Rogue Wars Online

Chapter Twelve: Round Trip Metropolis

"Of course." hikab ng lalaking singkit ang mata na nakatabi ni Finn kanina. "You'll get bored in that diner."

"I'll get tired here."

"Tell me about it." sang-ayon ni Theo na hinahatak ni Sapphire. "Wala akong energy para maglakad-lakad ngayon."

"Duh, siyempre!" Sapphire rolled her eyes. "Kaya nga kailangan mo maglakad-lakad para manumbalik ang enerhiya mo. You need to be fit!"

"I don't want to."

"Hindi ko sinabing want, sabi ko need!" singhal ni Sapphire.

Finn faced them and the arguments stopped. Para silang maamong tuta na napatingin sa dalaga.

"You don't need-"

"I'm bored." ani Oliver, ang tinawag na Lim. "I can at least entertain myself by looking for the love of your life."

Umiling si Finn. "Childhood bestfriend."

"Isn't it just the same though?"

"Sandali, sandali-!" pigil ni Sapphire sa usapang hindi naman nage-exist. "Oliver Lim ba pangalan mo?"

Nakangising tumango ang lalaking singkit. "Jan Oliver Lim, to be exact. And he's my cousin who usually refers to me by my last name, Vince Caspian."

Napalipat-lipat ang tingin ni Sapphire sa dalawang lalaki. She mulled over Oliver's cheshire smile and Caspian's blank face.

"Hindi halata na magpinsan kayo."

"I'm from the good genes side." mayabang na sagot ni Oliver.

Nahagip ng tingin ni Finn ang leaderboard. The person named Oli currently sits at the top and she's pretty sure it's this guy. Jan Oliver Lim, one of the renowned streamer who often had conflicts with Maia Marcella. Naalala niyang ito nga pala ang ginagamit ang Oli na nickname sa mga laro. His face is rarely shown kaya hindi siya narecognize ni Finn noong una.

He sometimes play with his cousin, Vince Caspian, isa rin sa mga kilala at misteryosong streamer. He never shows his face in any stream at hindi rin siya palasalita. Isa ngang malaking tanong sa lahat kung bakit isa siya sa mga may maraming subscribers when he rarely talks. But maybe, his viewers or fans are always curious to hear his voice. Maganda nga naman kasi ito pakinggan.

"Mistake. Namali ka ng pagkaintindi. Ibig kong sabihin, bakit ang gwapo niya pero parang may saltik ka?"

They were all taken aback by Sapphire's sharp words. Wala bang kinatatakutan ang babaeng 'to?

Oli blinked once. Twice. "I'm just going to act like you didn't say that."

"Actor ka, boy?" inikot ni Sapphire ang mata. Then, she turned to Finn with a smile. "Tara, Finn. Hanapin natin si Gabi!"

"Gavin." pagtatama ni Finn.

"Why are you denying your love for him anyway?" giit ni Oli. "You wouldn't be desperately looking for him if it wasn't the case."

Umiling si Finn. Hindi naman kasi talaga dahil do'n. Kailangan niyang hanapin si Gavin para pilitin itong sumali sa alliance niya at para na rin magtanong. Gusto niyang malaman kung bakit hindi sinabi sa kaniya ng binata na naglalaro ito. Finn wouldn't judge him. Finn would be the last person to stop him because Gavin is a responsible person. Isa lang ang tanong na nagbabagabag sa kaniya.

Why did Gavin hide it from her? Is she not trusted enough for these things? And now... he's part of the dangers this world has to offer.

Finn can't let that happen.

"You're really weird." komento ni Oli.

"Mas weird ka. You were so adamant about working alone but here you are, joining this girl in her search." tugon ni Caspian sa tabi.