“What?” Napanganga ako. Huh? Did I heard it right?
“You heard me, you're one of the top 3—” Wait, wait, wait!
“I thought top 10 only?” Pagputol ko sa sinasabi nya, until he sighed.
“Actually you're the top 3.” Nanlaki ang mata ko. What the heck? Me? The top 3? “Me and Red are on top 5, and the rest are top 7.” He looks at Yvonne. “Sorry, Yvonne.” He apologetically said.
But the girl just smiled. “Okay lang, okay lang! Ano ba kayo? Tanggap ko namang hindi ako makakasama d'on, pero ang makasama kayong lahat… wow…” She said with awe. The she realize something I didn't even realize before. “Wait… so kasama tayo sa top 3 guilds?”
Instead of answering, Dustine pointed at a documents that was on the table. Madami iyon, isa, nakita ko ang pangalan ko (like being publicizing my identity as being one of the top ten) ngunit ang kinuha ni Dustine ay iyong isa pa at may naiibang kulay.
In an bronze colored paper, written the word, The Top Three Guild, Anonymous.
Yvonne shrieks in pure joy and awe, while I just continue looking at it. Well, expect the unexpected, it is?
“Bakit kasi Anonymous?” Kayne said as he pouted. Napatingin ako sakanya at nakitang ang kamay nito ay nasa batok nanaman nya. He looks so adorable, to be honest.
“Bakit? Ang cool kaya!” Stanley said as he grinned. Napairap ako. Right. Stanley's the one who entered our group name. Para bang hindi pa kami nakakapag isip ng guild pero ang totoo ay sya ang nagsulat n'on, at sa oras na maisulat, wala ng bawian. May bayad na. Ang takaw, 'no?
Pero ang totoo nyan ay wala talaga kaming maisip. Walang halong biro.
“But who's the number one? The highest rank of all?” Biglaang tanong ni Red. Doon ay naramdaman ko bigla ang tensyon mula kay Dustine.
“Remember the Anonymous group?” Tumingin ito sa akin na animo'y nag iingat at tinatantya ang kanyang sinasabi. Napakuyom ako ng kamao at biglang naramdam ng inis.
“Their guild is the number one. Not only that, their leader is also the number one, while the co-captain is the number two. The rest of their of their members are on top five.”
I rolled my eyes hearing what Dustine has said.
Mga pabibo.
“Wow…” Yvonne exasperatedly gasped.
Nagkaroon ng panandaliang katahimikan. It was like everyone's processing it all. Tumingin ako kay Dustine na parang malalim rin ang iniisip. I sighed. “Paano mo nalaman ang lahat ng 'to?” Dahil sa katanungan kong iyon ay napatingin sila sa akin.
Dustine then, sighed. “Pinatawag ako, then I heard others talking about the highest rank and guild at all. Actually, we have a mission.” Wika nya at kasabay noon ay ang paglabas ng hologram sa harap nya. Kitang kita namin ang paggawi nya sa Captain's Mission kung saan may kinlick ito. “Capture the anonymous group.” He read what's written on it.
How hell we can capture a group that's nameless?
Well, in our case, Anonymous is the name of our guild. Err. . . basta!
“Capture?” Marky asked, which Dustine nodded his head.
“It's not the ‘capture’ actually, but to let them go to our town hall and sign their residency.” Dustine said, which made myself gasp.
“What? That stupid mission?” Sino ba naman ang nasa tamang pag iisip na magpapamission na hanapin ang grupong iyon at gawing residente ng isang town hall?
“Actually, it's every townhall's ongoing mission. I mean, lahat ng guilds leaders at kahit solo players ay pinadalhan nito.”
“Wow pachix.” I said as I rolled my eyes. “Kung may balak kayo, kayo nalang gumawa.” Sabi ko at tumayo. Then I saw Dustine smirked.
“Who said we'll do it?” Napatingin ako sa kanya at napatanga nang makitang dinelete nya ang mission na iyon. “Well, we don't care about the group who stole our popularity, right?” He jokingly added, which I rolled my eyes.
“Right! Dapat magfocus nalang tayo sa pagpapalakas. After all, we have only one goal.” Yvonne said. I forgot to mention that she already knows what happened back then and believe me, she believed us without even doubting a little!
But what Yvonne said was right. Dapat ay magpalakas nalang kami kaysa pagtuunan ang ganyang pansin.
I look at Dustine and saw him looking at us with smile on his face. Sinimangutan ko ito nang tumama ang kanyang paningin sa atin. “Kailan tayo muling magpapalevel?” Pag iiba ko ng topic. Mabilis na napaayos ng upo si Dustine at mistulang naging captain ito kaagad.
“About that, I'm planning that we should start adventuring. Which I mean, place by place.” Simpleng sabi nya pero nagets namin kaagad dahil nakita kong nagtanguan sila.
“Ibebenta ba natin 'tong bahay?” Kayne said, which Dustine shooks his head.
“This house belongs to us, after all, we have residency marked on this town hall. Babalik at babalik parin tayo dito.” He said which is right. Kahit gaano kalayo ang aming pupuntahan, darating parin sa point na uuwi kami sa aming bahay.
“So everyone, deal?”
Which all of us nodded. “Deal.”
Dustine nod. “As of now, rest, because our adventure will start tomorrow.” I don't know if I should feel nervous or excited or both but I know this is only for us.
Unti-unting nagsialisan ang iba. Dustine said they should rest pero masyadong excited ang mga lalaki, na nakisama rin si Yvonne, kaya't nasa likod sila at magpapractice daw. I also heard them say na tuturuan nila ng self defense si Yvonne which is I'm glad.
“And Levina?” Narinig ko ang boses ni Dustine bago ako umalis. Humarap ako sa kanya at nakitang tumayo ito bago naglakad palapit sa akin. Then, he tapped my shoulder. “Always watch your back.” What he said brought chills on my spine.
I know, I know. “Kayo din.” Dagdag ko na siyang ikinatango nya.
Being top 10 isn't that easy, after all.
***
“Have you heard it?”
“No, what it is?”
“Is it true?”
Yumuko ako kahit alam kong wala namang nakakakilala sa akin. We're on the market, and on our way to buy things we will needed for our adventure which starts tomorrow.
“The Alpha from the Anonymous Group is the highest rank, not to mention their guild are at the top.” Oo na, alam ko na, 'wag nyo ng paulit-ulitin, nakakarindi eh.
“He's hot I think.” Napairap ako.
Naramdaman ko ang kamay ni Yvonne sa akin (dulot ng malambot na kamay nito) at nang mapatingin ako sa kanya'y nakikiusap ang kanyang mukha (na habaan ko ang pasensya ko). I inhaled deeply as I count one to ten on my head.
Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit ang laki ng inis ko sa kanila. Even tho Red said I should forget about what happened back then, I can't help it. Hindi iyon basta-basta makakalimutan, 'di ba?
“But I heard another top guild is in our town.” Nagpantig ang taynga ko at nang makita ko si Yvonne ay bigla itong napayuko. Shit…
“I heard the top 3 is here, and the username is Nightingale.” Doon ay biglang natahimik ang lahat, at nang mapatingin ako sa paligid ay nakita kong nakagawi ang kanilang tingin sa akin. Shit… right. Nakalabas ang username ng bawat manlalaro kaya makikilala at makikilala ka pa rin! Mas lalo akong yumuko.
“Hey Princess, Yvonne.” Dahil sa aking narinig ay naiangat ko ang aking ulo, at sa aking harapan ay nandoon si Stanley at may hawak na maliit na… ano 'yon? Side bag?
“Ano gagawin namin dyan?” At tsaka bakit ang liit?
“Dito nyo ilalagay ang mga gamit nyo.” Napa-huh ako. Kasya ba ang mga gamit namin dyan? Hindi ko nga alam kung may magkakasya dyan, eh!
Pero naunahan ako ni Yvonne. “Ito ba yung magical bag na tinatawag nila?” Tanong nito kay Stanley na ikinatango ng isa. Huh? Magical bag? What are they talking about?
It was like they saw my confused face that's why they start explaining. “This magical bag was made by a magician who got tired of seeing women carrying heavy bags. So he invented it, in which, you can put everything inside without feeling the heaviness of it. Magic, 'di ba?” Pag eexplain ni Yvonne bago nya inabot sa akin ang isang maliit na bag.
“Kasya lahat?” I asked, which both of them nodded. Okay, let's see. “Nasaan na pala sila?” Tanong ko kung saan sinagot naman ni Stanley.
“Buying yours and Yvonne's weapons, which are daggers and crossbow.” He explained. I forgot to mention that Dustine made it clear to us that we can call each others' real name kapag kami-kami lang din ang magkakausap. “Oh andyan na pala sila.” Nang mapatingin ako sa kanila ay nakita ko silang papalapit, habang bitbit ang may kalakihang crossbow at mga daggers na may lalagyan pa.
“Here,” Inabot sa akin ni Red ang dagger na may lalagyan pa. “Put it on your thigh, just like what Weston did.” Sabi nito na dahilan ng pagtingin ko kay Weston ay nakitang assassin na assassin ang outfit nito. Syempre, minus the armors. Kahit naman sila Red ay nakalabas ang kanilang sandata.
So I did what Red said, while hearing Yvonne happily getting her own weapon. Nang matapos ako ay tumingin ako sa kanila na naghihintay ring matapos sa aking ginagawa. So I look at Dustine, and saw him nodded.
“Remember to always watch your back. Let's go.” Dustine said to all of us before we proceed.
And to tell you, bawat madaraanan namin ay napapatingin, which is… awkward for me.
To be continued...