"Topher?"
Nagbago ang timpla ng lalaki nang dahil sa sinabi ko. Nakaramdam ako ng kirot nang lampasan niya ako bago siya sinalubong ng ibang mga Vanguards.
But I'm really sure. Si Topher ang nakita ko at sigurado ako roon. So how could he be Orion?
May umakbay naman sa akin kaya napalingon ako at nakita kong si Selene iyon. Nakakibit-balikat lang si Midas sa aking gilid. Mukhang hindi rin sila pinansin ng lalaki. Pero parang may tinitignan sila ngayon kaya napatingin na rin ako.
"How could he be Orion?"
Hindi makapaniwala kong tanong sa dalawa habang pinagmamasdan si Topher. Para bang naging isang panibagong tao siya nang harapin niya ang mga Vanguards na bumabati sa kanya. He looked so different from his usual self. He became the opposite version of the person I hated before.
Napahawak ako sa aking dibdib nang makita ko kung paano siya kasaya habang kinakausap ang mga matatanda. He also played with the children and he even carried some of them. He was interacting with the healers and other leaders to discuss something but from time to time, I can see him smile a little. This wasn't the person I knew. Mukhang hindi ko nga siya kilala talaga.
"Topher was just the name he chose for himself when he went inside the Stronghold. He entered the academy to spy and gather information. He created an entirely different personality so that no one will know his real intentions. At sa tagal niya roon ay mukhang naaapply na niya talaga sa sarili niya ang mga ugaling iyon. But the truth will never change. He is Orion," rinig kong pahayag ni Selene habang nakatingin pa rin kami kung na saan ang lalaki.
"The Vanguards consider him as a hero. He had saved many lives and he almost got killed several times because of his brashness. He was always driven by his duty to protect. Oh, I remember my childhood in him," wika naman ni Midas. I can almost see water forming below his eyes.
"Ang tanda tanda mo na, Midas, pero iyakin ka pa rin. Mahiya ka naman kay Blaire," komento naman ni Selene kaya tumawa na lang din ako. Pero may isang linyang sinabi si Midas na nagpaulit-ulit sa isipan ko.
He was always driven by his duty to protect.
I was a fool for thinking that his actions meant something more. I assumed a lot. I thought I was special to him because he have gone through hell just to save me. But now I know that he did everything because it was his duty. And I might have been a fragile damsel in distress who disturbed him because I was weak and I couldn't protect myself. But because of his duty, he couldn't resist to help me. I shouldn't have known better.
But how could I not fall for the person who was there for me during my weakest and lowliest days?
_____
It was twilight when Orion called for us. Natitiyak ko na baka matagalan pa bago ko masanay ang aking sarili na tawagin siya sa totoo niyang pangalan. I wouldn't dare call him Topher if doing so would trigger his other attitude.
Sabay kaming pumasok ni Selene sa tent kung saan gaganapin ang pagtitipon. When I got inside, I saw Orion and Midas already sitted around a circular wooden table where a lamp was located. Seryosong tingin lang ang ibinigay nila sa amin. Whatever we'll be discussing now, I'm sure that it's a serious topic.
Naupo na rin kami ni Selene sa mga bakanteng rug na nakapuwesto paikot sa lamesa. But there were still two vacant rugs. May dalawang tao pa kaming hinihintay.
My eyes darted to the flaps when someone opened it. It was Zara and she was escorted by two Vanguards.
Topher also saved her during our Ranking Ascension. She suffered less than me but she could've died if she was left there to bleed. Dagdagan pa ng mga pagsabog at pagguho ng coliseum. She was fortunate to live.
Guilt and pity entered my system when I saw her tied wrists. Chief Zero was the one who binded her because we still don't know where her loyalty resides. She was kept inside her own tent for more than a month but sometimes, I saw her out in the open. It was the least that the Vanguards could do for her. Because isolation could be deadly.
I still couldn't muster enough strength to talk to her. Sinubukan ko pero hindi ko natutuloy ang balak kong kausapin siya. Hindi pa ako handa at hindi pa ngayon ang tamang panahon. At baka mas magalit pa siya sa akin at isisi niya ako sa lahat ng nangyari.
Agad ko namang iniwas ang tingin ko sa kanya dahil alam kong ayaw ni Zara na kinaaawaan siya. Mukhang natigilan siya nang makita niya si Topher na ang totoong pangalan pala ay Orion. Pero naupo rin siya pagkatapos sa tabi ni Midas. The space directly across from me.
I kept my eyes low and avoided eye contact. Several minutes had passed but the last person hasn't still arrived. I can feel Orion's irritation without looking at him.
"Selene, sino pa ang hinihintay natin?" bulong ko sa aking katabi.
"A new recruit. He's important for this matter because he knows Ophelia."
Pagkatapos sabihin iyon ni Selene ay eksaktong may pumasok ulit sa tent. Time went in slow motion when I saw him again. I can almost hear every beat of my pounding heart. His familiar dark brown hair and chiselled features. He became more mature and handsome than the last time I saw him. I thought that I would never see him again. But I'm right. He was the one who saved me from Lady Mirage that night.
I'm not dreaming. Raiden is alive.
Our gazes met but my heart turned cold when I don't see a hint of recognition in his eyes. Nakita niya ang bakanteng puwesto sa aking tabi at diretso siyang umupo roon. Hindi na niya ako nilingon pa. What happened to him?
From my peripheral view, I caught Orion staring at me before he spoke.
"I won't tolerate your tardiness next time, Godfrey." The man next to me just shrugged as a response.
Gusto kong kausapin ang katabi ko pero pinigilan ko lang ang sarili ko.
You waited for many months, Blaire. You can wait for a few minutes before talking to Raiden.
Tumikhim si Orion kaya dumapo ang paningin ko sa kanya. "I gathered you here today to inform you of our plans for retrieving the last Maxime," panimula niya.
Nagsalita naman si Raiden. "Are you sure you'll discuss your plans when that woman is here?" Natigilan ako sa talim ng boses ng aking katabi. Nanlisik naman ang mga mata ni Zara kay Raiden. But he's only looking at Orion, waiting for an answer.
"Yes. She's involved in my plan and aside from that, I trust her," sagot naman ng huli. Nakaramdam ako ng kaunting inggit at hindi ko alam kung bakit. Nagpatuloy na ulit siya sa pagsasalita nang hindi na sumagot si Raiden.
"We will rescue Ophelia Zestaria from the Stronghold. She was chosen as the participant of the Tournament of Houses that's starting two hours from now, exactly at midnight. This year's challenge is called the Labyrinth and each house has five players. Those players will have to enter a maze of four seasons but upon entering, they'll be separated. Their primary goal is to find their other members while eliminating the players of other Houses. So it is basically a survival game. And it's the perfect opportunity to get Ophelia out from the tournament and bring her here in the Frontier."
"Why wait? If she's that important to all of you, pwede naman natin siyang sagipin ngayon. I've heard news about the Labyrinth and that's a hell of a maze. Mahihirapan tayong hanapin siya kapag nandoon na siya sa loob," komento ni Zara.
"The academy are infested with Crimson Knights now. The participants are well-guarded because of our recent attacks. Going there with our small number would be a suicide mission. We don't know Commander Odin's back up plans," sagot naman ni Orion at napatango naman si Zara.
"So what's your plan nephew?" Tanong naman ni Midas na tahimik lang na nakikinig kanina.
"I'm one of the players of House Imperium but I couldn't find Ophelia on my own. So I'll be needing your help. We're going to infiltrate the tournament. I'll be assigning Raiden and Zara to enter the Labyrinth to search for the last Maxime. And you three will set up bombs and take watch outside the maze in case suspicions arise. You'll help us escape after we find Ophelia."
"I'm going with you in the Labyrinth," matigas kong saad kaya kumunot naman ang noo ni Orion.
"You can't change my mind, Everett."
"I have to go there, Orion. It is my obligation to protect Ophelia. I know her because we're roommates. So I might stand a chance of persuading her to go with us. So please let me help," pangungumbinsi ko sa kanya. Gusto ko ring iligtas sina Ella at Gale, pati na rin si Asher mula sa emperyo. Kailangan kong makapasok sa Labyrinth para magawa iyon.
"You can still protect her by doing what I've told you to do. And Ophelia knows Raiden, he's enough to convince her to come with us. But if she won't, then I'll have to force her."
Sasagot pa sana ako pero inawat na ako ni Selene.
How could he do this to me?
Hindi na ako nakinig pa sa mga sunod na sinabi ni Topher. I was hurt because my help was rejected.
I didn't even realize that the meeting was finally over until Selene tapped my shoulder. Nauna nang lumabas si Midas para ihanda ang mga armas namin kasama si Selene. Zara left next and Raiden followed. Nabalik naman ako sa huwisyo nang maalala ko na kailangan ko pang kausapin ang huli. Mabilis akong tumayo para habulin sana si Raiden nang may humawak sa aking kamay kaya napatigil ako.
"How are you feeling?"
Agad kong binawi ang kamay ko sa kanya. "Huwag mo akong hawakan."
"You said that you hate because I'm Topher Nolan. But now you know the truth. I'm not him because I'm Orion. But why do you still hate me?
"I don't hate you. I hate myself," sabi ko sa kanya at aalis na sana nang niyakap niya ako mula sa likuran. I can feel his ragged breaths and the exhaustion in his body. He was young but he was already a leader. It must have been pretty hard for him.
"I'm sorry. I know you're angry. But I have to do this. I don't want you dying again."
I can feel my heart sympathizing with him again so I broke free from his embrace. He looked hurt so I decided not to bring pain to him anymore.
"I understand." It was a lie.
Diretso na akong lumabas at hindi na hinintay ang susunod na sasabihin ng lalaki. Nang makalabas ako ay hinanap ng aking mga mata si Raiden. Nakita ko naman siyang nakasandal sa puno kaya agad ko siyang pinuntahan.
"Raiden," tawag ko naman kaya napalingon siya sa akin. His expression was still the same earlier when our eyes met inside the tent. But I can now see confusion in them.
"Sino ka? Why do you know me?"
I felt my heart being hammered and crushed by his words. He indeed forgot about me and all we had been through. But he's alive and that's enough for me. Wala rin naman akong karapatan sa kanya, hindi ba?
My emotions, I need to settle them soon. I really don't know what to think and how to react because of the recent happenings and revelations.
"I just happened to know you before. I'm wishing you luck by the way in your mission," sabi ko na lang sa kanya at naglakad na paalis. It's hard to accept that he had no memories of me. Being forgotten sure hurts like hell.
But it's better this way. Hindi na niya kailangang magsakripisyo ulit para sa akin. Mas mabuti nang hindi niya ako kilala. No connections and no regrets.
_____
I stayed atop a cliff overlooking the wide forest for the entire night. A few minutes had now passed after midnight. Mukhang kanina pa nakaalis na sina Orion. I didn't bother watching them go because it would just make me want to join them.
Nakarinig naman ako ng kaluskos sa aking likuran. Kinabahan naman ako ng kaunti pero nawala iyon ng makita ko kung ano ang lumabas mula sa damuhan.
"Lady Evangeline!" bati ko sa puting pusa na nakaupo ngayon sa aking harapan. When I attempted to carry her, she just raised one of her paws kaya napaatras ako. Maattitude pa rin talaga siya.
"Back off, girl," babala niya kaya napakamot na lang ako sa aking ulo. Iba pala ang pakiramdam kapag pinagalitan ka ng isang pusa.
"Nandito ka lang pala, Blaire ," rinig kong sambit ni Selene na nakakapit sa isang puno habang habol-habol ang kanyang hininga. Nagkarerahan ba ang dalawa?
"Do you know each other?" Sinagot naman ako nilang dalawa ng tango. Pinigil ko lang talaga ang sarili kong himasin ang pusa. She's really cute kahit mataray siya.
"Yes. Because that girl disturbed my beauty sleep to ask for a favor that only I could grant. Thanks to my sister's gift," sabi naman ni Lady Evangeline kaya binalingan ko ng nagtatakang tanong si Selene.
My eyes widened when I saw a portal forming before me when Lady Evangeline stepped on something. Sa kabilang banda nun ay kadiliman ang nakikita ko. But it was like night in winter because there were floating snowflakes in that place. And then I realized it. This was my gateway inside the Labyrinth!
Napayakap na lang ako kay Selene at kay Lady Eve kahit nakakalmot na niya ako.
"I hope that I won't regret helping you," sabi ni Selene at pinagtapat pa ang dalawang palad na parang batang nananalangin kaya natawa ako sa kanya. May ibinigay na rin siyang isang dagger na itinago ko sa scabbard na nakasabit sa aking baywang.
Nagtalo naman ang dalawa dahil sa hinihinging kapalit ni Lady Eve. Natawa na lang ako dahil parang ewan si Selene na nakikipag-away sa pusa.
"Hindi ka magsisisi, Selene. Maraming salamat talaga at sa iyo rin, Lady Eve," buong lugod kong pahayag sa kanilang dalawa na mukhang hindi nila narinig dahil patuloy pa rin silang nagrarambulan.
Pero wala na akong sinayang na oras. Kailangan ako ni Ophelia ngayon at ng mga kaibigan ko.
Pagkatapos kong isapuso ang aking misyon ay tuluyan na akong tumalon papasok sa Labyrinth.