-chapter eighty-nine-
KAIRO
I also didn't know when did I become the ruthless player everyone adored and feared.
"Kai, tawag ka nina Mommy. Did you get into a fight again?"
I took my eyes off the game I was playing to stare at Kuya Kaiser. He's leaning by the doorway with his arms crossed. Mula sa suit na suot-suot niya, siguradong kakagaling niya lang mula sa trabaho.
"They bullied Eura." sagot ko at bumalik sa laro.
Eura can be loud and annoying as fuck, but her bullies didn't have any reason to push her off the stairs today. Kahit na napaka-ingay niya, mayroon naman siyang good values. She helps those in need and never hesitates on sharing what's hers.
Kuya sighed. "Don't worry. Hindi ka naman nila papagalitan. I think they just want to tell you that there are more peaceful ways than starting a fight."
"Tch." iniwas ko ang tingin. "Sinapak ko lang naman kaisa 'yon. Hina nga no'n."
"Buti nanalo ka." Kuya grinned. "Sisipain ka sana namin kung talo."
I rolled my eyes, silently laughing in my mind. When he invited me again for dinner, doon na ako huminto sa paglalaro at sumunod sa kaniya. However, Kuya lied about the 'not-angry' part dahil nasermonan ako ng isang oras nila Mommy. Hindi naman nila ako masyadong mapagalitan dahil iniyakan na pala sila ni Eura. Thankfully, the girl is not only loud but has good acting skills.
"Ano, Kai, pinalo ka ba sa pwet?" natatawang tanong ni Louise pagkatapos ng klase namin. "Masakit ba? Masakit?"
I glared at her. "E kung paluin kita sa pwet para malaman mo-"
"Kinky." Fern cut off, judging me with her eyes. "You like Louise?"
Parang naeskandalo naman kaming dalawa ni Louise sa sinabi niya. Fern is quiet but she doesn't really have a low voice. Parang inanounce tuloy niya sa hallway na gusto ko si Louise. Na sobrang nakakasuka lang kahit isipin. Magka-ugali lang rin sila ni Eura, kahit na mas malala ang isa. I don't prefer those girls as my partner.
"Oi, p're, totoo? Crush mo si Louise?"
I inwardly sighed when I heard Dierk Van's voice. Sinasabi na nga bang makikita ko siya dahil hallway nila 'to. Buti na lang at 'di niya kasama ang supladong kaibigan. Siguro ay nagkukulong naman sa library ang Salvallon na 'yon.
"Nah." umiling ako't tinuro ang basketball uniform na suot niya. "Basket kayo?"
"Yep. Break namin eh. Sama ka?"
"Ey, Dierran! Bakit kami ayaw mo tanungin? May favoritism ka, ha." singit ni Eura na akala mo kaibigan ang lahat, e nakuha na ni Dierran ang title na 'yon. "Hindi kita ipapakilala sa kaibigan ko."
She even had the guts to threaten him.
"Haha, okay lang, hindi din ako interesado." diretsong sagot ni Dierran. "Ah, Eura, baka ikaw ang gusto ni Kairo? Usap-usapan kasi sa section namin kung sino ang type mo, Kai."
People have the weirdest interests. Sa dami ng topic na pwedeng tanungin sa mundo, bakit kaya ang gustong babae ko pa? And it's not like I actually like anyone. Sure, I get physically attracted to some people, but I don't like them enough to want to date them.
Hindi ko nga alam kung anong nakita ni Kuya sa pandak na 'yon. Hindi naman siya cute.
At talagang tinanong iyon ni Dierran na parang favorite color ko lang. The nice smile this guy have while asking direct questions really makes me wonder.
"Eww lang Kairo, ha! Ako pala gusto mo?" Eura had the audacity to scrunch her face in disgust.
I regarded her confidence with a blank face. "Sa pangit mong 'yan?"
"Hindi ka rin kagwapuhan!"
Dierran laughed as if he wasn't the cause of Eura's explosion. "Sige, Kai. Sana makasali ka na next time!"
Tinanguan ko si Dierran at umalis na sila ng mga kaibigan niya. Sa bawat klaseng nadadaanan ay may binabati siya't kinakausap. That boy almost have everyone as his friend. Parte siya ng student government, isang athlete at guild leader pa sa online game. His daily clock must be longer than ours.
"Sa tingin ko bakla na ang tingin ng iba sa'yo." Eura said that to my face the next afternoon, pagkatapos ko siyang ilibre ng ice-cream. Ang kapal talaga ng mukha ng babaeng 'to.
The ever-supportive Louise fell into a fit of laughter while Fern managed a smirk. Si Xavier na minsanan lang kung sumama sa'min ay nabulunan pa sa biglaang joke ni Eura. I was pulling myself back, dahil talagang lalala na ang imahe ko kapag pinatulan ko ang isang 'to. Kahit na bawat usapan namin ay gusto niyang magpabugbog.
Hindi ko pa siya napapatay ng tingin nang idagdag niyang, "Kasi kasama mo kaming tatlo lagi tapos wala kang crush sa isa sa'min."
I frowned. "Sa dami ng babae dito sa mundo, bakit kayong tatlo pa ang dapat kung pagpilian?"
"Huwag kang choosy. Ikaw na nga binibigyan ng options."
"Magpapare na lang ako."
"Pare, mahal mo daw ako?!" Louise sang with a loud laugh. Sinabayan naman siya nina Eura at Xavier.
These four really likes to test my patience. Kung hindi lang kami magkakilala mula pagkabata, matagal ko na silang iniwan sa ere. They enjoy their so-called 'Kairo-slander' so much.
"Gusto ko 'yong babaeng 'yon." I declared before pointing at some random girl.
The four of them simultaneously stopped and turned their heads around. Tamang-tama naman na nag-iba ng posisyon ang babae kaya mas nakita namin ang itsura niya. Natahimik kaming lahat nang tuluyan siyang humarap.
I pointed at her without thinking about it. Gusto ko lang matapos ang hindi matapos-tapos na panunukso ng mga kaibigan ko. I never meant it. Pero-
She was... very pretty. Not the drop-dead gorgeous kind, but she was the sort of person you want to keep forever.
Her black hair wasn't very long, but it looks so soft and pretty to hold. Sandaling dumaan ang tingin niya sa'min kaya medyo natulala ako sa mga mata niya - brown and gentle, like amber in the first rays of dawn. Her facial features were soft, like that of an innocent angel that has just descended. She was exquisitely beautiful and enchanting. And taking my eyes off her seemed to be impossible.
Ang tapik ni Eura ang nagpabalik sa'kin. The girl has long left the aisle. "Okay, Kai. I believe in you. May taste ka nga talaga."
"Kahit ako ay liligawan ang babaeng 'yon." suporta ni Louise. "Ang ganda kasi talaga niya."
"Well, I guess this closes the issue of whether Kairo's gay or not," Fern noted.
Nagkibit-balikat si Eura. "Hindi tayo sure. I mean, nandiyan pa naman ang tension nila ni Wes- aray!"
HIndi ko na napigilan ang sarili at talagang nabatukan siya. Sa lahat ba naman ng taong pwede niyang sabihin, ang lalaking 'yon pa.
My family is very neutral when it comes to business affairs. We don't participate in political warfares, unlike the Velasquezs'. We're not economic monsters like the Villamors, nor are we a family dynasty in the medicinal field like the Salvallons. We're part of the high society that does not take sides in family or clan affairs.
So, my dislike for Wes does not reside in our lineage, but because of his character. Magkakalase kami mula kindergarten at hindi na kami bati noon pa lang. He was a quiet and snob child, while I was very active and playful. At noong inaya ko siyang maglaro 'tsaka hindi niya ako pinansin, siyempre nainis ako. It didn't help that we both have the same grades and talent, academically or athletically.
There was one platform where he's not pissing me off though - the gaming society. It's a known hobby in our world, but I knew cold and boring Wes wouldn't be entertained by it.
Kaya laking gulat ko nang makita siya sa isang stream ni DIerran.
I was just scrolling in boredom. Natapos ko na ang daily quest ko for that night at wala akong planong magstream. Two videos were on top of the trending list, kung saan nangunguna ang video ni Black Sparrow, followed by Marcella's livestream too. I had Sparrow live open on a small screen, dahil kahit wala siyang mukha at gameplay lang lumalabas sa stream, her voice is lovely to listen to and she provides good tutorials. She's the miracle who helped us through a very difficult level in a game. While her soft voice resonated around my room, I watched the rest of the trending livestreams. Isa na doon si Dierran na may kasama sa livestream - it was titled 'with my bestfriend'. Of course, it made me curious, dahil iisa lang naman ang kilala kong bestfriend niya, and I don't think he would actually play some game.
But, alas, his face appeared on my screen. At mukhang kasama niya pa si Sparrow, dahil narinig ko ang boses nito na nagbibigay ng instruction.
For some reason, it made my blood boil.
"Si Wes?" Eura frowned when I asked her. Nasa cafeteria kami dahil lunchtime na. "Well, oo naglalaro siya. Matagal na rin. Late naman akong nakapasok sa guild, pero orig members sila ni Sparrow do'n."
"Hindi mo pa ba alam 'yon, Kai? Isa kaya siya sa tinatawag na God of Strategy. While Sparrow is just a living legend at games, Wes is also one of the brains of Autumn's Fall. Or Guilty Crown rin sa isa pang game nila." Louise confirmed.
"Bakit mo nga pala 'yon natanong ngayon? Dahil ba sa sinabi ni Fern kahapon-" nanlaki ang mata ni Eura. "OMG! Kung gano'n, totoo talagang bakla ka para kay-"
Hindi niya natapos ang sasabihin nang pitikin ko ang noo niya.
"Oo nga pala, ignoring Kairo's long and undying crush-" Fern said, making me glare at her. "Naka-receive din ba kayo ng e-mail mula sa BBG? About some new game?"
"Ah, oo! Bakit? Tinanong ko nga si Sparrow tungkol do'n pero umayaw naman. Nagdadalawang-isip tuloy ako kung sasama." Eura answered with a pout.
Louise narrowed her eyes at her. "Sandali, bakit ka naman magda-dalawang isip pagkatapos mong tanungin si Sparrow? Paano kami?"
"Matanda ka na, Louise. Huwag ka maging clingy."
I pursed my lips, ignoring the two who were about to fistfight. Nakuha ko nga iyon kahapon pero hindi naman ako masyadong interesado. I want to play games, not think deeply about them. That's too tiring. And if Sparrow wouldn't be there, then I don't really care at all. Isa siya sa mga entertainments ko and I love playing games that she does too.
"Please, Kai? Sumali ka na doon."
I can't believe Kuya would plead me to actually play a game, when he was the one who keeps on reminding me to regulate my game usage. This is all because of that dwarf who likes to dress up as a child and stream games on the net.
"Sasali kasi si Depore."
"Gusto mo kong maging tagabantay?" I sighed. "It's just a game."
"Mm. It's just that- I feel strange about this game, Kai. Tingnan mo lang sa first day, o i-check out mo 'yong pupuntahan niyong lugar. I have a bad feeling about this game."
Dahil minsan lang naman kung humingi ng favor si Kuya, sinunod ko na. I didn't have anything better to do that weekend too. Nagkasundo-sundo na kasi ang tatlo na lalaruin nila 'yon - with Louise blackmailing Eura and Xavier giving another pass kasi hindi siya masyadong naglalaro. I was also having my doubts in the game, after reading its terms and conditions, word by word. There were some really interesting but dangerous conditions written.
The building where the meeting would occur wasn't shady. I recognized it as one of BBG's branches in the world. What caught my attention, however, was the unknown people who crowded the lobby. I thought the game that requires beta-testers would make this exclusive for pro-gamers only, but the uneasy expression of some others made me think twice. It was obvious that they're stepping into unknown territory. They weren't gamers.
Well, that curiosity was later on answered when I reached my meeting room. Although I didn't like the person I was sharing the room with - Marcella Maia - the limited capacity enabled me to ask any question I wanted.
The nature of the game also answered my question since last night. If the threat of death was true, then this wristband and head gear would really be the cause. They will probably monitor our heart rate and spike it up in our deaths, since hindi naman kami talaga mamamatay in-game. At siguro'y na-implement ito para maging seryoso ang players sa judgment nila. If they become serious because they could potentially die, the more that they will critically think about every city and game. The players will do anything just to survive.
Although, I may have overestimated the beta-testers since one died just at the starting point.
"Kumalma ka nga lang, Kai. Some people just don't want to waste their time reading terms and conditions- oi, si Eura ba 'yon?" Louise was easily distracted, pero para hindi pa masermonan ulit, sinundan ko ang tingin niya.
I noticed Eura at first, pero tumagal sa babaeng nasa likod niya ang tingin ko. She quickly disappeared after Eura jumped down, kaya hindi ko masyadong nakilala ang mukha niya. But she looked familiar. Very familiar.
I made a special note of that hair tied in a twin-bun. Locating her wasn't hard, because on the next city, I finally met her.
Although it was with my blade on her neck.
What better way to meet your romantic interest, right?
Kaysa gulat nga ang maramdaman ko noong nakita ang mukha niya, galak ang nanalo sa puso ko. I was mentally cheering because the girl on my arms was the very same person I had a crush on. And when she spoke, I praised fate for making all those three identities I loved the same. She was everything I wanted - with the right amount of sassiness and coldness to always get me going. I only had Finn in my mind most of the time. Her voice and her face, together with those exceptional skills she humbled on herself.
The only thing that pissed me off was the insects that kept on pestering her. From that annoying childhood friend who was in my guild, and those cousins who gravitates in her presence, to that one guy I hated the most. Thankfully, Oliver was always away and Caspian doesn't take advantage - although I dislike how he's so nice, it would make just anyone fall, what the fuck. What's mostly irritating is that Salvallon heir who kidnaps Finn any chance he gets.
Fortunately, Finn doesn't like hanging out with him than she does with me. So it's a win-win situation.
After all, I was the one she asked to-
"Ay, gago! Problema mo, Kai?" tanong ni Eura nang bigla kong ihampas ang ulo sa mesa. Gavin, who sat beside her, stared at me apprehensively. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko pa rin siya pinapayagang lumapit kay Finn.
Childhood bestfriends are freaking dangerous to be left alone.
It was fun. I had fun in that game. While the people still labeled me as the ruthless leader of Reaper's Oath, I didn't pay it so much attention because I got close to many people too. I paid a lot of attention to my real-life friends and relatives. I didn't have to worry much about Ate Depore. She was safe, with her own explosive personality, and with Finn's protection. I admit, I became comfortable in the game, and became wary only of death but not of danger. Naniwala akong kaya ko silang masolusyonan.
Until that happened.
Ate Depore and I didn't have a lot of interactions, but every conversation we had, may it be a banter or teasing, was filled with warmth. Paborito ko siyang biruin pero alam ko pa rin ang kahalagahan niya. Hell, she was my brother's fiancee. Ito ang pinakamamahal ng kuya ko, na isa sa mga pinakaimportanteng tao sa aking buhay. Kaya importante din siya sa'kin. Pamilya din siya sa'kin. Lalo na't dala-dala niya ang pamangkin ko.
And holding her lifeless body showed me my loveless brother too.
Everyone was pointing at Finn. Admittedly, I also blamed her at first until my head cleared and I remembered the scene. Until I remembered someone talking to Finn before they just disappeared, leaving my heart with my brother's love. That wasn't just a funeral of two - Depore's death and my brother's grief - but I also lost a bit of my heart. Hindi ko lubos maisip na nakaya ko ngang gawin 'yon. Na sinisi ko si Finn sa isang bagay na hinding-hindi niya magagawa. Na wala akong ginawang kahit ano nang pinipinta siyang masama ng mundo.
Was I angry because of Ate Depore? No. I knew she wasn't the one who did that. But I was confused and lost. Lahat ng mga tao sa paligid ko ay sinasabing patayin ko si Finn, exact my revenge since I'm the lord of cruelty and all naman. They wanted to feed me with anger and use that to kill someone else, when all I wanted was a place to breath and cry my eyes out.
Dahil naniniwala ako na may kasalanan rin ako doon. I was the one Kuya ordered to look after Ate Depore, but I failed him. I didn't guard her enough. I wasn't able to protect her and now my brother has lost his love.
But I wasn't about to let the true criminal go.
At hindi ko rin gustong iwanan si Finn. I wanted to clear her name, while also avenging Ate Depore.
So, even though I hate it, I had to partner up with Wes.
"I never expected you to come here for help." he remarked, when I asked to meet him up in the fifteenth city. "Ano kailangan mo?"
"I won't be here if I didn't desperately need it."
"I wouldn't be agreeing if it wasn't for Sparrow too."
I scoffed. This guy really likes to utter Finn's name every chance he gets. Her name's too pretty to be called in an ugly mouth. If only Finn would reject him once and for all. But this Salvallon would continue to stick like leech after, I'm sure.
"Ano ba 'yan, ang dami niyo pang arte." reklamo ni Eura na sumama-sama lang naman. "Walang may pake kung bakit niyo gagawin ang plano, ang importante ay paano niyo ito gagawin dahil hindi ko alam 'yon."
"Alam mo na ba ang bakit kung 'di nila sinabi?" tanong ni Dierran na spokesperson minsan no'ng Salvallon.
"Siyempre naman! Tanungin mo kung bakit sila humihinga, isa lang sagot ng mga 'yan. Si FInn! It's a universal knowledge."
Basta talaga sa mga hindi-importanteng diskusyon ay aktibo si Eura sa pagsagot. But when it comes to critical planning and strategy, she shuts up like the nicest kid in the room.
The whole plan about exposing June to a good crowd was finalized by Wes and me. At first, we provided the small alliances with manpower and strength to clear and steal territories, both from the Death Crows and Blood Vanguard. Wes also busied his guild leader, para hindi na makahingi ng tulong si June sa kaniya. The rules doesn't explicitly say that death will come to the alliance at the last place, but the consequences that they will suffer is expected to be heavy.
Hindi namin inakalang may maibibigay na benefit ang administrators para sa alyansa na nasa pinakahuli.
Isa pang pinag-iisipan ko ay paano nakapunta sina Finn sa'min at sinabing humihingi kami ng tulong, when I never intended to have her partake in my plan. I just wanted her to see the show I'll devise and witness people regret criticizing her. Never did I imagine that she'll appear in front of me during my plan. Kaya talagang wala akong tiwala sa Sapphire na 'yan. She must have been the one who brought Finn to us.
Kaya tuloy, when June found us, I knew she'd lay the blame on Finn. And that girl, that stupidly selfless beauty, would certainly use herself as bait.
It wasn't what I intended, but it would still be of use. Having Finn save Oliver while June confesses her crime is the perfect scene that I could create.
The villain. The hero who was wrongly accused. And the villain's victim hungry for vengeance.
I didn't want blood on Finn's hands, and I don't want her to kill a person she probably still treats as friend. And as a person, painted as cruel, ruthless, and deadly, I could shoulder the role of killing her. Of staining my hands in red just to erase her from our pages. I was sure. Alam kong iyon na ang gagawin ko - ang patayin si June.
But Finn, as always, made me hesitate.
I am willing to kill for her, but would I survive the expression she'll make? Will I be able to act calm, knowing how painfully terrible it must be for her to have a friend kill a friend, just for the sake of revenge?
It's fucking lame. And I wouldn't argue if someone said it too. But I couldn't do anything, because she was my curse.
Iniwas ni Finn ang tingin. Siguro'y talagang hinihintay niya na patayin ko si June. Pero hindi ko magawa 'yon. So when June decided to take the fall herself, the once noisy and judging crowd fell silent but the one who truly cared only took a deep breathe before walking away. Kagaya ng dati kong nakikita kapag nauuna si Finn, ang lakad niya ay hindi kagaya kay Marcella na puno ng kumpyansa, but her back showed the loneliness she must have carried for years.
"Kai, hindi mo ba siya susundan?" Louise asked, staring at the walking figure too.
I clenched my jaw and fist, listening to the internal war of my mind and heart. Ngunit kagaya noong hind ko siya nasundan pagkatapos sigawan at nang tumahimik lang ako sa gilid habang siya'y pinupuna ng lahat,
Hindi ko pa rin siyang nagawang sundan ngayon.
-chapter end-