-chapter twenty-four-

THIRD PERSON

Caspian was squatting in the corner alley, softly petting a black cat. Hinihintay niyang matapos sa pag-uusap sina Finn at ang childhood friend nitong si Sebastian.

"What'cha doin' with the kitty?"

Caspian's hand froze and he looked at the owner of the voice. Nakahilig si Kairo sa wall na malapit at nakahalukipkip. The first three buttons of his shirt were undone and his hair was a bit messy. Kumikintab ang tatlong piercing niya sa kaliwang tainga.

Caspian regarded him with a nod. They're not very close for Kairo to start conversations, although the other is very known for his friendly nature.

"What are you doing here?" natanong ni Caspian nang nanatili ang ngisi sa labi ng kausap.

"Thought my kitten would appear if I just follow you." Kairo tilted his head to the side, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Hindi ko alam ibang pusa pala nilalaro mo. Are you very fond of them?"

"They're adorable."

Caspian watched the cat as it left his side and strutted towards Kairo, who was already sitting down to take it in his arms.

"Hm." anito at hinimas ang may leeg ng pusa. "You should stick to these type of cats, though, and stop following mine."

Ilang ulit na nakita ni Caspian ito. When Kairo gains interest over something, he becomes obsessed with it. Ito ay isang bagay na alam na ng karamihan na pro-gamers. Kairo will do anything to get what and who he wants.

Still, it irritates Caspian.

"If you're talking about Finn, huwag sa ganiyang paraan." seryosong tugon niya. "She is not yours or anyone."

Sure, Caspian wants to see all of Finn's adorable expression to himself, but he doesn't want to chain her. Ayaw na ayaw niya sa mga ganoong salita, dahil minsan sa sobrang pagkatotoo nila dito ay nakakagawa na sila ng masama.

Kairo was unfazed, but Caspian already knew that. Hindi madaling maiba ang opinyon nito, at hindi din siya mabilis sumunod sa sinasabi ng ibang tao. That's why Kairo and Oliver are compatible, they're childish, stubborn, and very passionate about their goals.

"Caspian-"

Tumigil si Finn sa paglalakad nang makita si Kairo kaharap ang lalaking tinawag. The man stared at her with an unreadable stare. It was out of ordinary, lalo na't kapag nakikita niya ito ay palaging may ngisi sa labi. It's odd seeing Kairo so serious.

Finn felt relief when he grinned. "What, kitten? Ain't gonna greet me?"

Tinanguan niya ang binata kasi hindi niya naman ni-greet si Caspian kanina. Tinawag niya lang ito.

"Sa'n si Oliver?" tanong ni Finn na nagpakunot sa noo ng dalawang lalaki.

Kairo scowled at the thought of that stupid boy being searched for. Alam niyang magka-alliance ang dalawa, pero parang wala naman itong mabuting interaksiyon na magiging dahilan para hanapin ni Finn si Oliver.

"Bakit? May kailangan ka sa kaniya?"

Finn nodded at Caspian's question. Hindi na siya nagdagdag pa ng rason dahil masasagot lang naman sa simpleng oo at hindi ang tanong nito.

"Ano 'yon?"

Napakurap-kurap si Finn. Sinabi niya kanina kay Baste ang plano niya sa pagdakip kay Gavin, pero ang sagot nito sa kaniya ay huwag niyang sabihin sa iba ang tungkol dito. If Oliver accepts her proposal, then that would probably be a form of cheating. Mas mabuti kung konti lang nakaka-alam.

Napasulyap siya kay Kairo na agad itinaas ang kilay. Kaya niya naman itong sabihin kay Caspian dahil may tiwala siya sa lalaki. But... Kairo? He looks like he can spill your secrets anytime. Not to mention na mukha din siyang sumbungero.

"Finn?" tawag ni Caspian sa kaniya. "Are you alright? Bakit mo hinahanap si Oliver?"

"... Have something to ask." rason niya.

"Ano 'yon? Baka pwede mo sa'kin itanong?" Kairo tried selling himself.

Umiling si Finn. "Hindi mo masasagot."

Kairo's smile stayed frozen as he mended his heart for being rejected. Minsan na nga lang ibenta ang sarili, hindi pa in-add to cart.

"Pero ano ba itatanong mo, Finn?" tanong din ni Caspian dahil wala siyang tiwala sa pinsan.

Finn stared at him. Ilang sandali ay nagsimula itong maglakad paalis at iniwan ang dalawa na nandoon. Siguro'y mas mabuti pang hanapin niya na lang mag-isa si Caspian kaysa sumagot sa paquiz ng dalawa.

The two boys tried running after her but failed to do so. Nang lumiko sila sa nilikuan ni Finn ay wala na ang dalaga. There's no traces of her or where she's possibly gone to.

Kairo cursed mentally. Finn's a monster when it comes to the game hide and seek, kaya siguradong hindi niya malalaman kung saan ito unless hanapin niya si Oliver. The girl can disappear at a blink of an eye or can hide her presence in the shadows.

Caspian watched as Kairo ran away. He's worried about Finn and what she needs for Oliver pero hindi niya naman kailangan maghanap ng sobra gaya kay Kairo. He knows where Oliver usually hangs out. Bumuntong-hininga siya't dumaan muna sa isang takoyaki shop. He needs a treat to make the cat come out.

Caspian's shoulder bumped against someone pero hindi niya na iyon pinansin at pumasok sa tindahan. However, the man he's bumped into pause to stare at him.

"Hm? Hindi ba't siya 'yong laging kasama ni Finn?"

Sinundan ni Wes ang tinitingnan ni Dierran. His lips curled when he saw Caspian lining up in the counter.

"Looks like he's on another errand." sagot niya at napaisip kung balak na ba nitong maging official takoyaki buyer.

Baka mamaya mag-aral na 'tong magluto ng takoyaki para kay Finn. Wes gets annoyed everytime he sees him buy foods. Parang nagpapa-sipsip.

"You look pissed." Dierran commented.

Wes scoffed and walked ahead. "I'm impatient for my next match."

"Si Marcella muna maglalaro bago tayo 'di ba?"

Tumango si Wes. Excited na ang babae para lumipat ng city kaya nagpapabilis ito sa matches. He also knows his task although he's rather lazy to do it. Kailangan niya kasing manalo na rin ng maraming match para makasama si Marcella na lumipat ng cities.

"You should go and register already, Wes. Hindi ba't sasama ka kay Marcella?" Dierran grinned. "Iba naman talaga ang strategist kasi laging pina-prioritize."

"I'm lazy. Besides..." Wes paused. "Tinatamad ako."

Dierran stared at his friend. Alam niyang may ibang gusto itong sabihin dahil ni-translate niya lang ang unang sinabi. He was about to tease him when he spotted a familiar figure.

"Oh! Si Finn 'yon 'di ba?"

Wes' head immediately snapped to where Dierran was pointing. Medyo natakot nga si Dierran kasi parang mababali na ang leeg nito sa bilis nang paglingon.

Nakita niya ang pagblanko ng mukha ni Wes at paggalaw ng panga nito. Dierran smirked. Mukhang matatapos na ang pagkabaliw ni Wes kay Sparrow dahil kay Finn.

"Bakit kaya niya kausap si Oliver 'no?" Dierran wondered out loud, hoping to annoy his friend. "Hindi ko alam na close pala sila."

Hindi pa rin sumasagot si Wes at nakatitig lang sa nag-uusap. Finn was speaking more words and talking longer, while Oliver just stood there with a teasing grin and occasionally nodding his head.

Wes eyes narrowed. Anong pinag-uusapan nila? Finn never talks that much when she's with him.

"Sa tingin mo, ano pinag-uusapa-"

"Do I look telepathic to you?" pagputol ni Wes sa kaibigan sabay sinamaan ito ng tingin. "If you can't hear what they're saying, paano pa ako?"

Dierran's smile froze as chills seeped through his body. "Joke lang. Ito naman, ba't galit aga-"

Malakas na tumawa si Dierran nang biglang maglakad palayo si Wes.

"Bye-bye! Sana maging matagumpay ang pag-uusap mo, kaibigan!" natatawa niyang paalam.

Wes only ignored him and walked towards Finn and Oliver. Dierran's a pest when he starts to tease. Kapag nakapagsimula na sa pang-iinis, hindi na talaga titigil. The worst part is that Dierran's his bestfriend, so hiding things from a guy you've grew up since childhood is pretty hard.

Wes started to slow down when their voices became audible.

"That's low, Finn. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit mo gagawin 'yan. Sino ba ang lalaking 'to sa'yo?"

Finn only stared at Oliver who was raising his brows. Medyo naiinis na siya ngayon dahil sa kanina pa tanong ng tanong ang magpipinsan, sama na si Kairo.

Finn sighed. She doesn't really want to disclose anything, but talking to Gavin is a priority.

"He's my friend."

"Friend? Sa totoong buhay?"

"Do you wanna be a detective?"

Oliver laughed. "Ang weird lang kasing makita kang may interes sa mga bagay-bagay. Lalo na't you're this desperate to see that boy. I wanna know how important he is to you."

"I don't think it's any of your business though."

Nagulat silang dalawa nang may pumasok sa usapan. Finn turned around to see Wes standing behind her and frowning at Oliver. The latter smirked.

"And what's Marcella's brain doing here?"

Wes' scowl deepened. "I can go wherever I please. Mas mabuti pang gawin mo na ang pinagagawa niya."

Oliver's smirk only widened. "And what's your relation to her business with me? May kung anong epekto ba ang pagtulong ko sa kaniya sa'yo?"

Napabuntong-hininga si Wes. Oliver is the more annoying kind of Kairo, dahil walang humpay ang tanong nito't pangbu-buwisiy. At least, Kairo has some decency to stop annoying people.

Sasagot na sana si Wes nang magsalita si Finn. Her voice was so quiet that he'd miss it if he wasn't always paying her attention.

"'Wag na."

Oliver's smirk faded and he paused. "Ha?"

Hindi na sumagot dito si Finn at umalis na lang ulit. She can't comprehend why they have to waste someone else's time when they could have just told her they won't do her favor. Sana nakakain pa siya o nagamit niya 'yon para maghanap ng tao.

Natigilan siya nang maramdaman ang paghatak sa kaniya pabalik. Oliver quickly let her go.

"Fine. I'll do it."

Wes was about to say some nasty remark but stopped when he saw Finn's face. Kumikinang na ang mata ng dalaga at may saya sa mukha.

"Talaga?" she asked, voice filled with hope.

"Oo na." iniwas ni Oliver ang tingin. "Bukas ng umaga dito sa arena."

Finn nodded once, twice, before beaming. "Thank you!"

Nahulog ang ngiti sa labi niya nang makitang hindi sumagot si Oliver. Instead, he looked out of it. Tatanungin niya na sana kung may masama bang nangyari when Oliver rushed out of the place. Only Wes remained with an unreadable face.

Napatitig si Finn sa lalaki. Ito na naman. Bakit ba lagi niya na lang nakakasama si Wes? He never fails to show up in front of her in every city.

Hindi niya alam kung anong sasabihin dito. Kaya naman, kahit na kanina pa sila nagkita, napakaway na lamang siya. The corner of Wes' lips curled upwards.

"Don't you think your greeting is a bit late?"

Finn lowered her hand. Sabi niya nga. "'M sorry."

"Hindi mo kasama si Caspian?"

Wes knows he's probably in the takoyaki shop still but he wants to hear her voice more. He was a little disappointed when Finn only shook her head.

Gusto niyang tanungin kung anong kailangan nito't nakipag-usap kay Oliver pero ayaw niya naman maging masyadong matanong. Besides, he doesn't think he has a right to really ask her that question.

Pero kung hindi niya ito tatanungin, hindi rin siguro magtatagal sa harap niya si Finn. So instead of being annoying, Wes stepped forwards.

"Sparrow, would you like to eat with me?"

Wes can see the gears in her head turning. She's trying to weigh the outcomes of coming with him or going home.

"Nasabay mo na sa pagkain si Caspian, 'di ba?" dagdag niya. "Does he know who you really are?"

Kumunot ang noo ni Finn. "Sparrow?"

Wes nodded.

Finn bit her lower lip before shaking her head. Huminto si Wes sa mismong harap ni Finn at inilahad ang kaniyang kamay. Maybe... a bit of blackmailing won't hurt.

"I'm the only person who knows who you really are. Hindi ko pinagsabi 'yon kahit kanino." Wes tilted his head, a smile slowly appearing. "Don't you think I deserve some treat?"

-chapter end-