wishing. She bragged and made you envy of her life. Her friends doesn't like you because she never introduced you to them. Her friends hates you because she made bad comments about you behind her back.

It's all Finn's fault. It's all her fucking fault.

"You bitch! Ikaw ang may kasalanan ng lahat ng 'to!" malakas na sigaw niya at sumugod kay Finn.

Kairo's eyes widened when June suddenly vanished. Napasinghap din ang mga manlalaro na nakapalibot sa kanila. Hinigpitan ni Finn ang kapit sa collars nina Maki at Oliver, while feeling her surroundings. She's seen- witnessed this before. Alam niya ang susunod na gagawin ni June.

She stepped to the side just as a powerful gush of wind passed by her ear. Isang matalas na ice-pick at maputing kamay ang biglang lumitaw dito. Finn felt June moved behind her, producing another sharp weapon, kaya kaagad niyang binigay ang nanghihinang Maki at Oliver sa papadating na Kairo. His ruthless expression was replaced with surprised as both guys fell in his arms.

June aimed her ice-pick at Finn's lower back, who immediately blocked it with her kunai. Isa pang ice-pick ang papunta sa gilid ng ulo niya, so Finn stepped back, watching as the blade passed her eyes.

Finn's eyes met June and she asked, "Why do you always blame me?"

Isang tanong na parating nasasagot ni June sa kaniyang isipan, but has always failed to voice it out. And she will never say it verbally. Dahil natatakot siyang mawawalan na ng katotohanan ang rason niya kapag narinig na ito ng ibang tao.

"Haven't we gone past this already, Finn? I told you. I hate you."

June's attacks were relentless. She slashed in every direction she could, and Finn blocked it as much as she could. Ibinilin ni Kairo sina Maki at Oliver sa kaniyang kasamahan para makapunta sa naglalabang pares. However, he was stopped by one of June's right-hands with a dagger, which led to the rest of the Reaper's Oath attacking to defend their leader. Gano'n rin sa mga sumama kay June na Death Crow's players.

It was a war.

The lonely flag danced in the wind as players danced with swords valiantly. Blood sprayed and pained screams echoed over the deserted district. The exchange of strikes was heard throughout the battlefield, leaving scars in both bodies and hearts. With the crimson sky as their only witness, all the players pursued for survival.

A loud noise took most of their attention. Ang gusali sa dulo ng plaza ay nawasak na. Seven flying daggers burst out of the second floor before being sucked in again. Ang lahat ng mga 'yon ay papunta kay June na umikot hawak-hawak ang ice-pick para i-block ang mga ito. A looming shadow formed over her and Finn was already on her side before she could blink.

But June has already anticipated it. Finn prefers to attack behind after all. So June was ready, with an ice-pick in her free hand, she thrusted it toward Finn's shoulder.

A pained gasp left the other's lips. The sharp blade sliced through her sleeves and skin. Blood dripped from the wound all the way to her hands, staining it in red.

Mas pinasakit pa ito ni June nang dahan-dahan niyang kunin ang weapon.

"How does it feel?" she asked, eyes twinkling in mischief. Nakikita sa mukha ni Finn ang hapdi sa paghigit ni June ng ice-pick. "This was how I lived my life, Finn. It wasn't pain crashing down on me overnight. It happened in a slow, twisted manner. Hindi ba't masakit?"

Finn glared at June, her eyes displaying irritation. Hanggang dito nagpapakatanga pa si June. Sinabi na nga sa kaniyang gano'n daw ang sakit na naranas niya, tapos tatanungin din siya kung masakit.

"Well? Ano, hindi ka na ba makasagot sa-"

"Ano sa'yo?"

"Gusto ko lang malaman kung masakit o hindi. At kung masakit nga, e'di alam mo na ang nararamdaman ko-"

"E'di masakit."

June gritted her teeth in annoyance at Finn's answers. She knows how straight-forward and naively her words could be, pero talagang nakakainis lalo na 'pag ikaw ang kausap niya. With a huff, she pulled her ice-pick out, a bit of blood flying towards her cheeks.

Finn clutched her shoulder, swallowing from how painful it was. Their battle wasn't that smooth and easy, at ebidensiya ang mga punit na damit at maliliit na sugat dito. But they haven't harmed each other like this - well, except sa 'pagbali ni Finn sa kamay ng babae. Though it seemed to have healed now.

Or June's too immune and used to having her bones broken that the pain has left her mind in a few hours.

Kahit na masakit ang braso ay itinaas ni Finn ang dalawang kamay para harangan ang sunod-sunod na suntok ni June. She spotted an incoming kick to the side, so Finn used her strong hand to hold June's shin and throw her to the ground. Finn dropped on top of her, holding both of June's wrist to her sides.

June looked... miserable. Her black eyes were red with rage, and her once-smooth and porcelain skin was marred with scars and stitches. The once beautiful face that asked her to play a game now glared at her with so much hatred.

Nagulat si June nang makita ang naluluhang mata ni Finn. Natulala lang ito saglit tapos biglang nagtubig na ang mata. She couldn't move with the shadow chains wrapped around her wrist, together with Finn's own hands, kaya iniwas na lang niya ang tingin.

"I'm..." Finn sucked a deep breath. "I'm sorry."

Parang tumigil ang buong mundo ni June sa narinig. Her whole body stiffened and her lips parted in surprise. Pero pinilit niya pa ring huwag tumingin sa banda ni Finn.

"I wasn't strong enough to be your pillar, June. I'm sorry I wasn't a good friend. I promised you a lot of things but made no actions myself. I'm sorry I wasn't the hero who could save you from your own villains."

"Pinagsasabi mo." June muttered, still looking sideways. She swallowed a huge lump in her throat to ignore Finn's heartbroken voice.

"I promised myself and those who died for me that I would do my best to protect the important people in my life, but I failed you-"

"I'm not important." June cut off. She continued to struggle against Finn's hold. "Shut up, fuck you. Just fucking shut up. I don't want to hear any of it. I hate you. I hate you-"

"Importante ka. Sa'kin at sa iba ding tao. You saved me too, didn't you? Sa playground noon. Pinasaya mo-"

"I hate you, fucking shut up." June closed her eyes and turned to Finn to shut her up with a glare. "I hate you-"

But she choked on her own words when she saw her. When a tear dropped into her bloodied cheek, June was the one who had her mouth silenced.

"I'm sorry."

The floor broke into small rocks that destroyed Finn's shadow chains. Mabilis na nag-iba ang posisyon nilang dalawa. Now June was the one holding Finn's injured arm, with her hand raised to deliver a punch.

Finn closed her eyes, expecting the pain. But it was the floor beside her that broke instead.

Unti-unting bumukas ang mata niya. June's closed fist was covered with blood, dahil sa pagsuntok niya sa mga maliliit na bato. Her chest was heaving and she was gasping the same words.

"I hate you," she chanted.

Ngunit maluwag na ang kapit niya sa kamay ni Finn. Ngunit hindi na galit ang nasa mukha niya. Instead, heavy tears dropped from her eyes as her face twisted in pain and she repeated the same words. As if saying it a thousand times will make it true.

"I hate you, Finn." she sobbed. "I hate you! I hate you!"

"Mm."

"I hate you because you have everything! I hate you because you've never suffered my pain! Why are people always choosing you over me? Why didn't they want to be friends with me? Why doesn't my parents love me? Why do they know what's happening but has never offered me help?!"

June's screams were filled with pain. This wasn't the first time Finn heard some of her accusations, but it was always accompanied with hatred, anger and envy. Ngayon tanging sakit lang ang mayro'n ito.

"Are my feelings irrelevant? Is my pain inferior to yours? My mother would often compare me to you, saying those families would prefer you more than me. And she'd hit me! Bakit kasalanan ko kung ano ang gusto nila? Bakit kahit nagpapakabait ako ay may suspisyon sila, but it's accepted to other people? Why do you have them and I don't, Finn?" June slammed her bloodied fist on the floor, shaking her head aggressively. "You're the one who lost everything, so why am I the loser?"

It was a question that June once asked, but Finn still haven't had an answer to.

"And I hate you so much I wanna kill you and deprive you of all the happiness. Pero bakit ayaw ko din? Bakit kapag may nagagawa akong masama sa'yo, iniiyakan ko din pagkatapos? I try so hard to make you my enemy, my rival, my hated person, but I still want to be your friend. A little bit of me still regard you as my friend."

It was Finn's turn to be surprised. It was like that one time when she asked June about the drawing incident. This is one of the rare times when June fully drops her guard and shows her pain to everyone.

"Dahil ikaw lang naman talaga ang naging kaibigan ko..." June whispered, tears breaking.

Because those girls at her school befriends her for the money and status. At walang pinagkaiba ang laro dito. Why were her members fighting outside? It wasn't because they cared for her. It was because they're part of the dirt she dug. Marcella wasn't her ally because she cared, since they were only using each other. Her family never cared, because if they did, then she wouldn't be this broken.

It was the girl who sat beside her that cared. The person who listened as she cried and complained about another injury.

So, yes, June would try to destroy her life from too much anger and envy, but killing her takes too much courage. She could hurt her, wound her, break her emotionally, but there's always a small part of her that looks after. Kagaya noong kinalaban nila ang dragon at malapit na mahulog si Finn. She masked that worry into anger and insulted her.

Dahil si Finn lang naman ang naging kaibigan niya. At siguro'y magiging kaibigan niya.

"June-"

"Finn! Okay ka lang ba?"

At the sound of Kairo's voice, June jumped away. She was holding her weapon up, aimed straight at Finn. Gone was the tears and vulnerable state of a little girl. The vengeful and scarred woman had returned.

Kairo helped Finn up, shooting his glares at June. "Just how heartless are you? Why are you doing all of this?"

Mapaklang tumawa si June. She raised her hand as if to brush her hair aside, but it was to wipe the tears in her eyes. "Bakit ba lagi niyong tinatanong sa'kin 'yan? Hindi ba pwede dahil gusto ko?"

"Gusto mong ano? Maramdaman din namin ang sakit na naramdaman mo? We have our own share of pain too!"

"Well, that's good. But it's not enough. And how are you the one criticizing me, Kairo? Weren't you also a ruthless, cunning and mean person? It's like a pot calling the kettle back."

That left Kairo speechless. Finn could understand where it was coming from. Kagaya ng sinabi noon ni Kairo, the image he has drawn consisted of him being unsympathetic to others. He have no regards to other people pain, and was always nicknamed a ruthless rogue in games. The death he delivers to his foes are always the most horrid.

"I do have my morals. Have I ever killed anyone in this game? I'm not a wild animal like you." galit na saad ni Kairo. "I don't kill people just for pleasure and fun."

"Well, I do. So catch me if you can."

And June jumped from the window, with a small smirk in her mouth. Kairo helped Finn up pero umiling na ang dalaga. She gestured for Kairo to go and chase June, to which he easily complied to.

Finn stood at the destroyed wall as she watched June being caught. Her alliance have been tragically defeated. They were no match for the numbers that Kairo has deployed.

From where Finn was standing, June looked like every vengeful villain, with her messy hair and hateful glare. It wasn't someone who regrets their actions, but a person who would justify it. For the world gave her pain, and it was right for her to return it, right? Iyan ang rason niya.

And now, she shall pay for her crimes.

"Kairo! Finn should be the one to kill her. Hindi ba't she suffered the most sa hands niya?"

Sapphire's voice caught most of the player's attention and agreement. Finn's eyes narrowed as she watched her walked through the crowd. Finn has long promised herself that she will pursue for justice, that she will not let her guard down, whether it's friend or foe.

Pero... hindi ba't sinabi niya rin sa sarili na hindi niya kakalimutan ang pagkatao sa larong 'to.

Besides, June was also different. While anger would push them to exert their most desperate emotions, nagiging iba na kapag talagang totoo.

Because that was the same face that offered her a game. That was the same face that laughed as she made a joke. That was the same face that she comforted at the back of the gymnasium.

Hindi naman joke ang taon na pinagsamahan nila. And Finn can still perfectly remember it. How June braided her hair. How they said they wanted to be pro-gamers that one peaceful afternoon. How they chased each other around the garden because they debated over an ice cream flavor.

June was Finn's friend.

And Finn was June's friend.

But as they stood on different grounds today, the distance between them couldn't be displayed more perfectly. Like what June stated, Finn lost everything but she's in the top floor while June possessed everything but she's on the ground.

"Kairo. Ano gagawin mo?" Maki asked, tapping Kairo's shoulder. "June has hurt both you and Finn, pero since ikaw nagplano nito, ikaw na lang magdesisyon. Isa pa-" Maki sighed and glanced at the building behind them.

Sinundan ni Kairo ang tingin niya at nakita si Finn. She was staring right at June with a pained expression. Kairo could tell that she doesn't want to kill her. Finn could never kill anyone.

"Finn!" nagulat sila sa sigaw ni Sapphire sa babae. "Come down here. You have to clear your name na. This is the perfect time to do that!"

Finn jumped down and walked only three steps forward. Pagkatapos ay umiling siya.

"Anong ibig sabihin no'n? Hindi ba talaga siya lalapit?"

"Nako, baka natatakot lang siya kay June. Grabe hindi pa rin talaga ako makapaniwalang ganiyan siya. Pakitang-tao ang gaga!"

"Kaya nga, tch. Pero, medyo nafi-feel ko na 'yan noon. Ang maldita kasi!"

"Inggit niya kay Finn kasi mas maganda at matalino! Puro lang kasi pagpatay ang alam niya!"

"Hahaha! Tama ka diyan. Siguradong nagmana sa ina, kasi isa ding demonyo 'yon. Like mother, like daughter nga naman."

"Kaya naman pala tinutulak 'yan sa hagdan eh. Kasi ganiyan ugali. Deserved hahaha!"

"Nako, kung ako siguro sina Kairo at Finn, matagal ko nang sinira ang utak niyan- ay sira na nga pala!"

Their laughter and whispers were silenced when Finn gave them a dark glare. Tumaas ang balahibo nila sa takot dahil ito siguro ang unang beses na makita nilang galit ang dalaga.

"Ano pa bang hinihintay niyo? This is taking too long already. If you wanna kill me, kill me!" June declared, gesturing to her body. "Here's the villain, so shouldn't the hero kill her?"

Kairo didn't take his eyes off Finn, waiting for her decision. Then, rather than answering, she smiled.

"'m no hero."

Kairo stepped closer to her, crouching to whisper in her ear. "Just close your eyes." umiling si Finn. "I don't need to kill her."

Isa pang iling ang isinagot ni Finn sa lalaki. "Don't hold back for me." huling sabi nito at mas lalong lumayo sa kanila.

Kairo returned his gaze at June. Here was the person who killed his brother's love. The person who destroyed many futures. He clenched his fist. This was the person he spent days planning to kill. Ang taong alam niyang wala siyang pagdadalawang-isip na gagawin sa pagpatay.

But can he bear to see Finn cry? Can he kill someone Finn still treats as an old friend?

He should. He wants to. Hindi ito kayang gawin ni Finn pero kaya niya. At dapat niya rin itong gawin para sa iba. For the souls that June sacrificed for her own gain.

For she may just be a tragic villain, but she still committed those crimes. She still took lives that cannot be returned.

Kairo raised his dagger and aimed it towards June's neck. There was a lot of ruthless ways to kill her. A number of horrid deaths. Pero kahit nga pagsaksak ay hindi niya pa magawa.

"She won't kill me because she can't." June muttered, the tip of the dagger pointed at her neck. "You won't kill me because of her. Ano ba namang couple kayo."

Nagulat ang lahat ng tumawa si June. It wasn't a psychotic, mad laugh, nor was it filled with sadness. It was genuine. It was something Finn has heard before.

"Well, nakalimutan ko din. This wasn't a battlefield for heroes, right? But a warground for rogues. So-"

Itinulak ni June si Kairo palayo. Instantly, a number of daggers and weapons were pointed at her, ready to throw and shoot. Pero kalmado lang siyang kumuha ng ice-pick.

"Hoy, Finn." she called out, and when Finn looked at her, she smiled. "I was only really happy when I was friends with you."

June stabbed the ice-pick straight into her heart.

Black feathers shall fall now that the crow was gone. It was twenty dead souls paid back and another alive, being set to freedom.

-chapter end-

o ayan, 1/3 villains. 🥰