Play or Be Played : The Spark in His Darkness

Sa gitna ng isang malaki at maluwag na lihim na lugar kung saan matatagpuan ang isang hindi kalakihang entablado at sa sentro ng entablado ay merong isang upuan na tanging para lamang sa isang manlalaro. ang upuang ito ay pinalilibutan ng mga naglalakihang wire na kumokonekta sa iba't ibang kagamitan at teknolohiya habang sa itaas ng upuan, may isang bilog na bagay na isusuot sa ulo ng manlalaro—isang advanced na VR headset na magsisilbing portal patungo sa mundo ng laro.. Nag-iisang ilaw ang nakatutok sa upuan, nagbibigay-liwanag sa manlalaro at nagtatangi sa kanya mula sa madilim na paligid. bilang proteksyon at upang hindi maistorbo ang manlalaro sa kanyang laro, ang entablado ay pinalilibutan ng mga pader na gawa sa matibay na salamin. ang mga pader na ito ay nagsisilbing harang laban sa mga ingay at abala mula sa labas, tinitiyak ang konsentrasyon at immersion ng manlalaro. I scanned my surroundings all I could see were computers and various technological devices connected everywhere. So ready na. I nudged my neighbor, the first player. “Are you sure you're okay? You're stiff from being so nervous” She glanced at me, then scowled. "Who wouldn't be nervous?' her gaze shifted back to the stage. “It's like they're going to extract my brain for that thing.'" I chuckled at what she said. “And why would they extract your brain?” laughing, I put my arm around her shoulder. “Your brain's already empty, and they'd extract it? It'd be useless to them, it's empty—ouch!” annoyed, she pinched me on the side. “Pwede ba? Instead of comforting me, you're saying all sorts of things” her voice softened. “What if I can't come back?” Kumunot ang noo ko “Isn't it sadder if you come back?” I asked, puzzled. "Shut up" I rolled my eyes when someone suddenly slung an arm over my shoulder; only one person would do that to me. “Aren't you curious? What's the point of our 10 years of training with swords, various weapons and basic combat, plus taekwondo, if we're just going to sit there until the game ends?” she asked, puzzled. Oonga no? I grinned and glanced at her “If you don't know the answer, well, I certainly don't know either.” She sighed deeply. “You're really a useless person to talk to.” she removed her arm from my shoulder and walked toward a woman who, I think, is the quietest and most emotionless person in the whole world. She was sitting on a single sofa, reading a book while sipping coffee. A guitar was resting on the table. That's how she is every day that's why her life is so boring. Hera held my chin to bring my attention back to her. “You've been judging Zahkia for a while now.” My eyes widened at what she said. What? Me? Judging Zah? I wouldn't never do that! “I'm not judging her—” Before I could finish what I was about to say, she spoke again. “It doesn't come out of your mouth, but it's all over your face.” Weh? hindi nga... “Everyone, may I have your attention?” Our gazes shifted to a man who ascended the stage holding a folder. Sino naman ‘tong kalbo na ‘to He cleared his throat before speaking. “We've addressed all necessary preparations to prevent issues when the game starts, and here” he lowered his gaze to the folder he was holding “this folder contains the various games assigned to each player, meaning all of you will play different games.” Hera and I exchanged glances before nodding in agreement with what the man said. What kind of game could this be? Is it a literal game? The man raised another folder handed to him earlier by his assistant. “This folder will document the effects of the game once you've completed it. There are also doctors outside—” I furrowed my brow. Huh? Doctors? For what? What if eextract talaga nila brain naming apat? I turned to Venus as she raised her hand. “ What's their role in the game?” The man smiled. “You'll find out once player number one, Heishara Viel Jurano, codename Hera, completes the game” He glanced at hera I glanced at Hera too when I noticed she seemed at ease, unlike earlier when she was about to run out due to nervousness. “Why do you seem calm now?” She smiled and looked at me. “I remembered my phone at home left charging, so I can't afford to be nervous” I crossed my arms and looked at her with a puzzled expression. “What's the connection to my question?” Her smile faded, and she slapped my arm. "If I get nervous, I might not focus on the game, and I don't want my apartment to burn down!” She returned her gaze to the stage. I scooted a bit closer to her. “Why, do you know how many days you'll be playing?” She nodded. “24 hours means just 1 day.” “Is it that fast?” “Based on how fast you play” she added." The bald man spoke again “I just want to say that whatever game you get, I hope you finish it quickly. If you don't complete the game within two days and it extends to three, expect it to have effects on your body. If you're wondering what effects I'm referring to, it's the kind where, even if you're energetic and feel fine, you'll suddenly experience pain. And I want to inform you that this pain is not ordinary.” He paused briefly, as if hesitating, before continuing, “I know the game won't be easy for you because you're all under 19—” “What do you mean it won't be easy for us? It's just a game, easy!” I interjected, which earned me a flying shoe from Venus. “Listen to me” he said, his voice turning serious. “This game can affect your mental health.” “That's enough, Luke. Discuss the game with them” his assistant interjected, as if warning him not to say more. Something felt off; I sensed something fishy. Luke nodded and continued speaking “You'll sit in this chair, and we'll attach the necessary equipment, like this one” he indicated the headgear. “This is important because it will transport you into the game.” I became curious about what kind of game this was. “Don't worry, we'll monitor you day and night. If something goes wrong in the game, we'll do everything we can to stop it—” he was cut off by his assistant again. “Once the game starts, it cannot be stopped. It will continue until you finish” Luke had no choice but to agree. “Sorry, I misspoke” he said, then called Hera up to the stage and helped her sit down. Just as Luke explained earlier, she was hooked up to various devices, and then the headgear was placed on her. Luke opened a folder and asked Hera to choose a game number from 1 to 4. “My lucky number is 2, so I’ll choose 2” she replied—clearly excited, even though earlier she walked like a turtle toward the stage. Luke nodded and pressed something behind the chair and on the headgear. I turned around and walked over to Venus and Zah, i was sitting beside Zah and hugging her tightly. “What are they injecting into Hera? I’m scared of needles.” She gently rested her hand on my head. She wasn’t one to speak much, but gestures like running her fingers through my hair showed she was listening. I watched as they injected something into Hera’s arm and hand. They even gave her a pillow to support her back and keep her comfortable. masakit kaya yan? An hour passed before Hera fell asleep, which meant the game had started. Everyone inside the secret facility was busy monitoring the devices connected to her. Meanwhile, the three of us remained seated, watching for any potential developments. Three hours later, we noticed Hera smiling in her very deep sleep. I nudged Venus slightly. “Maybe that's why there are doctors—so if we go crazy after the game, like Hera, who smiles and laughs even in deep sleep…” I winced as she playfully slapped me with her book. “It's normal for her to react like that that's how they know the game's progress,” Zah said, her attention still on her book. “What do you mean?” I asked, puzzled. “She means that if Hera is smiling, it indicates the game is going well. But if she starts crying, something might have gone wrong,” Venus explained. So that's how it works. I looked back at Hera, still smiling. “But she really looks like a patient in a mental hospital.” “I can't blame you; she really does,” Venus chuckled Six hours have passed, yet she's still smiling. I wonder what's happening in the game that makes her smile like that? Is he happy? Why am I even asking? It's obvious from her face. I yawned while waiting for Hera to finish the game, but Zah told me to sleep first. She said that maybe when I wake up, Hera will be awake too, so I decided to take a short nap. “Everyone, attention! she’s awake!” I heard Luke shout, followed by the sound of people rushing, probably heading toward the stage. Then I heard Hera’s loud sobbing, as if she had lost a friend, family member, pet, boyfriend, spouse, or child. I had the most peaceful sleep! “Hera, why are you crying?” I heard Venus ask, her voice full of concern, as Hera cried uncontrollably, making it seem like the end of the world. Then I heard Luke shout again, “Call a doctor! Get them here immediately to check on Hera!” In fairness, his voice also showed genuine worry. Wait a minute, what happened? I just took a nap. I thought the game was supposed to last two days. Why does it feel like the game lasted only a second? “Calm her down,” said an unfamiliar voice, probably one of the doctors Luke called. “Hera, stop crying. The game is over,” Venus tried to soothe Hera, who was still crying nonstop. “R-raken,” Hera whispered. I furrowed my brow at the name. In my entire life, I had never heard her mention a man’s name. Who is Raken? Being curious, I stayed lying on the long sofa, eavesdropping on their conversation. “Hera, stop crying. Raken is just a character in the game. He doesn’t exist in this world,” Luke said, as if he already knew the reason for Hera’s intense crying. Doesn’t exist? Just a game character? “I want to see him! I don’t believe he’s just a game! He’s real!” Hera shouted hoarsely, her voice raspy from all the crying and screaming the name of someone who doesn’t exist in this world. What happened? I need to get up. I got up from the sofa and ran toward Venus and Zah. She was there too; I thought it was just Venus. Smiling, I ran up to Hera and hugged her tightly. “Welcome back!” I said. I pulled away from the hug to look at her face. My smile faded when I saw her now; her eyes were filled with so much pain. What happened? “I know you’re not okay, and I don’t want to ask why you’re like this because it will only hurt you more if you tell me,” I said softly, gently holding her head. “You’ll be okay.” She cried again, “R-rei,” she whispered my name, then hugged me tightly. I didn’t know the game would affect her like this. What kind of game was it?