Part 3 "Tres"
Izeiah's pov
For the love of... why did they set the alarm clock so early? I just got back early this morning from the Underground. After I collected my reward, I had a mild sugar rush and it was the dead of the night. So, I was very, very active and literally went to almost everywhere around the Underground.
However, I didn't stop there. We wandered around and found an already closed amusement park. Ivan pulled some strings and got the Amusement Park to open at 3 in the morning with all games and booths operating. Some lucky people also happened to be walking or jogging that time so they stopped at the Amusement Park since there was literally no people around.
Anyways...
Kinuha ko na ang uniform ko at pumunta sa banyo. Maybe I was too sleepy that I barely had my eyes open and didn't see Ivan walking up to the bathroom.
Dahil bago pa ako makapasok merong humawak biglaan sa doorknob. Iyon tuloy, completely na akong nagising. Hinigpitan ko ang hawak ko at walang balak na magbitaw. Liningon ko ang taong sumisira ng umaga ko. And then pouted then proceeded to give him my puppy eyes.
"Ivan, can I go first?."
"But Izeiah, I was first, you let go. I'm going to buy you chocolates if you let me shower first."
Tiningnan ko ang orasan at nakitang marami pang oras pero mataas ang pride, hindi ako bibitaw. I pushed my way in,but he just pulled the door closed more.
"Do you even know the phrase, ladies first? Be a gentleman will you." Ipinilit kong ipasok ang katawan ko sa maliit na space naoopen.
"Let go and let me in. I'm literally dying here." I told him.
"Chocolates are in my bag." Mabilis akong lumabas sa banyo at pumunta sa bed niya. Nakita ko sa gilid ng mata ko ang ngiting tagumpay ni Ivan.
Hinaluglog ko ang bag at nakita ang isang supot ng hersheys. Ibinuhos ko ito sa bed ni Ivan at doon nagsimulang lantakan ito. Kain lang ako ng kain. Isang chocolate pumasok sa bibig isang chocolate ang natatanggalan ng wrapper. Feel kong para na akong machine dito dahil walang tigil ang paggalaw ng kamay ko.
Tapos na si Ivan at lumabas na naka tshirt na puti at pants ng uniform namin. Lumapit na ito saakin pero napatigil.
"God, Izeiah. The mess you've done in less done an hour is incomparable to the mess a kid can do in a day." He exclaimed. I stopped eating and looked at him.
"That was fast? I still have 23-- no 26 left." I told him.
"That was just a hundred ago. How in the universe did you even eat more than half of it?"
"Oh-- that I can't answer." I resumed eating.
"Mas malinis pang kumain ang isang bata kaysa sayo. Huwag mo ngang pagpunasan ang bedsheet ko. Mukha ng tae dito."
I didn't let him bother me with his Ate Hina-like statements.
"You might as well wash your hand first. Did you even eat any breakfast?" Umiling ako sakanya at pinagpatuloy. Ivan grabbed my hand and dragged me to the bathroom. I manage to grab about 5 chocolates.
Iniupo niya ako sa parang counter with sink ng banyo. Hinugasan niya ang mga kamay ko habang abala ako sa pagpupunit ng wrapper ng pesteng chocolate na ito. Narealize kong mahirap pala kung iisang kamay lang ang ginagamit mo.
"Ivan, can you open this for me?" I said to him and hold the hershey up to him. He stared at me and gave me the seriously-that's-your-priority?-look. Tumango tango ako sakanya, padabog niya itong hinablot saakin at binuksan. Ibinigay niya na saakin. Bumitaw siya sa paghuhugas sa aking kamay at nakita kong binuksan niya na ang tubig ng bathtub. Bumalik ulit siya sa paghuhugas.
"Why do I feel like I'm taking care of a kid?" He said and looked at me. I stared at him.
"I shouldn't have given you the chocolates." He murmured which I heard
"Is it suppose to be for someone else?"
He grinned and shook his head. He grabbed something from his back and wet it with water. Napatigil ako ng naramdaman ko ang pagdampi ng isang basang panyo sa mukha ko. Napatitig ako kay Ivan pero busy siya sa pagpunas ng chocolate sa bibig ko. Napansin ata ni Ivan ito at napatigil din.
"Izeiah, did you have this little half of a heart tattoo recently?" He asked as he wiped over my pinky that was just a while ago covered with melted chocolate..
Umiling ako sakanya.
"Do you have any idea how you got it?"
Napaisip ako pero sa huli, umiling lang ako. Tumango tango naman siya at ngumiti. He really does look familiar. Where have I met this guy?
"Since I gave you chocolates and cleaned you up. Are you the Empress of the Underground, sweetheart?"
Clever Shikaiken. I patted his head and got off the table that was attached to the wall of the bathroom (counter with sink) I took off my shirt. Ivan turned around and stopped dead on his tracks.
"Aren't you going to get out?" I asked him. He calmly went outside the door and closed it nicely too.
I was having a good time blowing the bubbles off my nose when I heard a knock outside.
"Izeiah! Sa liit ng katawan mo magiisang oras kana diyan. Plano mo bang magresidente diyan?" Sabi ni Ivan.
"It's been an hour!" Sigaw nanaman niya
Napatayo ako ng napakabilis natalo ko si Flash pero muntik ng madulas.
"It's been an hour?!"
"Is it that obvious?" Sarkastikong sabi niya.
Ipinulupot ko na ang tolya sa katawan ko at dali daling lumabas sa banyo. Pumunta na ako sa closet ko at hinablot ang naplantsang uniporme. Pumasok na ulit ako sa banyo at muntik nanamang mapahamak.
Daig ko pa si Flash makasuot ng uniporme ko. Wala pang 3 minutes tapos na ako. The uniform is a little bit crumpled but I didn't even give a damn about it because I'm running late. Mabilis kong sinuklay ang buhok ko at hindi na nagpulbo dahil wala ng oras. Isinuot ko ang hindi magkapares na medyas ko tapos yung sapatos ko na.
I looked at the time and was relieved I still have 7 minutes left.
"I'm so good at this game called life." I stated and flipped my hair.
Nakitang kong nakadekwatro si Ivan habang titig na titig siya saakin ng matalim. I wandered my eyes around trying to avoid his gaze.
"The ceiling have gotten shinier since I came here." I randomly said.
"No one has even bothered to clean that yet."
"Oh." I decided that it would be best to shut my mouth up. I opened my mouth but no words came out that's why I ended up closing it. I fiddled with my hands. I've never been this nervous before, even Ate Hina couldn't make me. I feel like blowing up this dorm.
Tumayo si Ivan at dahan dahang naglakad saakin. Kumaripas na ako ng takbo palabas ng dorm. Halos masira ang pintuan daahil sa lakas ng bukas ko. Hindi narin ako nagabalang isarado ito.
Narinig kong tinawag ako ni Ivan pero hindi ako lumingon.
Hindi ako makapaniwala. Nakarating ako sa cafeteria in less than a minute. Is that even possible? Adrenaline Rush. Mabigat ang hininga ko at mabilis. Gosh, ang haggard ko na ata. Hindi pa naman ako nakadala ng isa man lang tsokolate. Umupo na ako sa pinakasulok na upuan na makikita dito. I put my hair up so Ivan won't notice me.
Nagpakalumbaba ako at nakausog ako sa dingding na merong bintana. Wait a minute. Why am I even running away from him? It's not like he's going to kill me.. or is he?
I mean, he doesn't need to wait for me; he could have gone himself. Merong naglapag ng bag sa harapan ko, muntik na akong mahimatay dahil akala ko si Ivan ito pero si Riley lang pala.
Tumaas ang kilay niya.
"Mukha kang galing sa matagalang habulan." Sabi niya at umupo sa harapan ko.
Napansin ko agad ang damit niya dahil sa ang taas ng tirik ng araw ngayon pero naka longsleeves siya. I, once again, observe her, but this time it's from head to to toe. I narrowed my eyes at something that was barely visible.
It was a very faint mark, almost what looks like a mark burned into her skin, also called body branding. All I could see is a part of the mark. It was kind of curvy?? Curly?? Somewhere around that.
I quickly averted my gaze.
Riley, was she forced to be branded?
... I don't know what to do. Since she's hiding it, does that mean she's not comfortable to share it?.....
Should I not talk about it?
These days, according to normal people, branding is seen as something that is illegal because it makes that person be seen as a thing rather than a person.
However, Riley seems to be full of surprises.
"Did you see it? Don't worry, in the name of love naman ito, haha. Jokes lang. Part of the requirement lang in our clan at saka, nakuha din ni crush."
Part of our clan? Damn, the Fujiwara Clan is kind of weird now. Do they brand their people or just the main family or heirs?
"Oh, that's unique. At the moment, I am occupied with escaping from a person who is mad for no reason at all." I responded then eyed all figures that seemed suspicious.
"Sino naman ba ang tinatakasan mo?"
"He is currently not in his best mood" My gaze went to a suspicious guy who is now specifically staring at me. He smirked. I know that smirk!!
"Riley. I shall takas- takas for I don't want to get patay--ed, I guess the 'ed is necessary for it's past tense and my elementary English Teacher would be disappointed in me. Although, I'm quite living a disappointed life. I gotta run. Bye." I bid goodbye and stood up before she can even say a thing
He was already gone when I last glanced at the window. Naramdaman kong unti unting tumigil ang mga tao sa paligid. I'm familiar with this scene now. I dived right under the table of some girl's table. I knew for sure he didn't noticed me, it's only up to this girls if I'm going to survive, they might expose me, you know.
Hindi ata nila ako napansin dahil titig na titig sila sa isang tao, na I suppose is Ivan. There's still very flexible space that I can look through from where I am. Most of my body is hidden by the skirts these girls wear.
Tumigil akong huminga dahil palapit na palapit ang paang nakikita ko. This is the end. I squeezed myself under the table more and tried to hide my existence. The feet walked and walked until it stopped.
......infront of the table where Riley is in and where I was in.
"It seems there is an undrank milk here. This looks like the milk she cried for from the vending machine. Riley, where is she?"
Hindi ko makita kung ano ang nangyayari basta ang alam ko ay malapit na akong mabuking.
He is mad for me just trying to be as clean and hygienic as possible. Would it be better if I don't shower at all? No. Thus, long showers would not only prevent a stinky Izeiah, but also reduces stress..... according to Izeiah.
"I--i--i d-id--d---" I swear, Riley you better not stutter or even allow your tongue to slip.
I realized she already stuttered.
"Where is she?" Ivan asked calmly.
"She was just right here awhile ago, but she bolted after she glanced outside the window." 😥
"Are you sure?" Tumigas nanaman ang buong katawan ko. Is he always that suspicious?
"Not quiet" I swear Riley is just giving him more hints.
"Your clan is at risk." And that was the end of my life.
"SHE'S STILL IN THE CAFETERIA!! CHILL BRUH!! WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HUNDREDS OF LIVES HERE!" She panicked. Ivan is so cold- hearted.
Hinanda ko na ang sarili ko incase nahanap na niya ang hiding place ko.
"All of you stand up" And that my friend.... is the cue.
In a blink of an eye, I was out of the cafeteria running for my life. Is it too much to let go of such small matter? Or is he bored that he decided to turn me into his own distraction because I'm telling you, this ain't fun.
My feet led me to a garden that has bushes, really big bushes..... I then realize that this garden isn't a friend.
It's a maze. My nightmare.
---
I whistled, but no single noise was heard back.
''Someone has arrived to where the first hint is located. To ease you into the game, we decided to tell you where it is. However, the person who found it has gotten an hour of a headstart."
I bet all my chocolates that person who supposed to have an hour of a headstart is the-currently-don't-know-what-is-going-on-nor-where-I-am me. I am bloody serious when I say I'm lost.
Despite my grievances at the moment, The headmaster still continued what he got to say.
"Izeiah Kenshi is our sister. Yes, connected ang kapatid namin at iyong game. Pero how they are connected, hindi namin alam except sa Emperor. Back to our earlier subject... Most of the activities will be related to her. For example, one of her greatest weaknesses which is directions."
Hey, aren't we the same?
We have the same name.
We have a weakness for directions.
Next thing you know, we'll have the same faces? Wouldn't that be fun?
"My gahd, our sister has the worse sense of directions. She'll be like going to a store two blocks away, but then she will find herself near an abandoned factory. So..... we created a big maze for you to explore and find hints."
Hints? So maraming hints? Magkakapareho kaya? Kung madami ang mahahanap ko, malalaman ko ba kung ako ang Empress na tinutukoy nila o ibang Empress ng Underground?
"Now, ang gusto naming malaman niyo ay, limited lang yung nilagay namin na hints sa maze at yung nasa heart nung maze ay ang pinakamalaking hint. Obviously, this means an elimination game. I can't allow any deaths right now because, of course, school just started and we don't want making headlines right off the bat. We already found polices settled near the school with the intnetion to capture atleast ine person from Izeiah High. So, let's not make it more uncomfortable for all of us."
Are we considered criminals then since the government already issued commands to capture us as soon as we are identified?
Bago ang lahat, paano mangyayari ang elimination gama na sinasabi ng Headmaster? Kung hindi magpapatayan? Magpipilayan ba?
"We will give you our newest invention, the Sleeping Bomb. Throw this at someone, they will go to sleep right away."
You know what the Headmaster didn't clarify? Is that whether we can beat them until they pass out instead of death. Sounds fun. But it's not fun at all when a bloody heir is trying to end your life because you've stolen something from him. Now, I only manage to stole this thing because he'd gotten too close to me in the bathroom. It tempted me and I was kinda attracted to it.
All along I thought it's because he waited for too long, but I remembered that I stole something from him while he was cleaning the melted chocolate off my fingers.
Or maybe it's all because he waited for far too long?
I turned left and right. I know that right now, all students are currently trying to find this maze. Right now, I'm still trying to make myself believe that I wasn't the reason the maze had become a part of the game because seriously, mazes would be the last thing you'll see me in.
---
I picked up a stick along the way to my doom...ness? Is that a word? Anyways, yeah I have a stick named Barbara. Barbara the stick. My companion.
The fellowship has started.... hopefully, it won't fail.
Iwinasiwas ko ito at ginamit ko itong parang tungkod. Because of experience, I wasn't surprise I was lost. I was kind of used to it. Hindi ko alam, pero alam kong ginawa ko ang lahat para lang matandaan kung saan ako lumiko liko pero hindi lang talaga kami destinied na magkaibigan with the God of Directions, I'm more of like an acquaintance to the God of Misfortunes.
I've basically given up.
Marami pa akong ginawang liko hanggang dead end na ang nadatnan ko. Damn. Inakyat ko ang bushes at tatawid na sana ako papunta sa other side nung naramdaman kong nagvibrate ito. Biglang umulan. This bushes.... are not real, they are what do you call it-- technature? Treetech? Greenchine? I don't know but I know it is some kind of technology or machine.
Lumakas ng lumakas ang pagvibrate nito at bago pa ako makawala sumabog na ito at nawalan na ako ng malay.
---
Nagising akong madalim na. Ilang oras na ba nung malapit na akong mamatay? Isa-- dalawa-- o isang araw? Bumangon ako at mas matindi pa ang sakit ng likod ko kaysa pag may cramps ako. Parang binali lahat ang mga buto ko sa likod tapos ibinalik ulit. Liningon ko ang paligid ko at nakita ko si Barbara. Inabot ko ito at tumayo na.
I stretched my body and I heard some satisfying cracks and some painful ones.
I decided it would be best if I call Butler Chan, the Butler who is more loyal to ate Hina than to me.
On The Phone
The Unloyal Butler
The Unloyal Butler:
Yes, Lady Izeiah?
Izeiah:
I have come to the conclusion
that I, who rivals the God of
Directions, have gotten myself lost
for the last 4 or 5 hours and
haven't realized it until I've
decided I was really lost. And so
I came to seek help from my Butler who has betrayed me. To redeem yourself, you must help me get to the heart of the maze I'm currently involved in.
The Unloyal Butler:
Whatever you say, mi lady.
There's no need for the long speech.
I was expecting you to call.
And as long as you seek help,
we will answer.
Izeiah:
That has occured to me, but
don't you think my speech is
way too good to be left
unspoken?
The Unloyal Butler:
*Sigh* Sure, young lady Izeiah.
I've tracked your location
Izeiah:
Good. Makakalaya na din ako. Finally!!!
The Unloyal Butler:
Naidisable po ang mga trackers na sinusubukang kumonekta sa maze.
Meron silang inilagay na virus kung sino man ang sumusubok na ihack ito.
I'm no help, mi lady. Goodbye.
End Phone Call
I swear. Butler Chan these days, he is becomign useless. I kept swinging Barbara infront of me, but stopped when I felt someone is here or rather, someone has decided to accompany me.
"Who's there?" I looked around, but no one showed themselves.
"I will hit you with Barbara." I added.
"Barbara?" I heard someone whispered.
"Ivan?" I called out.
"No. Try again, sweetheart."
"Ivan?"
I heard the person sigh in helplessness.
"Are you seriously doing this to me?"
My brain took a moment to reload when it finally realized that the voice sounded familiar.
"Blue Trije? Why are you so pale... oh.. are you a ghost now?"
"Do they exist?"
"From what my Butler told me, they do appear at night but they ran away from garlics." I said to him in a matter of fact tone.
"Izeiah.. how many times must I break this to you? Ghosts aren't real, your Butler is lying to you." He said and even had the gal to rise his eyebrows.
"And what makes you say that? Oh well, either way, I've known Butler Chan longer than I've known you so technically, I'll trust Butler Chan."
"Are you sure about that, sweetheart?" He teased then grinned.
"Butler Chan was right. Stranger Danger. Go away from me, you stranger with an alien hair. Stralien."
"Stralien? Izeiah, stop inventing words!"
"Cool right?"
Hindi pa ako nakakatanggap ng sagot ay may naramdaman na akong lumilipad na mga bagay. Couldn't he atleast warn me?
I stepped backwards and avoid the daggers flying towards me.
"Is this betrayal, Blue?" I asked as I pouted in anger. Aren't we just friends awhile ago? I am the human and he was the ghost
Hindi siya tumigil at patuloy na pinaulanan ako ng mga bagay. Bigla siyang tumigil at narinig ko ang pagbunot ng espada mula sa bahay nito? Is that what you call the sheath of the sword in tagalog? Bahay ng espada? It makes sense if you think about it though.
But I don't have any weapon except Barbara. I held Barbara infront me like she was my only hope.
"I'm counting on you Barbara." I said to the stick.
"You named the stick Barbara?"
"Why can't Barbara be known as somebody?"
"Because it's--he-she? is just a stick??"
"It's a girl and she's 3 weeks pregnant."
"Buntis iyang kahoy na iyan? Sino ang ama?"
"Oh, it doesn't have a husband. It got pregnant on its own. She's independent. She doesn't need Santa Claus to give her a magic bean."
"Magic Bean? Is that one of your Butler's stories again. I've really got to tell your ate about this."
"Magic Beans have special ingredients that gives you a baby inside your tummy then before the 9th month passes, Santa Claus takes the baby then after 3 days, Santa gives you the baby back by giving it to the storks to deliver it to you."
"Santa Claus?"
"Yup"
"Your Butler must be really good at lying."
"I told you! He's not lying."
Hold on, I just remembered something.
"Blue, aren't you almost graduating at RedWine? How are you in Izeiah High? Are you perhaps studying here?"
Blue stared at me, but he never quite get to answer because he just sighed then as he closed his eyes, it never opened again. No, I did not kill him. He passed out because he got way too close to the technobush.
"Huh, to think that stupidity is contagious. Green must have been with you these past few days.
Itutuloy ko na sanang maglakad nung narealize kong dead end na pala ang inabutan ko. Bumalik nalang ako kung saan ako nanggaling
At kung nasaan si Blue. Nung pupunta ako sa ibang daan, nakita ko ang technobush na nasa likuran ko kanina nung pinaulanan ako ni Blue. Merong parte na parang nagiilaw.
Ito kaya ang nakita ni Blue kaya niya ako pinaghagisan nung nga kutsilyo? Ayaw na yatang sabihin dahil ayaw niyang maunanhan ko siya sa hint.
I snickered. Good Blue.
You gave the hint to me on a silver platter.
Enrolled to Izeiah High just recently.
But there are lots of students enrolling to this school every year. Although it's private and the cost is expensive, it's still sought out as its one of the most recognized and prestigious schools in the Philippines. Students graduating from Izeiah High are heard to be soaring in their fields.
However, I'm an Empress and I also just enrolled.
I'm more and more convinced. But the only thing that's really keeping me back is, I'm not Izeiah Kenshi.
I stressed about it for 2 minutes before I decided to just let fate take its course this time. And so, I continued walking.
"🎶London bridge is falling down, falling down. London Bridge is falling down. My fair Lady." I sang as I skipped.
"🎶I will eat my chocolates, chocolates. I will eat my chocolates. I love choco." I blushed when I remembered my chocolates. Oh how I can't wait to devour them. Too bad this maze is in the way.
"What a gluttonous Izeiah."
I turned around to the person who spoke. I didn't notice his presence. This is a first.
"Ivan?"
"Izeiah?"
"Ivan?"
"Izeiah?"
He didn't come out from the shadows.
"Ivan?"
"Izeiah?"
"Ivan?"
"Izeiah?"
He's so annoying.
"I have a stick with me." I told him.
"And what could you do with a stick?"
"The stick has a name you know. Barbara."
"Barbara?"
"Barbara the stick" I threw one of the daggers, that Blue threw at me, to Ivan. He easily dodged it, should have expected that.
Nagsimula siyang maglakad palapit.
"Oh no. Stay right where you are and don't even think of moving." I threatened him with Barbara.
"Let's see."
Narrator's Pov
"Let's see." Ivan said.
In a blink of an eye, Izeiah could feel his breath touching her neck. She turned around and faced him. Her forehead met his lips and she could feel him forming a smile. Izeiah looked up and her eyes met his playful eyes.
"I guess I'll have my necklace back." He whispered to her and fished the necklace out of her pocket.
"Nice try." He said and made some distance between him and Izeiah.
"Bye. I'll get going." She walked to the other path and found out it's blocked by a door.
"Why the hell is there a door in the middle of a maze?!!!"
"God.. and it won't open!!!"
"This is going to get really messy." Izeiah was getting ready to kick the door when Ivan put his hand around her and inserted the key causing the door to open, obviously.
"Sweetheart, I heard you're practicing the art of kindness?"