Veracity (TagLish)

Chapter Four

Hindi nasunod ang balak ni Demi na mapunta ang team niya sa lower bracket lalo't ngayon pang wala pa sa sarili si Zain at ilang beses ng nagkakamali. Naipanalo nila kanina ang dalawang match kaya't ang standing nila ay three-zero, wala silang talo kaya't deretso na sila sa higher bracket kung saan ang mga kalaban tuloy nila ay tulad nilang walang naging talo at magagaling. It also became a bit harder for her to maintain the momentum. Nang hindi na niya makayanan. "Zain, you're making a lot of mistakes. I hope you're noticing that. If you can't play properly we could just simply walk out and not to play anymore..." she was mad already.

"I'm sorry."

"You should be sorry."

"Demi!" biglang sabat si Miles.

"No, it's alright. I understand. I'll play safe this time. I'm sorry if I'm being carried."

"Just like I told you before while we're practicing, our emotion is our greatest enemy. Kapag hinayaan mo ang sarili mo na madistract ng nararamdaman mo, matatalo ka." She's gradually loosening the pressure in her team.

***

I couldn't play any further.

I wanted to cry.

My mind couldn't process anymore.

I can't do this anymore. Please, let us concede defeat.

Stop all of your complaints. You are not seated there to make complaints and to cry. Divo did his best to get us here. Please put that all in your heads.

***

They win.

Kapwa napabuntong-hininga silang lahat ng maipanalo thru epic comeback ang huling match. Hindi maipinta ang mukha ni Martin dahil sa gulat sa hindi inaasahang pagkapanalo.

Nagtaka si Demi nang tumayo si Zain at biglang tinanggal ang suot niyang headphones. "Then, I will let my emotions take me over. I will get you back in my life," he confidently said.

Halatang hindi inasahan ng mga taong nanonood sa kanila ang mga narinig lalo na sa player na kanina pa nagbubuhat sa isang team. Napuno tuloy ng kantiyawan ang buong convention kung saan ginaganap ngayon ang tournament.

She smiled. "If we beat them all. I want us to get back together just like before," Zain said while still leaning to her.

Hindi tuloy kataka-taka na isipin ng nga tao na may lover's quarrel lang silang dalawa. Nabawasan tuloy ang pressure na nararamdaman niya. Ang tinutukoy marahil ni Zain ay ang pagkakaibigan nilang dalawa. She gladly accepted. "Deal."

Katatapos lang ng isang grupo. Nakamasid lang ang mga ito sa kanila kung matatandaan ang tatlo sa mga ito ay kasalukuyang member ng MadDogs at kanina lang ay nakilala na niya ang isa na si Hugh. May isang babae sa grupo ng mga ito. Nakilala niya iyon na si Stefanie.

Stefanie was glaring at her furiously. Matagal na niyang alam na ayaw nitong naaagawan ng spotlight. The MadDogs is taking the tournament lightly, marahil ay hindi alam ni Stef na isa lang siyang mascot para sa team.

"What a trash..." she heard Stefanie whispered to her when she passed by.

She smirked. She would love to have a match with her and show her who's the real trash.

Inirapan pa siya nito bago tuluyang makaalis ng stage. She's shooking her head when she finally reached to her team's seats. "Grabe, ang sexy talaga ni Anie. Kung magaling lang ako tulad nila Hugh baka matagal na akong may Anie ng buhay ko," Martin exclaimed. He was still glancing in Stefanie's revealing legs.

"Tumigil ka nga. Baka mamaya hindi pa man tayo sumasalang madisqualify tayo dahil sa 'yo." Si Kyle ay abala ngayon sa pag-aayos ng equipment na gagamitin nito sa susunod na match.

"It would be much better if you build your hero an archaic shoes, it will give him additional twenty percent movement speed and magic damage as your hero is more of magic damage rather than physical one and, during clash he will also deal damage rather than defense as most of our heroes are build with burst resistance items." Miles personally fixed Kyle's equipment build.

She also agreed to what Miles said. Kyle is playing as a tank role though she would love to play as a setter, unfortunately if she did, she'll only become as their disadvantage as she can play as more important roles such as a hunter or a marksman. During the picking she's avoiding to reveal her heroes so the enemy team wouldn't know on what hero they should ban.

"Narinig mo ba kanina? Ang sabi kapatid daw siya ni Divo ng SpaiDer." Nahagip ng paningin niya ang nagsalita sa hindi kalayuan. Saka lang din niya napansing sa kaniya na ngayon nakatuon ang atensyon ng mga ibang player.

"Yung namatay na player sa Malaysia dahil sa isang traffic accident?!" bulalas ng kausap nito. Lalo tuloy nagbulong-bulungan ang mga tao sa paligid tungkol sa kaniya.

"Then, why is she here? Hindi ba't commonly sa mga kapatid ng mga namatay dahil sa passion nila ay kinamumuhian 'yon?"

"Wala lang ba sa kaniya ang nangyari sa kapatid niya dahil sa Night Lost?"

"How ruthless!"

"Baka iniisip niya na magiging kilala siyang tao dahil sinusundan niya ngayon ang yapak ng kapatid niya."

"Well, look at her. She's only being carried by her teammates, 'yan ba ang kapatid ng isang legendary player na si Divo?"

Narinig niyang nagsimulang magtawanan na ang mga ito. "Wala naman dapat siyang patunayan. At the end of the day, babae pa rin siya and no organization would want to sponsor woman players." Agad niyang pinigilan si Kyle nang maramdamang akmang tatayo na ito upang makipagbuno sa kabilang team.

"Leave them." Mas nag-aalala siya ngayon kay Zain dahil kanina pa itong tahimik subalit kitang-kita niya ang pagyukom ng mga kamay nito. "Women can't play in national tournament. They were being prejudice and left behind, well, totoo naman na women became irrational thinkers when pressured." Kalmadong inabot niya ang dalang pagkain na kanina pa bitbit kahit saan sila magpunta.

Inisa-isa niyang ibinigay sa mga ito ang dalang snacks at drinks. "Ito ba ang laman ng paper bag mo kanina pa?" usisa ni Martin.

She never forgets to bring food with her wherever she goes. "Let's eat first. It would take some time for our next game," aniya. She bit the sandwich.

"What will you do after this tournament?" Nagulat siyang marinig ang tanong na iyon mula kay Miles na ngayon ay kinakain ang snacks na ginawa niya.

"Well, ultimately our purpose why we joined this tournament is for the both of you to have an experience on what it is like to join asian server and how it is like to be watched by those prejudicing eyes of those people." Sumimsim muna siya ng inumin. "Hindi pa man kayo nakasasali sa mga national tournament here in PH server you already have an idea on how toxic it is specially those kind of teams."

Despite the huge difference of their point of views, at the end of the day, all she wanted was for them to experience everything first hand. Finally, tuluyan ng kumalma ang kalooban niya dahil nakapag-iisip na siya ng maayos at malinaw hindi tulad kanina marahil dahil na rin sa mas mahaba ngayon ang break nila.

"The next team that we will go against to is the Team G, am I right?" Zain interrupted between their silence.

Tumango siya. "Yeah, I saw their last match and they were a good opponent. They don't care about kills and more focused on their objectives; destroying turret and farming."

"Ang ibig sabihin hati ang magiging line up ng team the next game?"

She's amazed how he critically analyzed their next match. "Ganoon na nga. However, I don't want yet to talk about what heroes are good counters for them. Push is of course the number one objective of this game and I had to admit I commend their way on how they deal with it. Kaya lang ang hindi nila alam, skills are more important in every game."

"Their core heroes were more fragile and vulnerable when farming even though they have tanks and supports with them in the jungle."

"Exactly. That is why, I wanted us to come up with a good strategy."

"I'll do it."

Nakamasid lang sina Kyle, Martin at Miles na seryosong nakikinig sa kanila ni Zain.

"Miles you will follow me all time," wika niya.

Hindi inasahan ni Miles ang narinig mula sa kaniya. "Okay," may bahid ng pagdududang sagot nito. This is not about the core players but how they can counter a team which has a strong objective than their versatile team. Magiging kaabang-abang ang susunod nilang laban.

***

Sa hindi kalayuan, nakaupo at malayang nanonood sina Jim, Cloud, at Gino sa kung ano'ng ginagawa ng grupo nina Demi.

"I thought this is just a mere tournament. I never thought that they would take this kind of school-based tournament this seriously," Gino suddenly said.

"The MadDogs players are even here. Hindi ba't ang Panther ang susunod na squad na makakalaban nina Demi, they rank tenth in the world rank of squads." Cloud pointing different teams.

"They are?"

"Oo, although bago pa lang silang lahat in Night Lost. Iba sila maglaro kung ikukumpara sa mga proplayer. Isa na marahil doon ang solid nilang objective."

"Ano kaya ang gagawin nina Demi ngayon?"

"Muntik na silang matalo kanina nang dahil kay Zain. Mukhang okay na sila, I don't know what happened but their last two match is kinda on edge."

"I don't think it is because of the new guys they are playing with or even the pressure."

Hinarap ni Gino ang tahimik na si Jim. "By the way, narinig ko nga pala na childhood friends sina Zain at Demi. Mukhang apektado niyon si Zain," aniya.

Bumuntong hininga muna si Jim. "Demi is the main reason why Zain joined my squad," Jim said while fixing his eye glasses.

Gino didn't expect that, even Cloud na matagal ng alam ang tungkol doon ay napadako ang atensyon kina Demi at Zain na nag-uusap ngayon sa baba.

Hindi tuloy maiwasan ni Gino na matawa. He was amused by what he had just found out.

Nakilala niya si Zain na may pagkatahimik when he was serious. He is their so called most valuable player in their squad. Kung hindi dahil kay Zain they wouldn't win in NA tournament. Ang buong akala niya the main reason why Zain followed them was he's taking E-sport gaming seriously. Here in the Philippines they acknowledge being entitled as proplayer of e-sport. If Demi is his reason why he joined the squad... mukhang malaking problema ito. Ngayong he himself do not take things lightly, inilagay niya ang buhay sa paglalaro lalo na ng Night Lost. Maraming mga tao ang nagsasabi na Night Lost is just a game, no, this is not a game, this is their passion, this is their way of dealing with their lives kahit may trabaho na siya playing wouldn't just be erased in his system, he plays to live. Every accomplishment they would get is like him achieving little by little all his dreams in life.

How will you deal with it Zain?

***

Natigilan sandali si Demi nang makilala ang isang player na susunod nilang makakalaban. Isang beses lang niyang nakita ang mukhang iyon sa isang event nito lang nakaraang buwan. He was one of the Panther's good player. Marahil ang mga kasama nito ngayon ay mga kasquadmate nito dahil na rin sa suot na mga gaming shirt. So they were a whole squad.

Hindi na siya nagsalita pa at naupo. Bumakas tuloy sa mga labi niya ang excitement, ito na marahil ang kauna-unahang beses na makakalaban niya ang isa sa mga itinatanging squad sa Night Lost.

Nagsimula ang laro, tulad ng inaasahan nila kanina, this team is avoiding clash and ganks. Hindi agad nagawa nina Zain at Demi ang nauna nilang plano, the defense of their enemy team is truly remarkable. But not for her.

They were avoiding team fights, then she would create a huge clash. She's playing as a hunter, trying to bait for the enemy. One against five in early game is of course tempting isn't it? Kinagat nga ng mga ito ang trap na ginawa niya, who wouldn't want to kill a carry and a woman player? Doon na nagsimula ang tunay na laban.

Nagpakita sa middle lane sina Kyle at Zain para isipin talaga ng kalaban na nag-iisa siya ng mga oras na 'yon, while Martin is in the top lane showing in the map na pina-farm nito ang isang jungle monster. Everything seems to be safe to kill a carry hero of an enemy team.

"Five... four... three... two and..." Sinubukan niyang magmukhang pumapalag siya thinking that she lost her will to escape. Martin appeared using his arrival spell. Nag-ulti agad ito na hindi inasahan ng enemy team ginamit na ng mga tank ang defense para protektahan ang mga carry. Like what she had expected... Nag-skill siya sa isang bush kung saan niya ini-expect magpupunta ang mga ito, to avoid further clash, saka naman lumabas sa bush si Miles na kanina pa roon at saktong nagkapaglagay na ng trap, two enemies were now down, hindi na nagtuloy magpunta roon ang tatlo at dumeretso sa middle turret nila para magrecall. Iyon ang pagkakamali ng mga ito. Nakaabang doon ang dalawang assassin. In just a mere twenty seconds, umalingawngaw sa buong convention ang voice system na “wiped out” natahamik ang mga nanonood at maging ang enemy team nila ay wala sa hinuhang early game pa lamang ay nawiped out agad sila. Nasira agad ang line up nila. Madali na para sa kanila na patayin ang mga carry dahil huli na ang mga ito sa farm at mag-isa na dahil hindi pa nagreresurrect ang mga support at tank.

Inabot lang ng halos labinglimang minuto ang laban, hindi na nagawang pumalag ng mga ito at wala rin silang intensyon na pahabain pa ang laban at baka mag-epic comeback pa ang mga ito.

Naging napakabilis lang ng lahat.

Victory!

***

Biglang napatayo sa kinauupuan si Gino sa hindi inaasahang madaling pagkapanalo nina Demi laban sa Panther. He was rather dumbfounded at that very moment.

"So that's the so called magic of a Demileigh," Cloud commended. "Kaya ba kailangan natin siya?"

Sandaling hindi nakasagot si Jim. "No. But rather vice versa. She actually needs us."

Parehong natuon ang atensyon nilang dalawa kay Jim. "May hindi ba kami alam?" kapwa tanong nilang dalawa.

"What a surprise, nandito ka pala Jim?" May isang lalaki na bastang naupo sa tabi nila. Nakasuot ito ng sunglasses kaya't hindi nila agad nakilala.

Subalit agad itong nakilala ni Jim sa boses pa lamang nito. "Roy, it's been a while." Jim greeted.

"Isang buwan na rin pala ang lumilipas ng huli tayong nagkita."

Saka niya napagtanto kung sino ito nang alisin ng bagong dating ang suot na sunglasses. Roy, the former member of SpaiDer!

He remained silent while listening to Jim conversation with Roy. "Sila ba ang ibang member ng squad mo?" Tinutukoy silang dalawa ni Cloud.

"Yes, they were also my friends."

"Ganoon ba? Oh by the way, I'm Roy Laxamana, I'm a former member of SpaiDer. Siguro naman narinig niyo na 'yon?" Tinanggap niya ang kamay nito upang makipagkamay.

"I'm Gino."

"Cloud."

"Nice meeting you. Hindi pa marahil naikukwento sa inyo ni Jim but we were quite close before. I heard you talking about Demi," Roy opened a canned juice might be he brought with him since he came a moment ago. "Demi lost her memories due to an accident..."

"We already know that ‘part’..."

"Naikwento na pala sa inyo ni Jim ang bagay na 'yon. However, may nakaligtaan yata siyang sabihin sa inyo."

Nagtaka siya sa tinatakbo ng usapan. "Roy..." Jim stop's Roy from continuing what he was about to say. "Ako na ang magsasabi sa kanila, it's my duty."

Roy gave him a worried look. "Importante na malaman nila 'yon. Demi--"

"Let me, please." Jim let out a deep sigh.

"Maiintindihan namin kung hindi mo kayang sabihin Jim. You don't have to force yourself," Cloud assured.

Nag-aalalang umiling si Jim. "Demi losts her memories not only on what really happened on that day of their match in Malaysia and even the death of her own brother. Up until now, she hold grudges against the Hollow squad, the reason why she was almost get into near death situation was her eagerness to find the truth behind Divo's accident. Nabanggit niya sa akin na hanggang ngayon mag-isa niyang iniimbestigahan ang pagkakasangkot ng maruming laro ng Hollow tuwing tournament."

"Then, we both have different goals." Gino sighed.

"Hollow's after Demi's life. They know that Demi knows something and trying to figure out what really happened before."

Ngayon, malinaw na sa kaniya kung ano ang dahilan ni Jim kung bakit ganoon na lamang ka-overprotective ito para sa pinsan.

"Are we here for the main purpose of protecting her and gaining something from it?" Cloud suddenly asked.

"Exactly."

"Katulad ni Demi, gusto ko rin malaman kung ano'ng tunay na nangyari. I'm powerless if I'm alone doing everything. That's why I need you guys."

Napabuga ng hangin si Cloud. "I want trophy and fame, that makes me moving, the same with Gino. That's the main reason why we joined your squad because we know we can win every match with the aid of your outstanding instruction however now that we met this genius Demi and found out that we're here to protect her then we can also achieve our greatest goal this is still a good deal then."

"Is this what bothering you all this time?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Kung ganoon, put more trust on us. Kapag ganyan palagi ang iniisip mo na hindi ka namin tutulungan just because we will think na ginagamit mo lang kami setting aside our friendship. I hope you take consideration of our friendship."

"I called Jim to inform him what Demi's doing all this time and I'm glad to know that she found loyal friends along her journey." Roy sipped his drinks.

"Parang ganoon na nga." Hindi na itinama ni Gino ang mga salita ni Roy. He felt like they can get along with Demi, although there are times na mahigpit ito at matalim manalita. All she wanted was to teach them and able to help them na una pa lang ay sila ring nagdala nito sa kanila.

Napukaw ng pansin nila ang announcement na natapos na ang laban ng huling team kaya't ito na ang susunod na makakalaban nina Demi.

"Ang susunod nilang makakalaban ay ang MadDogs, the reigning number one squad here in the Philippines. Their next match is the best of three match hindi katulad ng mga nauna. This is the grand finals of this tournament, ito na ang magdidikta kung sino nga ba ang pinakaumangat sa mga laban." Ang pinakainaabangan nilang lahat maging ang mga taong nanood malapit sa stage kung nasaan ang maaaring maging sponsor ng mananalong team.

Napapito si Cloud. "Ibang klase rin pala mag-isip si Demi. Naisip niyang lahat ito." Manghang itinuro nito ang mga sponsor na kanina pang kating-kati na lapitan ang mga players. "Tingnan mo ang mga sponsor, kulang na lang lundagin nila ang pagitan ng stage para kausapin sina Zain at ang kabilang team to make an offer."

"You know how important it is to have sponsorships, aside from different privilege, sponsors are the ones who primarily give tickets for national tournaments, kahit sabihin na you have a name in NA sa Pilipinas, when a sponsor saw a potential in your team, halos maglululuhod sila sa harap niyo nagmamakaawa na maging beneficiaries nila. Iba pa rin favored team kayo, not all the time you will have the so called proper treatment from the management of every league. Demi knows it, that is why she is showing to the whole crowd and those prospective sponsors what your team capable of."

He smiled and silently agree.

***

Just like what Demi expected. All the eyes of the audience were now fix to them and even the sponsors are now drooling to make an offer to them.

Stefanie gave her a glare before walking towards her seat. Hindi niya inakala na maging hanggang grandfinals ay kasali pa rin ito sa limang player ng kalabang team. Iniisip marahil ng kabilang na madali lang silang talunin dahil isa rin siyang babae. That's the enemy team's mistake. Hindi siya tulad ni Stefanie na mascot lang ng kanilang team. She's here to show what a real match of Night Lost look like. She's about to show that to Stefanie.

Ang match nila ngayon ay hindi tulad ng mga nauna at nahuli na hanggang best of two of three games. Ngayon ay best of three of five games kaya't maraming tyansa na manalo o di kaya ay matalo sila. Depende na lang din 'yon kung magkakalat ang babaeng player ng kalaban o hindi naman kaya ay... paglaruan niya ito. Sa katunayan nga ay wala naman siyang dapat patunayan. Proving oneself to someone unworthy is proving yourself like you are the real fool.

"Hindi ko talaga ini-expect na aabot tayo ngayon sa grand finals hanggang ngayon ata 'di pa rin nakaregister sa isip ko na ito na ang pinakahuli nating kalaban para manalo," hindi makapaniwalang wika ni Martin. "Kurutin mo nga ako Kyle, baka nananaginip lang ako."

"Huwag ka lang magkakalat para at least hindi katawa-tawa ang pagkatalo natin--"

"No, you're wrong. We will win." She showed how confident she is at that very moment.

Ngiting-ngiti siya ng picking pa lang ay tulad ng inasahan niya magiging support lang si Anie ng MadDogs. How easy prey...

Hindi pa man nangangalahati ang laro ay anim na beses ng namamatay si Anie kaya't halatang-halatang inis na inis na ito. Makikitang kung paano siya nito tingnan ng masama sa kaniyang pwesto. Lalong gumuhit sa mga labi niya ang mapaglarong ngiti. She's spamming her ‘well played’, to avoid slacking off of her teammates. Lamang sila sa kahit na ano'ng banda, sa push, gold and even kills, all was because of Anie's stubborness.

It was rather an easy win for their team, the next game also became an easy game for them. Ang susunod na match ay medyo kinababahala niya lalo na ng mag-usap na ang tatlong member ng MadDogs na marahil seryosohin na ang laro.

However, she was so shock to see Stefanie marching towards her. "You b***h!" She grabbed her arm and tried to twist it. "Ang akala mo ba hindi ko napansin na ako ang palaging trip mo!"

Hinatak siya palayo ni Zain mula kay Stefanie, hindi ito nagsalita at nagpatuloy lang ang babae na murahin siya.

That's why no one wants to accept women on every league.

Ito ang dahilan kung bakit walang national team ang gustong magsali ng babae sa kanilang mga squad. Because women are too emotional, and irrational.

Narinig niyang nagsimula ng magsalita ang emcee. "Due to an incident of attack from the other player's team and according to our rules. They are now disqualified and their opponet team won the match."

Hindi rin niya inaasahan na aatakihin siya ni Stefanie ng mga oras na 'yon sa pwesto niya. Nagmamadaling umakyat ang medics stage at lapatan ng lunas ang mga natamo niyang sugat dala ng matatalim na kuko ni Stefanie. Nakabantay lang si Zain sa tabi niya. Nang ilagay nito ang kamay sa balikat niya. Saka lang niya narinig ang mga nag-iingay na mga tao sa paligid, blaming her, calling that today's tournament is waste of time, marahil mga fan iyon ni Stefanie, who wouldn't want to hate her? But this is the real gaming world. Kung lalaki lang si Anie, she wouldn't act like that, she would remained calm and just simply curse her opponent. However, she took the wrong path. MadDogs lose without even trying their best. One wrong move, you would lose, just like what happened to them bringing woman to their own grave.

"Are you alright?" nag-aalalang nilapitan siya ni Martin. "Who let that kind of woman joined this tournament?!" bulalas nito.

What Demi did is part of the game, hindi lang marahil alam ni Stefanie ang salitang pagkatalo. Supports are weak when they roam by themselves that is why she took that chance to always bully and kill her, gaining more and more EXP and gold.

Audiences kept on creating big ruckus. "Are they dumb?! It's not your fault, why are they blaming you, it is part of the game!"

From a far, she saw someone staring at her intently. He was rather amused by her reaction when she recognized him.

It is part of the game. Why are you mad about it?

What? Suddenly her tears pour out.

Killing my brother is just a part of game for you?!

Snap.

***