-chapter thirty-two-
FINN
Tahimik akong nakatayo sa dalawang bato na tinurok ko at sa kandilang nakapatong dito. We used Eura's flame to light up a candle as I sent the prayers to the two players who left us.
I know death is part of this game, but it doesn't make me numb to it. Even though we have no relations and they lacked in cooperation, I still knew their names and stayed with them for a bit. Being a witness to their death only means that another body will add to my nightmares.
Ipinikit ko ang mata at binulong ang huling dasal. Ang simpleng pagpapatawad na hindi muli ako nakatulong na maprotektahan ang mga tao. Ang simpleng pagpapaumanhin sa pagka-walang lakas ko.
"Did you become friends with them?" tanong ni Eura na tumayo sa tabi ko. "Para ipagdasal mo sila?"
Umiling ako. "But I knew them."
"You looked sad pero 'tong kasama mong si Oliver blanko lang. Oi, ikaw, ba't parang wala lang sa'yo 'yong nangyari sa nakasama niyo pero parang natatae ka pa rin?"
"Kung nandito si insan, pinalitan niya na ang dictionary'ng ginagamit mo. Isa pa, I don't know, I don't really know them personally and I'm kinda annoy with them. And don't they have it coming though?" Oliver shrugged. "We tried to help save them but they didn't even make some efforts."
Inikot ni Eura ang mata. "Well, unlike you, Mr. Popular na walang paki-alam, they might not be as courageous as you. Kahit anong arogante ng isang tao, nababasag lahat ng pader nila kapag alam nilang mamamatay na sila. Would they rather trust the two of you with no definite success or escape and probably live?"
"Nabuhay nga ba sila? We fought back, endangering our lives. Gusto ko lang naman na gawin din nila 'yon."
"Iyan nga ang ibig kong sabihin. You think that because you have confidence in your skills, e paano sila? Siyempre makakain sila ng takot at gagana ang bobong parte ng utak nila. I'm not blaming you because you did help, but I also see their reason. Fear brings out the ugliness of a soul, and sometimes people would rather be cowards than risk for the unknown."
I'm not really thinking about their refusal to help in the battle nor blaming them for their cowardice. Ayoko lang makakita ng taong namamatay. Whatever they did and whatever regrets they left, it still hurts to see a life lost.
And... do they really have to die like that? It's so horrible that I don't think their souls will ever be at peace.
"Ano nga bang ginagawa mo dito, Eura? Wala ka na bang ibang madaldal?" naiiritang tanong ni Oliver.
I turned back to face them. Nakahalukipkip si Oliver at masama ang tingin kay Eura na nakangisi. She stuck her tongue out when Oliver evaded her argument.
"Ble. Talo ka!" she teased before answering seriously. "Anyway, naghiwa-hiwalay kami para sabihin sa ibang manlalaro kung paano makaka-alis, sincee, baka naman abutan pa tayo ng sunod na taon sa maze na 'to. So eto ako sa harap niyo, nag-iisa! A messenger from heaven kasi heavenly ang beauty ko."
"Pero hellish ang attitude mo?" Oliver cocked his brow. "Ba't di mo na lang sabihin na sa sobrang daldal mo sa langit, sinipa ka palabas?"
"Mag-isa ka?" I asked.
Eura decided to ignore Oliver and answered me. "Yep! Me, myself, and I. The one and only! Ang bituing kahit saan ay magniningning! Si Eunice Ira!"
Oliver rolled his eyes from behind and decided to look at the crimson sky. Eura can really be loud and intense sometimes, kaya siguro magbestfriend sila ni Kairo. I wonder if their alliance requires someone intense.
I blinked at Eura then pointed to a corner of a maze. "Kairo's there."
Both Oliver and Eura looked at the direction I'm pointing at. Kumunot ang noo nila nang makitang walang tao doon pero hindi ako pwedeng magkamali. I could sense Kairo, because he's the only player in this game whose bloodthirst is exceedingly high. It feels like Death creeping up your door and knocking.
Siguro dahil na rin sa mataas na perception ko kaya ko siya naunang naramdaman. And I also noticed a flicker of silver on that side.
"Talaga? Nandiyan si Kairo?"
Tumango ako.
Eura eyed the corner suspiciously, then all of a sudden she smirked. "Kung ayaw lumabas at magpakita ng isa diyan, may sasabihin ako kay Finn." she said, a bit louder than necessary dahil malapit lang naman ako sa kaniya. "Naalala ko noong namali ako ng room na pinasok at may lalaki akong nakita, sa harap ng kama at nakatingin sa isang-"
I was surprised when Kairo immediately appeared in front of us, running towards Eura and tackling her to the ground. Isang malutong na mura ang naisigaw ni Eura habang sinisiko niya ang mukha ni Kairo na abala sa pagtakip sa bibig niya.
I was about to step in when Kairo winced back, as if burned, waving the hand he used to cover Eura's mouth. Ngumisi naman ang babae sa kaniya at tumayo. Palipat-lipat ang tingin ko sa dalawa. I don't know what just happened.
"You're so gross, Eura." nakangiwing reklamo ni Kairo. "Eww. May alcohol ba kayo diyan? I can't believe she bit me."
"Shit, p're. Goodluck na lang sa'yo. Sana umabot pa bukas ang buhay mo." Oliver remarked from the side, looking disgusted.
"Hoy!" singhal ni Eura. "Excuse me lang ha, pero wala akong rabies, tangina niyo. Tsaka kung ayaw ng gago na makagat, e'di sana umalis na siya noong tinutulak ko pa lang!"
"Oh, kalma, nagma-machine gun naman bibig mo sa mura." Kairo sighed. "But that hurts. Eura, do you have fangs?"
"Hindi ako sure. Ay! Ba't ka nga pala sumunod sa'kin, Kai? I thought we should separate para mas marami tayong masabihan? Hindi tayo pwedeng magsama!"
"Masabihan ng ano?" Oliver asked, confused.
I relate to his confusion, although it must have something to do with how to complete this city. I have a small inkling but I'm not entirely sure if my theory is right. I just feel strange about the wind, vines, and the red crystal. Pakiramdam ko ay isa ito sa mga sagot sa tanong.
Kairo nodded at Eura. "Alam ko. Umalis ka na."
"Uh, excuse me lang, parekoy. Nauna ako dito?" matapang na tugon ni Eura. "Ah, wait, hindi patanong. Nauna ako dito, tangnamo."
"Ikaw nagsabi na maghiwalay tas ikaw aayaw. Ewan ko sa'yo, Eura. Ang hirap mong intindihin."
"Oo nga, kaya ikaw ang umalis! Nauna ako dito 'no!"
I blinked, standing in the middle of two arguing friends without understanding what they're arguing about. It feels strange but it's also familiar, since Gavin and Sebastian argue over nothing most of the time.
They look like two bulls butting heads.
"Hoy. Ano bang sasabihin niyo? You're taking our time." tanong ni Oliver na umakbay sa'kin.
Kairo's eyes narrowed, intently watching the arm around me. I tilted my head questioningly when our eyes met. A sly grin appeared in his face, still sharp and threatening.
"Napakalife threatening ba ng nangyari sa inyo at sobrang close niyo na ngayon?" may talim niyang tanong.
When has Kairo even care about closeness though? Unang kita nga namin tinutukan niya ako ng dagger at inakbayan. I don't think he's one to talk.
"Superr~" masayang sagot ni Oliver. "Finn's my personal bodyguard right now. She said she'll protect me in this city."
"Oho?" Kairo hummed, voice dropping menacingly.
Bigla na lang siyang may hinigit na dagger at pinalipad papunta kay Oliver. My eyes widened, watching the blade cut the air so quickly and sharply. Bago ko pa ito mapigilan ay binaril na ni Oliver ang dagger, the bullet hitting the blade and redirecting it towards the wall.
Kinuha ko ang nakaakbay na kamay ni Oliver. I was about to get hit because of their unnecessary touches.
Oliver smirked, blowing the steam off his gun. "Can protect myself just fine."
"Sana nga naman. Baka kasi may maputulan ako ng kamay dito."
I subtly place a larger distance between me and Kairo. Bakit ba goal niya lagi ang manakot at gumawa ng threats? My life doesn't feel secure when I'm with him.
Pagod akong tiningnan ni Kairo nang mapansin ang pag-atras. "Hindi kita sasaktan, kitten."
You don't know that.
"So... ready na ba kayo para sa paliwanag ko o baka gusto niyo pang magpalakihan ng ego?" Eura asked, checking her nails. "Which if you ask me, is nothing but a waste of time."
"Kanina ko pa kaya kayo tinatanong kung ano ngang sasabihin niyo pero nag-away pa kayo." umirap si Oliver at ibinalik ang baril sa holster. "Para kayong mag-asawa."
A married couple? Eura and Kairo? I instantly looked at them, trying to observe their behavior with each other. Ngumiwi silang dalawa sa sinabi ni Oliver at sumilay ang disgusto sa muka nila.
Dahil ba sa pag-aaway nila? I guess that really makes sense. Married couple usually engage in fights or banters that's mostly because they're comfortable with each other. Siguro nga pwedeng mag-asawa 'tong si Eura at Kairo. They can be quite compatible.
Napailing ako sa sariling naisip. How could I even think such things when I don't know anything about it? Hindi pa nga ako naa-attract sa isang tao.
"Eww. He's like my little brother-"
"Mas matanda ako sa'yo." Kairo cut in.
"That is so gross, Oli. Talagang mas trip ko si Caspian kaysa sa'yo." bago pa makasagot si Oliver ay nagsalita na ulit si Eura. "Oo nga pala, speaking of Caspian, nakasama ko siya kanina. So ganito ang nangyari, siyempre nagsimula tayo doon sa portal. Nasa last city ako no'n, naghihintay na dumating sina Kairo kasi ang tagal nila - sa sobrang tagal nga, naubos ko na 'yong melon buns ko. Ay! Finn, have you tried that yet?"
Napailing ako sa biglaan niyang tanong.
"Masarap 'yon-!"
"Please stick to the topic, Eura." paalala ni Kairo.
"Okay. Okay. So 'yon nga, limang melon buns naubos ko nang dumating sila. Isipin mo 'yon! Kung natagalan pa pala, wala na sana akong kaka-" Eura trailed off, sensing the glares Oliver and Kairo sent her way. Tumikhim siya. "Soo... pumasok nga kami sa portal tapos charan! Nakita ko ang sarili dito sa maze. Siyempre tumingin-tingin ako sa paligid tapos nagulat ako kasi nakita ko si Kai pero hindi ang ibang members namin! Grabe kaba ko do'n, kasi like, saan na sila nagpunta 'diba? Baka napano o ano at nagtaka ako kung bakit si Kai kasama ko e naiinis ako sa pagmumukha—"
"Eura." Kairo warned.
Oliver sighed, massaging his temples. "Can't you just fast-forward this?"
"Ayun nga, nagkasabay kami ni Kairo. Tapos alam niyo na, maze, so medyo nawala pa kami ng slight. Slight lang naman. Alam niyo kasi, medyo hindi ako sanay sa pagshift ng walls at akala ko nga may monster - speaking of, alam niyo ba kung bakit walang monster dito? May sinabi si Wes tungkol do'n eh. Nakalimutan ko kung ano. Basta something sa riddles lang may monster?"
Wes was also with her? And if the monsters only appeared through riddles, why did that lion exist?
"Oo nga pala! Si Wes 'yong unang nakita namin tapos si Caspian- OMG!" Eura gasped and turned to me. "Finn, it was so boring! Super! Like, magsasalita ako tapos papatigilin nila ako. Bakit naman ayaw nila? Ni hindi na nga nila ginagamit ang bibig nila para magsalita tapos papatahimikin pa nila ako! Ano ba akala nila? Game 'to 'no! Hindi prayer meeting!"
I nodded patiently at Eura. I wonder when she'll realize that she's drifting away from the topic.
"Pinapatahimik ka kasi sa sobrang daldal mo, nawawala ka na sa dapat mong sabihin." Kairo growled. "Why did I even let you tell them? I knew you're gonna get sidetracked."
"Sus. Kayo lang naman nagrereklamo, si Finn nga nakikinig lang eh." Eura said with a pout.
Oliver and Kairo looked at me, surprised. Lalo na nang makitang nakatitig nga lang ako kay Eura at taimtim na nakikinig.
"Nakikinig ka sa kaniya?" Oliver asked, disbelief crossing his face.
I nodded.
I'm used to her. I'm actually quite glad that she talks a lot. It's not the annoying kind, since Eura just likes to tell stories or sometimes random facts. She always fill in the silence between us and I found myself entertained in her talks as time passed by.
"Isn't it annoying?" si Kairo. "I've been with her for years but I still can't get used to her noise."
Umiling ako.
"See!" Eura looked proud. "So 'yon nga, nainis ako kasi ang tahimik kaya tinanong ko sila, 'anong plano, boys?'. Tapos sinabi nila kung anong deal nitong maze. It seemed that the harder the riddle, the closer we are to the exit portal. Hindi lang din ito sa kung gaano kahirap sagutin ang riddle, pero gaano rin kabigat ang consequences na mayro'n ito."
"Promises." I noted.
Tumango si Eura. "Pwede rin 'yan. Since a promise has to be done and usually includes one's life- ah, 'diba sabi mo kanina, Finn, you promised to protect Oliver for our whole stay here?"
"Mm. Word of protection." I glanced back at the closed wall. "Means we're already closer to the portal. Pero lumayo kami."
"I guess so. 'Di ba punishment 'yong nangyari sa lalaking kasama niyo kanina? Bakit?"
"Nangako na ilalaan niya ang buhay para sa nobya pero 'di naman ginawa." Oliver answered.
Kairo scoffed a laugh.
Itinuro ni Eura ang pinanggalingan niya. "Since dito kami galing, I can assure you the riddles weren't anything hard. Just have to fight ridiculous monsters. Kung gano'n, posibleng dito ang portal papunta o doon," sabay turo niya sa daanang nasa kanan namin. "Hindi naman tayo pwedeng makabalik sa pinanggalingan niyo since the path was destroyed."
I solemnly nodded. They're just spikes now. Bloody spikes.
"Ayun nga. Tapos sabi din ni Wes sundan lang daw natin ang ihip ng hangin. Kasi parang 'yong kristal na 'yon, 'yang pula na 'yan, kita niyo ba?"
"Siyempre. May mata kami."
"Mag-aarte na lang akong walang narinig. So 'yang kristal parang kinukuha lahat ng hangin dito kasi magic-magic gano'n, kaya sabi ni Wes sundan daw natin kung saan papunta hangin dahil doon 'yong kristal. Gets niyo?"
I nodded. Their theory wasn't so far from mine. Mula nang tumapak ako dito, I've been keeping an eye on the vines, watching where the leaves are pointing to. Natigilan lang ako nang mahinto ang hangin—
Nanlaki ang mata ko nang marealize ang nangyari. Eura earlier said that monsters don't appear in the maze unless summoned by the riddles. But... Oliver did not answer any riddles, since nagulat pa nga siya nang makita ito, and neither did I. The lion attacked both of us and it was basically invincible.
So kanina pala ay nasa may portal na kami?
"Lion." I blurted out, making three heads look at me. "There was a lion."
Kairo and Eura stared at me blankly. Oliver snapped his fingers when he got what I was saying.
"Walang monsters dito pero may leon tayong nakalaban!" aniya. "Kung gano'n nasa may portal na tayo kanina? Ah shit, I hate this. Nakaalis na pala tayo."
No, we couldn't. The lion can't be killed so we'd be dead by now if we didn't escape. I don't think there was enough time for the both of us to plan things.
"Pero hindi namamatay 'yon." Oliver added as an afterthought.
"Baka nagbabantay lang." komento ni Kairo.
Naalala ko ang pinanggalingan nito. The three pathways and the side the lion was guarding before it chased me.
"Yes." I nodded. "Lion's guarding the portal."
"Ang nasa kanan. Doon din ako unang pumunta bago ako hinabol. That must be where the portal is." Oliver excitedly said. "So, what's our plan now? Anong gagawin natin?"
Masayang ngumiti si Eura at naunang maglakad sa kanang bahagi. I watched as the leaves dance towards that side, vines becoming a messenger of sorts for us.
Looks like the lion really did play an important factor in this city.
"Follow the wind. Find the lion. Get the fuck out of here." Kairo listed.
The number of beta-testers alive has counted down to 150/200. One fourth of the beta-testers have already died.
-chapter end-