"Tell me. Why did you choose her?"
A moment of silence ate them.
"She's not capable of this task."
"We're aware of that, team captain. In fact, outcasts are not totally capable of it. But, we have no choice. We have to choose," it's Erica.
"And you chose her?"
"Yes. Because I can sense something inside her. She's different," Alice said.
"Now tell me, why wasn't she able to protect herself from those stupid students?" He hissed. "Because she's different? For fuck's sake, she almost died there."
"That's why, we need to train her," George suggested. "Whether we like it or not, we have to pick one of them. And among these outcasts, we've already known about Alvira's existence, so why would we try to search for another person, if the answer's already at front of us."
"George's right. We have no time to look for others. We need to prepare as soon as possible," Miguel added.
~•~
Dahan-dahan kong iminulat ang aking mga mata. Tumambad sa akin ang puting kisame. Medyo nag-aadjust pa ang paningin ko sa liwanag ng paligid. Kanina'y tila may naririnig akong mga taong nag-uusap. Hindi ko lang masyadong maintindihan at marinig dahil okupado ang utak ko habang natutulog.
Akala ko katapusan ko na. Akala ko iyon na ang huling sandali ko sa mundo. Pero sa pangalawang pagkakataon, iniligtas niya ako.
A knock on the door interfered with my thoughts. Biglang pumasok ang isang babaeng nakasuot ng puting kasuotan, iyong pang-nurse. Ngumiti siya sa akin saka niya sinuri ang vital signs ko.
"Miss, maayos na ang kalagayan mo. Pwede ka nang lumabas sa mga oras na ito kung gusto mo," aniya.
Ngumiti ako pabalik, "Salamat po."
Lumabas na siya sa silid kung saan ako naka-admit. Nasa clinic pala ako ng academy. Dito niya ako dinala. Sinubukan kong tumayo pero medyo nahilo ako dahil siguro sa magdamag kong pagkakahiga sa clinic bed, tapos biglang tayo pa. Umupo muna ako saglit saka inayos ang mga gamit ko na nasa ilalim ng bed. Inayos ko rin ang hinigaan ko, nang biglang bumukas ang pinto.
"Oh. Alvira, maayos na ba ang pakiramdam mo?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Alice.
"Oo. Salamat."
Kumpleto silang apat dito: Alice, Erica, Miguel, at George. Mababakas ang pag-aalala sa mga mukha nila. Ngumiti ako sa kanila para ipakita na ayos lang ako, pero hindi nawala ang lungkot sa kanilang mga mata.
"Alvira, we have to ask you once again," Erica started to talk. The serious tone from her might have a deep meaning.
"What is it?"
"Are you willing to join this team?" Miguel asked.
"Are you ready to take part of the game?" Alice added.
"Are you willing to dedicate your time, your effort, and most especially... your life?" George.
There's something in their voices I cannot explain. Why are they asking me these things? Then it hit me. They are talking like this because of what had happened just earlier.
I tried to deeply comprehend what they have said. And now, I am asking these questions with myself.
Am I ready to face the consequences of joining their team and participating the game?
Am I willing to fully devote myself with this responsibility?
I looked at them directly in their eyes. For the short time I have been staying in their world, I have realized a lot of things. Some of this invalidated some points I intended to believe with. Dark Noxis proved me wrong about the idea that elites are all just the same. Because for a long time, I have been keeping the idea that their kinds just tend to criticize outcasts; that us, being powerless are just useless and have no importance in life, but become slaves for them.
If we got to win this game, for sure, people will be enlightened of our presence. They'll get to know that we're existing, and just like them, we are capable of the things we want. Whatever the reason for this sudden move of the ministry, I am somehow grateful for it because they are giving us the favor.
"Yes," I said with a determined voice. "I am willing and ready for everything that might happen."
I saw how the sadness in their eyes lightened up. It turned into a smile in their faces.
"We're not mistaken of choosing you."
~•~
"Alam mo ba... galit na galit ang team captain doon sa mga estudyanteng nasa loob ng classroom noong mangyari iyon sa iyo," paliwanag ni Erica habang hawak-hawak ang isang magazine na halos mga magagandang kasuotan ang nilalaman. "Lalo na roon sa dalawang magkasintahan na iyon."
Mababakas mo rin ang galit sa tono ng pananalita niya.
"Nasa guidance office ang lahat ng involved sa nangyari sa iyo," ani Miguel na may kinakalikot sa kaniyang camera. "At iyong dalawa, they are suspended from school for two weeks."
"Ganoon magalit ang team captain," dagdag ni Alice habang nakatutok ang mata sa binabasang libro. "He must be that worried about you."
"He may be heartless outside, but he has the most genuine heart you could've ever had from a leader," George added.
We're all here in the dormitory, specifically in the living room. They didn't take their last subject as they heard the news about me. They were really worried as they knew that my life has put into danger, nearly ended.
"However, they're still fortunate, that Tyrone got his composure calmed, and his emotion stabled," Erica said. "Because if he wasn't able to control it, they're dead now, literally."
"I think, we should change what's on her registration form. We should ask the registrar to change it. We must have the same schedule to ensure that she's safe from any harm that other students could do against her," Alice firmly said.
"Yes, I totally agree with that," Miguel supported Alice's claim. "It may sound offensive to Alvira... pero alam naman nating lahat na mainit talaga sa mga mata nila si Alvira. Lalo na't alam nilang isa siyang outcast."
"I understand, don't worry," I said.
"Alvira, you have to be ready. Because we are about to train you really hard," George with a grin on his face. "To the point that they will no longer distinguish who's the outcast among us."
I laughed at the thought. "George, that's impossible."
"Ayan ka na naman. You keep on putting yourself down. You tend to depreciate your capabilities and your worth as a person," George said in a serious manner. "Like what I have said, you have to believe in yourself more than we believe in you."
I smiled. "Yes, I will. Thank you."
"Okay starting tomorrow. You'll be in our class. We will have the same schedule," Alice interrupted. "After class, we will have an immense training."
~•~
At iyon nga ang nangyari. Kinabukasan, tulad nga ng sinabi nila, nabago ang sched ko, at pumasok ako sa klase kasama sila. Noong una, medyo nagtaka pa ang iba naming kaklase, at iyong iba ay masama ang tingin na ipinupukol sa akin. Pero nang tingnan din sila nang masama nitong mga kasama ko, umiwas sila ng tingin sa akin, at hindi na lumingon pa sa aking direksyon. Sigurado ako, pinapatay na nila ako sa kanilang isipan. But, I don't care anymore. Because in the first place, I am here to fulfill my duty, nothing more, nothing less, that's all.
"Now, you have to be ready— physically, mentally, and emotionally," George said as we're heading to the training area in 16th floor, at the roof top. "Don't worry, we're always here to help and guide you."
"Thank you," I said then smile.
Pumasok kami sa isang malaking hall kung saan sila nagte-training. Nakarating na ako rito noong sila ang nag-ensayo, pero hindi ko pala napagtuunan ng pansin kung gaano ito kalawak. Maraming kagamitan at iba't ibang weapons ang naririto at nakalagay sa mga glass box na lalagyan nito. For instance, there are melee weapons or those that are used in close combat battle such as knives, swords, hammers, axes, daggers, and war scythe. They also have ranged weapons like bows, blowguns, shurikens, slings, taser, and ballistic knives. Moreover, there are flexible weapons such as chain weapons, whips, ropes, and slapjacks. Lastly, a defensive weapon like armour shields.
"You can use at least one of these hand weapons and at least one of those ranged weapons," Miguel said. "To defend yourself from your opponents."
I immensely looked at these weapons. I never saw things like these in person, but now I am able to touch it, and what's best is that I can use some of them. I handed the weapons that really caught my attention.
"A knife and a bow and arrows? That's cool," Miguel commented. Among the team, I think Miguel has already professionalized things that are related to weapons. He's the initiator or the attacker after all, so he must be that good at fighting.
I wasn't good at combating nor fighting, but I think I should now put it in my mind. I have to be used to it, and enhance my skills to have a great chance of winning the game. Ano man ang kanilang dahilan sa pagsali sa mga kagaya ko sa larong ito, na sa mahabang panahon ay sila lang ang nakararanas, kailangan kong manalo. Kailangan naming manalo. Dahil sa tingin ko, may iba pang dahilan kung bakit kami nasangkot sa ganito.
Mahirap kung sa mahirap, pero kung susubukan mong gustuhin, kakayanin mo.
Kaming tatlo lang nila George at Miguel ang pumunta rito sa training area, pero maya-maya ay lumabas din si George kaya kaming dalawa lang ni Miguel ang naiwan dito. May pinagkaka-abalahan din sina Alice at Erica. Hinawakan ko nang mahigpit itong hawak ko na bow and arrow. Nakatayo ako nang matuwid, habang sinusukat ko ang lakas na kailangan kong ibigay sa pagtira nitong palaso sa illusionistic monster na sampung metro ang layo sa akin. Malapit pa ito kung tutuusin kaya mukha namang kakayanin kong tamaan ito. Nang matantya ko na ito ay agad kong binitawan ang pwersa mula sa panang hawak ko, ngunit hindi ko man lang nagawang tamaan ang halimaw na nasa harapan ko. Ni daplis ay hindi ko man lang nagawa. Ilang beses ko itong inulit pero hindi ko pa rin ito natamaan. Akala ko madali lang ito, pero mukhang nagkamali ako.
"Sumusuko ka na ba, Alvira?" tanong ni Miguel na nasa gilid ko sa kanan. Tumingin ako sa kanya at nakita ko kung gaano kaseryoso ang mukha niya. Ngayon ko lang siya nakitang ganito kaya nakakapanibago.
"Hindi," determinado kong wika sabay subok ulit sa pagpana pero hindi ko pa rin nagawang tamaan.
Kinuha niya ang panang hawak ko, sinuri saglit ang halimaw, saka inasinta ang palaso. At literal akong napanganga nang tamaan niya ito direkta sa mukha. Kumuha ulit siya ng isang palaso sa lamesa, tinira niya ulit ito, at kamangha-manghang nahati niya ang palasong nakatarak doon sa mukha nang halimaw na tinira niya kanina gamit ang palaso na tinira naman niya ngayon. Kumuha ulit siya at pauli-ulit na tumira. Natamaan niya ito sa dalawang mata, sa noo, sa ilong, sa dibdib, at sa kung anong parte pa ng katawan ng halimaw na gusto niyang tamaan. Kung ano talaga ang nasa isip niya, iyon ang natatamaan niya. Nakakabilib.
"Nakita mo ba iyon?" wika niya pero hindi mo mababakas ang kayabangan sa boses niya. "Wala akong ginamit na mahika roon, pero nagawa ko itong tamaan sa kung saan ko man ito gusto patamaan."
Tumango lamang ako, at hindi pa rin makapagsalita.
"Skills? Pwede. Practice? Pwede," sabi pa niya habang nakatingin sa halimaw sabay tingin sa akin. "Pero ang pinakamahalaga sa lahat... ay ang desire mo na gawin ang isang bagay. Kailangan mong maging passionate sa objectives mo para makuha mo ang inaasam mong outcome. You have to think as if you really want it, that you're really into it. With that, you will surely be able to achieve anything you want as long as it is what your heart is telling you."
Napangiti ako sa huli niyang sinabi.
"Now, try it again. And this time, focus on your aim," he said.
Muli kong hinawakan ang pana saka kumuha ng palaso sa mesa. Kinuha niya ang mga arrow na tinira niya gamit ang kaniyang kapangyarihan. Kinontrol niya ito papunta sa table na nasa tabi ko. Pinagmasdan kong maigi ang itsura nitong halimaw, at bigla kong naalala ang gabing muntikan nang malagay sa alanganin ang buhay ko. Noong gabing sumalakay ang mga halimaw sa bayan namin. Marami itong napinsala, marami ring napatay. Kung nagkaroon lang ako ng pagkakataon, ililigtas ko ang buong bayan sa mga halimaw na iyon, pero wala eh. Kahit nga sarili ko ay hindi ko naipagtanggol.
Hinawakan ko itong pana nang mahigpit, pinikit saglit ang mga mata, at dumilat. Kailangan kitang tamaan, dahil sa ganitong paraan ay tila nakamit ko na rin ang hustisya para sa aming bayan. Kahit pa isa lamang itong ilusyon. Huminga ako nang malalim saka binitawan ang pressure at force na inipon ko sa pana. At sa isang iglap lang ay hindi kapani-paniwalang natamaan ko ito sa noo. Sinubukan kong tumira ulit, baka kasi naka-tsamba lang ako. Pero hindi ito tsamba dahil nagawa ko ulit itong patamaan sa mukha. Nakarinig ako ng malalakas na palakpakan sa aking likuran.
"Very impressive, Alvira!" komento ni George.
"You did it! OMG," reaksyon ni Erica.
"Marunong ka palang gumamit ng pana," namamanghang wika ni Alice.
Hindi ko nagawang magbigay ng pahayag mula sa mga compliment nila dahil ako mismo ay hindi rin makapaniwala na nagawa ko iyon. Tumingin ako kay Miguel at nakita kong napalitan na ng ngiti ang kaninang seryoso niyang mukha.
"I told you. You just have to think that you can," he said with a grin.
"Thank you," I said.
"Alam mo ba na iyang panang napili mong gamitin ay pagmamay-ari ng isang fairy warrior na nakipaglaban sa mga masasamang elemento libong taon na ang nakararaan," kwento ni Miguel. Tahimik naman kaming nakikinig sa kanya. "Though, they believed that it was just a myth. But, I still believe that this woman existed, and in fact, she is that "Archer of Desire" that defeated billions of disastrous monsters and slayed a lot of people who have evil desires and intentions."
To be continued...