F.L.A.W Series Book 4: SAPPHIRE

Chapter Twenty-One

"Rogue." Ani Cornejo.

"Rogue?" Ulit ni Saph habang nakakunot ang noo.

"Yeah, that will be your new name on the battle stage."

Hindi naman sumimangot ang dalaga at blanko lang ang ekspresyon ng kanyang mukha ngunit hindi niya gustong magkaroon ng panibagong pangalan sa laban.

"Why do I need to have a new one? People already knew me as Sapphire." Pangangatwiran niya.

"But it's not as feisty as it sounds. Rogue is better, it's way cooler than a jewel name."

Hindi na muling sumagot si Lux dahil hindi rin naman siya ang masusunod. Hindi lang talaga niya gusto na dagdagan ang listahan ng mga pangalan niya. She grew up with different names- Seventeen, Sapphire, and Luxury and it's kinda annoying to add another one.

"Rogue is nice." Si Finnegan na nakapamulsa habang nakasandal sa isang pader. "It suits her."

Hindi rin nagkomento pa si Saph at umiwas na din ng tingin kay Brandt.

"So Juggernaut, Rebel, and Rogue, you're my winning team." Ani Norberto na may malapad na ngiti. "It won't be a team match but each of you is my ticket to victory. It's like a raffle draw and I have three chances of winning so you better win against your enemies." At saka sumenyas na para palabasin na sila ng mansyon.

They were driven an hour to the place where the fight will ensue. It's a huge stadium, a modern type of gladiator colosseum, an open arena that will cater to thousands of spectators for the battle.

People are now arriving to watch their favorite fighter and Luxury doesn't expect any audience for her and it's okay coz she doesn't care at all. The only thing that she cares about is winning against any enemy and finishing her deal with Cornejo.

"Don't be nervous, I think you'll do great in case you'll have a match later." Ani Finn sa kay Saph nang nakapasok na sa loob ng property ang sinasakyan nila.

"Does she look nervous to you?" Juggernaut asked, mocking Rebel.

Isang limousine ang sasakyan nila at magkatabi sa upuan sina Nate at Norberto at katapat nila sina Finn at Saph na magkatabi din.

"I just want to ease her mind-"

"I'm fine." Putol ni Lux kay Brandt. "This isn't new to me." At saka lumingon sa lalaki. "What do you mean when you said that Rogue suits me?" Hindi niya napigilang itanong. "Is it because you think I'm a scoundrel and a good-for-nothing person?"

Bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata nito na para bang nagulat sa kanyang tanong.

"What? No!" Sabay iling. "That's not what I meant when I said that the name suits you. It just fits your aura- your attitude like some villain in movies. Yun lang talaga ang nasa isip ko."

Para namang walang narinig si Saph dahil hindi na siya sumagot at hindi na rin nasundan ang pag-uusap nila dahil tumigil na ang sinasakyan nila. Sinubukan pa siyang alalayan ni Finn ngunit hindi niya kinuha iyon at dire-direcho na lang siya sa paglalakad papasok.

"Nice one, Rebel, you pissed her off!" Pang-aasar ni Nate na sinamaan lang ng tingin ng binata.

They were assisted to their assigned room and they are one of the few fighters who have a room of their own because of Cornejo. It's as if they are being treated as VIPs in there. And the rest of their opponents are sharing one big room to serve as their station before their fight.