-chapter thirty-four-

THIRD PERSON

There was a brief pause.

Then, everything happened so quickly that it horrified Finn.

Eura, who was munching on a leaf accidentally swallowed it. Napangiwi siya sa pangit na lasa nito pero hindi pa rin umaalis ang utak niya sa sinabi ni Finn. Kairo, who was eating an apple also bit and swallow a huge lump so ended up coughing. Si Oliver naman ay mukhang nagshut down na dahil nakatingin lang siya sa hangin.

Finn stepped back and almost everyone snapped out of their thoughts. Natakot siya nang sabay-sabay na magsalita ang mga ito.

Did everyone finally fell to insanity? She hazily thought.

"S-Sleep with-? Finn?!"

"Sandali lang, sandali lang, saan mo naman nalaman 'yan-"

"Wait, but can you just say that out in the open? Hindi ba't dapat-"

"Finn, anong sinabi mo? Bakit nasabi mo 'yan? At kay Kairo pa eh nandito ak-"

Oliver was smacked in the head. Courtesy of Eura.

"Finn, mahal ko." Eura with her usual endearment for the girl. "Alam mo bang ibig sabihin no'n-"

"Ba't mo ko hinampas?! Pero, saan mo ba narinig at nalaman 'yan, Finn? I've never thought you're the wild-"

"Putanginang Oliver, one more damn word from your fucking mouth and I'll burn it to shit."

It was effective in shutting Oliver up, although he still looked so stunned that Finn thinks he became a statue.

Tiningnan niya si Kairo na hindi na rin gumagalaw. When their eyes met, Kairo stuttered out a, "I-I... Shouldn't I take you out on a d-date first?"

Isang hampas din sa likod ang nakuha niya mula kay Eura. The girl's fuming like a mother hen whose baby was just stolen.

Finn is thinking about why Kairo would take her out on a date when there's no reason to.

"Wala ding take-out na date, tangnamo!" singhal ni Eura at tumingin sa nagtatakang si Finn. "Do you know what that means?"

Tumango si Finn. The meaning is so simple that it doesn't need complicated thinking. Kaya hindi niya alam kung bakit sobrang gulat sila. Sleep is a normal thing and everyone does it. What's so wrong about sleeping?

"Mm. Matulog."

The three rogues waited for Finn to elaborate further but all they got was a blink from the girl.

"Anong klaseng tulog?"

Finn frowned at Eura's question. May ibang klaseng tulog pa ba? Is she asking about the sleeping position?

Dahil hindi niya alam kung anong isasagot, Finn decided to show it through her action. She clapped her hands together and leaned her head on it, imitating a sleeping gesture. Pinikit niya pa sandali ang mata para ipakitang tulog nga.

Hindi naman balak ng tatlo na tumahimik pero wala silang nagawa at titigan ang babaeng rogue. They reasoned to themselves that it's alright to watch this cute scene as fondness covered their entire heart.

Bakit kaya hindi na lang pwedeng gawing keychain si Finn para madala nila kahit saan.

Finn's eyes fluttered open, frown marring her face because no one said a word. Kumunot ang noo niya. They all have this dumb look in their face.

"Sleeping." she explained.

Eura cleared her throat. "'Yon ang ibig mong sabihin, 'no? Na matulog kayo?"

Finn impatiently nodded her head. Ano bang gusto nilang marinig? Have they injured their brains that they couldn't understand what sleeping meant anymore?

Kairo let out a breath of relief, now moving that the issue was cleared. Parang nalunok niya kanina ang puso nang sabihin ni Finn 'yon. It's a good thing that he doesn't have heart ailments or he'll be in an attack right now.

Nakahinga din si Oliver at Eura. Pero may bumabagabag pa rin sa isipan nila.

"Bakit mo naman naisip na ang pagtulog ay makakatulong sa pag-increase ng magic, Finn?" Oliver asked.

Kairo also wants to ask that but his mouth is currently forgetting its function. Baka kung ano naman ang masabi niya. The date thing earlier was already bad.

"Joanne." simpleng sagot ni Finn.

Eura and Kairo stared blankly at Finn. Hindi nila alam kung sino ang Joanne na 'yon at bakit ito ang ginamit na sagot. But Oliver instantly got her answer. Naalala niya ang sinabi ni Joanne, kung paano niya natapos ang Magus Arena.

Although it never occured to Oliver that Finn will take it literally.

"Ah. Alam ko na." Oliver muttered, massaging his temples. "She didn't mean it like that, Finn."

Finn tilted her head. Ano naman pala ang ibig sabihin niya do'n?

"Bakit? Ano ba 'yon?" pangchi-chismis ni Eura.

"Naalala mo 'yong magkasintahan na nakasama namin kanina? Well, si Joanne at Jackson 'yon. Tas kasi nga sobrang pabuhat sila, tinanong ko kung paano nila natapos ang Magus Arena. Joanne said she slept with the people she fought." kibit-balikat na sagot ni Oliver.

Ngumiwi si Eura. Hindi niya maisip na may gagawa pa no'n pero medyo naiintindihan niya naman kung bakit. In this dangerous game of life and death, can everyone really keep their morals in while trying to survive? At some point some will eventually break and take hold of the knife.

Nakahinga ng maayos si Kairo pagkatapos marinig ang paliwanag. He briefly assumed if Finn's disinterest in boys was because of this surprising sexuality. Baka mga Joanne pala ang gusto nito.

"So," Kairo finally learned how to speak. "You thought that her 'sleeping' really meant sleeping?"

Finn huffed, a small pout forming in her lips. Kanina pa siya naiinis sa kanilang tatlo. They've been talking non-stop and when she finally suggested something on a topic they were discussing, they all looked like she just bombed them. Tapos ngayon panay pa sila ng tanong kung ang ibig bang sabihin ni Finn sa tulog ay tulog nga.

Hindi ba sila nauubusan ng laway o napapagod sa paulit-ulit na tanong? She's getting irritated and impatient. If there's something Finn doesn't know, bakit 'di na lang nila sabihin.

"Doesn't need to be Kairo and me," ani Finn. "Eura and Oliver can sleep too. Group sleepover."

The three of them cooed. Ngayong alam nilang iba ang ibig sabihin ni Finn, they can't help but think it's cute that she understands things literally. Siguro ay dulot na rin ng pagkastraight forward niya kaya hindi niya naiintindihan ang mga innuendo.

"Like I said, Finn. She didn't mean it like that." Oliver explained. "Besides, you can't get stronger by sleeping. You improve by training. Kaya nga hindi nakalaban si Joanna, 'diba?"

Finn stared at Oliver for a few moments, before nodding her head.

"Joanna meant what?" tanong niya.

Sinipat ni Eura si Oliver na parang nicha-challenge ito sa isasagot. Thankfully before he can answer and explain, they arrived at the end of the pathway. Tumikhim si Kairo at itinuro ang digital screen sa harap.

"Shouldn't we answer that first?"

Alam ni Finn na nililipat lang nila ang subject para hindi masagot ang tanong niya. She can see it from the way they fidget and move. Hinayaan niya na lang iyon dahil mukhang bumalik naman sila sa normal. If they ever encounter an enemy, she doesn't want them act like they're tiptoeing on thin ice.

Sinulyapan niya ang tatlo. Getting the answer from them will be hard. Hahanapin niya na lang si Caspian o Gavin pagkatapos nito dahil mas maayos na kausap ang mga 'yon.

O si Baste at Wes din, if Marcella isn't around to give her a death glare.

Natigilan si Finn nang maalala si Theo. It's been so long since she saw him. Ito pa naman ang unang taong nakilala niya sa game, na walang kinalaman sa kay Sparrow o sa totoong buhay niya. Theo also appears just when Finn need him, not in battle like Wes, but whenever she needs to make a decision.

"What is this..." bulong ni Oliver sa sarili na nakakuha ng atensiyon ni Finn.

Her eyes landed on the screen where a poem is written.

■■■

In the face of pain and grief, I stand tall.
I swallow the fear and face the end of it all.
The height is lulling but I will never fall.
While you run screaming danger, I have Death on call.

■■■

"Demonyo ba 'to at bakit katawagan niya si kamatayan?" natatawang komento ni Eura.

"Isa lang ba ang sagot dito? Why the fuck is Death even mentioned? And bakit 'I' ang gamit? Tao ba 'to?" sunod-sunod na tanong ni Oliver sa harap ng monitor.

"Anong akala mo at 'yan tinatanong mo? Pinoy henyo ba 'to?"

Kairo narrowed his eyes at the poem. He ran every line in his mind once again, testing them and pairing them with any word that comes to mind. Medyo naiisip niya kung Intellect ba ang hinahasang attribute sa game na 'to.

Finn stared at the words like they will eventually form into the answer. Inintindi niya ang unang linya kung saan tatayo pa rin ito at lalaban kahit na anong sakit ang itatapon. Ang ikalawang linyang nagsasabing lulunokin nito ang takot upang lumaban. Ang ikatlong linya na nagpapakitang kahit gaano pa kataas o kahirap, hindi siya matatakot na magpahulog. Na magrisk.

Ang ikaapat na linyang kahit na pangunahan ng takot ang kasama, haharapin niya ang kamatayan para sa pinaniniwalaan. Finn concluded that the running and screaming symbolized cowardice, which means...

Which means the rest must be about-

Finn stepped forwards, finger pressing the answer before anyone could answer. Dahil nga sa wala nang presensiya ang dalaga ay hindi siya naramdaman ng tatlo. Nagulat na lang sila nang magsalita si Finn.

"Courage." she answered and the screen dinged.

It makes sense. The first three lines described bravery against all odds, and the last was courage than cowardice. The three of them looked at Finn with amazement. Doon ka nga talag sa mga tahimik lang pero alam na pala ang sagot.

An 'Answer correct. You passed! Commencing action in 3... 2... 1...' appeared on the screen.

Inakala nilang iilaw muli ang kinatatayuan nila at magpapakita ang kung ano mang challenge to showcase their bravery. What they did not expect was the wall shifting, opening into another pathway. Eura was about to voice out her surprise when a movement caught their eye.

At the other side, a large predator stepped right out, fur and eyes threatening to anyone who steps in. The lion looks scarier than before, knowing that this must be the final boss.

Finn always needs time to deal with them.

"Uh. Pwedeng pass?" Eura asked, grimacing. "Hindi siya namamatay 'diba?"

Oliver nodded solemnly. "Basically an immortal bastard."

"We have to go inside or else we'll be punished." komento ni Kairo at itinuro ang isang floating orb na may oras. "We're being timed."

00:02:34 appeared atop the orb. Finn raised a brow at it. If it appeared the moment the wall shifted, then the clock must have started at three minutes. Napakabilis naman.

Finn wondered if the creator is very bored or hates humanity so much. Ang eager nitong mamatay.

"Can go in first." tukoy ni Finn sa sarili. "You'll follow after."

"Pero kung aatakehin lang natin siya, walang mangyayari. The lion won't die and I'm certain it'll win in a battle of endurance." ani Eura.

"We trap it. Kairo's dark magic-"

"It's Underworld." Kairo corrected with a smirk. "The weakest type but could win the Magus Arena without so much sweat, heh."

Inikot ni Eura ang mata sa pagyayabang ng lalaki. Of course, Kairo makes it a mission to chose the lowest or weakest form considered and show the world that it can be powerful if intended. Kahit na sa ibang laro ay ganito ang attitude niya, always sticking to weak players or using disadvantaged weapons. He still ends as the victor.

Tinanguan lang siya ni Finn at tinuloy ang planong ginagawa. "-Eura's fire to cover my shadow and encase him. Then, Oliver to make an air cage to disable movement."

"Kitten, why do you only talk so much when it comes to games or planning?" Kairo asked with a pout. "Kausapin mo naman ako tungkol sa panahon."

Finn frowned at the man. She pointed at the crimson sky, implying that there are no weathers in this realm.

"'s red." sagot niya sa panahon nitong tanong.

"Wow thanks, Finn. Hindi ko alam na kulay pula ang langit kasi nalunod na ako sa mga mata mo." nakangiting banat ni Oliver.

Kairo glared at him for stealing his opportunity to make some sly comments, pero mabuti na rin at nandito si Eura para hampasin ang lalaki.

"Please don't flirt with my baby while I'm here!" reklamo nito.

"Sige, hihintayin ka naming umalis- ouch."

And, really, Kairo shouldn't have said anything. Ang tapak na itinugon sa kaniya ni Eura ay napakasakit.

Finn decided to ignore the timer for now to face Oliver. Seryoso niyang tiningnan ang lalaki na napa-atras at namumula ang tainga. Oliver grew in an all-male household, at kahit na anong pagflirt niya sa mga tao, hanggang doon lang 'yon. He's never took things too far because he gets too easily flustered.

"Pay more attention to your surroundings."

Oliver stuttered at Finn's response to his flirty move. Her advise, however, made Kairo laugh kaya dumako sa kaniya ang mata ni Finn. Unlike Oliver, he received it calmly and even had the gall to smirk.

"Stop." saway ni Finn sa kaniya at itinuro ang leon sa likod. "Don't be too noisy. Lion will notice."

Huminto nga si Kairo sa pagtawa pero nasa labi niya pa rin ang malaking ngiti. Tinaas niya ang kamay na parang nagsu-surrender.

"I won't. I won't." he promised, then glanced at the clock behind Finn. "We should get going probably though. Or we'll be facing death in... thirty seconds."

"We'll be facing death either way, Kai." sarkastikong tugon ni Eura.

Finn closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. When she opened them, there was intense determination in her brown eyes. She stepped inside the lion's part of the maze, the timer instantly stopping as one of the players accepted the challenge. With a spin of her kunai, Finn walked further.

The lion couldn't feel her, that much she knows. But it can see her, eyes following her movements and step, feet slowly pacing along hers like there were on some kind of dance. Kanina pa ito nakatingin sa banda nila at naghihintay.

Naghihintay sa unang biktima.

But Finn would never be this lion's prey. She is not the victim of a predator.

Finn is a predator herself.

-chapter end-