-chapter nine-
FINN
Bahagyang nanlaki ang mata ko sa gulat. Naging mabilis ang tibok ng puso ko dahil sa sinabi niya. His stare was not even helping his uttered words. Lalo lang ako nitong pinapakaba.
I gulped. Sparrow? Paano niya iyon nalaman? Talaga bang nalaman niya kung sino ako dahil lang sa boses?
Kinunot ko ang noo at nilabanan ang kaniyang titig. "'m not." tugon ko.
Wes tilted his head to the side. "You're not? Sparrow?"
Tumango ako.
"I told you. I won't forget your voice. I know who you are." nang umiling ako'y sumama ang tingin niya. "There's no use in lying."
I frowned. How did he know? Hindi naman kami masyadong close ingame for him to be familiar with my voice that much? Hindi nga makilala ni Eura ang boses ko, at siya ang matagal ko nang nakalaro. Kaya paano niya nalaman sa ilang salita ko pa lang na nasabi rito?
Is Wes really that perceptive? Gano'n ba talaga siya katalino para malaman kung sino ako sa boses pa lang? That must be why Marcella confides in him.
Bumagsak ang balikat ko. "Pa'no?"
The corner of his lips rose and he stepped back. Parang nakahinga ako ng maluwag dahil doon.
"You could say I'm a fan."
Hindi ko napigilan ang gulat na bumungad sa'king mukha. Napaawang ang labi ko at nanlaki ang mata. I would never have thought that Wes watches my videos. Hindi ba't sobrang busy nito dahil sa university?
I tilted my head. "Thanks?"
Tinaasan niya lang ako ng kilay at humarap sa samurai na nakaupo pa rin sa floor. Kumunot ang noo ko. Did he really just come down here to confirm if I was the sparrow or not? Napakawirdo naman kung 'yon lang ang gusto niyang gawin. Lalo na't ginamit niya pa ang gilid ng tower para makababa. It's suicide.
Tumikhim ako para makuha ang atensiyon niya. Agad naman siyang bumaling sa'kin. Itinuro ko ang pinanggalingan niya.
"Shortcut." simpleng sagot ni Wes.
"Why?"
"I don't like things that take so much time. That was better. Besides, I was looking for you."
Naningkit ang mata niya habang nakatingin pa rin sa samurai na nasa gitna. He was looking for me to confirm his suspicions? Did he really have to do that though.
"I have to stop a bird from stealing all our flags away." matalim niyang tugon.
Oh. Right. Wes must have wanted to confirm his suspicions, but his larger motive was to get me off this city. After all, if his loyalty lies in Marcella and I refuse to join them, he is my enemy.
"Not interested." tukoy ko sa mga flags.
"Do you expect me to trust you?" Wes smirked. "I know your tricks, sparrow. I've always been watching you."
Pero wala naman talaga akong balak kumuha ng flag, gusto ko lang makaabot ng Level 20. I don't know how to communicate that to him in a simpler and lesser way. Kaya naman bumuntong-hininga lang ako.
So he was watching my videos to conduct a study? Is he treating me as his rival for him to go through such measures? Sa pagkakatanda ko ay wala naman akong nagawang kasalanan sa kaniya.
"We can have a truce, though." aniya. "Marcella wants to catch up to you because of the benefit you currently posses-"
Hindi ako magugulat kung hahamonin niya ako sa laban pagkadating. Dahil kay Kairo ay nasa sa'kin ang flag na dapat kay Marcella. Kaya pipilitin niya akong sumali sa guild nila upang madistribute ang points. Kapag hindi- napatingin ako sa dinaanan ni Wes- siguro'y itutulak niya ako sa gusaling ito.
"Hindi ka nagsinungaling sa'kin nang tanungin kita kaya hahayaan kitang umalis." patuloy ni Wes at itinuro ang isang pintuan na may EXIT na nakalagay. "Go forwards the next city, sparrow."
Umiling ako. "20th floor."
Napasulyap si Wes sa doorplate. "4 floors down. I guess I can help you. Marcella would be in the tenth floor by now."
Ininat ni Wes ang balikat at lumapit sa gitna. Mabilis na tumayo ang samurai at inihanda ang kaniyang espada. A dagger appeared in Wes' hands.
"Why?" tanong ko.
Lumingon siya sa'kin para itaas ang kilay.
"Why help?" ulit ko.
"Who knows."
Bigla na lang niyang sinugod ang samurai. The enemy raised his sharp blade to counter his dagger, pero iniwasan at umikot lang si Wes bago magpalabas ng panibagong dagger sa kabilang kamay at ibaon iyon sa leeg ng samurai. Wes landed on the ground just as the samurai fell, dead.
Tumungo siya sa pintuan na papunta sa susunod na floor. Wes looked back when he noticed that I didn't follow him. Blanko pa rin ang mukha niya habang hinihintay ako.
Frowning, I followed him. "You're strange."
Wes scoffed a laugh. Binuksan niya ang pintuan at panibagong mga kaaway naman ang nakaharap namin. Three human-sized fairies waited for us in the center, all of them carrying a large bulb needle. Mukhang delikado iyon.
"You're talking more than usual." sinipat niya ako. "In most of our guild raids, ni kahit oo hindi ka nagsasalita. You only talk a lot when you're streaming."
Siyempre, kasi kailangan talagang magsalita do'n. I can't let my viewers watch a live stream with just game sounds. How would I explain things then?
"We're enemies." I pointed out.
"We have a truce."
You decided on the truce yourself.
"If you're worried about me handing you to Marcella, it's not yet the time. It should be your choice if you want to join our alliance or not."
Umiling ako. "Won't."
Wes smirked and in a blink, he was gone. Nasa likod na siya ng isa sa mga fairy at tinatangkang saksakin ang likod nito. However, the fairy was faster. Mabilis itong umikot at pinalis palayo ang kaniyang dagger. Wes jumped back.
Nakuha no'n ang atensiyon ng dalawa pang fairies. I took out eight of my knives and started to rain them with my attacks. Iwinasiwas lang nila ang dalang malalaking needle para hindi sila matamaan ng kunai.
But that was just a distraction. Lumabas ako sa likod nila't sinipa ang isang fairy. The monster hits the door with a loud thud and a crushed skull, dahil na rin sa tatlong throwknives na ipinalipad ko sa likod ng ulo niya.
Nanlaki ang mata ko nang makita ang paparating na needle blade. I immediately ducked down only to feel another incoming blade. Mula siya sa taas. Pinilit kong umalis mula sa kinaroroonan ngunit pinipigilan ako ng mga pakpak ng isa pang fairy.
Then something clashed above me. Nagulat na lamang ako nang maramdaman ang katawan ni Wes sa malapit. His dagger was raised to defend against the first fairy's strike. Nakatitig siya sa fairy na nasa taas ko. Nang makita ko ang paparating na needle ng isa pang fairy sa likod niya ay agad din akong gumalaw. The sharp tip of the needle met my sturdy kunai. Napakagat ako sa labi dahil ang hirap ipanatili ang kamay sa likod ni Wes gayong medyo magkaharap kami.
If we weren't on a so-called truce, would this defensive stance still happen?
Nagpalitan kami ni Wes nang nilalabanan na fairy. I flipped the kunai in my left hand and summoned another on my right. Hindi ako tumigil sa pagpaulan ng atake doon sa fairy. Oddly, the monster seemed to move slower than the rest kaya medyo nababasa ko ang bawat paggalaw nito. When the battle ended, the fairy had about a dozen of kunai impaled in its body.
I landed in front of the door to the 18th floor. Lumingon ako para sana makita kung tapos na makipaglaban si Wes. I was slightly surprised to him just standing there, staring at me with a small smile. Iginiya niya ang pintuan kaya binuksan ko iyon.
Bumungad sa'min ang sunod na kwarto. It was a rotating floor with gaps that leads to the outside. Nalaman namin ito nang ibato ni Wes ang isa sa mga dagger niya sa kulay itim na hole sa sahig. The dagger then appeared on the outside and it fell.
Bago ang rotating floor ay may pwedeng tayuan na siguro'y malapit sa two meters ang laki. After that, we have to jump from white tile to white tile while balancing ourselves in the floor's circular motions. Kailangang iwasan ang itim na parte kung ayaw naming mahulog patungong kamatayan. Another two meter long stone floor waited for us at the end.
Naunang pumasok si Wes sa 19th floor habang nakatitig lang ako sa likuran niya. I wonder why he's helping me this much. It's not because I didn't lie, dahil nagsinungaling naman ako sa kaniya. Dalawang beses pa.
May pinaplano ba siya?
Dahil gusto niya akong lumabas na sa city na 'to, baka gusto niyang iwasan ang gulo. It will also be advantageous for them because I'm of a lower level.
Pero bakit siya sumama? Dahil ba there is still a possibility na makaabot si Marcella dito at ipuwersa ako sa guild nila?
Mabigat akong napabuntong-hininga. Hindi, Finn. Huwag kang mag overthink. Malay mo naman at hindi naman talaga gano'n ka importante ang role mo dito. Galit lang si Marcella sa'yo dahil naloko siya ni Kairo. Wala naman siguro siyang magagawa kung ayaw mo talaga. 'Di ba? She can't be that cold. Ito namang si Wes. Baka bored lang 'to at gusto ring magpalevel up ng mabilis.
Tama. Hindi ko na ito kailangang problemahin.
Bumungad sa'min ang isang floor kung saan walang katao-tao. It was just a blank room. I frowned and was about to step forward when a hand blocked my way.
"Don't move. I can't feel their presence, but I have a feeling moving around is a bad idea." Wes warned.
Tama nga siya. Not a single thing can be felt from this room aside from our own presences. Hindi rin pwedeng blankong kwarto lamang itong 19th floor. There must be something we're missing.
Biglang nanlaki ang mata ko at napaikot ako nang isang nakakasakal na presensiya ang aking naramdaman. Napasinghap ako nang isang napakalaking halimaw na may anim na paa at matang gumagalaw ang nagpakita. The monster's sticky tongue appeared and comes for me. Naramdaman kong may humawak sa'kin pero huli na 'yon, I quickly jumped aside.
The monster's tongue hits the floor and it cracked. Gulat akong napatingin doon. What a monster!
Nang ilipat ko ang tingin sa halimaw ay tamang-tama na unti na itong nawawala. So it can also hide itself. Kaya pala walang ka-kung ano-ano sa silid kanina.
I looked at Wes for any plans. I frowned when he was staring at his outstretched hands and flicking his gaze at me. Ano ba ang ginagawa niya?
I narrowed my eyes when a tail-shaped white smoke flicked on the wall behind Wes. Nanlaki ang mata ko nang unti-unting magpakita ang halimaw.
"Wes-"
I tried to warn him but it wasn't necessary. Nang sumunggab sa kaniya ang halimaw ay agad niyang naitusok ang dagger sa tiyan nito. Vomit came out of the monster's mouth and landed on the center of the room. It cried out before it vanished.
"Sparrow." tawag ni Wes. "Do not stand close towards the open. You might fall if he suddenly appears."
Tumango ako at saglit na ngumiwi. Bakit ba panay ang tawag niya nang sparrow sa'kin? Does he want me to get exposed?
"Finn." sabi ko. "Call me Finn."
"Gusto ko ang sparro-"
Natigil siya sa pagsasalita nang biglang nagpakita sa taas ko ang palakang halimaw. Parang tumalon ito mula sa kung saan man at balak akong pisain. I quickly rolled forward, dahil mahuhulog ako pag sa likod. Nagulat ako nang biglang may humigit sa kamay ko at nakita ko na lang ang sarili na nasa likod ni Wes.
"Stay there. It's dangerous."
Sumimangot ako. I can fight too!
Inignora ko ang sinabi niya at humakbang paharap. Wes glanced at me and sighed when he saw my face. Umiling-iling siya't wala nang sinabi.
The monster huffed and glared at us. Aatake na sana ito nang biglang bumukas ang pintuan na nagpakuha ng atensiyon ng lahat.
My eyes widened when I saw Marcella at the other end of the room. I felt Wes stiffen beside me. Kairo stepped in front of the pack and smirked.
"There you are, kitty. You just disappeared on us. That was rude, ya'know?"
Bakit ang bilis naman nilang bumaba?!
-chapter end-