The Key

CHAPTER 19- TEAM

          CHAPTER 19- TEAM

Hindi pa rin ako lubusang naka-recover sa announcement kahapon. Nandito ako ngayon tulalang nakakatitig sa magarang kisame ng aking kwarto. Hindi ko makayanang ibangon ang sarili ko mula sa mga pangyayari.

Yesterday is the most surprising yet unexpected day of my life.

Hindi ako nakapasok sa 3 slots upang makuha ang isang reward. Ngunit, hindi dapat ito maging sagabal sa akin dahil alam kong hindi iyon makakatulong. Napagdesisyunan ko ng bumangon at lumabas sa kwarto upang mag-almusal.

“Good morning, Rumi!” magiliw na bungad sa akin ni Giero na mukhang kagigising lang din.

“What’s the latest update?” natanong ko.

“Aside from the result, there is no good update yesterday until now,” he replied while stirring his coffee.

Dumeretso ako ng kubeta upang magsipilyo at maligo. Kailangan kong maghanda para na naman sa isang hindi magandang araw. I don’t know if the past festival also experienced this kind of new rules. Pinihit ko ang doorknob ng cr palabas pagkatapos kong magbihis at sabay naman na napatingin sa akin si Giero at Maestro.

“Good morning, Maestro. Nandito ka pala,” bati ko.

“I just want to inform you about the new announcement by the Head,” he said in monotonous tone.

Hindi na ako nabibigla sa maya-mayang pagbabago ng pangyayari. Ngunit, kung ito ay mangyayari sa loob ng arena sa darating na RSK Festival hindi maganda ito.

“What’s that bad news again?” I asked.

“The festival was re-scheduled on 1st of November. So, you still have two weeks to practice,” he responded.

I knew it will happen. After the incident I did yesterday, I know they will try to examine how they will going to manipulate us. That’s exactly why they have a pre-training assessment so they can take an advantage with us when we are in the arena.

I found myself sitting on the long bench near the lake. Umalis naman kaagad si Maestro pagkatapos ang kaniyang anunsiyo. Siguro alam na rin ng ibang zones ang bagong schedule ng festival.

Tahimik ang agos ng tubig habang ang mga d**o ay magiliw na sumasayaw sa saliw ng malakas at sariwang hangin. This is my first time to witness this beautiful scenery here. They give us permission to roam around the palace for the remaining two weeks. After all, baka hindi na rin namin ito masilayan pa. Naguguluhan lamang ako sa mga nangyayari araw-araw na tila wala namang patutunguhan.

In the end, we will face our death. So, why are they suspending the day of our nearest farewell? Weird!

We are given schedule a while ago before I go out. Si Giero naman ay nagpa-iwan sa room niya kaya ako itong mag-isang naglibot at napatungo rito. He will spend his remaining days sleeping and recharging.

We have different set of schedule.

Monday is my time to enhance my potential.

Tuesday is weapon practice.

Wednesday is our duel battle in the arena.

Thursday is our Z to Z battle which stands for Zone versus Zone battle.

Friday is meeting our Maestro and reporting our progress.

The two remaining weekends is ours to enjoy. Luckily, it’s Sunday and my time is to roam around in this palace.

Masyadong malawak ang sakop nitong palasyo. This city is insane. Kahit malawak ito mahirap pa rin makatakas dahil bantay sarado ng mga kawal ang malalaking gate ng palasyo.

“What are you doing here?”

Muntikan na akong mahulog sa aking kinauupan ng marinig kung kaninong boses iyon. Exactly, the Dragon is here. Hindi ako lumingon o sumagot man lang. Ayaw kong maramdaman ang masamang presensiya niya sa maaliwalas at magandang vibes ng lugar na ito.

“Are you mute? Last time we met, I heard you speaking. Is it the side effect of your hidden ability?”

Nagpapatawa ba siya o nang-aasar. As if I care.

Hindi ko parin siya sinagot at tumayo na lamang sa aking kinauupuan. Ilang hakbang pa lang ang aking nagawa mula sa kaniya ay natigil ako.

“Let’s make a deal,” he said.

Nilingon ko siya. Tila hindi ako makatitig ng deretso sa kaniyang mga mata. He looks like hypnotizing me. Hindi ako pwedeng madala roon.

“What’s it?” saad ko na parang hindi kinakabahan.

I know he has a big chance to win the game with Elaine but I won’t allow them to happen.

“Let your zone loose,” he started.

“And?” I asked curiously.

“I’ll grant your wish to survive the game.”

Anong pinagsasabi ng kumag na’to? It’s impossible that the winner of RSK is from two different zones. Mangyayari lang iyon kapag ang dalawang players mismo ng zone nila ang unang makakalabas or should I say matitira sa arena.

“I won’t,” I said firmly.

Naglakad siya palapit sa direksiyon ko dahilan mapaatras ako. Ngunit, parang bigla na lamang akong pinaluputan ng pisi at hindi na makagalaw.

“You know what I can do and I know what your plan is. If you want it to happen, you need to agree with me,” he whispered.

Nadama ko ang init ng hangin na nagmumula sa kaniyang bibig. Ngunit ang mga salitang lumabas dito ay hindi ko mawari. How did he know my plan? Does he also plan the same way? Impossible.

“Mind your own business, DRAGON URY!” I replied back.

“Okay,” he said shortly before he leave.

Naiwan akong namuo ang mga katanungan sa aking isip. Hindi ko alam ang mga balak niya at wala siyang pakialam sa nais ko. Nais ko siyang tanungin sa pinagsasabi ng kumag na ito ngunit wala akong lakas ng loob. In fact, we're came from two different zones.

Tahimik kung tinutunton ang daan pabalik sa aming silid. Nawalan na ako ng gana libutin ang loob ng kastilyo dahil sa nangyari. Wala na akong muwang upang siyasatin ang kabuuan ng palasyo.

The first thing why I am here is to give justice for Opal and save our zone. I don’t even bother to enter others business just like that Dragon wants to do. I have to stick in our plans.

“Ate!” matinis na sigaw ng isang pamilyar na boses. “Saan po kayo pupunta?” tanong niya.

“I’m going back to my room, how about you?” tanong ko sa kaniya.

“Training?” sagot niya na tila hindi pa sigurado.

“Training for?”

“For the upcoming festival. Ate, ayaw ko nga sana dahil it’s our time to rest and rejuvenate however, Maestro force us to train. He never believes in our capacity, mahina pa kami,” pagpapaliwanag ni Grey.

“From what I witnessed? No, you’re strong enough to defeat us,” I said to cheer her.

Mabuti na lamang at wala kami sa kalagayan nila. Ngunit, kami mismo ni Giero ang nagbibigay pressure sa mga sarili namin. We don’t want to disappoint our zone and Maestro. He saves us from our near death.

I don't know how can I kill this innocent girl in front of mine if we met in the arena? I can’t. Ito ang pinaka ayaw ko sana, ang magkaroon ng malapit na kaibigan maliban kay Giero.

Yes, naging malapit na rin sa akin ang kambal pagkatapos ng ilang araw na pamamalagi namin dito. I treated them as my friend not as threat or enemy. Hindi ko kayang isa sa kanila ang mamamatay. I need to act in accordance to my plan so I can be able to save them.

"Let your zone loose." Sumagi sa aking isipan ang sinabi ng Dragon na iyon. But, how can I guarantee that he has 100% support? It looks like I am a pathetic. I can’t even think well. Naguguluhan na ako.

Dinala ako ng mga paa ko kung saan din patungo si Grey. Hinila niya ako patungo sa hindi pamilyar na lugar. I feels something strange from the way she acts.

“Anong mayroon Grey?” napatanong ko ng medyo mapalayo na kami sa palasyo. "Akala ko may training kayo?"

Matalahib na ang nadaraanan namin at parang malapit na ito sa daan palabas ng city.

“Ate, huwag ka na lang maingay sumama ka na lang!” she said.

Nanlalamig na ako sa nangyayari. Hindi ko alam kung bakit parang may kakaiba sa ikinikilos ni Grey. She approach me like an ordinary sweet girl. Pero, parang kinakabahan siya ngayon.

“Ate, yumuko ka!” saad nito.

“Why?” I asked.

“May mga kawal. Hindi nila tayo pwedeng makita,” she whispered.

Dumaan ang mga kawal na hindi man lang namalayan ang aming presensiya. Ilang minuto rin ang tinakbo namin bago marating ang lugar na pinagdalhan niya sakin.

Tall trees, the lakes, and the cold breeze made the atmosphere warm and tender.

“We’re here!” Grey said excitedly. “Napagod din ako doon,” she exclaimed.

Hindi ako nakapagsalita kaagad ng makita ang mga pamilyar na mga tao sa harapan ko. Why they are here in the middle of this forest?

They looked at me smiling. It’s weird.

I saw Giero sitting in the corner smiling at me. He knew this? What the heck!

“Welcome Rumi to the group,” Sing greeted me.

“What are you doing here? Diba---“

Hindi ako natapos magsalita ng putulin ito ni Azi, “we want to agree with you,” she said.

What do they mean? Ang tagal mag sink-in sa isip ko ang nangyayari. Are they all agree with my plans? Maybe. Baka nabigla lang sila noong una. But, ang inaasahan ko sanang makita ay wala. It means that Dragon is not part of their agreement.

“Are you sure?” I asked curiously. “Yes, we already talked about it,” White said.

Hindi ako makapaniwala na nagkaroon na rin ako ng kakampi. This group will be a great help for my plans. I don’t think if it will be successful but their presence will help me to achieve my plans.

I smiled at him, “Thank you,” I mumbled and he respond with a smile.

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