Happy New Year!

-chapter ninety-five-

FINN

Holding on.

When the storms of life takes you apart, what else can you do but hold on to the barest of sanity?

I remember being seven years old sitting beside a hospital bed. Ang lalaking nakahiga doon ay natutulog nang dumating ako kaya hindi ko na ginising. Bukas ang bintana at nililipad ng hangin ang kurtina at bulaklak sa vase. It was a quiet and peaceful day, but my heart and mind were troubled.

Hindi man lang ako binigyan ng limang taon bago makamove-on sa pagkapatay nina Mama. Now, I have to endure yet another death and witness how I made an entire family broken and sad.

Mahina akong napatawa at hinigpitan ang kapit sa kamay ni Kuya Gab. I've always been fascinated with the heroes in comic books, wishing and wishing that I would be like them. A savior to those who need protection and a light to people in need.

But I was a villain cursed with death. All I bring is loneliness, grief, and sadness.

A walking grim reaper.

"Hey."

Pinalis ko ang namamasang mata para lumingon sa tumawag. There he was, the boy whose face was now blurred in my memories. But I could still remember how I nagged him to save Kuya Gabriel.

Itinaas niya ang hawak-hawak na game controller. "'Di ba naglalaro ka? Care to teach me some games?"

And how he gave that depressed and lonely child a small push to hold on.

The wind was strong. Nakatayo kaming mga manlalaro sa isang may kalakihang floating island. Maliban sa naglalakihang bato ay wala nang ibang desenyo ang isla.

I tied my hair into a twin bun again, para hindi magulo ng hangin. Nakabusangot ang mukha ni Maki nang lumapit sa'kin.

"Hindi pa natin nasisimulan ang city pero parang gusto ko nang mag-give up." reklamo niya sabay buntong-hininga.

I hummed, glancing at our new challenge. Kami ang isa sa pinakahuling lumabas sa fifteenth city, but to our surprise, those who arrived here first didn't take action. No one is confident to move when the city requires a mission as difficult as this.

Sa unang tingin, mukhang madali lang siya. The city requires us to get to the other island in order to complete it. Isa iyong isla na may malulusog na puno at portal para sa seventeenth city.

It seems easy, right? Until you see the distance between the two island.

It was about 10 kilometers wide. There were no bridges and we need to use the rocks lined up in a path. May malalaki at maliliit na bato, at mayroon ding mabilis magiba dahil sa malakas na hangin. The distance between each rock also differs; may mga sobrang layo at mayro'n namang malapit lang.

Hindi din makikita kung saan ka mahuhulog. The sky seemed endless below us. No matter ocean or land, there is little chance of possibility. At kung mahulog man, po-problemahin naman kung paano aakyat para matapos ang city.

"What's your plan, Finn?" napabaling ako kay Maki nang itanong niya 'yon. "Susunod ako sa'yo. I don't think anyone's going to start anytime soon though."

I didn't know how to answer that. No one seems to be making plans, like he said. Pero ayoko namang maghintay na mauna sila.

Tinanguan ko si Maki at tumalon sa pinakamalapit na bato. I could hear the gasps behind me and feel their stares on my back. I slightly stumbled on my feet because of the harsh wind, kaya dali-dali akong tumalon sa kabilang bato. Maki's scream behind me showed that he followed.

Then I jumped on the bigger rock that was close. Biglang bumugso ang hangin, making me stagger to the edge of the rock. Itinukod ko ang tuhod at ginamit ang dagger for grounding. When I looked back, that's when Maki also landed on my same rock.

"They're following now, Finn." aniya. "Kailangan na rin nating bilisan 'to."

I looked behind him and saw Eura aggressively waving her hand at us and shouting profanities. Pinapaalis niya si Maki sa tabi ko dahil dapat daw kami magkatabi. Pilit naman siyang pinapatigil nina Louise dahil sa sobrang ingay.

I inhaled deeply, observing the distance from the next rock. It's almost two jumps away.

Kumuha ako ng dalawang throwdagger at kinonekta ito sa shadows para magmukhang kadena. The blade, supported by the shadows, pierced through the rocks when I threw it.

"Maki, hold on to me." utos ko.

Sandaling natulala siya sa'kin bago namula. Medyo natakot ako sa bilis ng ginawa niyang pag-iling.

"No, no, no! Hindi iyan maari, sister. Alam kong soul sisters tayo at siguro'y fashion buddies pero never mo akong ica-carry because I still want to live! Ayoko pang mamatay!"

Kumunot ang noo ko. That's why I'm suggesting he go with me in the first place. Para hindi siya mamamatay.

"Not gonna die. We'll cross it together."

Namutla si Maki at mabilis na tumingin sa likod niya. I don't know why he's looking back when there's only Kairo and Wes behind.

"Hindi niya ako inimbitang sasama sa kaniya at hindi rin ako pumayag, okay?!" he shouted against the wind.

Everyone stopped and snapped their heads towards us. "Paki-ulit ng sinabi mo, Maki?" Eura's voice was dangerously calm.

"Sabi ko hindi ako inimbita ni Finn na ihug siya dahil sabay kaming pupunta sa next rock! Hindi rin ako pumayag, okay?!"

"I did invite you." I stated.

Their faces aren't very clear from the distance and wind, but I could tell the reactions from their surprised gasps. The loudest one being from Eura.

"Gago ka, Maki!"

"Anong ginawa ko?! Humindi nga ako okay!" Maki seems to be defending with his life.

"Can you all move quicker? There's a time limit and we're not even halfway these rocks!" Marcella shouted which became a wake-up call.

Tumingala ako sa kung saan nakalagay ang city mission at number of players. True enough, the countdown of one hour has now appeared. Wala ito kanina pero siguro'y nastart ito no'ng simulan ko ang mission. Now there's only an hour for us to cross this really long rock bridge.

Marcella's statement made the other players go frantic. Lalo na at nandoon pa rin sila sa island. Some were already blinded with anger that they're pressuring us to go on, dahil hindi pa sila nakakatapak sa mga bato.

I wonder why it was our fault they didn't take initiative in the first place.

I grabbed Maki and crossed the small shadow bridge with him. Mabilis siyang kumalas sa magkahawak naming kamay na parang napaso. Hindi ko na rin kinuha ang kunai at shadow para sa mga sumusunod. They might need it after all.

Maki and I continued on jumping between rocks. He wasn't very affected since his character is flowing with air magic. Hindi niya nga lang ito magamit ng maayos dahil nade-deactivate ng city wind iyon. It's much stronger and advance than his power. Sa akin naman, I have my shadow magic to help me move between rocks. Ngunit hindi rin siya gaano kalakas dahil sa lakas ng hangin.

When we reached the middle of the path, the wind grew stronger. Napakapit ako sa kinatatayuang bato. I couldn't even open my eyes at the pressure and it feels like one small movement would blow me away. Medyo malayo pa mula sa'kin ang bato.

"Shit!" Maki cursed beside me. "How can we even move from here?! Parang nasa loob na tayo ng isang hurricane!"

"Be glad there isn't any flying debris or we would be dead already. We can move but we have to do it slowly. Maling galaw lang at pwede tayong mahulog."

The voice of Theo made me look back. Nakatayo siya sa batong nasa likod ko at ginagamit ang mala-ice niyang magic to cover his feet and ground him. Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa at binigyan niya ako ng maliit na ngiti. I returned my own small smile. It's been a long time since I've seen him.

He slightly stumbled to the left when Wes landed beside him, unreadable eyes watching me intensely. Iniwas ko ang tingin at inobserbahan ang distansya mula sa sunod na rock.

It wasn't too far, really. The problem was how I should jump.

Naningkit ang mata ko sa end ng pathway. It was a single small rock probably one a half jump away from a bigger rock na malapit na sa island. Mula sa amin ay dadaan ka pa sa mahigit benteng bato, at kung tama ang mapipili mong talunan, mabilis na lang makarating doon.

Naririnig ko ang pagtawag at pagmamadali nila sa'kin. I wanted to answer them that they're free to jump ahead and not wait for me. Hindi lang naman ang batong tinatapakan ko ang tanging bato dito. There are tons of big rocks beside me so there's really no problem if they leave me here. I'm not their leader to be followed.

"Mauubos na ang oras namin! Hindi pa ba kayo mauuna diyan?!" isang sigaw mula sa likod.

"Kung ayaw niyong mabuhay, kami gusto namin!" dagdag nila.

"Aba, putangina, e'di mauna kayo! Wala namang pila dito, mga tanga! Kung gusto namin magstay muna dito, pake niyo sa trip naming magpahangin ha. Tanginang mga 'to, parang kasalanan ko pang namatay sila eh andaming bato diyan na pwede talunan." Eura shouted back, equally as angry.

There were silence after that and a minute passed but no one still moved. Until I heard a loud curse followed by some shouting.

Napasinghap si Maki nang dumaan ang isang mabilis na shadowed figure sa tabi namin. The guy continued, almost grinning now that he's gone past anyone and is the first to cross the bridge. He's probably thinking about the benefit he'll gain. And that greed will stop him from noticing the breaking rock he was about to step foot in.

"Sandali, huwag diyan-!" Maki's warning was too late when the guy landed on the rock.

Nilingon niya kami na may simangot ang mukha. Tiningnan niya ang batong kinatatayuan at mapaklang tumawa. "Hoy, bakla, namamalik-mata ka na ba? Bakit naman huwag dito? Sorry na lang sa inyo ng sparrow na 'yan, ako ang mauuna sa benefit-"

Lalong lumaki ang crack sa bato hanggang sa tuluyan itong mawasak. Nanlaki ang mata niya sa realisasyon. He held his hand out to us, eyes begging to help him, but it was too late.

He was falling.

A scream tore out from the rest of the players.

Maki cursed and averted his eyes. Kahit na gustuhin ko ring iiwas ang tingin, hindi ko magawa. Malapit ko nang makompleto ang ginagawang daanan.

"Ano bang ginagawa ni Finn? Is she making a plan for us to safely get out of here?" I could hear Sapphire asking.

There was a beat before Wes answered, "Yes. She's making a way."

"Gaano pa ba katagal 'yang paggawa niya?!" may naghihisterikal na tanong. "There's only 30 minutes before this path breaks and we can't cross this bridge in that short amount of time! Kailangan na nating umalis!"

"E'di umalis ka nga! Ang titigas naman ng mga ulo niyo, ano ba 'yan. Nakita mo naman ang ginawa no'ng kuya kanina 'di ba? Ayun at nahulog!"

"Mas mabuti pang mamatay nang may ginagawa kaysa maghintay sa wala!"

What the girl said raised some supporters and three more players passed by us. They almost got halfway through nang malipad ang isa ng hangin. Napakalakas ng naging sigaw niya nang bigla siyang hampasin paalis sa bato. Another player on the left didn't make the right jump because of her panic kaya nahulog siya. At ang naglider sa kanila ay tumapak sa maling bato kaya nahulog din ito.

I narrowed my eyes at that section of rocks. They were easily breakable and not sturdy at all. Kailangang hindi mabigat ang pagtapak at mabilis lang. It cannot handle a single person, lalo na kung matagal pa sa isang segundo ang pagtayo nito. That's also where the pressure of the wind is the highest.

However, a sturdy looking rock is also situated near it. Hindi lang siya masyadong kita dahil maliit ito. Normally, anyone would pick the bigger rocks because they're logically harder to break. But looking at the texture from here, mas mabuti kung doon tatalon sa maliit na bato at gamitin iyon bilang support kapag dadaan sa mga fragile rocks.

My eyes darted from rock to rock, forming different pathways in my head and generating the fastest time for each path. Nang ma-analyze ko ito ay humugot ako ng malalim na hininga. It also seemed like a sign for Maki because he became alert, watching my movements with hawk eyes.

Then, I jumped.

And jumped. And jumped.

I didn't even know if they could follow my movements because I maxed my speed. I passed the breakable rocks section with ease, connecting my shadows to the small sturdy rock for easier access and throwing myself to the bigger rock. Sa bilis ay hindi ko masyadong naramdaman ang bugso ng hangin.

When I landed, I looked back and saw them matching my pace, although with difficulties. Maki gave me a tired but satisfied smile when he landed, and the rest looked very exhausted.

Gusto ko ngang iremind sa kanila na kaka-kalahati pa lang namin pero ayoko naman silang bawasan ng will to live. Tsaka sigurado akong sinasampal na ng distansya ngayon ang katotohanan tungkol sa mission na 'to.

"Finn, tell me," Maki frowned. "Nagteleport ka ba?"

Umiling ako. There was no such magic or benefit.

"Ito naman, joke 'yon. Ang seryoso mo."

Nang marinig na joke 'yon ay dalawang beses akong tumawa kay Maki. He pouted upon hearing my "haha."

I placed my hand out in advance. "Meant it."

"Siguraduhin mo lang." maldita niyang saad sabay ikot ng mata.

A shrill scream from the rest of the players made me narrow my eyes. Sunod-sunod iyon at parang nagkakagulo na sila. At nagulat na lang ako nang makita kung ano iyon.

Hindi ako makapaniwala sa ginagawa niya. There were free rocks beside the others pero pinili ng isang lalaking player ang mga batong kinatatayuan nila. At tinutulak niya ang mga ito kada pagtalon. He was pushing them aside in order to get ahead.

"Hoy! Huwag kang manulak!"

"Pigilan niyo nga ang lalaking 'yan! Baka may mahulog na sa'tin ngayon!

"Someone stop that guy!"

But he didn't slow down. No.

Tanging sa kabilang isla lang nakatuon ang mga mata niya kaya hindi niya pinansin na mas malakas na ang pagtulak niya sa isang player. The girl staggered, trying to gain her balance. Ngunit sadyang napakarahas ng hangin at hinampas siya nito sa ilalim ng kawalan.

-chapter end-