The Vow
"I will introduce myself as a Harper"
All of us in the Elite group are waiting for our private train. Lahat kami may bitbit na bag, tahimik at lahat kami, mukhang kinakabahan.
This day, pupunta na kami sa nasabing lugar kung saan gaganapin ang battleship. And I don't have any ideas where the place is. At ngayon, train ang gagamitin namin papunta dun.
"You ready?" Napatingin ako kay Ryder nang pumunta siya sa tabi ko at tanungin un. Ako? Handa? Napangiti ako at tumingin sa kawalan habang tinatangay ng hangin ang buhok ko.
"Yeah, well, I don't even have a choice anyway," sabi ko at napatingin kami sa tumutunog na paparating na train.
Lahat kami ay sumakay at ginagabayan kami ng tumatayong coach namin kahit wala naman siyang tinuro sa'min. Kailangan kasi ng representative coach bawat team.
Pagpasok namin, the train was long, it has hallways and doors that made me guess, magtatagal ba kami dito? May sala, may kusina, may appliances at may mga maids? Rich train huh.
"The ride will last for 2 days..." sabi ng tumatayong coach namin. 2 days? That long huh. "...so take a rest and have a nice trip guys," dagdag pa niya at walang kibuan na umalis kaming lahat at pumunta sa kaniya-kanoyang kwarto.
Hindi naman ako nahirapan sa paghahanap ng kwarto ko because there is my name on it. I went inside my room. Napatingin ako sa loob. Yeah, it's wide and neat. Kumpleto ang gamit at napakatahimik.
May window rin na kitang-kita ang magandang view. I placed my bags somewhere else and I lay on my soft queen size bed. I stared at the ceiling.
Makakauwi pa ba ako ng buhay pagkatapos nito?
Battleship. A popular tournament game para sa mga mafia heirs and heiresses. At ang premyo, of course the throne of being the new ruler of their own clan and a surprise award.
At kapag nakauwi ako ng buhay, I'll make sure that I will introduce myself as a Harper.
At sa gaganapin na battleship, makikita ko na naman siya. The silver mask guy. This time, I'll make him pay for sure. He made me a fool, he wants to play a game, so I will play his foolish game.
Narinig ko na nagbukas ang pinto ng kwarto ko at hindi ko na inabalang tignan kung sino un. Presence palang, alam ko na. I know it's him. Rye.
Humiga siya sa tabi ko habang ako nakatitig sa kisame. We were quiet for about 5 minutes until he started to speak.
"Promise me." Napalingon ako sa kanya sa sinabi niya. Nakaunan ang palad niya sa ulo niya while staring at the ceiling. He heavily sighed and smiled. Not the usual genuine smile that I want to see, rather a sad smile that makes me bother. May problema ba siya?
"Promise what?" I asked and this time, he faced me. Matagal niya akong tinitignan na parang kinakabisado ang bawat anggulo ng mukha ko. He suddenly hug me at hinimas-himas ang buhok ko.
For the past few days. Tahimik ako. I'm focusing for the battleship. I'm focusing at my training sessions. At hindi ko nakakausap o nakakamusta si Rye. I was too busy and too occupied. He moved a bit and placed my head near his chest.
"Hear my heartbeat?" He asked.
"Yeah." Sagot ko at pinakinggan ang tunog ng puso niya.
"It will stop if yours stop too." He whispered. I don't know what to feel. I admit it, I somehow have this special feelings for Rye but, I have something to think of. I need to fix something before entering this.
"Promise me that you will stay alive in the battleship. Lahat tayo, pwedeng mamatay. Please Blaise. Live." He uttered and this time, I hugged him back. All this time, iyon ang ikinababahala niya?
He's thinking of me than thinking of himself? What a selfless guy.
"Promise me that we will see each other in the end, gaining our thrones and having a normal life." He added making me to stare at him deeper.
"Why? Why are you saying those words?" Tanong ko at umupo rin siya.
"Because I love you. And I don't want to lose you." He said straight to the point making me stop.
"Promise me that we will see each other again in the end." Sabi niya ulit. I nodded and answered.
"I promise."
-
"Kamusta? Bukas na ang arrival of teams. I know nakakakaba, pero think positive. We will all make it to the end," sabi ni Damon at kumagat naman ng mansanas ang katabi niya na si Yvo.
"What if one of us die? What if we can't make it?" Tanong ni Carrie.
"80 percent possible na may mamatay sa'tin especially nandun ang mga Clarkson but please, use the techniques and strategies that we taught to each other," sabi niya at tumango kaming lahat.
It's already dinner. Hinihintay lang namin ang mga pagkain namin at si Damon nalang ang bumabasag sa katahimikan namin.
I looked at them. Si Spade na busy sa baraha niya kahit nasa hapag kainan. Si Carrie na nakadukdok nalang. Si Veron na nakasandal ang ulo sa upuan habang nakapikit.
Si Rye na tahimik lang sa tabi ko at si Ryder na nasa isang gilid ko. Si Yvo na kumakain ng mansanas. Si Damon na nagpapaalala sa'min. Ung magsyota na tahimik lately.
All of these guys means so much right now. They mold me into this character. At tinurin nila akong pamilya.
"Promise this guys. Lahat tayo mananatiling buhay," sabi ni Damon at nag-iba ang ekspresyon ng mukha niya.
"Keep it to your minds and souls. Hindi battleship ang makakapatay sa'tin," sabi ni Yvo.
"We will live and rule in the end," sabi ni Carrie.
"Promise." Sabi ko na ikinatingin nilang lahat sa'kin. They smiled for a bit. Behind those smiles ay ang mga pangamba. Pangamba na baka hindi pa namin makita na buo ang Elite group after this battleship.
Natuwa ako sa sinabi nilang lahat. They made a vow. A vow to live until the end with all of us.
"Promise."
-
