I'm so so so so sorryyy. But thank u thank u for waitinggg!

-chapter seventy-two-

FINN

How strange.

Umatras ako't hindi naman niya ako pinigilan. He didn't even move an inch. Wes just stood there, staring at me like he was waiting for something.

Gusto kong malaman kung anong hinihintay niya mula sa'kin, pero mas naabala ako sa pinagsasabi niya. Nakakasurpresang marinig kapag galing ka lang sa isang mahirap na laban at kaaway mo halos lahat ng players dito.

"Anong..." napailing ako sa sarili dahil parang hindi tama ang tanong na 'yon. "You know, right?"

He's part of the alliance who hates me the most. Mula pa noon, paborito na nila akong topic, with Amnesia being the ring-leader. So I wouldn't be surprised if an issue as controversial as this would reach Wes' ears.

"Yes." he answered in a heartbeat. "Did you think I would believe it?"

Past memories started to flooded within me. Ang mga sinabi niya mula noon and his strong loyalty towards me - which is actually unexplainable. Akala ko pa noong una he's out for my life because he was so intimidating.

But looking back now, most of his actions were made to protect me. To prevent me from running into someone else.

Did I think he would believe it? I don't know. I've... I've actually never thought about their opinions anymore. I wasn't one to ponder over it anyways, so even with the sudden hatred, I wasn't too preoccupied with my own 'image'. But I was concerned about the justice of my friend's death.

Tahimik lang naman ako, hindi bulag.

"Do you not trust me?" he asked after a long beat of silence.

Nanatili ang titig ko sa kaniya. Para sa'kin mahirap at matagal magawa ang pagtitiwala. And there's no such thing as trusting someone one-hundred percent. Kahit na ako pa siguro ang pinakamabait na tao sa mundo, I'd still have doubts over people in my mind. Or maybe... it's just a matter of environment?

But trust. I do trust someone. Unfortunately, one of them is dead and the two couldn't speak to me.

And Wes, he's not someone I really trust but there's this gut feeling that I could depend on him. Pero, paano mo nga ba malalaman kung totoo ang intensiyon ng isang tao? What if the display of trust was just a trick to lure me? A bait?

I mean, he knows I have the mark.

"We don't know each other well." sagot ko. "Trust. It's a big responsibility."

Ilang segundong dumaan ang katahimikan sa'min. I thought I finally got him speechless and he would back down from whatever plan this may be, ngunit nagulat ako nang bigla siyang tumagilid at pilit na tinatago ang namuong ngiti sa labi.

I've always been wondering this ever since I met him, pero mayroon nga ba talagang posibilidad na baliw si Wes?

I mean, he's a genius. And geniuses tend to be crazy.

He pretended to cough, hiding his still-smiling mouth beneath a palm, before slowly turning to look at me. Hindi naman no'n natago ang amusement na sumasayaw sa mata niya.

"Are you okay?"

He held up a hand, gesturing a 'no', but his shoulder trembled and a low, amused chuckle left him. The tip of his ears were also going a tint red. Pero hindi ko maalalang nagjoke ako, and I am very certain asking someone if they're okay is no means to laugh.

"It's just-" panimula niya sabay tikhim. "This is probably the longest conversation we had."

Tapos?

Wes slowly uncovered his mouth, the ghost of a smile still present in his lips. "I'm happy."

What is with people and their surprised happiness whenever I talk for too long? Maybe June should just follow this technique in order to be admired.

"Although, that may be true for you, Finn. Sa akin hindi." Wes added, commenting on my trust remark. "You don't know me well. But I do."

"Know me well?"

"Mm."

Naningkit ang mata ko sa kaniya. Aside from meeting physically here in RWO, the only interaction we had was in games where we played a character. Paano niya naman ako makikilala ng mabuti?

My eyes widened at the sudden realization. Hindi kaya stalker siya?!

"I am not a stalker." Wes deadpanned.

Ah, right. He's always been able to read me so thoroughly. Could it be na talagang nakakabasa siya ng utak?

"I'm not a psychic as well."

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. "Paano mo alam anong iniisip ko?"

"You are very obvious to read. For me, I suppose." Wes then tilted his head to the side, a sly smirk slowly forming. "Siguro it's just because I know you very well."

"Creepy." sagot kong nagbura ng amusement sa mukha niya.

"But back to the subject, I would never believe such a thing. You see, sparrow, I only believe what I see for myself. At hanggang naniniwala akong hindi mo 'yon kayang gawin at hindi ko rin nakitang ginawa mo, you are as clean and pure as a dove to me."

Was it the serious voice or the determined eyes that made me go still? Hindi rin ako sure. Ang tanging nasisigurado ko lang ay parang may nawalang mabigat sa dibdib ko nang marinig ang mga katagang 'yon. It feels like I was chained these past few hours and now they're being cut off. Higit sa lahat, parang nakakahinga na rin ako ng maluwag.

Having someone verbally tell you that they believe in you brings a different kind of warmth.

And maybe, maybe, it also erases the doubt that I have in my mind. The constant accusations and hatred thrown were starting to make me feel suffocated, to the point where I felt like drowning in the water realm back there. Kasi kahit na hindi man ako ang pakana kay Caspian at Depore, I did blame myself for their deaths. For not being quick enough to save them. And what if I was truly responsible for the death of my best friend?

Bago ko pa masagot si Wes ay narinig ko ang paparating na mga yapak. Along them were various voices, some familiarly hostile while others just 'familiar'.

"Wes."

The name was called in a distant and cold manner. Just from the voice, I could tell it was Marcella. Hindi ako lumingon at tinitigan lang si Wes na hindi rin inalis ang tingin sa'kin.

When he didn't budge for another second, pinanlakihan ko siya ng mata. He shifted his focus to Marcella and answered in a monotone voice.

"You've finished?"

"You left your group." sagot ng kausap. Nakita kong lumapit si Marcella at grupo niya sa'min. "Hinahanap mo ba siya?"

Nang makita ko ang hesitance ni Wes sa pagsagot ay ako na ang humarap kay Marcella. I spotted a familiar alliance at the back, staring at us, but I didn't mind them for now.

"Accidentally met each other."

"Napakagandang coincidence naman. Ano kayo tinadhana?" komento nang hindi namang involved na si June.

"That would be such a tragedy." another player said out loud, disgust evident in her voice. "Napakagwapo at talino ni Wes para mapunta lang kay Finn."

"Matalino at maganda din naman si Finn-" the man who said that was instantly hushed after a thousand glares was directed his way.

"What are you doing here, Marcella? And why is that alliance with you?" tukoy ni Wes kina Kairo na nagmamasid lang sa likod.

Bakit ba ang liit ng city na 'to at kailangang magkita-kita kami? It feels so awkward to breathe the same air as them.

"We're regrouping to modify our current plan." sagot ni Marcella. "Tatlong zodiacs pa lang ang napapatay natin. The other group who battled against Leo wasn't able to come back. The rest of us are heavily injured. Killing nine more would eliminate a whole lot of us."

Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi niya. I glanced at the monitor above and found that there really was a decrease from the number of players now. Now we're less than a hundred - 97 players left on a game of survival. Below the players count was the twelve set of door icons - four in gray, and the remaining eight lighting up in red.

The difficulty of a sign may lie on its superiority. Leo was always thought to be the king, the leader, and the players who ran unto that monster were truly unfortunate.

"Correction, Marcella, it's four." nagulat ako nang marinig ang boses ni Kairo. "Four zodiacs have already been killed."

Marcella did not offer any answer, but her eyes drifted towards me, running up and down my injured body. Mukhang nagets din ng mga kasama niya dahil ilang mata rin ang dumapo sa'kin.

June scoffed. "Well, I guess we have someone who would willingly solo-kill all these zodiacs."

"Will you be willing to ride in her solo-kills? Would your pride let you?"

Ngumisi si June sa tanong ni Wes. "Which side are you on, strategist? Have you forgotten where your alliance is standing?"

"Are you really defending her, Wes?" tanong ng isang babae. "Sigurado akong nabrainwash ka lang ng babaeng 'yan! Ang dami niyang nagawang masama. You shouldn't be with the likes of her!"

Dapat po ba sa'yo?

Sinulyapan ko si Wes pero nanatiling bato ang mukha niya. Kailan kaya magkakaroon ng emosyon ang taong 'to kapag kausap ang iba?

I gave a small sigh, stepping away from Wes. "He's not with me. I work alone."

"Ang yabang pa, my gosh!" the girl complained, flipping her hair with force.

June scoffed. "You're very talkative these days, Finn. Kung ako ang tatanungin, mukhang nagiging defensive ka na minsan."

"Pero hindi ka tinanong." medyo naiirita ko nang sagot kay June.

Nakakainis naman kasi. Kapag hindi ako nagsasalita, papagsalitain nila. Kapag naman marami akong nasabi than usual, mayroon namang bagong reklamo. I know June can never be satisfied with everything I do, so can she just keep quiet?

Although my hostile remark may have done me more damage than good, dahil parang ibibitay na nila ako ng buhay. I was about to turn around and walk away when Marcella called my name.

"Stay." she ordered. "We need everyone to be here. The meeting will be about finding the thirteenth zodiac."

Ako?

"Are you suggesting that we focus on searching for them instead of killing the zodiacs?" tanong ni Wes.

"Tama ka. I understand that it's brutal and it goes against our morals, however, killing one player as of now would prevent us from sacrificing even more." Marcella gave a light shrug. "Look at it as an act of utilitarianism."

Kill one to save a hundred, huh. It's a controversy. A wrong action for a good deed. It's morally wrong, but it is reasonable.

"Isa pa, kung wala ka namang tinatago, e'di walang problema!" dagdag ni Amnesia. "There's no need to be nervous then!"

"It's also different from Finn's crimes. We're only killing a person to save a dozen more, she killed a person for her own gain."

My lips formed into a grim line. My name sure is popular. Kahit saan may connection.

"Wow, hindi ko alam kung saan nanggaling ang komento mo, girl, pero napakalayo naman sa current objectives natin, ano? Kanina ka pa talak ng talak nang makita mong magkasama 'yong dalawa. Normalize saying out loud na nagseselos kayo, 'di 'yong parinig-rinig pa."

As always, Eura's loud and unfiltered mouth is enough to silence the girl.

"So you're going to look for the mark in our bodies?" Kairo remarked, a teasing smirk appearing in his face. "How very subtle of your desires, Marci."

"I'll let the person you hate the most look at your body."

"Oh, please do." Kairo's amused eyes flickered towards me. "Baka pasalamatan kita hanggang mamatay ka."

"Pero how do we know what the mark looks like?" Sapphire asked. "I mean, may mga tao ditong may tattoo and if it looks like such, how can we differentiate it?"

That's an interesting point. Wala nga namang nakakaalam talaga ng itsura ng marka. Even I don't know what it looks like. Lalo na't nasa likod ko siya. Although, I have a feeling that it's rather large and very obvious once seen.

"Well, each tattoo has a story, we'll just have to ask them which is which." sagot ni Marcella. "If this doesn't work, then, I'm certain Finn and Wes have a plan in mind."

Sapphire's eyes landed on us. Feels like it's been so long since I actually got eye to eye with them.

"Talaga?! Ano naman iyon?"

"The discussion will come once this fails." Wes answered, nodding at me before walking towards Marcella.

Hindi nagtagal ay nagrupo-grupo na ang mga tao. Dapat ay babae ang magi-inspekta sa katawan ng kapwang babae at gano'n din sa lalaki, kaya naman sobrang naguluhan ako nang makita si Kairo sa harap.

From the audience, I can feel Wes' unwavering and dark gaze. Panay din ang sulyap ni Gavin at ng iba pa sa banda namin. After all we're the only boy-girl pair here, and I really don't know what Marcella is thinking.

Is this to shame me? To harass me? Ano ang point ng pagpartner sa'min?

Don't tell me tinotoo niya talaga ang sinabi kanina na ipa-pair up niya si Kairo sa taong ayaw na ayaw nito?

Once again, how strange. From our first meeting down to every interactions I had with him, I have never seen Kairo look this cold and distant with me. There should always be a teasing smile, a sly smirk, or amused eyes. Now he can't even meet my eye.

Masakit.

"I'm pretty sure the mark wouldn't be in any intimate places so you can check my upper body. The tattoos are all the same though. No additions." aniya at biglang hinubad ang t-shirt.

Nakatitig pa rin ako sa mukha niya. "'m sorry."

I'm sorry I wasn't able to help her.

I'm sorry that I was the cause of her death.

I'm sorry that I ran away at that time.

I'm sorry that I'm weak.

"For looking at my body? No need, I'm proud of it." bigla siyang tumalikod, probably to make me inspect his back.

Hindi ako sumagot at makalipas ang ilang minuto nang pagtayo naming dalawa ay hinarap niya ako. He raised a brow at me, crossing his arms.

"What? You're done?"

Well, wala naman akong kailangang i-inspect kasi ako naman ang thirteenth zodiac.

"Or are you only going to look for the mark if I said I forgave you?"

"None." tugon ko. "Walang marka."

Tinaasan niya lang ako ng kilay bago lumapit. "Then shall I do my inspection now?"

To be killed for the survival of many. A life for a hundred. I think that it's actually a good payment for all the sins I've done.

Tumango ako, raising my still-injured arms above.

This is not a sacrifice. It's a retribution.

Maybe if I die now, the death of the others that I caused would be justified.

Nang matapos i-inspekta ni Kairo ang kamay ko ay gumalaw ako para hubarin sana ang coat na binigay ni Wes. But before I could do so, Kairo's hand shot up to stop me, holding the coat with a tight grip.

"I suggest you keep that coat on."

Natigilan ako. Inayos ni Kairo ang coat ni Wes na tinatago ang kabuuan ng likod ko. For the first time, ever since lumapit siya sa'kin, his gray eyes met mine.

"Otherwise we'd be in trouble, Finn. Or should I say, the thirteenth zodiac?"

-chapter end-

Kairo arc na ba this.