Gangster High

Setting Up the Pieces

Chapter 17

SETTING UP THE PIECES

Rapsodhee High's Administration managed to hide the death of the intruder. I was certain that the Underground Council took part in it. Of course, they would. Kaya walang mga pulis na dumating para imbestigahan ang nangyari. Isang linggo na ang nakalilipas, pero wala pa rin.

Ilang araw rin lang na naging paksa ng mg estudyante ang naganap. Pagkatapos ay parang walang nangyari. Maybe because they used to see dead bodies or maybe they were scared to talk about it at all.

I tried to stop thinking, but I couldn't especially that Creed said na konektado si Mikki sa Player ng Rapsodhee High. Yes, it was true na si Mikki ang Blood Queen, ang queen na sumunod sa Legendary Queen, pero alam kong hindi iyon ang ibig sabihin ni Creed nang sabihin niyang connected si Mikki sa Player. May mas malalim na ibig sabihin iyon.

I decided to talk to Creed to make everything clear. I got up early to find him, pero nang dumating ako sa main building ng Rapsodhee High ay nagkakagulong mga estudyante ang sumalubong sa akin.

Kumunot ang noo ko. Ano na naman ang mayroon at nagkakagulo sila? May natagpuan na naman bang bangkay o may nakapasok na namang intruder?

Hinawi ko ang ilang estudyanteng nakaharang sa daraanan ko. For God's sake! Napakalaki ng pasilyo para mapuno ng maingay na mga estudyante. Ano ba kasing nangyayari?

Out of curiosity ay sumingit ako sa kanila para tingnan kung ano ang pinagkakaguluhan nila. We were on the fourth floor of the school building at lahat sila ay nakadungaw sa ibaba where we were facing a—oh. That building.

Simula nang tumambay ako sa Green House ay napansin ko na ang kulay pulang building sa gilid nito. Hindi kalakihan at inisip kong parte lamang iyon ng Green House. I just didn't think na napakaganda palang tingnan noon mula sa itaas.

The building was made of bricks and it looked like an average house from medieval times. The curved roof was like a giant rock na nahulma na ng panahon. Side by side, the Green House and the Rock House—that was the best name for it—gave a beautiful and amazing view from above.

Miss Meira and Mr. Hontraver were there, in front of the red Rock House. I watched as the School Administrator unlocked the door, which was also made of bricks. The students gasped as if they saw what was inside it.

I frowned.

Why on Earth these weird buildings were built inside the school's compound? First, that secret room inside the Green House. Ngayon naman ay itong Rock House. Ano'ng mayroon sa mga ito?

"This is a red alert." Suddenly, I heard Heina's voice beside me. Nakakunot pa rin ang noo ko nang lingunin ko siya at hindi na ako nakapagtanong nang hawakan niya ang braso ko at hilahin ako palayo sa mga estudyante.

Humantong kami sa may hagdanan. Nakikita ko pa rin ang Rock House, pero nawala na sa paningin ko sina Miss Meira at Mr. Hontraver.

I clicked my tongue and Heina looked at me.

"You have no idea, don't you?" she asked.

"What is it?" Of course, I had no fuckin' idea what was going on.

She took a deep breath and let it out. "We're going to challenge Kingsville Academy."

"The Rank 1 school?"

A nod.

"I don't get it. We fought against Mary Kane College and I won. As far as I recall, that Rock House wasn't on the preparation list before that. Why did you say opening the house is a red alert?"

"It means the Player is now setting up the pieces on his board." Heina glanced at the Rock House. "To fight against Kingsville Academy and it isn't going to be that easy. The Rock House is regarded as the sanctuary of Rapsodhee High's pieces. The Players opens it kapag nararamdaman niyang nasa panganib ang kanyang mga pyesa."

"Panganib?"

"Napasok tayo ng kalaban nang walang kamalay-malay, Temple. The intruder... he was killed and brought here to warn us, to warn our Player. Rumors said one of the pieces will be killed next and the Player is trying to protect all of you. Kaya niya binuksan ang Rock House."

"Creed said the intruder was connected to Mikki and Mikki was connected to the Player. Ano'ng ibig sabihin noon?"

Nilingon ako ni Heina. Bumadha ang pangamba sa mukha niya. Bumuka at tumikom ang bibig niya na parang nagdadalawang isip kung dapat n'ya bang sagutin ang tanong ko.

"Sabihin mo," utos ko.

Napabuntong-hininga siya. "Alam ng lahat na pagkatapos mawala ng Legendary Queen ay wala nang pumalit sa pwesto n'ya. For more than two decades, Rapsodhee High remained queenless. Then all of the sudden, Mikki was crowned as the new queen the same night after she won her first match in the Underground. Maraming nagsabi na marahil ay personal silang magkakilala ng Player. May nagsabing marahil ay may lihim na ugnayan ang dalawa. You see, no one could really tell what the connection between the two is."

"So, it isn't clear yet? Until now?"

"Also, there is a rumor na may hidwaan ang Rapsodhee High at ang Kingsville Academy. Involve ang Legendary Queen. The truth remained untold o kung may nakakaalam man, I'm sure, they were already buried six feet underground." Tumingin s'ya sa akin. "What did the intruder tell you that day?"

"What?"

"I saw you following him. I tried to stop you, but Creed was fast. You know he is always watching you." The statement sounded casual to her, but the last words she said tickled the back of my neck. She went on, "I don't know kung paano ko ipapaliwanag ang lahat sa 'yo, Temple, but I have this strong feeling that you are somehow connected to what happened in the past."

Hindi ako nakaimik. Magkaibang pangungusap, pero iisa ang ibig ipahiwatig ng mga sinabi ni Heina at mga sinabi ng intruder. I didn't want to believe it, but Tiarah was in here, in this game. She might drag me here without realizing it and now that I was already part of it, she came to save me.

"You know a lot." Matiim kong tinitigan ang mga mata niya. "Who are you, Heina?"

Naging mailap ang mga mata niya. The gesture was obvious. I just realized, Heina was no ordinary student who was stuck in this game. She had a purpose for coming here.

"I..." She cleared her throat. "I came here to know what happened to my brother."

Just what I thought.

"Maybe I'm not as brave and strong as you are, Temple. I can't fight the way you fight. I'm weak, just like what Fashia said. But that doesn't mean na wala akong kayang gawin para sa mga taong mahalaga sa akin." Sinalubong n'ya ang titig ko saka muling nagsalita. "My weakness is my strength; my brother is my strength."

That phrase was deep. I saw how her eyes soften. So, this was the real Heina. She was not the weird girl I used to know at all. Maybe just like me, she was keeping a burden on herself. Something that she couldn't say to anyone, not even to Fashia who was her best friend. Ganoon naman talaga siguro. Sometimes, there were issues that you cannot tell even to the closest person you know.

"Have you figure it out yet?" hindi napigilang tanong ko.

Umiling siya. "He was a Dark Empire. At first, everything was just fine. Nakakapag-usap pa rin kami through phone. Lahat ng nangyayari sa kanya sa loob ng eskwelahang ito ay alam ko. Lahat ng laban, lahat ng kawirdohan. Pero gago kasi s'ya, eh. Masyado s'yang pakialamero sa bagay na hindi n'ya naman dapat pakialaman. Sabi n'ya, gusto n'yang alamin ang buong kwento ng Legendary Queen. Sabi n'ya, aalamin niya ang lahat ng sikreto. Pero 'yon na ang huling balita ko sa kanya. Bigla s'yang naglahong parang bula."

Nagsikip ang dibdib ko. I knew how hard it is to lose someone who meant everything to you. I knew how painful it is. To lose someone you love is to alter your life forever. The pain stops, new people would come, but the gap never comes close. There will be a hole in your heart, the shape of someone you lost and no one could ever fix it.

"I don't know what happened to him. He disappeared four years ago at gusto kong alamin kung ano ang nangyari sa kanya. I want to know where he is. I want to know if he is still alive or what. Maybe the answers would hurt me shortly but still, I want to know what happened."

Hindi na ako nagsalita. Nakaramdam ako ng paghanga sa kanya. Heina was not that weak like I always thought after all. She was brave enough to come here when in fact; she already knew what game was waiting for her. Hindi ko akalain na may ganito s'yang side. Well, how would I know gayong hindi ko naman binigyan ng pagkakataon ang sarili kong kilalanin s'ya. Hindi naman pala masamang kilalanin ang mga taong nakapaligid sa akin because sometimes, their stories were better than I always imagine.

"We can do it," pabulong kong sabi and for the first time, I saw her smile. A genuine smile.

I didn't smile back, but I tapped her shoulder. It was awkward because I never tap someone's shoulder before.

I cleared my throat and glanced outside. Miss Meira and Mr. Hontraver were walking out from the Rock House.

The students were still watching, murmuring. Natahimik lang silang lahat nang mapansing papalapit si Eduard Hollet kasama ang anim na gang member nito. Ilang babaeng estudyante ang kaagad nagpacute, pero wala sa kanila ang atensyon ni Eduard. Nakatingin siya sa direksyon namin—kay Heina.

"You have to fix your things now," ani Heina na ikinalingon ko sa kanya. Napansin ko ang biglang pamumula ng mukha niya. Nag-iwas din siya ng tingin saka nagsalita, "As I said, the Player is setting up his pieces. It means all the officials, the fighters, will move into the Rock House. You're the queen, so kasama ka sa mga titira ro'n."

"I don't think it is necessary," I replied, bored and uninterested. Eduard passed by us. He nodded at me, I nodded back. Heina looked like she was going to faint when Eduard glanced at her.

When he disappeared, Heina heaved a sigh and looked at me. She said, "I think you have no choice at all. The Student Council and also Creed are already in our room to fix your things."

Ilang segundong napatulala ako sa sinabi niya. I thought it was just a joke, but her serious face told me it's not.

Mabilis akong nawala sa harapan niya bago pa man siya makapagsalita. Patakbo akong tumungo sa dorm. Ayaw na ayaw kong ginagalaw ng iba ang mga gamit ko. No one's allowed to touch even my hairbrush without asking my permission first. Those bastards need to be punished.

Ilang minuto lang at pabalibag kong binuksan ang pinto ng kwarto sa dorm. The four guys inside looked at me as if they were one just person. They seemed surprised and scared, pero pagkalipas ng ilang segundo ay parang walang ano man na nag-iwas sila ng tingin at bumalik sa kani-kanilang ginagawa.

Brusky Holand was moving out all my dresses and kinds of stuff from my cabinet. Kamko Xiao and Draven Adkins were busy packing those things inside my luggage, carelessly.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I shouted. In just a few steps, I was already there, pushing them away from my things. "Don't touch my things, you brute!"

"Temple—" Draven tried to argue. I looked at him, sharp and lethal. He backed down. "I'm sorry."

"Who gave you the right na makialam sa gamit ko nang hindi nagpapaalam sa akin?" asik ko habang isa-isang inilalabas sa bag ang mga gamit na ipinasok nila.

"Me," Creed answered my question. Tiningnan ko siya nang masama. Nakakabwisit na prenteng-prente s'yang nakahiga sa kama ko, nakatitig pa sa kisame, and busy polluting the entire room. I wanted to snatch his cigarette and smash it in his face.

"Any problem?" he asked.

"Get out! All of you! Get out!" I said between my teeth.

Walang nakinig sa akin. Tumayo si Creed mula sa kama at pagkatapos tapakan ang sigarilyong ibinagsak sa sahig ay marahan s'yang lumapit sa akin at walang sabi-sabing hinila ako papalayo sa mga gamit ko.

"Let me go. The f**k! What the hell are you doing?"

"You are wasting my fuckin' time," mahina, pero mariin n'yang sabi saka ako sapilitang iniupo sa kama ni Fashia. Binalingan n'ya sina Draven. "Bilisan n'yo na."

"You can't just do this," iritado kong asik kay Creed na nakatayo sa harapan ko. He was staring down at me like I was his slave. "At least ask for my permission first."

"Kung magpapaalam ba ako sa 'yo na ililipat namin ang gamit mo sa Rock House, papayag ka ba?" tanong n'ya.

"Of course not!" mabilis kong sagot.

"I was expecting that."

"But still I have—"

"Could you stop talking, Strawford?"

Hindi ako nakapagsalita kahit ang totoo'y gusto ko siyang sapakin. Masamang tingin ang ibinigay ko sa kanya at mas masamang tingin ang isinukli niya.

"Is this yours?" Napukaw ang masama naming titigan nang sumingit ang boses ni Brusky. Iritado akong lumingon sa kanya at nanlaki ang mata ko nang makita kung ano ang hawak n'ya.

Shit! That paper bag!

"Don't touch that!" Mabilis akong tumayo at lumapit sa kanya para kuhanin ang paper bag. Pero minsan, talagang umiiral ang katangahan ko. Walang ingat kong hinablot ang paper bag at marahas na hinila. Ang problema ay hindi iyon binitiwan ni Brusky kaya nawasak 'yon at nalantad ang laman.

Tila tumigil ang oras nang bumagsak sa sahig ang wasak na uniform. Draven looked at me. He knew the story of that uniform. All of the sudden, I recalled what happened in the detention room where Creed scared me to death.

"What is this?" Brusky was the first one who moved. Kunot-noo niyang dinampot ang damit at pinagmasdan. Nakangising tumingin sa akin. "Who did you fight with, huh?"

Masamang tingin ang isinagot ko sa kanya. Nakakainis! Ang tanga ko naman kasi. Bakit ba hindi ko itinapon na lang ang damit na iyon?

"Give that back to her," Draven said.

"Why is she keeping that?" Kamko asked as if I wasn't there.

"Enough," Creed interfered. Walang reaksyon ang mukha n'ya, pero pagalit niyang kinuha ang damit na hawak ni Brusky. "We're running out of time. Move."

Brusky and Kamko shrugged shoulders and returned to what they were doing. Draven looked at me as if he was asking if I was just alright. I nodded as an answer.

Then I flinched when Creed grabbed my arm and squeezed it hard.

"You're hurting me," I growled.

"Stop flirting," he replied.

I tried to pull him away, but he was goddamned strong. "What the hell! Who's flirting with who? Let me go. Ouch!"

"Stop fighting," he barked.

Even before I could speak, he pulled me out of the room leaving the Student Council with my things. No one was in the dorm, thanks s**t, because it was embarrassing for me kapag may nakakita kung paano akong kinakaladkad ng uwak na ito.

"Creed, just..." I surrendered. "Just stop. You're really hurting me."

Nasa elevator na kami nang bitiwan niya ako. Nakangiwi kong minasahe ang sarili kong braso. Peste! Bakit ba gigil na gigil ang lalaking ito sa akin?

"It's your fault," sabi niya.

"My fault? You—" Nagulat ako nang muli niyang hawakan ang braso ko. This time ay hindi na pagalit. Hindi ako nagsalita nang pagmasdan niya ang namumula kong balat.

Pumalatak siya. "Don't do that again."

"Do what?"

Bumukas ang pinto ng elevator. Kasabay noon ay dumulas ang kamay ni Creed mula sa braso ko pababa sa aking kamay. Saka niya ako muling hinila.

"Creed—"

"Stop talking."

Natahimik na naman ako. Hindi ko na rin tinangkang bawiin ang kamay kong hawak niya dahil alam kong hindi rin naman niya iyon bibitiwan.

Napapalingon sa amin ang mga estudyanteng nakakasalubong at nalalampasan namin. Of course, Creed was famous in Rapsodhee High. So was I, because I was their queen. And now, Creed and I looked like a couple walking while holding each other's hand—no, I wasn't holding his hand.

And that was ridiculous.

Matalim kong tiningnan ang mga estudyanteng nagbubulungan habang nakatingin sa amin. Agad naman silang tumalikod.

Hanggang sa makarating kami sa Rock House. At that point ay natigilan ako. Nakamaang kong pinagmasdan ang paligid. I didn't expect this. The Green House amazed me so much, but the Rock House's interior design was different. The house was small, like a cube, but the interior design made it look bigger. There were only two small windows and the wall was painted white, which gave the entire place a bright ambiance. There was no room for privacy. Pagpasok ay makikita kaagad ang maliit na sala na may dalawang sofa, maliit na coffee table, at maliit na built-in bookshelf. May nakapwesto namang Japanese folding screen para matakpan ang mga bunks beds sa kabilang side. Fold-out furniture lahat ng gamit to give the house more space.

"Out of the way, your majesty." I heard Draven's voice behind me. Nalingunan ko siyang kasama sina Brusky at Kamko dala ang mga luggage kong hindi pa naisasara nang maayos ang zipper.

Hindi ko sila pinansin. Hindi ko na rin pinansin pa ang ayos ng Rock House. Sa halip ay pinagtuunan ko ng pansin ang tatlong estudyanteng nasa loob at tila naghihintay talaga sa amin.

Eduard Hollet and Jake Creus looked like they were going to stab each other at any minute. Sabi nga pala ni Heina ay dito titira ang mga opisyal ng board. Eduard and Jake were the rooks, that's why they're here.

But Naami Stones? Why was she here?

"Surprised?" she asked. The question was meant for me, but her eyes were busy studying the place.

"What are you doing here?" nakataas ang kilay na tanong ko. Wala naman sana akong problema na narito rin siya kahit isa lang siyang pawn, pero naiinis ako sa kamalditahan niya.

"What? You think a pawn like me would never be too important for the Player?" she answered.

"Nothing like that. Perhaps the Player wants to give us something... like a punching bag. You would be perfect for that job."

Matalim ang mga matang lumingon s'ya sa akin. Whoah! She looked like the female version of Recca dahil sa band-aid na nakatapal sa pisngi n'ya. I'm pretty sure, magpipilat ang sugat na 'yon.

Well, she deserved that.

"You bitch." Tuluyan na niya akong hinarap. Akala ko'y susugurin niya ako, pero nanatili siya sa kanyang kinatatayuan at matalim ang mga matang nakatitig sa akin.

Nginisian ko siya. "Other than that, why would the Player put you in here? You don't even fight in Underground."

"Maybe because he wants to protect not just the fighters, but also his princess. Yes, a chessboard doesn't have a princess, but the Player does." Taas-noo siyang ngumiti, nakakainsultong ngiti. "Hindi ko pa rin makuha, Temple? Well, let me tell you. I am the Player's princess. You get it?"

Nawala ang ngisi sa labi ko. I heard it loud and clear at hindi ako tanga para hindi maintindihan 'yon. Naami just revealed who she really was. Princess of the Player? It means Naami Stones was the Player's daughter.

Everyone fell silent, unsurprised, and just silent. They knew who Naami was. Everyone knew except me. My hunch was right then. The bodyguards protected Naami because she was the Player's daughter.

Fuck!

That was unbelievable. Ano'ng klaseng magulang ang maglalagay sa anak niya sa ganitong klaseng kapahamakan?

"I get it," sabi ko. "Ngayon ay naiintindihan ko na kung bakit ganyan ka umasta. May pinagmanahan naman pala ang pagiging demonyita mo."

Tumawa siya. "Look who's talking. Little did you know that—"

"Naami," Jake Creus warned her—stopped her perhaps.

Naami stopped talking, but the smirk she gave to me was alarming. Alam ko sa sarili kong hindi ko kakayaning makasama ang babaeng ito sa iisang silid pagkatapos ng mga nangyari sa pagitan namin nitong mga nakaraang araw.

Eduard clicked his tongue, a gesture to mock his rival. Jake returned the favor. A grin on his lips and Eduard's eyes narrowed.

Napapailing na tumalikod ako. I needed to get out of here. The place was really awesome and comfy, but demons were here. Demons who hated each other should not stay in the same level of hell.

"Where do you think you're going?" Creed growled.

I was so stupid to forget na hawak pa rin niya ang kamay ko. Marahas n'ya akong hinila pabalik nang humakbang ako patungo sa pinto. Muntik na akong bumagsak sa sahig kung hindi n'ya lang ako hawak nang mahigpit.

"You're not going anywhere," aniya pa.

Masamang tingin ang isinagot ko sa kanya.

Mukhang wala na akong magagawa pa. Sa ayaw at sa gusto ko, I had to live with these demons. I already could imagine kung amo ang mangyayari sa amin sa mga darating pang mga araw.