Veracity (TagLish)

Chapter Three

"I already signed us all. This might be you're all first match in school based Night Lost Tournament." Demi gave the two men a piece of paper. "Bago ang lahat, please read carefully all the rules that are written. Alam ko naninibago kayo sa atmosphere ng laro dito sa Pilipinas, however, I wanted you all to experience it personally and first hand. Iba ang laro ng asian server from NA server. I hope you two are getting my point," she explained.

Maingay ng hapon na 'yon. However, her two men were all quiet and attentively listening to her. Her explanations are spontaneous and what she's only hoping is that they were all getting her point. She took out her phone when the management of the game is now checking the contestants network connection to avoid lags and disconnection while in game, ultimately, for the purpose to avoid delay and inconvenience for the other players. Because they were only a three man team, she has to find two members, these other two were her classmate. Obviously, hindi gaanong kagalingan ang dalawa niyang nahugot, they were only interested to the price not because of the game. This is just one of her reason why she took these other two member which are Zain and Miles. How can they possibly handle the pressure of carrying two inexperience and disoriented teammates?

Halatang wala sa huwisyo ang dalawang kaklase niya na si Kyle at Martin, well, sino ba namang nasa katinuan ang magagawa pang huminga at manatiling kalmado kung malalaking team ang sumali kahit school-based lang ang tournament.

Isa rin kasing pagkakataon ito lalo na sa ibang mga proplayer na hindi pa gaanong kilala sa industriya ng e-sport na magpakikila sa larong Night Lost at makahanap ng sponsorship, well, she's actually one of those people na naghahanap ng mga proplayer na magpapamalas mamaya ng kani-kanilang husay. Marami siyang goal na inilatag ngayong araw at kailangan niyang maging mapagmasid hindi lang kina Zain at Miles, maging sa ibang player.

"Ma'am, okay na po. Ikaapat na grupo kayo na sasalang at ang makakalaban niyo po ang Team Golemn," paliwanag ng isa sa mga staff. May iniabot itong papel na nakalist down na ang magiging flow ng laro mula sa sino-sino ang mauunang maglalaro hanggang mahati sa dalawang bracket. She's actually aiming for the lower bracket to avoid getting eliminated instantly.

"Thank you," aniya. Naupo siya sa inuwestrang upuan ng staff kanina kung saan sila maghihintay.

Naupo silang lima roon at halatang mainit na agad ang ulo ni Martin na ngayon nga ay kulang na lang ay magwalk-out ito at tuluyang iwan sila. "I never thought that you're serious about this Demi," he snorted, glaring at her.

She crossed her arms. "Look, if you're that scared, you can leave already, however, let me first remind you for the sole reason why you're here."

"I accepted your offer because I thought you're just making fun of me."

"Hey, what's that stupid excuse." Kyle hissed.

"Nagsalita ang umaastang hindi napilitang sumali," Martin mumbled.

"I'm not," Kyle denied.

"Narinig niyo na ba ang balita, kahit ang MadDogs sumali sa tournament na ito. Sino naman ang nasa matinong kaisipan ang sasali sa isang Night Lost Tournament na kasali ang MadDogs?"

"What do you mean? They joined this kind of school-based tournament?!" bulalas ni Kyle.

Martin looked more frustrated than before. "I have this friend of mine na classmate ang isang player ng MadDogs, noong una hindi ako naniwala. Dahil napakaimposible namang mangyari na sumali siya dahil iba na ang level nila and they already prove themselves in MOBA games. However..."

"Nakita mo ba siya?" Bumakas sa mukha ni Kyle ang kaba sa narinig.

"I saw him with the other two MadDogs members. Sa itsura pa lang nila, they are hungry for today's prize."

"MadDogs?" Zain suddenly asked with a puzzled face.

Martin confronts Zain. "Hey, taga-saan ka bang planeta and you don't know them? Sila lang naman ang lalampaso sa atin mamaya."

Kyle seems to be more bothered on what Martin said. It became more troublesome for her to keep their composure right. Hindi pa man sila sumasalang sa una nilang match pero mukhang ready na magback-out ang mga napulot niya.

She sighed. All of their attention were now fixated to her including Miles who's asleep earlier. "Huwag kayong mag-alala. Lalampasuhin natin silang tatlo. Why would you bother yourself thinking unnecessary things? Pwede namang isipin niyo na ngayon kung papaano natin sila mamaya lalampasuhin. Kaysa isipin niyo kung paano tayo matatalo, leave your expectation and carry a nicer one."

The four men were obviously shocked and couldn't comprehend what she had said. She leaves it like that.

***

On the other hand, Hugh were silently listening to the other team's conversation with regards to the MadDogs three players who joined the tournament. He was amused by the remarks of the woman. Pero, he doubt whether that woman is only making her teammates comfortable or not. However, wala ata sa diksyonaryo nila ang salitang lalampasuhin sila, rather it sounds better if they can wipe them all and kept on dreaming that they can be defeated. MadDogs are way scarier than she thought they are, they thirst for defeated team's agony.

***

Zain remained silent. He focuses his mind to what strategy he will use and how can he play efficiently without being a burden. Ngayon pang hindi niya alam ang gagawin dahil ang laman lang ng isip niya kung paano muling makikipaglapit kay Demi. Demi may be the girl he met before but she's totally the different now. Physically, she's Demi. But, he couldn't understand the feeling of being loss and empty staring at Demi. She can't remember him. She acts as if she only spend time with her for the sake of give and take agreement they've made. It's suffocating. Totally suffocating.

***

Ilang sandali lang at tinawag na ang dalawang team na maglalaban for higher and lower to received their official team letter, kung saan sila Demi na ang sasalang. All of the teams were named according to ascending letters which means who ever wins in the first match will be named as official Team A and for the second match will be Team B, and as follows. However, this doesn't mean na kapag natalo ang isa team matapos ang kahit na ang ano'ng match they cannot play anymore, there are saving matches kung saan maglalaban ang dalawang panalo at isang talo na mga team. And they would all fall from lower bracket. That's what Demi's aiming for. Lower bracket may help her team to win this tournament. She wanted to prove something. And this is also her chance.

Kauupo pa lang ni Demi, she had already notice the gazes of the people who are watching them might also be examining her. Halos bilang lang ang mga babaeng sumali. Kung hindi siya nagkakamali, lima lang silang lahat na babae na nagpalista.

Kulang na lang yata lamunin siya ng mga titig na 'yon. Fortunately, she's not at all affected. Sanay na siya. Sanay na siya sa mga titig ng mga mapanghusgang mga mata.

"Don't they know that they are being rude?" Miles sat down beside her.

"Sabi ko na, mali talaga 'tong desisyon ko na sumali. Mga titig pa lang nila parang gusto ko ng umuwi at mag-PUBG magdamag." Martin wears his headphones.

"Wala ka ng ginawa kung hindi maglaro. Kaya hindi na kataka-taka na balang araw hindi lang ang mga ganyang titig ang mae-experience mo dahil hindi ka nakagraduate." Kyle adjusted the lighting of his phone.

"Talaga lang. Bakit, hindi ka ba ngayon kinakabahan?"

"Mas kakabahan ako kapag natalo tayo sa unang match dahil na mental block ako kaysa kabahan ako sa mga taong nanonood na hindi ko naman kalaban." Kasing gulo ng mga salita ni Kyle ang kabog ng dibdib nito, halatang kabado rin sa unang laban.

"What? Nagsalita ang pinakakalmado sa ating lahat."

"You shouldn't let the brightness of your phone to distract you while we're already playing. Let it stay lower," Miles suddenly said to Kyle.

"Ha? Ah, yeah, I forgot." Kyle fixes the brightness again. She's not expecting Miles would help Kyle at those trivial things. "By the way, I'm Kyle. We haven't yet introduced ourselves..."

"I'm Martin."

"Save your introduction in the latter part of the game." Demi focuses herself on the screen of her phone. She likes the pacing. She did not expected that Kyle would take that chance to talk to Miles and Zain, after these two ignored the new ones. Sinubukan niyang ipakilala ang dalawa kaya lang late ng dumating sina Kyle at Martin. The two were also nervous and she doesn't want them to feel more frustrated when they found out that she brought two proplayers.

In the gaming world, gamers tend to be the ones who always wanted to be the receivers, they are commonly introverts. To avoid the pressure, she tried gradually telling the two who will play with them. Kyle is such an introvert person while Miles is the silent one who doesn't want to be disturbed by anyone. These two compliment one another.

She gave the two important roles to Miles and Zain, thes two will carry the whole game. She instructed them what they need to do, who are the best picks for every role. As expected, they won like a blink of an eye. Kyle and Martin were both impressed.

"How did you do that bro? Those moves and skills, I'm truly impressed!" Martin walks toward Zain. Umakbay ito na para bang sa isang iglap ay naging magclose friend. "Minsan, turuan mo ako ng mga galawan mo. Grabe, ang lakas mo kanina. You can play and carry the whole team by yourself!"

Hindi na kailangan ng introduction, players would get along to their kinds. They can easily cope with with one another because of one similarity.

"Thanks," Zain said while looking at her.

She nodded. "Good game."

They were walking towards their sits when a guy suddenly blocked their way. "I saw your team's game..." He glared at Zain. "I think I already saw you..."

"Excuse me?" She interrupts. "May we first know who you are. Isn't it unfair if you just came and blocked our way and ask questions?"

"Long time no see, our queen Demi." She felt chills down to her spines. "Mukhang nakalimutan mo na yata kung sino ako." He removed his sunglasses. She recognized that tone of voice and eyes.

Napakunot lang siya ng noo at tinalikuran ito. Ang buong akala niya ay mahalagang tao ito, he was just a former member of SpaiDer. What a waste of time.

"Hindi ba't ikaw si Roy ang assassin ng SpaiDer?!" bulalas ni Martin. Kumikinang pa ang mga mata nito nang lapitan ang bagong dating. "What a great privilege na mameet ka namin ngayon at dito pa sa school namin?!"

Hindi ito pinansin ni Roy. "How cold? Hindi mo man lang ba ako kukumustahin?" tanong nito sa kaniya. Hinarap niyang muli ito.

She smirked. "It was nice seeing you again. Happy?"

Halatang hindi nagustuhan ni Martin ang inasta niya. "Demi, magkakilala kayo? What a cold shoulder you have there?" Martin scolded her.

"Aren't you a bit rude?" Kyle suddenly cut through.

Wala talaga sa hinuha niyang muling magtatagpo ang landas nila ni Roy. Ang buong akala niya matapos magwatak-watak ang SpaiDer ay hindi na muling magtatagpo ang kanilang mga landas lalo na ni Roy, ang pinaka-kaclose niya sa SpaiDer. Hindi lang siya ang nagbago sa mga nagdaang panahon maging si Roy. The way he looks at her. Those worried and puzzled eyes of him.

Nagulat na lamang siya nang sa isang iglap ay hinatak siya palayo ni Zain sa mga kasama nila. They were catching their breaths nang sa wakas ay binitawan na siya nito. Natagpuan niya ang sarili sa gilid ng water fountain. "Bakit ka ba nagkakaganyan?" bungad agad na tanong ni Zain sa kaniya.

"What?" balik tanong niya.

Napasuklay ito ng buhok out from frustration... of what? Hindi pa ba ito sanay sa ugali niya?

"Look. I may not know everything but isn't it a bit too much?"

"I can't understand you. Don't you know me yet?" Hindi pa marahil sapat ang ilang araw na pinagsamahan nila sa mga practice para tuluyan siya nitong makilala.

She crossed her arms in front of her chest. "We were classmates before. Alam ko hindi mo ako naaalala but we were quite close back then. We were more of like friends. When I first saw you in the coffee shop I thought I'm only imagining that I finally met you again after all these years but my assumptions became more strong when Jim confirmed it." Is he about to cry?

So they were close friends before however she couldn't remember it. If they were actually friends, of course it was rude of her not to recognize him.

Hindi niya maiwasang makaramdam ng guilt kung sakaling magkaibigan sila dati ngayong ni hindi niya maalalang nakasama or nagkakilala sila dati.

"Are you mad or upset because I'm ignoring him the same way I am doing towards you?"

Hindi agad ito nakapagsalita, marahil narealize ang pinupunto niya. "No, what I mean is..."

"I'm really sorry kung nasaktan kita. I just can't remember or even recall any memories of my stay in States. If you want me to beg for your forgiveness leave it first dahil may laro pa tayo. Even if I beg for you to understand my circumstance, I know you're still disappointed so I'm asking you to wait and bear with it for the time being."

"Demi." He was loss of words to say.

Akmang pabalik na siya sa mga naiwang kasama nang pinigilan siya nito sa braso. She was astound to see him crying in front of her somehow begging her not to leave.

"You were the reason why I came here in the Philippines..."

She's now more than speechless. May kung ano'ng nagsusumiksik sa puso niya na animo'y may karayom na nais na butasin iyon. She felt so much pain deep within her heart.

Pinilit niyang ihulma ang sarili at hinarap itong maigi. Zain... Zain. Kahit ano'ng pilit niya wala siyang maalalang nakasama o nakilala niya ito bago pa man sa coffee shop. Ano ba'ng dapat niyang gawin? Ito ang kauna-unahang beses na may lalaking umiiyak sa harap niya begging her to remember him.

'We will meet again.'

'I hope to see you again.'

'I'm sorry, I couldn't bring myself to like you.'

'The next time we meet again, please tell me that you like me because I truly like you, Zain.'

What was that? Sandaling natigilan siya nang may marinig na mga salita sa loob mismo ng isipan niya. Nababaliw na yata siya.

"If only I tell you to stay with me, these wouldn't happen..."

Now, she understands a bit. She likes him before. Muntik na niyang sampalin ang sarili sa mga salitang iyon. Subalit kahit naman balikan niya ang nakaraan lalo na sa kanilang dalawa, she doesn't feel anything anymore for him.

Niyakap niya ito. "I'm sorry..." Tinapik-tapik niya ang likod nito. She may be ruthless sometimes but she still knows the word emphaty. Her heart can still recognize feelings for pain and sadness of others. "I may still be physically the Demi you met before, but I couldn't be the same woman whom knows you deeply." He came here in the Philippines for me. "I was diagnosed with memory loss due to an accident. I don't know when will I regain all of those memories that I've lost. I couldn't even remember properly when my brother died. The doctor told me that those memories that I have lost are those that brought me pain and unbearable sadness. Hindi ako alam what really happened between us. I will try, but I can't promise you. I'm now different from that Demi you met before... I hope you can understand that." Naramdaman niya ang pagganti na rin nito ng yakap sa kaniya. "Let's leave all our stories later. Alam ko marami tayong pag-uusapan."

Zain remained silent while they were heading back. Kinuha na niya ang pagkakataong iyon para magpaliwanag. "The same with your situation. I couldn't also remember Roy. I only know his name, and face. Nang simulan ko ang plano kong ito sinubukan kong balikan ang lahat so I can at least try to cope with what are the things I should have to know. Marami sa mga alaala ko ang nawala dahil sa aksidente, lalo na ang mga nangyari sa Malaysia nang International Tournament. However, I can already tell na hindi naging maganda ang departing namin ng ibang SpaiDer members lalo't ang iba ay hindi nakayanan ang lahat ng nangyari in just a single day. I am hoping that you can also understand that," paliwanag niya.

***

Miles were just standing from a bit far and listening to what Demi's saying. Sumunod agad siya sa mga ito kaya't hindi maiwasang marinig niya ang lahat. He clutched his hand. These emotions building up inside of him making it hard to gather his thoughts on how can he effectively help Demi and his other teammates.

His reasons may not be that significant compare with others. He's now creating his own purpose on why he is doing these to begin with.

***

Zain's mind is in dazed. Hindi niya kayang iproseso sa ngayon ang lahat ng mga nangyari kanina sa pag-uusap nila ni Demi. Only his body is functioning but not his brain.

Ilang beses na nagkamali siya in the middle of their match at halatang huli na sila sa gold at EXP. He is the reason why they were losing.

***