Card High

Chapter 2

‘Get ready to Gamble’

9 AM na nung nagising si Xia. Kinusot niya ang mata niya at bumangon sa kama. Lumapit kaagad siya sa salamin at tiningnan ang sarili niya. Kuminang ang bracelet na nasa kamay niya kaya tiningnan niya ito. ‘Paano ba napunta sa kamay ko ‘tong bracelet na ‘to?’ Isip ni Xia.

She just shook her head at nag-ayos. Nung tapos na siyang mag-ayos ay tiningnan niya muna ang cellphone niya. She doesn’t know if this is really her phone or not. It’s a brand-new phone. Tanging phone number lang ni Xie ang nasa contacts nito.

Pumunta si Xia sa gallery at muntik na siyang matawa nung nakita niya ang isang selfie ni Mike. May kagat-kagat pa itong lollipop. Now she was doubting if this is really her phone or Mike’s. Tinapon niya nalang ito sa kama at lumabas na ng kwarto.

“Good morning!” Lumingon kaagad si Xia sa pinto ng kwarto ni Xie na kakabukas lang. Nakangiti si Xie at parang galing sa work-out. “Magaling ka na?” Kunot-noong tanong ni Xia sa kanya. Xia knew that Xie’s fever was high yesterday.

“Oo naman. Breakfast?” Pag-aaya ni Xie. Tumango nalang si Xia sa sinabi nito. Although Xia wanted to ask thousands of questions, she didn’t bother asking. ‘Alam ko namang magsisinungaling lang sila sa akin.’ She thought.

“Good morning, Sleeping Beauty.” Tiningnan kaagad ni Xia si Warren na nakasandal ang kanang balikat sa ref at umiinom ng kape. Ngingiti sana si Xia pero lumingon muna siya kina Kevin na nasa sofa.

“Sorry for disturbing your peace, Young Lady.”

“Young Lady..”

Dahil doon ay tinanguan niya lang si Warren kaya nakita niya itong sumimangot. Umupo na si Xia at tiningnan ang pagkain sa harap niya at tahimik na kumain. At habang kumakain siya ay hindi niya maiwasang magtanong kay Xie.

“Xie, sina Mama at Papa?” Tanong ni Xia dahil simula nung magising siya ay hindi niya makita ang mga magulang niya. The last thing that she knew was that her Father put her to sleep. The last thing he said was ‘I hope this works.’ Xia was even confused on what it was supposed to mean.

Tumikhim lang si Warren.

“Teka, aalis muna ako. Baka may masabi akong mali.” Lumabas na si Warren kaya tiningnan ulit ni Xia si Xie. Nakayuko lang si Xie at halatang nag-iisip. Kinagat nalang ni Xia ang ibabang-labi niya at tumayo.

“May business meeting na naman sila? Which clan? You could’ve told me.” Xia said and tapped Xie’s back at umalis na. Sanay naman si Xia na palagi nalang wala ang mga magulang nila dahil sa mga business meeting nito. Her Father put her to sleep and Xia tried to remember how old she was when that happened.  

She guessed that she was maybe around thirteen years old. She thinks that she was thirteen years old when that happened. She thought that she’s been asleep for four to five years. Hindi niya alam kung ano nga ba ang mga nangyari. Sinubukan niyang alalahanin ang mga bagay-bagay.

But it can’t be possible for her to be asleep for that long.

“It’s really impossible. Malamang may pinaggagawa ka nung akala mong tulog ka.” Tiningnan ni Xia si Warren na nilagpasan lang siya at may dalang isang basong tubig. Kumunot ang noo ni Xia dahil sa sinabi ni Warren. Tiningnan siya ni Xia na naglakad at bumalik din kaagad.

“O pwede ring tinago nila ang nangyari.” Dagdag pa ni Warren kaya mas lalong kumunot ang noo ni Xia. Nilagpasan siya ulit ni Warren at bumalik na naman at may sinabi na naman. “O baka gusto nilang makalimutan m—”

“Alam kong may alam ka.” Hinila kaagad ni Xia si Warren papasok sa kwarto niya at ni-lock ‘yung pinto. Tumingin kaagad si Xia sa kanya. Warren was smirking. “Wala akong alam, Sleeping Beauty.” Aniya at inubos niya ang laman ng basong hawak niya at lumapit sa pinto.

“I’m just drunk. That’s all.” Dagdag niya at ngumisi pa siya kaya muntik nang matapon ni Xia ang tsinelas niya kay Warren. “Nakakalasing ba ‘yung tubig?” Tanong ni Xia at tinawanan si Warren at tumingin sa basong hawak niya.

“Ewan~ bakit? Sa tingin mo, nakalalasing ba ‘yung tubig?” Nakangising tanong ni Warren sa kanya. Inirapan nalang siya ni Xia at lumapit sa kanya tsaka siya tinulak palabas ng kwarto. “Wala kang kwentang kausap. Alis na!” Inis na sabi ni Xia at ngumisi lang si Warren at humarap sa kanya bago pa masara ni Xia ang pinto.

“All I know..” Xia stopped before she closed the door. Nakinig muna siya sa sasabihin ni Warren.

“..is that you.. are the Joker.”

✥✥

“Malinaw ang pagkakasabi ng Chi-Mafia, Warren.” Harvin just looked at how Xie was beating Warren up. Wala naman silang magagawa. It’s Xie. They’d be dead if they stood up for Warren. Sinabi na kasi ng Chi-Mafia heads na wala silang sasabihin kay Xia.

As always, they need to keep their mouth shut. That’s the rule. Even Xie can’t do anything about it. Xia must find everything out for herself.

“Malinaw nga, hindi naman ako nakinig.” Sagot naman ni Warren at aambahan pa sana ng suntok ni Xie si Warren but Xie’s fists stopped in the middle of the air at dahan-dahan na niyang binaba ang kamay niya. Sumalampak si Xie sa sahig at hinawakan ang ulo niya.

“Hoy! Okay ka lang?” Tanong ni Warren kay Xie kaya natawa nalang si Harvin sa kanya. Xie just beat him up but Warren is concerned for him. Kunot-noo namang tiningnan ni Harvin si Xie na nakahawak sa ulo niya. Xie has been odd for weeks now.

“Tsk! Ewan.” Tumayo si Xie at tiningnan si Warren. Tiningnan niya rin sina Harvin. “Wala kayong sasabihin kay Xia. You got i—”

“You know it’s best to tell her about things. Mahirap guluhin ang isip ni Xia, Xie. And you know that.” Dumating sina Tetsu at Tetsuya na may dala-dalang envelope. “O baka naman gusto mong magalit si Xia sa ‘yo for hiding things.” Dagdag pa ni Tetsu. Harvin just closed his eyes at humiga sa sofa habang nakikinig sa kanila.

“Kung malalaman niya naman ang nangyari o ang nangyayari, mas lalong magagalit ‘yun.” Sabi ni Xie. Harvin can’t concentrate on finding his dreamland kaya binuka niya nalang ang mga mata ko at tiningnan sina Xie.

“Take your pick, Xie. Magalit siya sa ‘yo o magalit siya kay Art.” As soon as Tetsu mentioned Art’s name, napayoko sina Mike. Art. It would be war between the clans if that happens.

Because if Xia finds out that her parents are dead because of Empire, talagang magagalit siya sa Empire, lalo na sa magiging tagapagmana ng clan na ito. And that would be Art. And as for Art, the issue about his foster parent’s assassination, pupunta ang galit niya sa Chi-Mafia. And in the Chi-Mafia, if you mess with Xie, you’re messing with Xia.

Mahirap magalit si Xia. They all know that pero mas delikado kapag si Art ang galit.

“Don’t tell Xia.” Lumingon kaagad silang lahat sa kay Harvin dahil sa sinabi nito.

“Anong sinasabi mo? Anong hindi sasabihin sa kanya? Alin dun?” Sunod-sunod na tanong ni Warren kahit dumudugo pa ‘yung labi niya. Napailing nalang si Harvin dahil wala talagang pakialam si Warren sa pagmumukha niya kahit bugbug-sarado na siya.

“Don’t tell her anything. Because if you tell her about her parents, a war is going to happen.” Nakita ni Harvin na napag-isip isip si Xie at sina Tetsu sa sinabi niya at nagkatinginan pa sila.

“But everything reveals itself, Harvin.” Tiningnan lang ni Harvin si Kevin na kakababa lang ng librong hawak niya. Harvin gave out a sigh. Totoo rin naman ang sinabi ni Kevin. Malalaman din naman ni Xia ‘yun. Pero may biglang pumasok sa isip ni Harvin nung nakita niya ang isang sulat sa mesa. The letters from Card High.

Harvin smirked at the thought of it.

“When the warriors are angry, where do they go?” Nakangisi niyang tanong which made all of them look at him with confusion. “Uhh.. battlegrounds?” Alanganing sagot ni Mike. Tumango kaagad si Harvin.

“Exactly. And where do you think is the most fitted battleground for dragons like Chi-Mafia and the Empire?” Tanong ulit ni Harvin at umupo na.“Card High..” Nakayokong sagot ni Xie. Harvin smiled at spread his arms in the air as if tapos na siya sa kanyang presentation.

“Now you get what I mean?” Nakita niyang ginulo ni Xie ang buhok niya. Harvin knew that Duke already approves about them going to Card High. Alam niyang wala rin namang magagawa si Xie.

Because Card High is the exchange for Art and Xia’s memory. Breaking their memory seal also means breaking the gates of Card High. They have no choice, but to enter.

“You’re saying that as if gusto mong makitang nagpapatayan sina Art at Xia.” Lumingo-lingo lang si Harvin sa sinabi ni Warren.

“I’m not pointing out anything. I just want Xia to know things on her own. Naaawa rin naman ako dahil wala tayong sinasabi sa kanya. Pero wala rin naman tayong magagawa, diba? Wala tayong pwedeng sabihin sa kanya. Therefore, she must find out herself. Entering Card High is the only way to end her struggle. Well, ironically. Because entering Card High is killing yourself in advance. Right?” Walang nagsalita sa sinabi ni Harvin. Tumayo nalang si Harvin at tumingin kay Xie.

“Your final decision is what matters, Xie. Take your pick. Let her suffer here, or let her find out. But once she finds out, we must be ready.” Nanatiling nakayuko si Xie. Aalis na sana si Harvin pero napatigil kaagad siya dahil sa sinabi ni Xie.

“Find your cards and get ready to gamble.”

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