Enki and I already stopped dancing but we remained on the dancefloor. Pareho lang kaming nakatayo sa gitna. His hands were still on my waist and I was still holding on his shoulders. I was glaring at him while he's just looking at me with amusement in his eyes. Natutuwa kung bakit ganito ang naging reaksyon ko sa sinabi nya.
"Stop worrying, Alter, and just obey our Queen. Mananalo tayo sa larong ito dahil sa kanya."
Mas lalong tumindi ang galit na nararamdaman ko. I don't want to get mad at him or at the Queen. They are my comrades. Sila ang kakampi ko sa larong ito. I'm in the same color as them in this chess game. Pero hindi ko na nagugustuhan ang paraan ng paglalaro nila.
"And this is your way to win this game? By being a monster?"
Napasipol si Enki sa sinabi ko bago mahinang tumawa. "Wait a minute, Alter. We're not the enemies. We're on the same team!"
"I know, Enki! But what you're doing is so wrong! You shouldn't use him like that! Tao sya at buhay pa! Huwag nyo syang ituring na isang hayop!" I grip his shoulders. "Dahil lang wala syang magawa ay sasamantalahin nyo na?
"Ano ba talaga ang problema mo?" naiinis nang tanong ni Enki sa akin. "You've already seen us killed people countless of times! You even helped, right? Naging mata ka namin sa mga misyon!"
"But those people were different! They're evil! They sell drugs. They're human traffickers! Iba ang Rook ng EL Ordre sa mga iyon! Iba ang gagawin nyo sa kanya! You're treating him like a guinea pig!"
Mahina ang naging sagutan namin pero may diin ang bawat mga salita. I want Enki to understand my point. Pero parang nakikipag usap lang ako sa isang poste. He will do anything for Queen. Lahat ng gusto noon ay gagawin nya nang walang pag aalinlangan. It's no use talking to him about this matter. It's no use trying to change his mind.
"Are we seriously having this argument because you're worried for that Rook?" tanong ni Enki pagkaraan. His face became serious. "What, Alter? Magiging traydor ka na din ba?"
Naiinis na itinulak ko sya palayo sa akin pero mahigpit ang pagkakahawak nya sa bewang ko kaya hindi ako nakalayo sa kanya. Wala akong nagawa kundi ang tingnan na lang sya ng masama. Maging sya ay masama na rin ang tingin sa akin.
"This is our only chance to win, Alter. Don't blow this up." he said.
"Mali pa rin ang ginagawa nyo."
"You're getting soft, Alter. Back then, sinusunod mo lang ang utos ng Queen nang walang sinasabi. You've changed."
I gritted my teeth. "No, Enkidu. Sa ating dalawa, ikaw ang sumusunod sa Queen nang walang sinasabi. I decided to speak up this time 'cause what you are doing is wrong. I helped you take the EL Ordre's Rook from them. But this? Hindi ko na kayo kaya pang suportahan."
"So? You'll betray us, then?" Enki scoff. "What changed, Alter? Is it because of your man?"
Nanlamig yata ang buong katawan ko sa sinabi nya. I got scared. Kinabahan ako pero hindi ko pinahalata. I didn't show any emotions kahit pa sobrang lakas ng tibok ng puso ko dahil sa sobrang kaba.
"You think I wouldn't know?" may tinignan sya sa likod ko at nang muli akong tignan ay nakangisi na. "He's here, right? Yung lalaking kanina pa nakatitig ng masama sa akin. If looks could kill, I'll be dead by now."
Pinigilan ko ang lumingon sa likod at hanapin si L. I could feel his intense stare on my back. Pero hindi ko sya tinignan. I don't what to give Enki the reaction that he wanted to see.
"What will happen if the Queen will know about him?"
Mas humigpit ang kapit ko sa mga balikat nya at alam kong naramdaman nya iyon. He smirked. Hinahanapan nya ako ng reaksyon kanina pa at masaya syang nakakita na sya ng kahit kaunti mula sa akin.
