-chapter one-

FINN

"Guys, as you can recall from our experiment last Monday, may difference sa pagset ng gelatin kapag fresh pineapple juice and if naboil na ito. This is because of the enzyme that is present in pineapple. A protease called bromelain. It digests the protein and the chain collapses so our solution becomes watery again. Hindi nagset-up ang gelatin."

Kinagat ko ang ibabang labi at pinagpatuloy ang pagpindot sa phone. The boss for the final level was already at its third life. Pinatayo ko muli ang character ko at sunod-sunod na umatake, creating a combo streak.

"The difference between our fresh pineapple juice and boiled one is the presence of heat. Bromelain inactivates once it's heated up kaya nasolidify ang ating solution and the gelatin set up. Do you get it now guys? Kaya usually hindi ginagamit ang pinya sa gelatin, kasi wala itong epekto. However, as discussed, you can use it when boiled or if it's canned."

Napangiti ako nang bumaba na sa isa ang life ng boss. Naging red na ang HP bar nito habang orange pa rin ang sa'kin. I delivered another critical hit, putting the boss on a knock-out.

"Next monday, we'll look at the catalase enzyme. So better read or research in advance about this. Also try to know kung ano ang role nito sa body natin. We're going to have a quiz on Wednesday."

The class groaned while I gave a final kick that finally killed the boss. Yes!

"Class dismissed."

Mabilis akong tumayo at inunahan pa ang guro sa paglabas sa classroom. Nakatutok pa rin ako sa phone ko't sinusulat ang mga atakeng nagawa para malaman kung paano mas mapapabilis ang pagpatay sa boss. Naubos ko ngayon ang buong klase namin na two hours, I should try to finish the boss in an hour next time.

"Finn!"

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad nang marinig ang pangalan. Naibaba ko ang cellphone na hawak. Nakatayo si Gavin sa harap ko at nakasabit sa kaliwang balikat niya ang bag. He's still wearing his football team uniform kaya siguradong kakatapos niya lang magpractice.

"Hm?" mahina kong tanong.

Ngumisi siya. "Sabay na tayong umuwi!"

Kumunot ang noo ko. Bakit siya nag-aaya ngayon e' sabay naman kami laging umuuwi. Sinagot ko na lang siya ng isang tango. My attention went back to my phone.

"Naglaro ka na naman ba ulit sa class ni Sir Armin?"

I pursed my lips. His class is boring. Alam ko naman ang mga pinapaliwanag niya sa gitna kaya hindi ko na kailangang makinig ng maigi. Besides, there's a reason to why he never calls me out. It's because I can always ace his test.

"Dapat hindi mo na 'yon ginagawa. A student should always listen to the teacher and vice versa! Gano'n ang sekreto para sa isang mabuting relasyon. Communication will not exist if only one of you is talking and the other is not listening."

Napatigil ako sa pagpindot. Ini-angat ko ang tingin sa kaniya. Gavin grinned at me.

"I bet Gavin had to take after-class lessons for his Comm subject kaya siya ganiyan. Hindi naman niya naalala mga tinuturo kung hindi bago lang."

Napatingin ako sa babaeng sumulpot sa tabi ko. Reñee Villamor walked her charms and glory. Nakabraid ang maganda at blonde niyang buhok. May flower pins na sigurado'y bigay ng mga suitors niya. Tumutunog ang kaniyang heels sa bawat paghakbang.

"Not to mention that he's not in the position to scold Lily when he's also sleeping in his subjects."

Napabaling ako sa panibagong boses. Sebastian walked beside the now furious Gavin. Nang makita ang iritadong mukha ng kaibigan ay ngumisi lamang siya't itinaas ang salamin. May dala siyang limang libro na siguro'y uubusin niya naman ngayong basahin.

"I just thought of sharing it!" depensa ni Gavin sa sarili. "Malay mo makatulong pa kay Finn ang nalaman ko."

Inakbayan ako ni Reñee at nginisian niya si Gavin. "Poor you. Finn can play all she wants but still get the highest grade. You're a different case."

Ngumuso si Gavin at napahawak sa dibdib.

"Now, Ree. You're hurting me."

Reñee stucked her tongue out.

"I do listen." mahinang sabi ko at natigilan sila. "Even though I'm playing, I listen."

Mas lalong humaba ang nguso ni Gavin sa sinagot ko at natatawa siyang sinuntok ni Sebastian.

"You're worried about the wrong friend." wika ni Baste. "You should worry about yourself."

"Hoy wala na akong line of seven 'no! Tapos konti na lang hindi passing na tests ko!" biglang itinuro ni Gavin si Reñee. "'Yan nga laging absent eh!"

Kumunot ang noo ni Baste. "Oo nga 'no. You're always absent but how come hindi ka pa napa-dean's office?"

Lumiko kami nang makalabas sa school gates. Medyo maraming sasakyan na ngayon ang dumadaan sa kalsada dahil tag-uwian na. Students also rushed out of the school, excited to do their after-school hangouts. Bicycles beeped us on the sidewalk, begging to pass.

"Well, because I am Reñee." ipinakita niya ang ngiting pangcontest.

We blankly stared at her. I can't see any difference. Nor any reason why she will be exempted.

Reñee sighed. "Hindi kayo natatablan kasi magkakilala na tayo mula bata."

That's true. The three of them are my friends since we still crawled. Magkakatabi lang kasi ang mga bahay namin at magkakaibigan ang mga magulang. The students at our school were always confused as to how we got along when we all belong in different worlds.

Charles Gavin Reyes is a known jock. Naglalaro siya para sa football team ng school na nakakaabot na sa Nationals. Lagi siyang pinalilibutan ng mga babae dahil sa gwapo at sporty.

Frances Reñee Villamor is the campus queen. She's a socialite and has every man on her knees. Palaging latest fashion ang mga suot niyang damit.

Sebastian Seralda is the campus' weapon on quizzes and contests. Matalino at laging babad sa libro. He's always at the library every break.

And lastly, me, a girl who's considered a loner and is always hooked to her games. Walang nagtatangkang lumapit sa'kin sa eskwelahan maliban na lamang sa kanilang tatlo o di kaya'y ang mga nagiging grupo ko sa subjects.

So really seeing us together always baffle people. Especially when Gavin finishes his practice early, Reñee doesn't join her squad's hangouts and Sebastian leaves his club early to walk home with me.

"Don't have to do this always. I can walk home on my own." sabi ko sa kanila.

Tumingin lamang ang tatlo sa'kin bago humagalpak sa tawa. Reñee grinned and linked both our arms.

"We know. But it's more fun doing this kaya! Ito na ang ating rule mula pagkabata, hindi ba?" her eyes twinkled. "Walang iwanan."

Tumango-tango si Baste. "Besides, mabuti nga 'to at makakakuha pa kami ng ulam kay Tita Layla! Ahh! Ang sarap pa naman lagi ng luto niya."

"You just came for food." nakasimangot kong wika.

"Bonus ka na lang." Gavin added and pinched my cheek.

Pinalis ko ang kamay niya at inilagay ang phone sa bag. Pagkatapos ay mabilis akong tumakbo. Narinig ko ang pagsigaw nila sa likod at ang paghabol nila sa'kin. Nauwi kami sa tawanan nang magkasabay. The bright blue sea stretched on our left.

"Hayy." Gavin sighed as we slowed down. "Sayang at hindi na natin muli 'to magagawa kapag college."

Bumagsak ang balikat ko nang marinig 'yon. College...

Sinipa ni Reñee ang likod ng paa niya. "Tanga! Siyempre magagawa pa rin natin 'to. Hello, we just live in the same neighborhood!"

"Kasi 'di ba lilipat na ata sina Gavin?" tanong ni Baste. "Hindi ba't may scholarship ka sa city?"

Ang city na tinutukoy ni Baste ay ang sentro talaga ng syudad. Our village is located in the outskirts of the city where businesses are more mellow and bustling cars are limited. Iisa lang din ang eskwelahan namin sa kolehiyo at state college pa ito. Gavin received an athletic scholarship in one of the prominent universities here.

Napatingin kaming lahat kay Gavin na naging seryoso ang mukha. "Oo nga. Pero pwede ko lang naman kunin ang malapit na-"

Muli siyang nakatanggap ng batok kay Reñee at Baste. To participate, mahina ko ring hinampas ang braso niya.

"Bobo! You should take that scholarship, 'no!" Reñee huffed and crossed her arms. "Hindi lahat ng atleta binibigyan no'n. Sikat pa naman na eskwelahan 'yon."

"Mm." sang-ayon ko. "You can still visit when you miss us."

"Oh ayan!" malakas na tawa ni Baste. "Aalis na 'yan!"

Gavin pushed and frowned at all the teasing but there was gratitude in his eyes. Lalo na nang magtama ang tingin naming dalawa.

"Oo nga pala. Ikaw Finn," kinabahan ako nang nahulog sa'kin ang mata ng tatlo. "Ano plano mo para sa college?"

Natigilan ako. College, huh. Truth be told, I actually don't have any plans for it. Wala akong mapiling kurso pero alam ni Tita na pwede lang akong kumuha ng kung ano. I tried asking her for any course she wants me to take but she wanted me to follow my heart.

I couldn't argue with that. Lalo na't alam kong marami akong kabatch ngayon na siguro'y pinipilit lamang ng magulang nila na kunin ang ganitong kurso. College is not primarily about reaching the top anymore, it's about surviving in your chosen field. And blooming in a field you were forcefully planted is very hard.

Taking a course that you are not passionate about will make the four years harder.

The problem is, I can't think of any course I want to take in college.

Inilagay ko ang huling nahugasang plato at pinagpagan ang kamay. I told my parents I'm done before heading to my room. The candle I've lit for them is still burning brightly in the living room. Inilock ko ang pinto at dumiretso sa ikalawang desk ko.

I had two desks. The first one is used for my school purposes. Nandoon ang study lamp ko, ballpen pouch, journals and books. The other desk had all the things I consider as my passion.

Games.

Isang malaking black na gaming chair para hindi masakit sa likod ko. Three computer screens and two keyboards. Ini-on ko ang LED lights bago binuksan ang computer.

I opened the game I'm currently streaming and skimmed the discord chat. Ang isa ay tungkol lamang sa guild raid na mangyayari sa susunod na araw. The other was a private message.

Eura
Hey, Sparr. May email rin ba na sinend yung BBG sayo? About daw sa new game nila?

I frowned. BBG? Big Box Games? That's a famous company that earned billions from the first launch of it's game. Pero I don't think they've sent anything so I replied her with 'wala'.

I opened my camera with a black patch over the lens. Ini-open ko ang current na nilalarong game at nagsimula sa pagstream. Fifteen minutes after starting, umabot na sa five-hundred thousand ang viewers ko.

I was currently attacking the Minotaur's Circle in solo. Pinapakita ko sa kanila kung paano matapos ang level na ito.

"Tip is to always dodge. Level 30 's enough to solo kill this dungeon. P'ro dahil maliit pa ang HP natin at malakas ang bawat atake ng Minotaur, kailangan laging dodge."

Kumunot ang noo ko nang makitang ang ibang chat sa stream ay tungkol sa isang invitation rin. May connection ba ito sa sinabi ni Eura?

I let my character run while the boss was doing its skill.

"Dito, kailangang tingnan kung saan nakaharap ang boss. 's where the skill will first appear. Ang sunod na gagawin ay tumakbo lang pakaliwa. Don't stop circling until skill disappears then jump far back dahil mags-stomp 'to ng tatlong beses which will create wind waves."

Nang tatlong beses akong magjump back ay muli akong pumagilid. Napapasulyap pa rin ako sa pinag-uusapan nila sa chatbox.

"Dodge either to left or right because it will appear in front of you next to deliver a frontal strike." I continued. "By this time, dapat 2x life na ang minotaur. Madali na rin ang pagpatay sa kaniya kasi malapit na sa one-fourth ang life."

The invitation conversation was later drowned in a thousand of congratulation and thank you messages, as well as admiration quotes. Napangiti ako dahil do'n.

"Maganda 'pag 'di mauulit ng tatlong boses ang ultimate. Kahit na lagi kang iiwas, your reflexes and concentration will lower once you accumulate damage. Kaya always dodge and attack. 'Dali lang 'to, kaya na sa twenty minutes. That's all sa solo killing tips today kasi may sunrise event pa 'ko. Salamat!"

Pinatay ko ang stream at nag-inat. There were already close to 700k streams before I ended. Napangiti ako sa mga messages na nagflood at binasa iyon isa isa.

Natigilan lamang ako nang isang notification ang lumabas sa window ko. I raised a brow at that. An email from BBG.

I opened the message. Napaawang ang labi ko nang mabasa ito. Is this the game that is currently circulating online?

Subject: You Are Invited To Be A Beta Tester!
From: Big Box Games
To: blacksparrow@ gmail.com

Hi! We have seen your gameplays and streams. You are one of the treasured gamers in this generation and so we are pleased to invite you to become a beta-tester for our new game, Rogue Wars Online. Your comments, insights and critiques are very much welcome.

Rogue Wars Online (RWO) is an all-out action adventure game that revolves around moving cities and collection of Revolution Flags.

Revolution Flags are hidden in the city and must be taken to gain points. Points are computed for the Leaderboards that shows the strongest player, alliance and can be used for benefits and survival items. Each player has to survive their current city and find the exit to proceed to the next one.

If you are interested, please visit the nearest BBG Office and present this email to apply. You will be paid in your term of being our beta-tester. We hope to see you and hear your thoughts.

Help us create the perfect game.

Good day and thank you.

-chapter end-