Last Day at St. Louie

23 - Russian Louie

23 - Russian Louie

"Sit down, both of you. No one's going anywhere."

Bumuntong hininga si Ally dahil sa bigong pagtatangka niya na mailigtas si Noah. Uupo na sana siyang muli noong mapansin ang tingin na ibinibigay sa kanya ng binata. Sinalubong niya ang mga mata nito ngunit hindi niya iyon mabasa.

Matagal-tagal ding nagtitigan ang dalawa hanggang sa tumikhim si Lance.

"I said, sit down."

Tahimik na bumalik sa pagkaka-upo sina Ally at Noah.

Muling ngumiti si Lance. "Okay. If you want to die so bad, let's play a game."

Nanood lamang ang dalawa habang tinatanggal ni Lance ang mga bala sa loob ng revolver, hanggang sa isa na lamang ang matira.

"We'll call this as Russian Louie," excited na sabi pa ni Lance. "You see, this revolver given by my father—who fucking wanted me to be a police like Cholo—has six slots. I removed five of the bullets and one remained."

Muling nagkatinginan sina Ally at Noah. Isang tipikal na russian roulette. May ideya na sila sa mangyayari ngunit hindi nila maintindihan kung bakit ganoon ang laro.

"One over six. I may have had to retake Probability and Statistics but I know the fucking odds," madiing sabi ni Lance saka malakas na pinaikot ang cylinder ng revolver. "Everything clear before we start?"

"No." Lakas loob na sumagot si Ally. "If we don't get shot are you going to let us go?"

Tumawa si Lance. "You look disappointed that you could still live, Allysa. To answer your question, yes. You may go out of the gymnasium and my men will hunt you."

"That's unfair," seryosong sabi naman ni Noah. "We get to test our luck while you're sure to live no matter what happens."

Bukod kay Lance, napakunot din ang noo ni Ally habang nakatingin sa kanyang katabi. Hindi niya maintindihan ang sinasabi nito.

"I thought you abhor unfairness," taas noo pang sabi ni Noah.

Doon lamang napagtanto ni Ally ang ginagawa ng binata. Hindi man sila maililigtas niyon, mababawasan naman ang tyansa ng kanilang pagkamatay.

Ngumisi si Lance ngunit nag-iigting ang panga na nagsalita. "I'm taking your challenge, Noah Reyes."

Nagulat na lamang ang dalawa noong mabilis na ibinaba ni Lance ang hammer ng revolver at itinutok iyon kay Noah.

*****

"They have silencers, Hailey," mabagal na paalala ni Arkin sa dalaga.

"What?" tanong ni Hailey. "Then who's that?"

"H-Help..." ani Cholo.

"But what if they're the enemy?" tanong muli ng dating Student Council Secretary. "What if they're just luring us out? What if it's a trap?"

"What if it's not?" tanong ni Arkin pabalik. Sa kabila ng nanghihinang katawan, ngumisi siya. "Allysa would ask that if she's here."

Agad na nalukot ang mukha ni Hailey dahil sa narinig. Napahigpit ang hawak niya sa baril. "Fine! I'm going out!"

"Who told you to go out?" tanong muli ni Arkin. "I was just telling you to stop worrying about the gunshots you are hearing because those are not from the enemy."