THE GAME OF CARDS

CHAPTER 8:GAMEOF CARDS

Dielan's POV

Natigilan ang lahat ng pumasok si Roe. Lahat sa kanya nakatingin at lahat sila tahimik. Napangiti naman ako dahil kita ko sa mukha niya na gumaan na ang pakiramdam niya.

I was right bringing her to Rudeus but I didn't expect it to be this fast. I thought Rudeus will have his way finally.

"Hey." Napansin ko nalang na nasa harapan ko na si Roe. Nakaupo ako sa harapan. Kinuha pa niya ang upuan niya para mailagay sa harapan ko. Napapagitnaan namin ang maliit kong mesa.

"You look happy." Sabi ko at sumandal sa upuan ko.

"Roe, are you okay?! We were worried." Singit naman ni Sam sa likuran ko.

"Hi, Sam! I'm sorry about earlier."

"No. You don't have to apologize at all. Kingslie should apologize to you but in second thought you should too apologize to him. He receive a quite beating from you."

Mahina namang natawa si Roe. "I'll do that. Where is he now?"

"Infirmary." Sagot ko naman. "Everyone freaked out for what you did."

"Oh... is that why, everyone are quiet."

Ngayon ko lang napansin rin. Tahimik silang lahat. Tiningnan namin ang mga kaklase namin at agad silang nag iwas ng tingin at nagsimulang mag usap ngunit mahina lamang.

"So... I decided to quit the organization." Bulong ni Roe.

"What?!" Napatayo ako at di ko naiwasang mapasigaw sa sinabi niya.

"Huh? What?" Tanong naman ni Sam. Tinikom ko ang bibig ko at umupo. I leaned forward, so did Roe. Ang lapit na ng mukha namin.

"What are you saying so suddenly, huh?" Marahas kong bulong sa kanya.

"I want to live a normal life."

"Ever since you were born, everything is not normal for you."

"Dielan!" Saway naman niya. "Listen, the organization wants me to quit anyway, so it's convenient for me."

"Roe, I don't like this."

"I'm not going anywhere, D. Captain told me that I can study here like a normal student, so, we won't be separated." Sabay ngisi niya na para bang iyon ang pinakamagandang plano para sa lahat ng ito.

Roe is not thinking. She always decide quickly and I can't believe we can actually keep up with her. Dati na siyang ganito. Noong captain pa siya, masyado siyang mabilis, mabilis gumawa ng plano at dapat mabilis ang kilos, di aiya nagdadalawang isip ag kapag di umayon sa plano ang gusto naming mangyari may Plan B siyang handa lagi.

That's what I like about her though. Even though we messed up a lot of times because of her decision making, and it always leads us to trouble, in the end of the day, she will find a way to turn the table.

"And... The captain kissed me." Dagdag niya pa. Inikot ko naman ang mata ko.

"So, what?" Di na ako nagulat. Akala ko nga s*x na ang nagawa nila.

"He's a man now!" Natampal ko ang noo ko. Akala ko nawala na ang pagkatorpe niya.

Rudeus is smart, strong, responsible and he has a strong aura. Everyone know he likes Roe but everyone also know that he's torpe.

"Well, we should congratulate him then." Sabi ko nalang.

Pumasok na ang teacher pagkatapos kaya nagsikanya-kanya na ang upo. Bumalik na rin si Roe sa upuan niya. Napailing nalang ako dahil naiilang ako sa tahimik ng kaklase namin.

Nang naglunch na ay agad nang umalis si Roe, siguro pupuntahan niya sina Pia para sabihin sa kanila ang plano niya.

"Ayos na si Roe?" Tanong ni Justin kay Sam na kumakain sa likuran ko.

"Uh. Yeah. Having Rudeus to her side is really a big help but I didn't know they are that close."

"Yeah. I also didn't expect that Roe is close to Dielan."

"Hey, watch your words, slave." Singit ko naman. "It's King for you, not Dielan."

"Uh... I'm sorry, King."

Tumungin nalang ako sa labas ng bintana. Wala akong magawa ngayon dahil hindi lumapit sa akin si Cortez. Habang tumitingin ako ay may napansin ako. May mga itim na kotse na nakaparada sa parking lot at mga taong nakaitim na lumalabas rito.

"Is that..."

Pia's POV

"Stephen is dead." Nagulat ako sa sinabi ni Lorence nang makarating siya sa akin. Galing siya sa secret room.

"W-what? What happened?"

"His parent gave up on him."

"How do you know about this?"

"Captain told me." Napatango naman ako. "Are you happy now? You dislike Stephen, right?"

"Yeah but I'm worried for Roe. Is she okay?"

"She's not but captain said she's going to be fine."

"I see." Nag iwas ako ng tingin at tinuon pabalik ang mata sa laptop kung saan nagkakaproblema ako sa pag access ng server ng organisasyon. "I think my laptop is broken. I can't even enter my IG."

"What's that?" Napatingin ako kay Lorence nang magsalita siya. Nakatingin siya sa labas kaya tiningnan ko rin iyon.

"What's with the black van? May patay ba?"

"Hey, look at that logo." We are on the second floor that's why it's easy for us to see the logo of the van. "Red Riot." Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya at mas lalong tiningnan ng maayos ang logo.

"Sh*t. It's them." Agad akong umupo pabalik at inaccess ulit ang server ng organization. "Call the captain."

"I'm doing it but it can't be reached." Natigilan ako at tumingin pabalik sa nga van sa labas.

"They cut off the lines."

"We should-"

"Hey!" Napatingin kami sa sumigaw. Si Dielan, hinihingal.

He already knows.

Agad kaming lumabas ni Lorence at sinabayan si Dielan sa pagtakbo papunta sa secret room.

Roe's POV

"So, you're also a slave?" Tanong ko kay Rudy nang tinanong ko siya kung ano ang rank niya.

"Yeah. Here." Inabot niya sa akin ang card niya. Iba ang design sa likuran ng card niya, pula sa akin sa kanya naman ay blue.

"And no one. Messing up with you?"

"All of the students are afraid of me." Saad naman niya habang hinihimas ang pusa na nasa lap niya.

"Why?"

"Because I'm tall."

"Really? But tall guys are likable."

"I'm taller than Stephen." Bulong niya.

"What?"

"Nothing." Sumimangot naman ako. I heard him alright. I just want him to say it out loud.

Bigla namang bumukas ang pinto at hinihingal na mukha ng mga teamates namin ang bumungad.

"Captain! There's a-"

Before they could say anything. The speaker turned on.

"To all of the students of Redden High School. I am your school principal. I am Curtain Reyes. You can call me Curt. We are announcing of a sudden lock down starting today until next semester."

What is this? Is this normal?

"D*mn it." Tumingin ako kay Pia na ngayon ay halata ang inis sa mukha.

"No one can leave or enter the school as we play the Game of Cards."