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Chapter thirthy-three

COURAGE

"You know, pagkatapos naming marinig 'yong balita... ako lang 'yong nagulat sa nangyari. My mother told me something while the news was rolling, it was something na hindi ako makapaniwala na narinig ko 'yon sa kaniya. Kapag hindi raw ako naging top student habang kaklase kita, your father will be deemed dead... pati ako rin, binubugbog ako ng tatay ko tuwing bumaba 'yong scores ko ng kahit isa lang. Please forgive me, kaya ayaw ko rin sabihin dahil hindi ko naman ginusto lahat ng 'to. Selfish na kung selfish, pasensiya na."

Luha siyang tumayo at iniwan ang nakayukong si Prisoner 2. Sa dulo siya umupo kaya hindi ko siya makita nang maayos dahil nakaharang si President na pinagmamasdan si Prisoner 2.

Akala ko nga natutulog na si Prisoner 2 sa haba ng kinuwento ng kaibigan niya. Iniangat na niya ang ulo niya at hinanap ng mga mata niya si Prisoner 13. The way she looks right now was different from what facade she had earlier. Ngayon, nagmumukhang kawawa siya at parang nagsisisi sa mga pinagsasabi niya kanina. Or maybe it's just acting, d'yan naman siya magaling.

"S-sorry," that's all what she could say before she bursts into tears for the nth time. Just like him, she went to sit with us. They were on opposite sides; maybe she still needs time, but (not that I care) they need closure before anything bad might happen. Unresolved problems lead to murder cases, I believe.

It was a family matter but the children were the one they're using as a weapon. The other, a sword and the other, a shield. Alam kong mas may malalim pang ugat 'yon but that's none of my business. The kids didn't deserve to experience those kind of things, what kind of parent does he have? Rich people are so unbelievable. What does his family even have against a poor family? They already have it all. Napabuntong hininga nalang ako habang naisip ko 'yon. Pati tuloy ko namomoblema.

"Wow! A perfect score for Prisoners two and thirteen! Will our next players be able to defeat them by answering the questions in less than five seconds? Congratulations, Prisoners eight and four, you are the next players for today's Mental Education~"

Fuck. Oo nga pala, may mga susunod pa. Anlakas nanaman ng tibok ng puso ko na parang sasabog na siya anytime. Nanunuyo na rin ang lalamunan ko na baka maging pipe ako mamaya. Ayaw ko pa ring matawag hangga't hindi ko pa nalalaman kung gaano kalala 'yong parusa ngayon. Magaling na 'yong natamo ko pero tuwing nakaka-isip ako ng mga katulad nito na may parusa parang bumabalik 'yong sakit, e.

Alam kong kabadong-kabado rin si Barbie ngayon, kanina pa niya winawagwag ang kaniyang kamay— 'yong makakapartner naman niya parang wala lang sa kaniya 'tong larong 'to. Sabagay, the moment you witnessed death in front of your eyes ay parang gusto mo nalang din sumama. He's probably still mourning and traumatized. Pinanuod namin silang umupo sa upuan kung saan may nangyaring matinding bunyagan, sa kanila, panigurado mayroon din... at sa mga susunod pa.

"The game will commence after five seconds, prisoners eight and four, get ready," Rinig ang tawa ni MC na para bang minamaliit niya ang dalawa. Huminga naman nang malalim ang mga sumunod na sasabak. Since may ideya na sila sa larong 'to, mukhang mentally prepared na sila sa mga mangyayari mamaya.

"The first player will be Prisoner eight," napatingin sa screen si Barbie at tutok na tutok sa bawat salitang ibinibigkas nito. "And the first question about your partner is, What year is he currently in?"

Oh, easy. Even I could answer it, natatandaan ko kasi 'yong pinag-usapan namin kagabi. He remembered me, so I remember him. Pero ang funny lang, 'yong simpleng pagtakbo ko lang sa hallway nag-iwan ng impression sa isang stranger; with unfortunate reasons, dito pa talaga kami nagkakilala. Mapaglaro ang tadhana. Tinaas na ni Barbie ang kaniyang whiteboard in less than five seconds. Isang maayos na cursive ng Senior ang nasa itinaas na whiteboard. Correct. Feeling ko tuloy matataasan nila 'yong nauna kahit na nakaperfect sila, now it's a matter of whose team being the fastest, nakakapressure tuloy. Hindi ko na ineexpect na manalo— I feel bad sa kapartner ko.