Rogue Wars Online

Chapter Eighty-Five: Her Downfall

-chapter eighty-five-

FINN

"Anong... ibig mong sabihin?"

Akala ko ay papakawalan niya na ako pero mas humigpit lang ang pagyakap niya. I could feel the fear radiating from him. Kinakatakot niya ba na mawala ako? So the news that I almost died has really spread.

"I'm sorry." bulong niya. "I couldn't protect you from them."

Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya. Hindi ba't iyan rin ang lagi kong naiiisip kapag may nangyayaring masama sa kanila? I always feel like I'm so weak and powerless that I couldn't protect them. But putting myself into harm's way have also brought these thoughts to them. We're just people who wants to protect each other in this messed up world.

"We knew Marcella would know if Amnesia was killed. Kaya plano sana namin ni Dierran na isalubong sila, so I could explain what happened. But we didn't expect that she has a group of players that will ambush us."

So it was all really planned.

Could it be that Marcella also used Amnesia? Mabilis lang na nakapunta si Kairo kanina sa South kaya pwedeng gano'n din siya. She knows Amnesia has a deep dislike for me and would automatically attack me if given the chance. Given my already tainted name, framing me for another murder will be possible. Ang pagpunta din nila doon ay pagiging witness sa nangyari.

"It's my fault." he pulled out from the hug to stare at my eyes. "I should have never left you there."

"You'll fight Marcella."

"Sparrow, if it's not any clearer yet, I'm willing to fight everyone here for you. Kung dinudumihan nila pangalan mo, I can let my reputation be buried too. Kung ang mundo ang kaaway mo, kaya kong talikuran ito. I can do anything for you, my queen."

Wes said that confession while looking straight at my eyes. Napakatotoo at seryoso ng mukha niya. I couldn't say anything. I didn't know what to say. I just stood there, staring widely at him while my mind and heart was in chaos.

But even though this day caused me multiple confusions, Wes' honesty and his hands on my skin has always grounded me. His presence have always been calming. It's different from the comfort that I feel when I'm with Caspian, who makes me feel like it's okay to cross a lava because he won't leave my side. Being with Wes is like falling into the water while staring at the wide blue sky and knowing that a hand would eventually reach out to pull me upwards. He makes me feel like it's okay to breathe once in a while and to feel peace.

Right now, I wanted to ask him why.

Ngunit natatakot ako sa magiging sagot niya.

"Don't endanger yourself for me." ang tanging nasabi ko.

Wes chuckled, giving a small shrug. "Then be careful. Tama na ang pagpapahamak sa sarili mo."

Ngumuso ako at iniwas ang tingin. Hindi ko naman hiniling ang mga 'yon. I was planning to start and end my game in the shadows, unknown from everybody else. I didn't expect to be painted as the main villain.

"Didn't ask for it."

Nanatili ang ngiti sa mukha ni Wes, although he didn't say anything. It feels a bit awkward to stand close to each other while not saying anything, but Wes still isn't letting me go. Binalik ko ang tingin sa kaniya para sabihing bitawan ako, ngunit natagpuan ko siyang nakatitig sa labi ko. He was much closer than before.

"Wes?" I asked.

Kumunot ang noo ko nang hindi siya sumagot. I pulled on his sleeve with my free hand, until he blinked and looked up at me. Nanlaki ang mata niya at iniwas ang tingin, eventually letting me go as he made a space between us. Hinintay ko lang na may sasabihin siya dahil hindi ko rin alam kung anong tinititigan niya sa labi ko. Subtly, I tried to feel for any dirt or something.