Chapter 1
"Make sure she eats her breakfast before we leave." Nagpantig ang tenga ko ng marinig ko ang boses ng aking ina sa labas ng hallway. Umagang umaga manenermon na naman 'to.
"Tyra." Matigas at puno ng awtoridad na wika niya.
"What is it mother? Ang aga aga." Sigaw ko.
Even though I came out from her womb, she still respects my privacy. No one can enter my room unless I say so at pati ang mga magulang ko ay nirerespeto iyon, "Can I come in?" she asked.
"Yeah." Wika ko habang inaayos ang aking kama. I stayed up late last night, because of the book na binigay sa akin ng nakakabata kong kapatid na si Luke. Basically, the story is about two young royals na galit na galit sa isa't isa and then, they end up marrying each other. It's cliché pero it still got my attention to the point na hindi ko namalayan na mag-uumaga na pala.
"The trials will begin three days from now." Malumanay na wika ng aking ina.
Umupo ako sa aking kama at tinitigan siya sa mata, I got her eyes. She has a silver eyes that can pierce through anything, a pair of eyes that went through my father's heart. She's the leader in Eudan, and usually 1 – 2 weeks lang siya namamalagi dito sa Flava kada isang buwan. But, because of the Trials, she has no choice but to stay longer at dahil dyan abot langit ngayon ang ngiti ng tatay ko na nakatayo sa b****a ng aking kwarto.
"Can I come in, princess?" he politely asked.
"Princess my ass." Irap ko. Rinig ko ang mahina niyang pagtawa. We're always like this, we love to banter with each other dahil na rin siguro sa kanya ako lumaki kaya mas komportable akong makipag biruan sakanya.
My parents aren't divorced or have a rough relationship, kaso dahil sa kanya kanyang responsibilidad ng bawat isa we come up with this type of situation. Mas pinili nilang lumaki kami ni Luke sa Flava dahil mas maproproteksyonan kami ng aming ama.
In our country, may ranking ang bawat siyudad. Flava is currently ranked 3 while Eudena is second to the last, which is ranked 10. Rankings were based on the riches that the city had and the power it holds.
"Are you ready?" Tanong ng tatay ko. I clucked my tongue out of annoyance and confusion.
"Pa, I'll die for sure."
"We have three days to train you." There was a hint of anger and frustration laced in his tone. Alam kong hindi lang ako ang galit ngayon sa sitwasyon, kundi halos lahat ng siyudad sa aming bansa.
Ngayong taon kasi iniba nila ang rules ng Trials. Ginawa nila na dapat ang mga first born lang ang qualified para sumali. They trained Luke for this at hindi ako, kaya laking galit at gulat nalang namin ng nilabas ng nakakataas ang bagong patakaran.
"I just know that the city of Xirca is so happy right now." Naasar kong sambit.
Xirca, our ranked 1. The best city in the country where my mortal enemy lives.
Their firstborn was trained into this game, actually hindi lang ang firstborn nila kundi lahat silang magkakapatid. There were a lot of rumors flying around that their training is like a torture. Kaya siguro ganoon nalang ang utak ng h*yop na 'yon.
"Well, Eli is so happy to see you... again." Nag aalinlangan na saad ni mama. Kumulo ang aking dugo ng marinig ko ang pangalan niya.
"Happy my ass. Happy to see me para matuloy na niya pagpatay sa akin."
Eli and I went to a same high school. Muntik na niya akong mapatay noon kaya inilipat ako nang magkokolehiyo na kami. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang naging ugat ng aming away, but I think we are born to be enemies. I hate to see him and God knows that he hates my presence too.
"I'll personally teach you how to handle daggers and guns, and Trina will teach you the basics of survival." My dad said. Kinusot ko ang aking mata bago tumayo at nilapitan ang papel na kagabi pang nagpapanit sa aking ulo.
'You are chosen to be part of the Trials! Congratulations and Goodluck.'
"F*cking b*llshit." Yung goodluck tanggap ko pa e, pero yung congratulations? Who would congratulate someone that was chosen to be part of the game at fifty-fifty na ang buhay dahil sa Trials na 'to.
"You need to get ready in five minutes. Aalis tayo dito exactly 8 am." Nagmamadaling sambit ng aking ina. Hindi ako nagsalita. Alam kong nakuha nila ang gusto kong ipahiwatig kaya lumabas na ang mga magulang ko sa aking kwarto.
Malakas akong napabuntong hininga habang inaayos ang aking buhok. I was born with redwine hair. Hindi ko alam kung kanino ko namana ang kulay ng buhok ko dahil wala naman kanila papa at mama ang may pulang buhok. This hair made me stand out so much, lalo na noong bata ako, ito rin siguro ang dahilan bakit andaming kuryoso sa akin. They think that I'm different from them, so different na kailangan nila akong patayin so that I can't spread the 'disease'. Lucky enough, mataas ang rango ng tatay ko, kaya ako naprotektahan.
I wore a white v-neck long sleeves, the fabric is made out of silk that hugs the shape of my body. On top of that, naglagay din ako ng kulay itim na corset. I put on my tight jeans and boots and I'm done.
Hindi ko na hinintay na tawagin pa ako ng mga katulong, kusa akong bumaba at nagpunta sa sala kung saan naghihintay sila papa. Luke’s with them, bakas ang pag-aalala sa kanyang mukha ng malapitan ko sila.
“Ate..” he started.
Ngitian ko siya at tinapik ang kanang balikat, “I’m okay Luka. Buhay pa naman ako.” Pagbibiro ko. He was about to answer ng maunahan siya ni mama.
“Eli will be there. Kalmahin mo na ang sarili mo bago tayo pumuntang hall.” Seryoso niyang wika.
I cursed inside my head, at halos mamuti na ang aking palad dahil sa pagkakakuyom ng aking kamay.
So the devil will be there.
