-chapter twenty-one-

THIRD PERSON

"Are you alright?"

Finn stared at the man with disbelief. Akala niya talaga sumama na ito kay Marcella kanina dahil parang sunod-sunoran naman ito sa babae. She can't also help but think why this guy usually appears every time she needs help.

Dapat niya sigurong layuan ang lalaking 'to.

"Hey. Are you alright?"

Natigilan si Finn nang mas lumapit sa kaniya si Wes. The man has his brows furrowed, confused at her lack of response. Tumango siya't yumuko para magpasalamat.

"Are you sure?" tanong nito ulit at tiningnan siya mula ulo hanggang paa. His eyes met hers once again. "Have you calmed down?"

Tumango ulit si Finn dahil talaga namang okay na siya.

"That's good." Wes crossed his arms. "You shouldn't have strayed away from your guardian if you're bad with crowds."

Kumunot ang noo ni Finn. Guardian? "Caspian...?"

Naningkit ang mata ni Wes. He pursed his lips. "Ewan. I don't know his name."

"... Si Caspian..."

"The takoyaki guy."

Finn nodded. "Si Caspian nga."

"Why do you keep on mentioning him? You like his name or something?"

Finn was slightly confused at the irritation that's buzzing from Wes. Bakit parang kasalanan niya pa na sinasagot niya ang tanong nito?

"You asked."

Wes stared at Finn blankly. Ilang sandali'y bumuntong-hininga siya at ginulo ang buhok. He glanced towards the crowd, trying to find Takoyaki guy amidst the sea of people. Why did he have to go and become Finn's errand boy? Does she like takoyaki that much?

Sumulyap siya sa dalagang nanatiling nakatitig sa kaniya. Finn looks confused, head tilting and a small pout forming in her lips. The corner of his lips slightly rose.

Cute, Wes thought, biting the urge to smile.

Behind them, Kairo was leaning on a wall, arms crossed. Kanina pa siya nandoon at nagulat na lang siya nang magpakita ang dalawa. His boredom was quickly replaced by annoyance. Sa lahat ng alley na pwedeng magtago ang dalawang 'to, bakit dito pa? Sira na tuloy araw niya. At tsaka bakit ba nandito 'tong buntot ni Marcella?

Kairo pushed himself off the wall and walked towards them. He tried to hide his presence and made sure his steps went quiet, but someone still felt him.

Natigilan siya nang biglang bumaling sa kaniya si Finn. Behind her, the lights and the people clashed, a noise that was hidden by Finn's silence. Her hair was on a twin bun again, cheeks slightly flushed from her earlier panic and lips parted when her eyes landed on Kairo.

Sandaling natahimik ang binata.

"What are you doing here?"

Kairo blinked when he heard Wes' voice. Nakataas ang kilay ng isa at may simangot sa labi.

Kairo buried his irritation and gave a playful smirk instead. "Bakit? Masama?"

"Did I ever say that? I was just asking what you're doing here."

"Eh." Nagkibit-balikat si Kairo bago naglakad papunta sa kanila ulit. "Trip ko lang."

Finn watched the two as they stared down at each other, trying to see who will break away first. Napaisip siya kung bakit sobrang titig na titig sila sa isa't isa. This looks similar to the manhwa that Renèe likes to read.

Tumango si Wes. "Trip ko lang din."

Kairo's smirk twitched, annoyed at the other's answer. Nang makalapit siya ay hinatak niya si Finn at inakbayan ito.

"Are you bullying my kitten, huh, Wes? I know she's adorable but you can't mess with her anytime you like." nakangising-asong tugon ni Kairo.

Wes scowled. "Ano bang pinagsasabi mo diyan⁠—?"

Nahinto siya sa pagsasalita nang biglang inalis ni Finn ang naka-akbay na kamay. Kairo's eyes widened, head quickly snapping towards Finn. What? Is she angry?

"Please don't just touch me." ani Finn at humakbang palayo kay Kairo. "Mabigat ang kamay mo."

Nalaglag ang panga ni Kairo. Una, dahil ito ang pinakamahabang narinig niyang sinabi ni Finn. Ikalawa, hindi siya makapaniwalang bigla lang nitong inalis ang kamay niya. Pangatlo, ang ganda ng boses ni Finn.

Even Wes looked stunned, mentally counting the words she just spoke. He also wants to smile because Kairo looks dejected beside Finn.

"'M sorry."

Nagulat ang dalawa sa biglang sinabi ni Finn. Bakit ito naghihingi ng paumanhin?

"P-Para sa ano?" kinakabang tanong ni Kairo.

"...Mad?"

Kairo blinked at her before smiling again. Itinaas niya ang kamay para i-pat ang ulo ni Finn.

"You shouldn't be so adorable, kitten. You're bad for my heart."

"Sorry." Finn guiltily said again.

Mabuti rin siguro kung lumayo siya kay Kairo para hindi na sumakit ang puso nito.

"Finn!"

Napalingon silang tatlo sa bagong dating. Oliver, Caspian's cousin, was smiling widely as he walked over to them. Kasama niya si Caspian na may hawak na takoyaki cup. Kairo scowled, once again irritated at the growing number of people.

"You still want some?" aya ni Caspian at ipinakita ang takoyaki cup niyang hawak.

Umiling si Finn. Caspian sighed and took a bite, eyes flickering at the two boys behind her.

"You disappeared." anito.

Finn nodded. "Lots of people." Itinuro niya si Wes. "He helped me."

"Mm."

May sasabihin pa sana si Caspian nang bigla siyang takpan ni Oliver. The guy smiled at Finn and waved his hand.

"Hey there, Marcella's sworn enemy. How're ya?"

Binigyan siya ni Finn ng isang thumbs-up.

"You're gonna join the League?"

"As if you can choose not to." pagod na tugon ni Kairo. "It's necessary."

Lumamig ang ngiti ni Oliver. "Well, some people may choose not to."

"They're dumb, then. Who wants to stay in this city?"

"Kung ikaw lang ba naman makakasama sa League, why not choose to stay in this city?"

"Heh~ Bakit mo ba ako inaaway, singkit?" Kairo sneered. "Isn't Marcella your enemy? Get away from me."

Oliver grinned menacingly. "You piss me off like her."

Sa gilid ng dalawang nagbabangayan ay kumakain lang si Caspian at si Wes ay hinahanap ang iba niyang ka-alliance. He needs to get back or something bad may happen. Nagpa-iwan lang naman siya kanina dahil gusto niyang obserbaran si Finn at Caspian. Now that there's a lot of nuisance, he should just go.

Caspian just wants to enjoy his takoyaki. He's used to Oliver picking fights. Knowing it's Kairo he's arguing with isn't really a surprise, lalo na't medyo magkaparehas lang ang ugali ng dalawa. Kairo likes to tease people and mess with them while Oliver is easy to annoy. Talagang mauuwi sila sa bangayan.

He sighed and silently wished for his silent enviroment to come back. It's exhausting, standing next to two arguing idiots. Caspian's training with Finn has been enjoyable. Aside from having an adorably, straight-forward training partner or apprentice, he can also share his silence with her.

Tahimik at payapa lang lagi ang pagti-train nila. Si Depore lang talaga ang nagpapa-ingay.

Caspian swallowed the last piece of takoyaki before glancing at Finn. Bahagyang kumunot ang noo niya nang makitang wala na doon ang dalaga. Wes is also gone, but he eventually spotted him talking to another guy amidst the crowd.

Suminghal si Kairo at umiwas ng tingin sa tangang lalaking kausap niya. Natigilan siya nang makitang wala na ang babae sa paligid nila. Wala na din ang mokong na sunod-sunoran kay Marcella!

"Did Wes kidnap Finn?" he blurted out.

Oliver raised a brow. "Is he bringing her to Marcella?"

"Oi." tawag ni Kairo kay Caspian. "Saan si Finn?"

Caspian shrugged. Hindi niya rin alam kung saan nagpunta ang dalaga, but he's not really that worried. If Finn can beat him in fights, she is much more capable of any incoming danger.

Not like Finn is any danger at all. In fact, it was the opposite.

"Hehehe! Pili ka lang, Finn! Ano ba gusto mong kainin, ito o ito?"

"Yuck! Ang pangit ng taste mong babae ka! Huwag kang makinig diyan, Finn. Ito gusto mo 'di ba?"

"Bakit ka ba sumisingit ha?! Atribida! Hindi naman inaya, sumama pa!"

"Excuse me, pero ako ang nagdala kay Finn dito! Ikaw ang makapal ang mukha na kumabit sa'min!"

Finn is currently being pampered by two girls. Her hands are full from the snacks they bought. Nakatitig lang siya kay Eura at Sapphire na nag-aaway sa gitna ng kalsada. Finn sighed mentally. She only wanted some snacks so she invited Caspian here. Hindi niya naman alam na makikidnap pa siya.

Maybe she should have stayed in the forest.

Humigit ng malalim na hininga si Finn. She should tell them to stop already.

"Uh⁠—"

"Hindi mo dinala ng willing si Finn dito, kinidnap mo lang siya!" Itinuro ni Eura si Sapphire.

"Eura⁠—"

Sapphire gave an ugly sneer. "Kasalanan ko ba ngayon na mas may braincells ako sa'yo at nagawa ko siyang kidnapin?!"

"Sapphi⁠—"

"Excuse me pero plano ko rin siyang nakawin! Naunahan mo lang ako!"

"Guys⁠—"

"Naunahan nga kita kaya umalis ka na! Just try again, bitch!"

Nagsimula nilang hatakin ang buhok ng isa't isa. Ang ibang manlalaro na naglalakad malapit sa kanila ay napipilitang lumayo para hindi masali sa gulo. The crowd was also a chaos, but the two in the middle of them caused more havoc.

Mabuti siguro kung tumakas na lang si Finn at tumambay sa may ilog. Mas tahimik pa doon.

"They're noisy."

Napatingin si Finn sa gilid nang marinig ang isang pamilyar na boses. Theo stood beside her, hair disheveled and looking a bit sleepy. Para itong pinilit lang na pumunta dito.

"Sinamahan mo si Sapphi, Theo?" tanong ni Finn.

Umiling ito. "She dragged me."

That explains the tired scowl and hooded eyes.

Tumango si Finn para ipakitang narinig niya ito at naiintindihan. Tiningnan niya ang mga pagkain na hawak at inilahad kay Theo, silently asking if he wants some. He only glanced at them before raising his eyes to meet Finn's.

"You like sweets?"

"They're... alright." Finn tilted her head. "You don't?"

"Hindi masyado." sagot nito pero kumuha pa rin ng pagkain. "Do you want to look at the announcement?"

Finn perked up. "The League?"

"Mm. A lot of players already has mastered their magic so the League is now opening. Do you want to go there?" sabay turo nito sa city board. "Although, there are a lot of people."

Tumango si Finn. Hindi naman masyadong marami ang tao. Mas okay nga lang ang amount ng tao doon kaysa dito sa may street stalls. Besides, they're already dispersing. It's so sudden that Finn can't help but feel suspicious.

Still, sinundan niya si Theo sa pagpunta nito sa may board. He was taller and has a larger built than Finn, so she couldn't really see anything in front of her. Kailangan niya pang humakbang pagilid para tumingin. Ngunit natigilan siya nang makitang may apat na taong nakatayo sa harap ng notice board.

She immediately recognized Wes and Marcella. The guy had a bored look as he read the papers, arms once again crossed. Si Marcella naman ay mukhang seryoso habang nakikinig sa sinasabi ng babaeng katabi. Finn slightly wondered if they're friends.

Ngunit ang mas nagpatigil sa kaniya ay ang ikaapat na taong nakatayo. His black hair was styled up and the familiar glasses is perched in his nose. Kinakausap nito ng mahina si Wes at mukhang may diskusyon silang dalawa.

Finn can't help but step forward, eyes glued at the guy wearing glasses. Napakunot ang noo ni Theo nang maglakad si Finn papunta sa lalaki na parang tulala. Does she know him or is this some sort of a play in magic?

"Finn?" he called out, a bit loud.

Dahil doon ay napalingon sa kanila ang apat. Finn has the rest of their faces in a blur and all she could focus on was the face of the second guy. Ang bahagyang paglaki ng mata nito nang makita siya at ang pag-awang ng labi. Finn stopped in front of him, heart beating loudly.

Why... is he here? Gavin is— Gavin's already a lot to worry about and she never did see this guy playing a game before! He'd rather read books than indulge in games! Not to mention, that he's one of those who often scold Finn for playing a lot.

Kaya bakit?

"Baste?" she whispered and he froze.

Kaya bakit ka nandito?

-chapter end-