-chapter twenty-five-

FINN

Taimtim kong tinitigan si Wes na nakaupo sa harap. The diner was quiet, walang masyadong manlalaro ang kumakain dito ngayon. Only Wes and I, along with four other people who are five table away from us.

Our table held five different dishes, all picked out by Wes. Tahimik siyang kumakain sa harap ko't paminsan-minsan ay sumusulyap sa banda ko para tingnan kung kumakain din ako. With a small, confused sigh, I picked up the small spoon and drank some soup.

Ano ba ang kailangan niya sa'kin? Lagi ko na lang siyang nakikita. Back then, we'd regard each other as strangers, pero ngayon he even treated me to meal, even though he said he wanted me to treat him.

I mentally frowned, still staring at Wes. What could he possibly want from me and what's going on in that head of his?

"If you want to say or ask something," panimula niya at marahang inilagay ang hawak-hawak na kutsara sa plato. "Do it."

"Did... Marcella order you?"

Wes scoffed, sounding a bit annoyed. "Why does everyone keeps on connecting my actions with her? Dahil siya ang leader ng alliance na sinasalihan ko, do I not have the luxury to go after my own interests anymore?"

I stared at him, dumbfounded. "Anong..."

Iniwas niya ang tingin at nagpakawala ng mabigat na buntong-hininga. "Never mind. What I mean is that my decision doesn't necessarily depend on Marcella. I have a mind of my own."

I blinked away, feeling a bit of shame. Siguro'y na-offend ko siya kanina nang itanong ko sa kaniya kung inutusan siya ni Marcella na gawin 'to. It's just... weird. How he is rumored to be Marcella's strategist and confidant, and usually does her orders.

Gusto ko siyang tanungin kung bakit. Alam kong may koneksiyon ito sa dating guild namin na Guilty Crown, but we're not that close for him to follow or talk to me here. We're past guildmates who are strangers now.

"...'M sorry."

Wes cleared his throat, taking a sip of his water while peeking at me atop the glass. "I told you to speak if you want to say something. Use your words when you're with me, Finn. Don't just tell me when you're being grateful or apologetic."

Bahagya akong napanguso. Is he doing this because I refuse to speak to him all those times in Guilty Crown?

"You let your errand boy follow you and even speak to his cousin a lot," Wes placed the glass down with a cold smirk. "You won't even let your old friend hear your voice?"

Old friend? Pero hindi naman kami magkaibigan kahit dati.

"What do you want?"

"I told you I want to eat with you."

Iyon nga lang ba? It's unusual for him to inviting me to a meal.

I bit my lip. "... Your motive? Talaga bang kinausap mo lang ako para kumain?"

Wes' smirk slightly widened and he leaned forward, making me straighten up in my seat. Sa lahat ng beses na nakita ko siya, his face was always set on a frown or is blank, kaya naman ang makitang ganito ay nakaka-surpresa.

"If I say I wanted to spend time with you, will you believe it?"

My eyes widened a bit from his straight-forward answer. I know he's only teasing kaya agad akong umiling. Bakit naman niya gugustuhing mag-aksaya ng oras kasama ko?

"You must have an ulterior motive."

Umayos ng upo si Wes at nawala rin ang ngisi sa mukha niya. Ginulo niya ang buhok kaya sandali kong nakita ang itim na piercing sa tainga niya. His face was, again, devoid of emotions as he breathed out an irritated sigh.

"Kagaya ng taga-bili mo? He also have ulterior motives, no?"

Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi ni Wes. Taga-bili? Iisang tao lang ba ito ng tinawag niyang 'errand boy' kanina? Pero sino naman kaya ito.

"I..." sandali akong natigilan. "Who...?"

"Who?"

"Taga-bili?"

Wes flicked his finger outside, uninterested. Sinundan ko ng tingin ang itinuro niya.

Nasa kalye si Caspian at may dala-dalang pagkain. Palinga-linga siya sa paligid na parang may hinahanap. His mouth was set on a confused frown and he seemed to be a bit agitated.

My lips parted as I realized what Wes meant. Anong taga-bili? Caspian's not my errand boy or anything, in fact, he's my mentor!

"Caspian is-" I started to exclaim but he cut me off.

"I always watch your videos."

Huh...?

What- I frowned at Wes. Kung hindi ko lang siya kilala, aakalain ko nang ngumunguso siya dahil nagtatampo. What does he hope to achieve by bringing that topic in the table?

"I watched it more than him." dagdag niya't iniwas muli ang tingin. "I'm the first person who recognized you."

Hindi ko pa rin alam kung bakit kailangan mo 'tong sabihin.

"I know." pabulong kong sagot.

Nagulat ako nang bigla siyang humalumbaba sa mesa. From where he was hiding his face, I heard a deep sigh. May nasabi ba akong mali?

"Why am I even saying this? I don't know what's gotten into me already."

Dahil hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin, "I'm... sorry."

Hindi ko talaga alam kung ano na ang pinag-uusapan namin ngayon.

Wes raised his head, glaring at me. "Why are you always apologizing? I've never asked for it. Just forget what I've said." he sighed and straightened up. "I do want to ask you something. Back there, what did you want from Oliver?"

I kept quiet and stared at his face. Wes and I doesn't have an existing relationship, that I can call him my friend like Baste or a mentor like Caspian. Hindi pa nakakatulong na siya ang strategist at confidant ni Marcella, kaya hindi ko rin alam kung saan nakalagay ang loyalty niya. All I know and believe is that Wes is not the type to go and run his mouth.

Wes is the sort of person you can always trust on.

"I..." I answered with a bit of hesitation. "Wanted his help."

"Help?"

"Mm." mahina akong tumango. "I need him to find and talk to someone."

Biglang bumukas ang pintuan ng diner at pumasok ang grupo ng taong may malalakas na boses. I froze in my seat when I saw Marcella in the center of them, being talked to by two ladies. Ang nangunguna sa grupo ay ang aroganteng bunganga ni Amnesia.

"Sinasabi ko sa inyo, that was cheating! Hindi ako dali-daling nawawalan ng malay, alam niyo 'yon! I'm one of the players with the highest body constitution. Kaya naman sigurado akong nagchi-cheat ang Finn na 'yon! Maybe she had someone on the outside cast a magic spell on me!"

Sumimangot ako nang marinig na ako ulit ang kinukuwento niya. Does he never get tired of mentioning my name? Hindi ko alam kung anong nagawa kong kasalanan sa kaniya para pagsamaan niya ako ng ganito.

I glanced at Wes. Baka aalis na siya dahil nandito na rin naman ang kasama niya sa alliance. Isa pa, hindi magandang tingnan na magkasama kaming dalawa.

But he made no act to move in his seat nor his face twitched at the sound of his companions coming in! Instead, he frowned at my response.

"Someone?"

"Hm? Hindi ba si Wes 'yan? Anong ginagawa niya dito?"

Yumuko ako nang makitang bumaling sila sa banda namin. I was already appreciating the fact that we sat on the left side of the diner, but why do they need to have roaming eyes? Nakita tuloy kami.

Inayos ko ang mga gamit at akmang tatayo na sana nang maramdamang talagang malapit na sila. Rinig sa buong diner ang pagtawag nila kay Wes na hindi sila pinansin ay pagtataka nila kung sino ako.

"Finn." he coldly called my name, making me stop moving. "Who's this someone you're talking about?"

Before I could answer, a hand was placed on my shoulder, forcibly turning me around to face them. Nanlaki ang mata ni Amnesia nang makita ako at humakbang siya paatras.

"I-Ikaw!" sigaw niya sabay turo sa'kin. "Anong ginagawa mo dito at bakit mo kausap si Wes?!"

I paid him no mind and glanced at Wes. Yumuko ako bilang pagpapa-alam at mahinang sinagot ang kanina pang tanong niya.

"Someone... important." aalis na sana ako nang may maalala. "Thank you for the meal."

Then, I hurriedly left the diner, uncaring of the calls and shouts behind me. Hindi ko rin tiningnan si Marcella sa takot na baka pigilan niya naman ako at kausapin. I don't like our conversations at all. They all end up with her threatening me in a confusing way.

Was her ego really bruised that badly when I took the first revolution flag? But I didn't even mean for that to happen. If it all comes to blaming, shouldn't it be Kairo for dragging me into this mess? Aalis na dapat ako no'n eh, pero pinigilan niya pa.

I really hope they can resolve their own problems without dragging me again. I have my own things to prioritize too.

"Isn't this against the rules? They're expecting me in the match and not you." reklamo ni Oliver.

The sun was already up. The Magus Arena was also starting to be filled. It looks like more rogues decided to register for today's match, seeing how it played yesterday. May iba ring naglaban na kahapon na muling lumaban ngayon. They're all looking forward to leave this city.

"The reason is you're unavailable." tugon ko. "Or a bug."

Oliver scoffed. "Ano ba kasi ang kailangan mo sa lalaking 'to? Mula ka pa sa Metropolis naghahanap sa kaniya. Boyfriend mo ba?"

Natigilan ako sa huling sinabi niya. I felt my face heat up and I turned away from him, clutching the ticket towards my chest. Is it really necessary to label a close relationship between a man and a woman as something romantic?

"Weh?! Boyfriend mo nga?!"

I pushed Oliver's face away when he leaned closer.

"Childhood friend." sagot ko.

Oliver rolled his eyes. "This much just for a childhood friend? Hindi ako naniniwala sa'yo."

I stared at him for a minute before walking towards the arena, ignoring him. Hindi ko naman kailangan ang paniniwala niya. Wala naman silang alam sa nangyari sa'ming apat noon. I'm grateful towards Baste and Renèe, but it's Gavin I owe a lot to.

Besides, if both of us are here, then I can't imagine anyone else by my side except him.

"And now, for the next match- Oh, it has actually been changed. Due to unavailability, Oliver won't be able to fight in this match."

Whispers started in the audience seats. The question of why one of the most prominent rogues couldn't fight rose in the air.

"As such, Finn, from the alliance Lone Wolves, will be the one to fight against Gavin, from the alliance Reaper's Oath! Let the match begin!"

The hushed whispers grew louder as I walked towards the arena ring. Naririnig ko ang pangalan ni Amnesia sa bawat pagbulong nila at kasabay no'n ay kung anong relasyon namin ni Oliver at bakit ako ang pumalit sa kaniya. Ngunit hindi iyon importante sa'kin kaya hindi ko pinansin.

What's more important stood in front of me. Charles Gavin Reyes, my friend since childhood and the person I owe greatly, looked so confused, afraid, and nervous. Nakaawang ang labi niya't nanlalaki ang mata. Pinasadahan niya ng kamay ang buhok at ginulo ito. His eyes held a lot of questions.

Luckily, I have a whole day to answer them.

Dumaan ang ilang minuto na walang gumalaw sa aming dalawa. Nakatayo lang si Gavin sa puwesto niya't 'di alam kung aatake sa'kin o tatakbo paalis. It's not like I have any intention of letting him go though.

"A-Ano bang ginagawa nila? Are they not going to fight at all?"

"Tingin mo ba may nakaraan ang dalawa at bakit sobra ang nararamdaman kong tensiyon sa pagitan nila?"

"Kung hindi lang naman sila gagalaw, aba't itigil na lang itong laban!"

I lightly sighed and summoned the shadows. Gavin shifted in his position as he watched the black smoke pass by him. Kuryoso niya akong tiningnan pero napalitan ito ng gulat nang bigla akong mawala.

Napuno ng singhap ang arena nang biglaan akong mawala. Not even the remnant of a shadow was left at the area I was standing on. No, because I've already travelled to Gavin's shadow, hiding behind him as he looked around desperately, gripping his dagger tightly.

Lumabas ako mula sa anino at tumayo sa likod niya. Hindi niya man lang ako napansin. My presence was already low and aided with my benefit, it makes sensing me even more difficult.

I inhaled deeply and called out. "Gavin-"

Napatalon ako paatras nang bigla niyang i-slash ang hawak na dagger sa likod. Mabilis niya ring binawi ang kamay nang makita ako.

"Finn. What- What are you doing here? Hindi ikaw ang kalaban ko."

Naglakad ako papunta sa kaniya. Gavin's hand lowered down, as well as his defenses.

"I know, but I couldn't think of any way to talk to you-"

Before I could finish my sentence, the ground shook and I lost my balance. Nanlaki ang mata ni Gavin at kaagad akong sinalo. His left hand snaked towards the back of my head, cushioning my fall, as his right hand fell to the ground beside my head and his left knee kneeled on the ground, aiding him.

Napasulyap ako sa beaded bracelet na nasa kanang kamay niya. It was glowing.

"What...?"

Gavin gulped and inhaled sharply before helping me out. He nodded towards the stands.

"Si Kairo siguro 'yon. This is a magic controlling bracelet. I can't... control my own magic so he helped me in this round." kinagat niya ang ibabang labi. "Huwag mong sabihin kahit kanino, ah?"

I felt relieved at seeing his face that I couldn't help the chuckle that escaped me. With a smile still present in my lips, I tilted my head.

"Hanggang dito ba naman, nagchi-cheat ka pa rin, Gavin?"

Gavin pouted and was about to reply when another quake happened inside the ring. His beaded bracelet glowed again and I felt an ominous presence.

Tiningnan ko kung saan iyon galing. Natigilan ako nang makita si Kairo na nakahilig sa railings at seryosong nanonood sa'min dito.

Is he really intent in making us fight? Bakit naman?

I pursed my lips. Well, then, if that's his plan...

I summoned my kunai and quickly threw it towards Gavin's beaded bracelet. Kasabay ng lakas ng shadow ko ay nasira ito. It made a trinkling noise as it hit the ground and rolled around.

Gavin stared at it with fear. "Finn, mapapatay ako nito..."

I glanced at Kairo, eyes sharp and cold. Gavin was indeed my enemy for today, but it was Kairo who I was sharing an intense glare with.

I tapped the ground a few times, announcing that I've surrendered. Then, without a final glance at anyone, hinatak ko si Gavin palabas.

-chapter end-