-chapter twenty-
Different matches play out in the field. Students lay out their lives and honor to win the event. Iba't ibang abilities ang nagpakita. Iba't ibang techniques ang nagwagi. May mga pangalang naging usap-usapan sa hallways at private rooms.
Nagkalat ang mga estudyante sa field at pinapanood ang bawat laban. Lalong lalo na kapag ang laban ay tungkol sa organisasyon na Conte Concilio at Student Council. Mas lalo silang nagiging interesado kapag ang nakatayo sa platform ay ang babaeng nagngangalang Serena Raskell.
"Narinig mo ba? Sasali daw si Serena sa student council dahil sa bet niya doon sa laban nila ni Yohanne."
"Eh? Natalo ba siya?"
"Hindi. 'Yon nga ang nakakapagtaka, kasi ang bet nila ay papasok siya sa student council regardless of winning or losing. Hindi ko alam kung bakit siya sumali."
Shaina narrowed her eyes at the mirror. She gave a final swipe on her lips. Isinarado niya ang tint at sinulyapan ang dalawang babae na nagchi-chismisan sa tabi niya.
"Serena won but she's part of the council now?" tanong niya.
The girl nodded without sparing her a glance. "Yep. Mapapa-disadvantage na ang grupo ni Meredith ngayon. Ang alam ko, pilit pa naman nila iyong nire-recruit."
Mabilis na lumabas si Shaina sa bathroom at hinanap si Meredith. Hindi ito puwedeng mangyari. If they want Meredith's plan to succeed, they either need to get Serena out of the way or get her. Dahil kapag sumama ito sa council, mas bababa ang chances of winning nila.
Shaina grew up in a small city. Siya lang ang nagiisang may ability doon, kaya nang accidentally niya itong napalabas, the city went against her. Dahil isa siyang halimaw, a freak of nature, a monster. She lost the trust of the city as well as her family who wants to survive. Shaina was banished from their town, because she doesn't want to be captured by the government.
Dahil sa kaniyang nakaraan, she greatly resonates with Meredith's goal. Sobrang saya niya nang dumating ang letra, dahil sa wakas ay masasagip na siya sa kalupitan ng mga tao. Ngunit malalaman niya lang na hindi din pala safe dito. In here, you're not protected. It's just another war of life in disguise of games.
Ang mga laro na in-establish nila ay nagpapakita lang na para sa mga taong nasa taas, life is nothing more but a game. For people who are in the mud, life is the most expensive possession they own.
Binuksan ni Shaina ang pinto sa storage room. Nakaupo si Meredith sa head ng mesa at kausap niya si Jeremy at Jonathan, ang kaniyang partner.
"Meredith," tawag ni Shain sa babae. "Serena is now part of the council."
Natahimik ang buong kwarto at iba't ibang klaseng reaksiyon ang namutawi sa mga mukha nila. Meredith stayed calm, but Jeremy was seething in rage.
"Akala ko ba wala siyang paki-alam sa ganito?!" singhal ni Jeremy.
"She lost in her match with Yohanne. Apparently, if Serena loses she has to join the council, and if she wins she can take a seat in the council." paliwanag ni Shaina.
Kumunot ang noo ni Maria. "Ano ang pinagkaiba? Hindi ba't iisa lang naman ang kahihinatnan?"
"She agreed to that?" hinampas ni Jeremy ang mesa. "Both choices means joining the council! Kung gano'n nagsinungaling siyang wala siyang planong pumasok sa gulo."
Napatingin ang lahat kay Meredith, waiting for her reaction. Ngunit humalumbaba lamang sa mesa ang babae. May pinipigilang ngiti ito sa labi.
"Meredith, what now? Hindi ba natin pwedeng pabayaan na lang si Serena?" tanong ni Shaina. "We should just focus on making you the president."
"But are we really sure that Serena doesn't want to be a president? She could be lying. Her words can't be trusted." kontra ni Jeremy
"Meredith?"
Bumuntong-hinga si Meredith. "We'll keep an eye on Serena. Hindi natin alam kung ano ang goal niya. It might be a problem for our plan." sabay sulyap nito kay Jeremy na tumango.
"Paano ang pagsali niya sa council?" tanong ni Antonio. "Hindi ba magiging problema iyon?"
"I believe Serena doesn't have any interest in this fight. However, both sides are using the games to enslave her. Dahil sa kakaibang obserbasyon at talino niya." sagot ni Meredith. "But she won't be a problem, because that bet has a difference. If she loses, she has to join the council in their terms. Susundin niya ang lahat ng utos nito. If she wins, she becomes a part of the council. May authority siya at power pero may karapatan din siyang humindi sa mga plano nito."
"Why would she want authority?"
Naningkit ang mata ni Meredith at tumuwid siya ng tayo. "Iyon din ang tanong. Ano ba ang gusto niyang makamit?"
Sino nga ba talaga ang babaeng 'yon at anong plano niya?
"Shaina." tawag ni Meredith. "How's Tanya doing?"
"All fine. Sumama siya sa breakfast nila kanina" sagot ng babae.
"Ano ba ang plano mo para kay Tanya?" Jeremy asked.
Ilang segundo pa bago sumagot si Meredith. "Serena's hard to crack. So we focus on the closest person to her, ang kaniyang partner na si-"
Biglang bumukas ang pintuan at pumasok ang isang humihingal na estudyante. May hawak-hawak itong papel sa kamay. Meredith stopped talking and gives the boy her full attention.
"Miss Meredith, may announcement po ang Headmaster! Bagong rule daw po!"
Jonathan took the paper and handed it over to Meredith. Seryoso itong binasa ng babae at nalaman ng lahat na masamang balita ito nang bumakat ang iritasyon sa mga mata nito.
"Bakit? Ano ba 'yan?" inagaw ni Jeremy ang papel at halos malaglag sa kinauupuan niya nang mabasa ito. "What?! Extreme bets now only amount to death, gano'n din pag wala nang chips at kapag mae-expel?"
Bumalot ang takot at gulat sa silid. Sure, the death was already established, pero wala pa namang may nag-umpisang i-bet ito. Most were just trying to ruin the student's life by making them a pet.
"Baka naman joke lang 'yan?" nanginginig na tanong ni Maria.
"The first death bet was made by Rica, noong naglaro kayong tatlo against Serena." tukoy ni Meredith kay Antonio. "Serena won and Rica was expelled. If it was the other way around, I'm sure Serena is dead."
Hindi lang sa silid na 'yon namuo ang takot. Mula sa storage room pataas sa common area at papunta sa field, the news enraged. Iyon na ang naging usap-usapan ng mga estudyante na hindi makapaniwala sa anunsiyo. The paper further explained that it was suggested by the government and must be followed to avoid dissolution.
"Kung gano'n, lahat ba ng match ngayon sa event ay may kamatayan na hangkot?"
Napahinto ang mga taong nasa hall dahil sa tanong ng isang estudyante. Mabilis silang napatakbo sa field kung saan ginaganap ang mga laban. The students inside the platforms were already panicking, dahil sa mga extreme conditions, the bet has changed. Along with losing the chips they've assigned, their life is also on the line.
Nahati ang mga tao nang biglang dumating ang mga SEC officers. All of them were fully armed. May mga dala itong baril, tasers at kutsilyo. A member of the student council strutted behind them.
Sir Dominick stepped in front of the large field and took everyone's attention. Ipinalakpak nito ang kamay at naggesture sa mga estudyante.
"Please do continue your matches."
"Sandali lang, putangina!" malakas na sigaw ng isang lalaki na pinakamalapit sa guro. "Bakit ngayon niyo ito inanunsiyo kung saan nandito kami sa loob?! Are you fucking kidding me?! Do you want us to die?!"
Ngumiti si Sir Dominick. "It's your luck that failed you. Kahit na hindi ikaw ang nasa loob, the announcement will still come. Sisihin mo ang printer at inabutan ka nito."
"What the actual fuck- You're a failure of a tea-"
"Actually, if I'm you, I would be fighting right now. Once your minutes expire, all of you inside that platform will die."
Nanlaki ang mata nang lalaki at takot siyang napatingin sa mga kalaban. They're already starting to up their abilities. Naghahanda na para sa isang duguang laban. The man gritted his teeth and activated his ability.
"Damn it!" sigaw niya at sumugod. Lightning bolts rained down the field.
A war started in the field. A true and bloody war that esures murder physically, emotionally and mentally. Hindi makapaniwala ang mga nanonood na estudyante sa nangyayari. It's almost like everyone lost their inhibitions and started attacking ferally. Like animals. Like monsters.
Is what they're branded as, really true?
"It has started."
Erika placed the cup of tea in front of her president. Kiyara gently took it and sipped, watching the chaos break down in the field.
"Is this really necessary, Kiyara? It breaks my heart to see fellow ability-users being harmed and chased to death." tugon ni Erika.
Kiyara sighed. "They should have never accepted the invitation. As much as this is a castle of freedom, it is a cage for us endowed with a gift of a curse. We're forest animals caught in a trap, only waiting for dawn to break and hunters to come."
Napakurap-kurap si Erika sa sinabi nito. Wala siyang naintindihan kahit isa. Nakakasakit talaga ng ulo kapag si Kiyara na ang kinakausap, lalo na kapag ang Headmaster pa ang kausap nito. They sound like they're conversing in riddles.
"Where's Keian?" tanong ni Dale. Kaharap nito ang tambak-tambak na papeles.
"Probably following Serena again," Minami whistled. "I knew she's extraordinary the first time I met her! Woah~"
"Anong plano mo ngayon Kiyara? Why did you let Serena in the council?"
Kiyara looked at Dale. "We can observe her better in a closer proximity. She wants authority, so let's give it to her. Now let's watch how she uses it."
"I don't see anything interesting about that girl."
"She's a rogue wave that messes the tide." ngumiti si Kiyara. "There's also something about Serena that makes all of us curious. An itch to uncover the shell she's built."
Napabuntong-hininga si Dale. Kahit anong sabihin nila, hindi niya talaga maintindihan kung bakit sentrong-sentro sa babaeng 'yon sina Kiyara at Meredith. Oo at kakaiba ang mga galaw niya sa laro at ang talino niya. Ngunit, sapat na ba iyon para maging kuryoso sila dito?
"Dale."
His attention was taken by Kiyara's gentle call. "What?"
"Have you forgotten the Raskells?"
Kumunot ang noo niya. Serena's family name? Ano naman ang interes niya doon? As far as he is concerned, the name has never came up in the rankings of the rich clans in the country or the continent. So he has no reason to remember it.
"What about it?"
"I know them!" Minami exclaimed. "They're a special friend of our family! I can't believe Kuya forgot them."
Ah, now Dale remember. Yes, the 'special' friend, forced upon them through the government. Wala naman silang nagawa doon. However, his parents developed extreme dislike for the family because of their uncanny methods and low financial records. Mas lalo lang nagpapalakas ng kawalang-interes niya kay Raskell.
"Are they important?"
Muling tumingin si Kiyara sa labas ng bintana. The SEC officers were positioned in front of already ending or expiring matches, ready to fire and execute death at those who loses. Inilagay niya ang kamay sa malamig na bintana.
"The Raskell are promoted in the social circle because of the government's meddling. The reason was not explained, however I'm sure it has something to do with abilities."
"So si Serena nga iyon, tapos?"
"The thing is, the Raskell has no daughters. All they have is a son, one who survived an ability attack two years ago, and is now living in one of our mansions."
Napahinto sa paghu-hum si Minami. Erika looked at Kiyara in shock and Dale stilled. Kiyara smiled, almost dangerously.
"So, you see, Serena is not a Raskell nor related to them. But why is she using that family name?"
-chapter end-
-
[NEXT CHAPTER PREVIEW]:
"Sere... na.. H-Help me ple-" she whispered just before the whole platform is engulfed in fire.
-