-chapter fifty-six-

THIRD PERSON

Nakaupo si Finn at sumisilong sa ilalim ng palm tree. She positioned herself in a way that she's hidden from the rest of the players. Paano ba naman kasi masyadong nakaka-attract ng attention ang mga kasama niya.

Oliver whose calmly floating on the beach is taking most of the girl's attention, while Kairo has a flock of girls around him, always after for a conversation. Eura and Sapphire's loud laughs are also making heads snap to their direction. Sumali pa si Renée na laging pinagtitigan ng mga lalaki, kaya talagang hindi nawawalan ng mata ang kinaroroonan nila.

Finn, who feels uneasy with the attention, decided to subtly leave and hide. Narinig niya ang hinaing ni Eura pero napaniwala itong baka nagsimula nang magtreasure hunting si Finn, dahil isa itong masipag na player.

Kailan nga lang ba kasi talaga nagrelax si Finn? Parang lagi kasing may pinoproblema ang babaeng 'yon.

"Aren't you lonely here by yourself?"

Napalingon si Finn nang marinig ang boses ni Depore. The older girl decided to sit next to her, hugging the t-shirt she stole from Kairo. It's really unfair how the boys could have beach shorts and shirts while they are stuck with the swimsuit. Gustuhin niya mang ipakita ang proud na body niya, hindi na ito pwede dahil may nagmamay-ari.

"'m fine." Finn answered, digging on the sand with her toenails.

Depore can't help but watch the girl's actions. Hindi niya alam kung anong power ang mayro'n ito para gawing adorable ang lahat ng galaw. Siguro kahit na kumain lang si Finn ng ice cream ngayon ay cute pa rin siya. Samantalang parang batang walang magulang siguro si Depore.

Finn gave her a sideway glance, curiosity swimming in brown irises. "Not playing?"

"Hindi ako gano'n ka isip-bata para maglaro sa loob ng laro na kasalukuyang may treasure hunt ding laro." sarkastikong tugon ni Depore. "Isa pa, ang sakit na sa tainga ni Eura. Gusto ko din ng silence, yaknow? Gaya no'ng nasa Magus City pa lang tayo."

Oh, right, Finley nodded. Noon si Depore nga lang talaga ang tanging maingay sa kanilang tatlo ni Caspian. Whether verbally or by her use of magic.

Depore leaned back, shifting all her weight in her arms. Tumingala siya sa taas at napailing ng makita ang number of players na currently alive. When they entered the tenth city, there were about 139 players, sa pagkakatanda niya. Pero ngayon, bumaba na sa 117 ang mga players na buhay.

Malaki ang pakiramdaman niyang maraming players ang kinuha ang offer na 10,000 noong last. Depore sighed heavily. What has this game done to them? At bakit kaya ganito na lang kasama ang creator ng laro?

"I hope we get out of this alive, Finn." Depore unconsciously muttered. "All of us. Ayokong mawala ng mga taong nakilala ko, kaya sana talaga gabayan tayo na makalabas nang wala masyadong pinsala."

Finn dropped her gaze to her hands, remembering the threat in all of their lives. It's still heartbreaking for her. How a person who hates monsters became one of them. There really are two endings to pain and it depends on the person - mayroong nagiging mas matatag at mayro'n ding nagpapalamon dito.

Some people are just too entitled that they believe they do not deserve a breaking point - a time where they must stand on a knife's edge in order to grow.

Tanging tango ang nasagot ni Finn sa sinabi ni Depore. Kahit anong mangyari sa kaniya, she will ensure that they all get out of here alive.

"Sa tingin mo ano na kaya ang ginagawa nila doon sa labas? We're gone for almost weeks now, probably." Depore shrugged and giggled. "Feel ko nagka-white hair na si Kaiser sa sobrang stress dahil nawala ang kaniyang pinakamamahal!"

"Kairo's brother?" tanong ni Finn.

"Oo, brother-in-law mo rin sana kung papalarin. Ah, Finn! Mas boto ako kina Caspian pero mas bet kitang maging sister-in-law!"

Finn blinked. Since Depore was talking about in-laws, she must meant marriage. If she wants the two of them to be sister-in-laws, then she's expecting Finn to marry into one of Kaiser's brothers - kung mayro'n pa maliban kay Kairo.

Napakunot ang noo ni Finn doon. "Marry Kairo?"

Parang kuminang naman ang mata ni Depore. "Tama ka diyan, Finn!" she exclaimed.

"Not possible." Finn answered and thought, 'Ayaw nga no'n matulog kasama ko'.

Depore's smile stayed frozen. Mentally, she berated Kairo for being rejected without even making a move. Ang pangit naman pala nitong ibenta at walang bumibili.

"Wala talaga kay Kairo ang charms ng Kuya niya. Tsk, tsk." Depore pouted. "Kailan ko kaya makikita si Kaiser. Nami-miss ko na ang bebe ko."

"How long?" tinutukoy ni Finn kung gaano katagal ang relasyon nila.

"Kami together? Kaiser proposed last year after five years of being together." ngumiti siya. "I actually promised myself that this game would be my last. Huling beta-test na gagawin and I would retire from streaming and focus on my work, pero kung alam ko lang ganito ang mangyayari, I wouldn't have joined."

Finn silently agreed with that. No one knew that this will happen to them once they accepted that offer. Napakaharmless nito at galing pa sa isang legit at kilalang kompanya.

"Now I really have to be careful. So Kaiser still has a wife out there. Na matuloy pa lahat ng pangarap namin... at," Depore took hold of Finn's hand and placed it above her stomach. "For this little one's future."

Nanlaki ang mata ni Finley sa narinig. Her eyes were filled with amazement and soft wonder as she stared at where her hand hover. Depore was focused on surviving not just because of her life and love, but because of the other one she's carrying inside.

Now, Finley is determined to protect them even more.

Depore chuckled, placing a finger over her lips. "Pero, secret lang natin 'to ah? Huwag mo sasabihin kay Kairo. Gusto kong mamatay siya sa gulat kapag nalaman niyang dinadala ko na ang pamangkin niya."

"Mm." Finn couldn't help the smile that bloomed in her face. "'m happy for you."

"Thank you, Finn. I'm very happy and lucky too." Depore laughed out loud and pointed at something. "Tingnan mo 'yon oh. Ang susungit!"

Sinundan ni Finn ng tingin ang itinuturo ni Depore. She saw Wes by the pool, sitting on one of the chairs and minding his own business. Isang Hawaiian shirt ang suot-suot niya, na bukas pa ang tatlong butones so his upper chest was very visible. He's wearing black sunglasses and he seemed to be staring at his hands that was practicing his water magic. His hair was slicked-back, now wet, and his piercing glinted in the sunlight.

Sa tabi niya ay naka-upo si Dierran na basa na rin ang buhok. He had his sunglass above his head as he laughed at something the girl beside him said. Si Marcella naman na nasa kabilang tabi ni Wes ay walang-pakialam sa dosenang babae na nakapalibot sa kanila. Nakahiga lang siya sa beach chair, legs crossed and a sunglass covering her eyes from the sun. Tanging si Dierran lang sa kanilang tatlo ang pumapansin sa mga babaeng panay ang tanong.

Although Finn was wondering where they got the sunglasses.

"Parang mga rich kids." komento ni Depore.

Finn nodded. Sa isip niya ay baka nga gano'n naman talaga sila.

"Pero tingnan mo si Caspian." Depore said pointing at another direction.

Caspian was sitting by a rock, probably meditating and practicing his magic dahil may mga fire orbs na nakapalibot sa kaniya. May tatlong babae na tumawag ng pangalan niya kaya binalingan niya ito. Ngunit hindi niya ito sinagot at bumalik lang sa pagme-meditate. It was Oliver, who was near his cousin, na tumulong sa mga babae.

Oliver and Gavin were the only one who wore sleeveless tops with their shorts, dahil si Sebastian ay nakat-shirt pa rin. Bahala na ang mabasa. Habang si Kairo lang ang hubad sa taas dahil kinuha ni Depore ang t-shirt niya. Finn was actually surprised when she saw the tattoo on Kairo's left shoulder - a crow with its wings wide open, one on front expanding to his upper chest while the other on his back. Sa kanang bahagi naman ng dibdib niya ay naka-tattoo ang salitang 'νικητής'.

"Tingnan mo at mukhang proud na proud pa siya sa tattoo niya." Depore said, rolling her eyes.

Itinuro ni Finn ang kanang bahagi ng dibdib niya tapos si Kairo habang nakatitig kay Depore. She tilted her head and asking, "Meaning?"

"Ah. Iyan ata ang greek counterpart ng winner, kasi ang meaning ng pangalan niya ay someone victorious. He stuck to it and he kinds of favors crows. Kaya rin pangalan ng alliance niya eh Reaper's Oath." Depore shruggged. "Ewan ko ba sa batang 'yan."

Finn nodded, understanding Depore's explanation. Kairo does look like someone who holds meaning over every little thing. Kahit gaano pa kaliit iyon.

Nang dumaan ang isang minuto ay tumayo na si Finn. Depore raised a brow at her, silently asking where she's going.

"Treasure hunt." tanging sagot lang ni Finn.

"Ohh. Mamaya na ako. Susundin ko muna ang ginagawa niya."

Depore then pointed at the palm tree beside theirs. Ngayon lang nakita ni Finn na nandoon pala si Theo, nakahiga at mahimbing ang tulog. Mabuti na lang at nasa mataas na bahagi sila kaya hindi napupuntahan ng alon.

Finn nodded at Depore and walked away, starting her treasure hunt. She passed the loud beach, the meditating boy, and the relaxing kids by the swimming pool with a blank face. Hindi naman bago ang lahat sa itsura ni Finn but some of them stopped and looked. Finn walks like there's no one around her but she has humble steps. Hindi nakataas ang kaniyang noo pero hindi rin masyadong nakayuko. In a black swimsuit paired with neatly-tied twin-buns that showed her milky skin, Finn was truly beautiful.

Nanatili pa rin ang mga mata hanggang sa mawala si Finn sa mga kahoy.

"Wala ng pag-asa ang mga tao dito." komento ni Eura at napailing. "At kasama na ako do'n."

Louise, who wiped her bleeding nose, tapped Eura's shoulder in agreement. "Napakahirap nito para sa bisexual heart ko."

"Saan pupunta si Finn?" tanong naman ni Sapphire.

"Probably starting her treasure hunt. Finn has clear goals in mind." Renée answered, smiling softly.

Napailing si Sebastian sa power ng inaanak niya. Babae man o lalaki, they all have intense emotions for Finn - whether they're with hate or love.

Meanwhile, the Finley that left them stunned was humming to herself as she explored the small areas with trees. Hindi niya alam kung paano malalaman kung treasure ba ang isang bagay o hindi kaya naman tumitigil siya para i-inspekta ang mga dahon, bato, at kahoy. Siguro'y isang isla ang city na ito. It wasn't half-beach and half-forest, dahil may mga area lang sa city na may puno at balik ka naman ulit sa clearings kung saan may sand.

Finn gasped when she stepped into something that cracked. Napatingin siya sa naapakan ngunit bigla na lang nawala ang lupa sa ilalim- and she felt herself falling!

"Aray..." mahinang daing ni Finn nang mahulog siya nang paupo. "'m always falling." nakangusong reklamo niya sa sarili.

Finley stood up, patting her bottom and looking around. That thing she stepped on must have been some kind of switch that triggered the change of location. Ngunit hindi niya rin naman alam kung nasaan na siya. It seemed like a place surrounded with very high stone walls. May mga rune stones sa paligid at mayro'n ding strange plants, but Finn's positive she can't get out of here unless she finish something.

Bago pa siya makapagtanong kung ano iyon ay may lumitaw sa harap niya. When the monster landed, it made the ground tremble with so much force that Finn was losing her balance. Finn shifted her feet behind her, focusing in both her knees and slightly crouching to stop herself from falling. Nang matapos ang parang-lindol ay siyang pag-angat ni Finn ng tingin.

Napalunok siya nang makita ang halimaw na kakalabanin niya.

It was a giant machine who had a human shape - parang sa mga transformer. The giant's blockhead had red, laser eyes and a yellow square that had electric currents sparkling serving as its mouth. Napakataas nito na parang mas matangkad pa ito sa mga walls. There were also machine guns around the giant's knees, elbows, palms and even its chest.

Ito ba ang kakalabanin ni Finn?

A screen then popped out in front of her.

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Welcome to the Giant Mecha's Nest!

You are facing the Giant Mecha! Defeat it to get 500,000 gold and leave this dungeon.

Beware of the Giant's skills! Once its armory level on the left side has reached maximum, it will release a powerful attack. You must then activate the rune stones to protect yourself from its skills.

The Giant Mecha can let out electric and fire magic, so be extra careful! This is a Level 150 boss that has x8 HP count. The armory level of the Giant Mecha freezes once it reaches x3 life but maxes quickly when it comes to x2 life. You must kill the Giant Mecha in a span of 1 minute after that!

Your attributes has been doubled for facing this monster. Your 'Maximum Stealth' has been activated and the Giant Mecha can only find you through your attack direction and sounds.

Fight well and survive, Finn!

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-chapter end-