Gangster High

History of the Game

Chapter 11

HISTORY OF THE GAME

Simula nang maipanalo ko ang underground fight laban kay Tom Craden two weeks ago, bigla ay parang bumait sa akin ang lahat. I gained respect from everyone. Well, except from one guy named Creed Craw.

We were put together in the clinic after that night because we were both dying—that was the best word for it. Tom Craden beat me to death; he almost killed me. Creed was tortured by MKC's students. In the clinic, I heard him said na ikinulong siya sa isa sa mga detention room ng MKC at doon pinahirapan sa loob ng tatlong araw. Hindi niya sinabi kung paano siya napunta roon at wala na rin namang nagtanong pa.

Creed let them beat him. He didn't fight back because he knew he was outnumbered. He regained his strength and used everything he got to escape the same day na may laban ang Rapsodhee High sa MKC.

Lihim akong humanga sa kanya, sa totoo lang. He was tortured to death, yet he still thought of fighting. He knew everyone was counting on him at hindi n'ya inisip ang sarili n'ya nang araw na iyon. Perhaps Creed wasn't that bad after all.

But I still wanted to kill him and I was certain that he wanted to do the same thing to me.

Why? Because he was making my life more miserable. I think he was just jealous of me dahil parehas na kami ng nakukuhang atensyon ngayon. Sa tuwing may lumalapit sa akin, sinasadya niyang hawiin—banggain ang kawawang estudyante para mailayo sa akin. Nakakapagtaka rin na bigla na lang siyang sumusulpot sa paligid kapag napapaligiran ako ng mga estudyante.

Karamihan ng lumalapit sa akin ay mga lalaki at karamihan naman ng sa kanya ay mga babae. Students were considering us as the King and Queen of Rapsodhee High, which was lame and disgusting.

Napabuntong-hiningang naupo ako sa bermuda grass. This place was cool. Flowers were everywhere and nicely arranged. I never thought na may ganito pala rito sa loob ng school compound. The sign outside says that this place was called the Green House. Well, nice Green House. I wondered kung sino ang nag-aalaga ng lugar na ito.

Bigla ko tuloy naalala kung gaano kaganda ang garden namin sa bahay. Palipat-lipat man kami ng tirahan noon, hindi pa rin nawala ang bulaklak na naging parte na ng kamusmusan ko. She worked hard for that. Well, I didn't know kung makikita ko pa ulit ang mga bulaklak na 'yon. It's gone since the day she left.

I shut my eyes to delete the painful memories. I should have not thought of that at all. Isa pa, sa kawirdohang mayroon ang eskwelahang ito, hindi ko alam kung makakabalik pa ako sa bahay namin.

Wala sa loob na unti-unti akong humiga sa bermuda grass at pinagmasdan ang kagandahan ng bughaw na kalangitan. The roofs were transparent na lalong nakapagpaganda sa ambiance ng lugar.

I thought of my fight against Tom Craden. After I won, Tom was taken away by the huge men, two men, who were wearing gold masks and black suits. Tom screamed, pained and scared, but his voice vanished and no one dared to follow him at all. I didn't ask where were they taking him, but I was certain that that would be the last time Tom Craden could scream.

That scared me, too. Naisip ko, kung ako ang natalo sa laban, ako ang nasa kalagayan ni Tom. I just realized that I was already in the middle of life and death even before the match started. I understood why Creed snapped at me multiple times and accused me of putting the Rapsodheenians' life in danger. But he should have also understood na inagaw ko ang laban sa kanya dahil nakita kong hindi na niya kayang lumaban pa. Natakot ako para sa sarili ko. Why would I watch Tom Craden beat him and defeat him if I could fight him to save myself?

Rapsodhee High wasn't the school I at least expected. I came from different schools: prestigious, middle class, public. I encountered different kinds of students: bullies, self-centered, self-proclaimed famous, and many more. Those were normal.

Who would have thought that behind the reputable name, Rapsodhee High was a living nightmare of any student? Heina was right, Draven was right. This school was hell.

How come the authorities never figure it out yet? Oh, I forgot. Madali nga lang palang pagtakpan ang lahat ng klase ng kagaguhan sa bansang ito. Pera lang ang katapat ng lahat. Pera lang ang katapat ng buhay ng isang tao.

"A penny for your thought." Boses na pamilyar sa akin ang umabala sa pag-iisip ko.

Bumangon ako para harapin ang Dark Empire Gang's leader: si Eduard Hollet. May suot na gloves ang mga kamay n'ya at may hawak siyang maliit na shovel. He was not wearing the school's uniform. Mukha s'yang hardinero, sa totoo lang, but that didn't give him a disgusting look. He was still attractive.

I didn't have to ask at all. Mukhang alam ko na kung sino ang nag-aalaga sa mga halaman dito. Funny. Sino ang mag-iisip na ang isang gangster na kagaya n'ya ay may ganitong klaseng libangan?

"You want me out?" I asked.

"No. You can stay. Basta h'wag ka lang mang-aabala sa ginagawa ko. Keep quiet." He laughed. "Congrats nga pala. For winning the fight," he added while arranging the flower pots beside him.

Hindi ako sumagot o mas tamang sabihin na ayoko talagang sumagot. Paulit-ulit ko nang narinig 'yon. Nakakasawa na. Alam kong malaking bagay ang pagkakapanalo ko. I just saved Rapsodhee High from being doomed.

"This flower is just like you," Eduard said. Napatingin ako sa bulaklak na hawak n'ya at kusang tumaas ang kilay ko nang makita 'yon. Why was he comparing me to a red rose? He looked at me. "Beautiful, but dangerous. Isang maling hawak at siguradong masusugatan ka ng mga tinik nito. Ganito ka, Temple Strawford."

Hindi ako nakapagsalita sa sinabi n'ya. I couldn't find a word. I was flattered lalo pa at nanggaling sa isang kagaya n'ya ang mga salitang iyon. He was a gangster at napakalaking karangalan na hangaan ka ng kapwa mo gangster.

"And your eyes, your unique eyes are telling me how mysterious person you are," he added. There was a spark of amusement in his eyes while staring at me.

"Why did you form two groups of gang here gayong lumalaban kayo sa Underground bilang isa?" Hindi ko alam kung saan nanggaling, pero biglang namutawi sa bibig ko ang mga salitang 'yon, pero ngayon ko lang narealize, bakit nga ba may dalawang gang ang Rapsodhee High samantalang kung tutuusin ay hindi naman sila ang magkalaban dito? Ang ibang underground school ang kalaban nila. So why there were two gangs here?

Mahinang tumawa si Eduard. "Sinasabi ko na nga ba at hindi makakaligtas sa 'yo ang bagay na 'yan." Tumayo siya at humakbang papalapit sa akin saka walang paalam na umupo hindi kalayuan sa tabi ko. Nilaro n'ya ang hinubad niyang gwantes. "May kwento sa likod ng lahat ng nangyayaring ito, Temple. There's a history that has been passed from one mouth to another. You wanna know?"

History? What? Kung paano nagsimula ang lahat ng ito? "Yes," I replied.

"May mga gangs na talaga rito bago pa man nagsimula ang underground fight ng mga eskwelahan dito. That was a long time ago. Sabihin na nating hindi pa tayo ipinapanganak nang mga panahong 'yon. Gangs here before were just ordinary gangs; typical high school students who just wanted to have some fun. Naglalaban sila kung sino ang mas malakas at kung sino ang dapat maghari sa loob ng Rapsodhee High. Kagaya rin ng mga gangs sa labas ng eskwelahang ito. I know you know what I mean. Before, nobody cared. They were doing all they wanted nang walang nagbabawal sa kanila, walang nag-uutos. Malaya silang kumikilos na ayon sa kagustuhan ng gang nila. Then he came. He was heartless, demon, lethal, powerful... you name it. Since he came, everything changed. Lahat ng sumuway sa gusto n'ya ay dumanas ng hirap. He defeated all the gang's leaders that time, alone. Nobody couldn't explain kung bakit ganoon s'ya kalakas na kahit gaano pa karami ang kalaban n'ya ay nagagawa n'yang pabagsakin. Even the School Administrators ay natapalan ng lakas at pera n'ya. The fact that he was just fifteen at the time na dumating s'ya sa Rapsodhee High. He ruled the school until the end of his high school year. He played everyone; he toyed everyone. Dumating sa punto na nagsasawa na s'ya sa mga ginagawa n'yang pagtalo sa bawat kalaban n'ya at pumasok sa isipan n'ya na paglabanin ang bawat gang dito. Buhay laban sa buhay. Wala s'yang pakialam. Doon na rin nagsimulang ma-involve ang Rapsodhee High sa mga underground fight. Gang versus gang. Leader versus leader. Grupo laban sa grupo ng iba't ibang school. Walang magawa ang kahit na sino kundi ang sumunod sa lalaking 'yon. And when someone loses the fight, it means that is the end of his life. You know what I mean?"

I was holding my breath. That man was terrible. Goddamn creature! I couldn't imagine what happened before; I didn't want to imagine things.

"It seemed that he enjoyed watching someone die," komento ko.

"Yeah. That brought him too much excitement. Ang mapanood ang isang taong namamatay sa harapan n'ya ang nagpapasaya sa kanya. Years passed and nothing changed. Sabi ko nga, he ruled Rapsodhee High. Kahit nakatapos na s'ya ng high school, patuloy n'ya pa ring hinawakan ang eskwelahang ito. Then that girl came. Strong as he was, lethal as he was. They were exactly the same except that the girl cared for her friends despite her cold personality. She witnessed the cruelty of that man and decided to fight him for the sake of the others. Nagkaroon sila ng kasunduan. If she wins, the man will leave Rapsodhee High. But if she lost, she will be his slave. And she lost, he made her his slave. She couldn't save the Rapsodhee High from that man kaya nanatiling hawak ng lalaking 'yon ang school na ito. But that's also the time na nagkaroon ng kalayaan ang mga estudyante. That time, nagsimulang mabago ang lahat. That man cursed the words 'I won't hurt anyone as long as you are winning the fight'. So that girl fought for Rapsodhee High. Sa Underground. Sabi ng marami, simula ng lumaban s'ya ay wala pang nakatalo sa kanya. She defeated all underground schools and became the queen of all fighters that saved Rapsodhee High from being a slave. But that was also the time they upgraded the game. Unti-unting nabuo ang matataas at malalakas na fighter ng bawat eskwelahan. Noon na rin nakilala ang Underground Council though it was only Dylan Boxon who showed himself to everyone. Chess pieces started to form. Nagkaroon ng mga tinatawag na king, queen, knight, and all other pieces on board. Underground Councils upgraded the fight to the next level and the idea came from that guy. He started the game and the Underground Council upgraded it. They used the chess game to divert attention. Any fighter could fight whoever they wanted to fight. Queen could fight the knight and others. Choose. The girl played the game to protect the people she cared for. No one defeated her even once until she finished her high school year, walang nakatalo sa kanya. That is why everybody called her the Legendary Queen. Until now."

I didn't know what to say. Parang naguguluhan ako sa mga nangyari. Legendary Queen? When exactly all those things happened. Sa research ko, this school was built just eight decades ago. Hindi ganoon katanda kagaya ng ibang eskwelahan na panahon pa ng Kastila nang ipakilala sa madla. Rapsodhee High was a rookie.

The history caught my interest. I thought, sa tv. lang may mga ganoon. Where was that Legendary Queen now? Who was she, by the way? And that man... was he dead now? I hope so.

"What happened to that man then?" I asked, wanting to know more.

"That man? He is still alive and he is our Player. S'ya ang humahawak sa ating lahat dito sa Rapsodhee High. Until now, he rules the board. S'ya ang nasusunod. I think he is old now, in his forties or fifties I think, pero nasa mga kamay n'ya pa rin ang batas. Pinaglalaruan n'ya pa rin tayong lahat. No one knows who he is lalo pa at next generation na tayo ng laro. Hindi s'ya nagpapakita kahit kanino, pero nakikita n'ya lahat ng galaw natin."

Quite unbelievable, but I held my breath though. Nahulaan ko nang may player nga rito. Syempre, kung may laro, may player. Pero hindi ko akalaing ang nagsimula ng larong ito ang s'ya pa ring komokontrol sa amin na parang mga puppet.

"I thought Mr. Hontraver is the Player," I said.

Eduard shook his head. "No. Miss Meira already told you na pyesa rin s'ya sa larong ito, 'di ba? Mr. Hontraver doesn't have a particular piece name, but he is still a piece."

"Who's the king then?"

"This school, Rapsodhee High, is the king. Ito ang pinoprotektahan ng lahat ng pyesa, Temple."

It did make sense. Bakit hindi ko naisip 'yon? Namamatay ang mga pyesa para sa king, 'di ba? Namamatay ang mga estudyante para sa school na ito.

"Wait, wait." Medyo naguluhan ulit ako. "How old is Mr. Hontraver? Sabi mo ay baka nasa forties or fifties na ang Player na 'yon. Magkaedad ba sila ni Mr. Hontraver?"

"No." Tawa ni Eduard. "Mr. Hontraver is too old compare to the Player. The fact is s'ya na rin ang School Administrator noong panahon na nagsimulang maghari ang Legendary Queen sa Underground. Noon ay nagawa s'yang hawakan ng player at hanggang ngayon, hawak pa rin s'ya."

Natahimik akong lalo. This was getting impossible now.

"My gang and Creus' gang are not rivals here. Dark Empire Gang and Gods Gang are the rooks of this board," Eduard said. "Sometimes, nagkakaroon ng inggitan at palakasan ang Dark Empire at ang Gods. Jake Creus is so childish. Gusto n'ya na palaging ina-under ang Dark Empire at hindi ko kinukunsinti 'yon kaya noon ay madalas kaming magkabangga. Pero kapag nakikialam ang Rapsodhee High's Council lalo na si Creed, natatahimik kaming lahat not because we are afraid of them but because we respect them," he added habang isinusuot muli ang kanyang gwantes.

But wait, they were the rooks on the board. Meaning they fight, too.

"Hey. You said you are the rooks. That means you also fight." Isinatinig ko ang tanong sa aking utak.

"Yup," he answered. "But only when someone lower than our rank wants to fight us."

"Ranks?" Kumunot na naman ang noo ko. Yeah. I heard na nasa Rank 2 ang Rapsodhee High. Sinabi 'yon noong gabi sa Underground bago magsimula ang laban. Kailangan talagang may rankings dito? They really think this was a game. They really think the life of the students here was just nothing.

"Lahat ng school na involve sa larong ito ay kasama sa ranking at rule ng Underground na ang mga nasa mabababang rank lamang ang pwedeng humamon sa mas mataas. 'Yon ay kung gusto nilang makaangat. Of course, everyone wants to be on top. There are thirteen schools na involve sa larong ito. Rapsodhee High is at Rank 2 and we are just waiting for the right time para hamunin ang nasa Rank 1. Umm, I think we are just waiting."

"Who is in the Rank 1?" curious kong tanong. Kung nasa Rank 2 lang ang school na ito, ibig sabihin ay may mas malakas pa kaysa kay Creed Craw.

Uhmm. Sounds exciting. Creed was not the strongest.

"You will soon find out," tanging sagot ni Eduard Hollet. "I talked too much."

Tumayo siya at humakbang palayo sa akin to go back to what he was doing. I didn't care anymore. Narinig ko na ang gusto kong marinig: ang puno at dulo ng lahat. Ngayon ay interesado akong makaharap ang Player. Gusto kong malaman kung sino s'ya. And the Legendary Queen, where was she now? What happened to her after leaving Rapsodhee High? Was she still alive like the player?

"So, are you ready for the event tomorrow?" Narinig kong tanong ni Eduard habang nag-aayos ng mga paso ng halaman.

"What event?" wala sa loob na tanong ko. Wala akong pakialam sa kung ano mang mayroon bukas. Ang isip ko ay nakatuon sa mga nalaman ko.

"Tomorrow will be one of the biggest events here in Rapsodhee High because you will be officially proclaimed as the new queen of this board. It is your Coronation Day tomorrow."

At first ay hindi kaagad rumehistro sa utak ko ang sinabi n'ya. Nakatatak pa rin sa utak ko ang lahat ng aking nalaman tungkol sa eskwelahang ito kaya parang hindi ko agad naintindihan ang sinabi n'ya. At pagkatapos ng ilang sandali pa, sumalakay sa utak ang reyalisasyon tungkol sa sinabi n'ya.

"What!?"