Rogue Wars Online

Chapter Sixty-Two: A New Challenge

-chapter sixty-two-

FINN

When Caspian's body hit the ground, the endless corridor disappeared.

I found myself falling in front of him, arms reached out to hold him. The cold feeling of blood made my body go numb.

No...

"Caspian?" hinawakan ko ang pisngi niya at inangat ang mukha. "Caspian? Wake up. I'm here. Don't... Don't leave, please-"

His eyes were already closed, and he looked like he was sleeping peacefully. Naghintay pa rin ako ng ilang minuto, umaasa na bubukas pa ang mata ni Caspian. Umasa dahil 'yon lang ang kaya kong gawin. I brushed my thumb in his bleeding cheek, painting my fingers red.

Alam ko naman. Like all the times death knocked on the door, only to take one of my family instead of me.

Alam ko. Pero masama bang umasa na sana mali lang ang naisip ko? Na sana, kahit isang beses lang, pakinggan ako ng mundo? Na sana, kahit ang taong 'to lang, ay hindi nila ipagkait sa'kin?

"Player Caspian died in the eleventh city after successfully killing a clown! Too bad~"

The cheery voice that announced was so damn annoying that I wanted to attack it. I wanted to go wherever it is and tell it to stop announcing fake things. I wanted to go and slap the truth. Caspian's not dead.

He's strong. He's not someone who would die just easily. Kanina nga, kahit na sugatan na siya't wala ng enerhiya, ay nakakaya niya pa ring lumaban. Caspian won't just die.

"...Right?" mahinang bulong ko.

Caspian didn't answer, nor did his eyes blink open. His body was cold against mine and he wasn't already breathing. Isang mahinang hikbi ang kumawala sa bibig ko, when I brushed Caspian's bloody bangs back.

Of course. What did I hope for? His shirt was already covered in blood, mula sa mga shards na nakasugat at sa malaking slash na nasa dibdib. His back... Caspian's back was filled with broken mirror pieces.

He was already injured before coming here. Halata sa stiff at careful movements niya noon na ayaw niyang palalain ang sugat, kahit nga sa laban namin sa Giant Mecha ay maingat siya. So why did he choose to be reckless now? When the monster we're facing couldn't be easily defeated? When there's a large possibility of his wound opening up and to be heavily injured in this city.

Bakit siya pumunta dito ng mag-isa?

"Bakit naman-..." my voice broke off. "Ikaw pa..."

My lips trembled as uncontrolled sobs escaped me. I still need you - your guidance and calm personality. If you go, the silence we both share would vanish.

Mahigpit kong niyakap si Caspian, ignoring the way some of the shards cut my skin. I touched his forehead with mine, tears streaming down my face.

Bakit ba gustong kunin ng mundo ang lahat sa'kin? Bakit ba nila ako binibigyan ng mga bagay na kukunin din pagkatapos ng ilang sandali? What crime did I do to make me suffer this much?

I don't have much, only the people around me. If I ever have a debt, should it really be paid by grief?

Kasi kahit ilang beses akong malagay sa ganitong sitwasyon, kahit ilang beses mawala ang mga taong malalapit sa'kin, that won't make me used to death. That won't make me numb and emotionless. Because every single death that I encounter feels like the first one.