Rogue Wars Online

Chapter Eighty-Three: Changes

-chapter eighty-three-

FINN

When I opened my eyes, I found myself standing in the center of a meadow.

A field of daisies surrounded me and the wind blew my hair. Napaka-asul ng langit na minsa'y may dinadalang ulap. This is so different from the deserted cities with bloodied sky in the game, but it's similarly familiar with the ninth city where I found Belle.

Walang katao-tao sa lugar. There's only the valley of flowers that never ends. Kahit na tumakbo ako papunta saan, walang umiiba sa paligid ko.

Until I turned around and there stood two people I never imagined I'd meet again.

Parang biglang bumuhos ang lahat. Ang sakit at lungkot na itinago ko sa isang kahon ay nasira't nabuksan. Patuloy ang pag-agos ng luha sa mga mata ko at panandaliang nawalan ng lakas ang mga tuhod. All the things that I've been carrying and holding just flowed out. Na parang tuluyan nang nawasak ang pader na pumipigil sa kanila.

"Oh, Finley, baby. We're sorry."

At the voice, I broke down like I was a child again.

Na parang isang batang malaya na i-express ang gusto niya. Na umiyak kapag malungkot at tumawa kapag sobrang saya. I just let go of my emotions.

"Mama... Papa..." I whispered, teary eyes looking up. Lumapit sila pero parang may nasa pagitan namin na hindi pwedeng lagpasan.

There's a slight temptation in the line that is forbidden to be crossed.

"Finn." Papa's voice was so soft. "What are you doing here?"

Hindi ako nakasagot sa kaniya. Oo nga, anong ginagawa ko dito?

I remember fighting. Naalala ko din ang nakakahilong sakit na nararamdaman ko habang nakikipaglaban. I knew my body was already at its limit dahil hindi ko rin pala natreat ang mga sugat ko sa likod. It was really a matter of life and death for me. And I found both of the two consequences to be enough.

Natatandaan kong naitulak ako. The pain that I felt on my stomach then suddenly shot up. At bigla na lang dumilim ang paligid.

When I woke up, I found myself here.

I can kind of understand what's happening now. Maybe I was really brought here for a reason. Siguro panahon na rin para makapagpahinga ako 'no? Or to just feel peace?

"Ano naman kaya ang pumasok sa utak ng batang 'to."

I froze at the familiar voice. Nang i-angat ko ang mata ay nagkatinginan kami ni Kuya Gabriel. Doon nakonpirma lahat ng naisip ko kanina. Ang peaceful ambience na nandirito at ang mga taong hindi ko na dapat makita pa ay malayo sa ordinaryo.

"Ba't ka nandito?" mala-strikto niyang tanong. "Hindi ka dapat nasa lugar na 'to."

"He's right, Finn. You shouldn't be here." sang-ayon ni Mama.

"... Why?" mahina kong tanong.

If it's this peaceful here and I can be with you again, why should I leave? Bakit kailangan nating magkalayo uli?

"Because you're meant to live, darling. You're meant to be out there challenging other people and fighting for your beliefs."

"Pero..."

But the three of you symbolizes how I should have died two times already. In the car crash and in my running-away incident. Dapat ay namatay na ako doon sa car crash, at gano'n din nang lumabas ako sa city namin. Kuya Gabriel ran after me, since he was the patrolling guard, and that's when the accident happened. He successfully pushed me out of harm's way but ended up endangering himself.