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I was crying while we're on our way back to the hideout. Mahigpit na nakahawak si Death sa mga kamay ko, giving me comfort pero hindi ko pa rin maiwasan ang mag-alala para kay Kuya Vander. Sa binti sya natamaan and I know that he will live but still, I'm worried about him.

Tahimik kami sa daan. The grim expression on everyone's face was evident at alam kong pare-parehas kami ng nararamdaman. We're angry. Angry to the gamemaster and to ourselves dahil hinayaan na naman naming mahulog kami sa patibong nila.

I want this game to end. I want everyone of us to live a normal life. "Cause we all deserve it. We don't want to be in this game anymore.

Pagkaparada pa lang ng sasakyan sa harap ng hideout ay mabilis kong binuksan ang pinto. I quickly went out of the car even if I heard Death calling my name. Pumasok ako sa loob ng hideout, almost running but when I saw the scene inside, napatigil ako.

Sobrang gulo sa loob ng living room. The dead bodies of the hired Pawn were nowhere to be found pero ang dugo ay nasa sahig pa din. I bet Hoax already took care of it as L was just sitting on the sofa. Sapo ang ulo habang ang mga siko ay nakapatong sa mga hita nya.

"Where's Kuya Vander?" tanong ko kay Hoax nang makitang pumasok sya sa living room.

He pointed upstairs.

"Ishtar is treating him."

I looked at L first before I decided to went upstairs. My heart was thumping so loud. I know that my Kuya Vander will be okay  but I need to see it with my own eyes first bago ako makalma.

Kuya Vander doesn't have a good fighting skills. He doesn't have a parents who's a chess piece before kaya hindi sya nagkaroon ng training sa pakikipaglaban. He's only in this mess because of me. Because he wanted to take my position as the Pawn of EL Ordre. I was out of the game because of him and my children will not inherit my position.

Kaya kung may masamang mangyari sa kanya ay kasalanan ko.

Padarag kong binuksan ang pintuan sa kwarto nya. Sabay pa silang napatingin ni Ishtar sa akin. She was already dressing his wound when I came in.

"Vexen..." Kuya Vander mumbled my name.

Pinasadahan ko sya ng tingin. He was sitting on the bed while his back was leaning on the headboard. He looked like a mess. Ang pants na suot ay pinunit kung nasaan ang sugat nya so Ishtar can treat it better. Punong-puno ng dugo iyon. But other than that, Kuya Vander looked okay.

Relief flood through me. Nanghihina akong napaupo sa gilid ng kama nya. Ishtar stood up as she was already done treating his wounds. Tumingala ako sa kanya.

"He'll be okay, right?" I asked. Ishtar blinked like she's surprised that I'm talking to her.

She nodded. "Natanggal ko na ang bala. He just needs to rest para mabawi ang lakas nya."

I smiled at her. "Thank you."

Tumingin ako kay Kuya Vander. He looked pale dahil sa dugong nawala sa kanya but a few days rest will make his color came back again. Nakahinga ako nang maluwag.

"I was so scared." I softly said.

Seeing everything happening on the CCTV monitors made me go crazy. That feeling na wala kang magawa kundi ang manood na lang. 'Cause even if we went back, we all know na wala na kaming aabutan so we have no choice but to watch.

Kuya Vander took my hand. Hinawakan nya iyon ng dalawang kamay nya. Ramdam ko ang panghihina sa kanya but he still smiled at me.

"I'm sorry for worrying you pero ayos na ako, Vexen."

I stared at him. That scar below his left eye down to his jaw made him look scary for some people but he's still the most handsome Kuya for me. The scar added to his attractiveness though.

"I'm glad to hear that." I said.

I saw him frown. "What happened?" he asked. "Back at the Red Faction's hideout? Anong nangyari?"

I sighed when I remember what happened again. "It's a trap, Kuya Vander."

"Wala doon ang gamemaster?"

Umiling ako. "Only some of the goons."

Ipinadala ang mga best fighter ng EL Ordre for this. We even left Kuya Vander and Hoax here in the hideout 'cause we know that their fighting skills isn't the best yet. They didn't undergo any training like we did.

We were expecting that we will be using our fighting skills pero wala kaming dinatnan doon. Only some goons na hindi man lang kami pinagpawisan na patumbahin.

I fill Kuya Vander in with what happened at the Red Faction's hideout. Mataman syang nakikinig sa akin. He was frowning sometimes kapag may naririnig na hindi nya nagugustuhan.

"So the owner of the voice fooled us?" tanong nya nang matapos ako sa pagkukwento.

I shook my head. 'Cause it's true, right? I think the owner of the voice purposedly told us where the hideout is para mawalan ng depensa ang mga tao dito sa hideout. They've been waiting for this day. For us to make a move para magawa ang plano na pagsugod dito sa hideout namin.

We were'nt expecting na sasalisihan nila kami. What more that it was Shielder itself who went here in the hideout. Kaya mas lalong hindi nakagalaw sina L. As he is Tracer's brother and our teammate.

Iniwan ko na si Kuya Vander para makapagpahinga na sya. I wasn't sure where Ishtar went but I guess that she went back to her room so she could give Kuya Vander and I some time alone. 

Bumaba na ako at kahit nasa gitna pa lang ako ng pagbaba ay dinig ko na ang kaguluhan sa may living room. Binilisan ko ang pagbaba and indeed, something's happening to the rest of the members.

Nakatayo na si L. His back was facing me pero base sa mararahas nyang paghinga at pagkuyom ng mga kamao nya ay halatang galit sya. Archer was standing between him and Fourth na parang inaawat sila habang si Eresh ay nasa likuran ng fiance nya. She was looking coldly at L.

What happened?

"This is all your fault!" galit na sabi ni L habang dinuduro si Eresh na nasa likuran ni Fourth. "All of this happened because of you!"

"Tangina, L! Tama na sabi!"

Napatingin si L kay Archer na umaawat sa kanya.

"Bakit? Totoo naman diba? If only she didn't take Shielder away, drugged him and planted whatever's bullshits she told him in his mind, hindi mangyayari 'to!

This is the first time I saw him so livid. Ang tahimik, palaging kalmado at tinatamad na si L ay nagagalit ng sobra ngayon. And it's all because Shielder took Alter with them.

"You are being unreasonable, L." said Plutus. He was standing with his hands inside the side pockets of his pants.

"No! You are the one who's being unreasonable! Kayong lahat!" he pointed to all of them. "How can you accept someone like her to be the member of our team when she was the reason why most of us suffered? She's our enemy!" he looked at Tracer. "Tracer! Paano mo napatawad ang babaeng 'to?"

"Alter was our enemy as well, L." Aius said. "Baka nakakalimutan mo."

L laughed in a mocking way. Napatingin ako kay Eresh. She was just looking at him with coldness in her eyes and her arms crossed in front of her chest. Mukha syang walang pakialam sa sinasabi ni L but I know that she's hurting with his words.

I remember her reaction back at the Red Faction's hideout. Galit na galit sya sa gamemaster when Shielder and Yucca took Alter away. Sa sobrang galit ay napaiyak pa sya. And I'm sure that deep inside, she's also blaming herself. So I think that there's no need for L to tell her about it.

"Stop it, asshole." sabi ni Archer sa mahinahong paraan. "I know you're just worried about Alter. We all are. Pero hindi ginusto ni Eresh ang nangyari. Walang may gusto ng nangyari."

 L looked at him. Kumuyom ang mga kamao at ilang sandaling huminga ng malalim.

I understand where he is coming from. Nag-aalala sya para kay Alter at alam kong sinisisi nya din ang sarili nya dahil wala syang nagawa para iligtas si Alter. He just stood there while watching Yucca and Shielder take his beloved woman in front of his eyes. As they will hurt her if he resisted.

But he's being unreasonable. Yes, it was Eresh's plan to make Shielder as King Lancer and she's at fault but he shouldn't put all the blame to Eresh. She's proving herself and trying to make things right. At ang gamemaster ang dapat na pinakasisihin dito.

None of us will suffer if only he didn't start the game.

"Tracer." L called him. His voice sounds dangerous. "You did something earlier with your laptop. Anong ginawa mo doon?"

I frowned. Hindi masyadong alam ang tinutukoy nya. Siguro ay iyong kanina na abala silang tatlo sa laptop nila while we're all getting ready? Iyon ba?

Tracer sighed. "I told you. I was just making sure that everything will be okay."

"Na hindi nangyari." L countered. "If you think about it thoroughly, parang alam nina Shielder na aalis kayo at may maiiwan dito sa hideout."

I gasped. Hindi ko nagugustuhan kung saan papunta ang sinasabi ni L.

"You said that you've all watched what happened at the CCTV monitors at the Red Faction's hideout." L continued at parang gusto ko na syang patigilin sa pagsasalita. "It means that they've hacked our CCTVs and breached our firewall. I will get notified if someone hacked it pero wala akong natanggap na kahit ano."

Itinuloy ko ang pagbaba sa hagdan. I wanted to stop L from talking 'cause I already have an idea with what he meant with his words. Pero bago pa ako makalapit ay pinigilan ako ni Death. He shook his head firmly. Pinipigilan ako sa gusto kong gawin.

"You're the one who insisted that the owner of the voice is helping us when the rest of us were being suspicious about it." L said. "You're the one who's receiving all the email from that voice."

"What are you trying to say?" tanong ni Tracer sa kanya na madilim ang mukha. "That I'm betraying my team?"

I saw L smirked. "Hindi ba? Nakakapagtaka naman. Lahat kami naghihinala sa boses na iyon except you. We're at the endgame and we should move carefully but you're being reckless with all your decisions."

"Fuck, L. Tama na." Archer stopped him. Napatingin si L sa kanya.

"Why? Ako lang ba nag-iisip ng ganito? Shielder is his brother! At hindi na ako magtataka kung tinatraydor nga tayo ng gagong 'yan para sa kapatid nya!"

Aius moved and I was surprised when he threw a hard punch on L's face. Natumba si L dahil hindi nya rin iyon inaasahan. Aius grabbed him by the collar of his shirt at marahas na itinayo.

"Stop with all your bullhits, L!" he shouted at him angrily. His black eyes looked so darker now. "I know you're worried about Alter! Lahat naman tayo and we're gonna look a way to save her pero putangina! Tigilan mo 'yang mga kagaguhan na naiisip mo!"

Humigpit ang kapit nya sa kwelyo ng damit ni L pero wala pa ring umawat sa kanila.

"Get your shit together!" Aius angrily said. "The last thing we want is for this group to split up! We're at the endgame now kaya hindi dapat tayo nag-aaway-away!"

L glared at him. Marahas nyang tinanggal ang mga kamay ni Aius na nakakapit sa kwelyo ng damit nya. He looked at everyone with anger in his eyes before he stormed off and went out of the hideout.

Walang pumigil sa kanya. We all knew that he needs time alone to clear his head. Naiintindihan din naman sya ng lahat. Dahil kung sila rin ang nasa katayuan ni L ngayon at kinuha ng kalaban ang pinakamamahal nila, they wouldn't be able to think rational as well.

That's why the EL Ordre is here to give support to the members especially if they feel lost.

We cleaned the mess inside the hideout. Pero ang mga lalaki lang ang kumilos as they know that Eresh and I were both pregnant. Kahit hindi pa ganoong kalaki ang mga tyan namin ay grabe na sila kung ingatan kami.

The whole day was gloomy. Hindi bumalik si L kahit na nang maggabi. The rest went inside their rooms to get a rest for this tiring day. Pero si Death ay nagluto pa rin ng dinner para sa amin.

"Call Eresh and Loki." Death said habang nag-aayos ng hapag. "Nasa may back garden sila."

I nodded. Ang iba kasi ay nasa loob pa rin ng mga kwarto and I don't want to disturb them. Kakain naman siguro sila kung magutom.

Nakita ko ang dalawa na nakaupo sa bench habang nakatingala sa langit. The moon and the stars were shining down on them. Ang tunog ng mga kuliglig sa gabi ay nakakagaan sa pakiramdam. Na parang walang nangyaring delubyo kanina.

"Please understand L. He only said that 'cause he's worried about Alter. I'm certain that he didn't mean those words."

Tumango lang si Eresh sa sinabi ni Fourth sa kanya. He looked down and stared at her pero si Eresh ay nanatili pa ring nakatulala sa langit.

I was about to call them 'cause I felt bad eavesdropping to their conversation when I heard Eresh spoke.

"I had a very long dream." she said. Her voice soft pero dahil sa tahimik na gabi ay narinig ko iyon. "It was a happy yet a scary dream."

Ang mga likod lang nila ang nakikita ko but I heard the emotions in her voice.

She said that it's a happy yet a scary dream but why does she sounds so sad?

"In my dream... we got married." I heard Eresh said. "A royal wedding... Just like my request to you."

She looked at Fourth. Nakatigilid ang mukha nya sa akin kaya nakita kong nakangiti sya. But it was a sad smile.

"It was entitled as the most rushed wedding in the royal family's history. Kasi ayokong ikasal tayo ng malaki na ang tyan ko so after the game, nagmadali tayong magpakasal. I don't want to looked like a fat cow in that important day."

After the game...

"Everyone was there." she continued. "Archer left his invitation card at home that's why you had to fetched him at the entrance of the church so he could get in. Your Mom scolded you because of that." she chuckled. "And in my dream... we had three kids."

She looked up to the night sky again. Hearing her tell Fourth about her dream made my heart ache. Naririnig ko sa boses nyang umaasa syang magkakatotoo iyon.

Sumandal ako sa hamba ng back door and looked at the night sky as well. Hoping to see a wishing a star. At sa palagay ko ay iyon din ang hinihintay ni Eresh.

And wish to make her dream come true.

"It felt so real, Loki. That when I woke up, I felt scared. Kasi sabi nila, kabaligtaran daw ang nangyayari sa panaginip."

Fourth shushed her. He cupped her face and made her looked at her. He looked at her in the eye with all seriousness.

"Tototohanin natin ang panaginip mo, Eresh." he said. "We'll get married. Kahit ilang beses mo pang gusto. Everyone will attend all of our weddings and we're gonna have three kids. Dadagdagan pa natin kung gusto mo."

Eresh chuckled before she put her arms around him and hugged him tight. Niyakap sya pabalik ni Fourth, telling her promises that everything will be okay.

I saw Eresh's hands gripping Fourth's shirt on his back. And with that, I could tell that she's scared.

"If something will happen, I'm glad that I got to experience a happy life and my future with you. Even if it's just in a dream."

Mas lalong humigpit ang yakap ni Fourth sa kanya. Making her stop with her words.

"It will come true, Eresh. Your dream will come true. I promise you that."