I languidly looked at Richard, who has typing codes in my computer for hours, “Why are you so damn slow? I thought you are one of the best.” He was using a book guide for codes he stole from Darren’s drawer earlier.
He annoyingly looked behind him and glared at me.
“Spot watching films na akala mo’y sobrang bibilis talaga mag-type ng codes kailangan na mabusisi ‘to. Hindi ako magician, tanga.” Inis siyang bumalik sa harap ng screen.
Napangiwi na lamang ako sa kanya dahil sa totoo lang ay wala naman talaga akong naiintindihan sa tinatype n’ya lalo na’t puro letters at bracket lamang ang iyon. Bigla ko lamang talagang naalala sa kanya si Darren, na laging naiiyak tuwing napapasala s’ya ng kahit isang letter ay hindi gumagana ang pinaghirapan n’ya kaya’t muli niyang sinusuyod ang mga codes kahit sobra na ang pagod at inis n’ya.
“Damn…” He murmured.
“What? What?”
He looked at me nervously, “Their virus has affected the entire system. I don’t know how long will Ophiuchus could protect DANIMA… and what’s is that I can’t force log out, everyone…”
He frustratingly bit his lower lip as if he had gone mad. We can’t save everyone with just the two of us, I guess?
“Six… Six players are the maximum number of players that can leave DANIMA.”
“Is that how the virus works?”
He heaved a sigh, “I still don’t know what their virus could actually do, but that is what happened to a corrupted system. Just pick six players who will come back with you here, and I want Darren to be picked. He must have known the kill code, especially that this was his.”
Pick six players e, ikaw na ‘yong pumili ng isa. Scammer din pala.
Richard went back to his seat along with a mischievous grin plastered in his face, “Want to cheat, moron?” he asked.
“Really? Then, give me Law’s po—”
He looked at me with his deadpan eyes, “What a stupid homo. What I mean is that I could give you the hundred potential of Opinokinesis. You will be able to steal or enhance your senses at the same time,”
“Okay.”
A creep smile curved across his face, and he began to type numerous numbers and letters once again. Creepy, amputa.
“Ready, Game Master?” He asked, which made me smirked. “And may I remind you that you only have 24 hours to fetch them. You already died in the game, so basically, we are cheating.”
He suddenly connected the computer to the wrist band and handed it to me along with same game chip I’ve used. And when I was to put the wrist band on, he suddenly stops me.
“Do my favor, Scarlett.” I nodded at him and gave him a smile of reassurance.
I don’t even get why, but as my gratitude to him. I’ll gladly do it.
It was Richard who tangled the band into my wrist. He gently guided me to close my eyes, and when my mind slowly lose my consciousness, everything went black.
A glint of the blue light suddenly sparkled in the black vicinity, along with the mysterious appearance of the robotic lady.
“Welcome back, Game Master.” A holographic screen started to appear behind her back as the words she was saying were being written there, “You only have 24 hours to re-enter DANIMA. You will still retain your past data as Aquarius, as a member of Regular as well as your points, and your knowledge about Phantasia.”
Richard really did it. The system is no longer requiring me to erase my memories of Phantasia. Maybe Richard was just waiting for a zodiac to show up so that he could do this. Without the database, without a zodiac to command Ophiuchus, nothing will be done.
“May the stars above guide you, and let them light your path to reach the peak. Good luck, Game Master.”
All of a sudden, everything went blurry. I blinked multiple times when I respawn in the CBMA Department building, right in front of their uniform store.
If people know that I’m back… then, the admirals will learn that I’m alive.
I immediately sneak to the store, and luckily no one was around. I stole the BSA’s uniform along with a facemask and abruptly went to the comfort room to change.
Nang makalabas ako ay nilugay ko ang aking buhok saka naglakad sa hallway ng CBMA. Napangiwi na lamang ako sa aking sarili dahil hindi pamilyar sa akin ang building nila at ang tangi ko lang na alam ay ang pangalan ng classroom nina Hunter.
Bukod kay Darren, si Keigo ay naiisip kong isama sa pag-lologout sa laro ang kaso lamang ay hindi ko alam kung anong course n’ya at kung paano kami magkikita.
“Excuse me,” sambit ko sa babaeng nasa harap ko. Nakangiti naman n’ya akong nilingon, “Saan po rito ang Pleiades 10?”
Agad naman na tinuro ng babae ang direksyon kung nasaan ang classroom. Nang matapos ako magpasalamat ay agad kong tinungo iyon hanggang sa makarating ako sa tapat ng classroom.
I switch on the phone, and it was still 7:05 A.M. the class was already starting, and I silently sneak to the backdoor and sit the back row.
Tangina… ano namang pumasok sa utak ko at um-attend ako ng klase nila?
Nagtatakha akong tumingin sa unahan dahil sa biglaang pagbukas ng pinto at kasabay nito ang biglaang pagpasok ng mga zodiacs maliban kay Hunter.
Nakangiting lumingon ang professor nila sa direksyon ni Logan, “Where is Garnet, Mr. Flint?” Hindi ko alam kung si Logan o Hunter ba ‘yong reason ng kalandian ng babaeng ‘to.
Halata namang fresh graduate s’ya pero mind your manners na lang siguro sa loob ng classroom.
“He’s going to be late…” Logan mumbled.
Come to think of it, I’ve been with Richard for two weeks. There is a big time difference between this world and the reality. How long since I died here?
Nang mag umpisa ang klase ay nakatingin lamang ako sa professor nila kahit sa totoo lang ay wala akong maintindihan sa sinasabi n’ya. Walang gusto mag-process sa utak ko.
Mag-aapat na oras na akong nakatanga sa professor nila pero ang tangimg naintindihan ko lamang ay ang pangalan ng subject nila na OBLICON.
Lahat kami ay natuon ang atensyon sa pinto na biglaan na lamang bumukas, nakangiting pumasok si Travis samantalang ang kasama n’yang si Hunter ay nakabusangot lamang. Halos mapangiwi ako dahil 30 minutes na lamang ang klase ay pumasok pa sila.
“Sorry we’re late, Ma’am,” nakangiting sambit ni Travis.
Siguro kahit sinong tao maiinis sa pagmumukha ni Travis. Sino ba kasi ang makapal na mukhang ngingiti pa kahit late na late na?
“Take your seats at the back. You will not get attendance, and you will gain deduction points.” The professor hissed.
The two of them marched at the back and sat beside me. I wryly smiled when the professor suddenly roamed her sight around. I have a bad feeling about this.
Her leering eyes suddenly landed on me, making me gulp.
“You, the woman at the back, explain to them what is the meaning of this!” She pointed the word ‘ART. 1273’ written on the board.
Tangina… bakit ako?
I awkwardly stood up, even though I have nothing to say. I didn’t even give a shit about she was saying. Their eyes were on me, and the only good thing is that my face was covered from this embarrassment.
Tangina kasi ni Travis. Bakit ang nakakatangang ngiti n’ya ang binungad n’ya sa professor nila?
“Miss, sit down.” Travis yawned and faced the professor, “We don’t need her explanation, Ma’am.”
I awkwardly sat down and looked up to Travis.
Travis cleared his throat, “ART. 1273— the renunciation of the principal debt shall extinguish the accessory obligations, but the waiver of the latter shall leave the former in force—effect of the renunciation of the principal debt of the accessory obligation. The above provision follows the rule that the accessory follows the principal. While the accessory obligations cannot exist without the principal obligation, the latter may exist without the former.”
I almost drool over Travis. He looks kind of calm and cool discussing the shits that his professor was discussing earlier.
“For example, Dalia owes Cana P5,000 with Gary as guarantor. The principal debt here is P5,000, while the accessory obligation is the guaranty of Gary. The remission of the debt of Dalia by Cana shall extinguish the guaranty of Gary. But if only the guaranty of Gary is condoned, the obligation of Dalia shall remain in force,” he added. Travis suddenly gracefully smiled, making his professor feel embarrassed.
He coolly sat down and faced me along with an annoying smirk, “Easy, right?”
Gusto ko ata pumatay ng tanga.
Natapos ang buong klase habang pinapatay ko sa isip si Travis. Napakayabang n’ya, saktan ko siya e.
Tahimik lamang ako sa aking puwesto nang lumabas ang professor nila. Samantalang sina Logan ay tumungo sa direksyon nina Hunter.
“Let’s go, Hunter,” Logan said.
I don’t know why I panicked while watching them. I suddenly grabbed his hand, making both of our eyes widened.
“Fuck! What the hell are you doing? Why are you making my heart flutter?” Hunter exclaimed, making me feel confused, “Ilayo niyo s’ya sa akin! Loyal ako kay Scarlett!” Tangina?
I was about to speak when Austin suddenly removed my hand. They suddenly ran outside with the speed of light. What the fuck just happened?
At kailan pa nila naging tropa si Travis? Parang ang huli kong kita sa kanilang magkakasama ay gusto nilang patayin ‘yong isa.
I dejectedly went outside and to the back of the CAS Department building. I curiously looked at the back of a familiar man and noticed that it was Keigo.
I looked around and inspect if anyone is around, but luckily no one was. I pulled my mask down and walked in his direction.
“Keigo,” I called. He nervously looked behind and blinked multiple times when his eyes laid to me.
“Am I dreaming?”
“Are you?” I smiled.
“You’re dead…”
“Do I look like one?”
“You’re supposed to be dead.”
I wryly smiled at him, “How the hell I’m talking to you if I’m dead?”
Ilang beses s’yang kumurap sa akin, tiningnan n’ya pa ang bawat anggulo ng mukha ko na parang tanga.
Nang tumikhim s’ya ay seryoso n’ya akong pinagmasdan, “Hunter, the Zodiacs were doing all the dangerous quest to obtain points to reach the Phantasia because they wanted to know if they can wish to bring you back.”
I heaved a sigh and shrugged at him, “Feed me. I’m so damn starving right now.”
He shook his head with a smile and pulled up my mask to cover my face as we went to the university canteen. We sat at the corner, and he ordered our food.
Keigo cautiously looked around and removed his hoodie, which he put on me.
“Just eat. Amanda and the others are here,” he mumbled, making me curiously looked at him. “You don’t need to worry about trusting me. Hunter and the others already told me what happened.”
They did?
“Most the people around know that you are dead. And here you are, showing your face around as if nothing happened,” he whispered.
I squinted my eyes at him, “Are you working with Hunter and the others? Just like Travis?” I asked, and he nodded. “Aren’t you and Logan in a middle of a war?”
Saglit n’ya akong tinitigan hanggang sa umiwas s’ya nang tingin sa akin, “May napagkasunduan lang…” bulong n’ya.
Pinagmasdan ko muna s’ya bago tuluyan na kumain. Matapos akong kumain ay pasekreto kaming tumungon sa Caelum, sinabi n’ya na magtago muna ako sa loob ng kuwarto n’ya at babalikan n’ya ako kasama sina Hunter pagkatapos ng quest n’ya.
I pulled the bottom of his shirt before he could actually leave me inside his room, “Wait…” He quizzically looked at me when I hugged him without any hesitations.
“Take care,” I whispered and smiled at him when we parted.
“Thank you, Scarlett…”
#