UNEDITED. ENJOY READING.

DENISE

Ibinaba ni Sky si Silver na ngayon ay gising na. Agad na napansin ni Ice si Silver. Namilog ang mga mata niya at agad na lumapit dito. Nanggigigil na pinisil ni Ice ang mukha ni Silver. Hindi naman maipinta ang mukha ni Silver na halatang hindi natutuwa sa ginagawa ni Ice.

"Ang cute!" matinis na wika ni Ice.

"Who's this woman?" kunot-noong tanong ni Silver sa 'kin.

"Ang suplado mong bata ka! I'm Ice," nakangising pakilala ni Ice sa kanya.

"You're hurting me," Silver commented. Hindi man lang pinansin ang pagpapakilala ni Ice. Sumimangot naman si Ice pero hindi niya si Silver at niyakap. Nakaupo na sila ngayon sa lupa. Silver was sitting on her lap. Kinikiliti ni Ice ang tainga ni Silver. Napapansin ko ang paggalaw ng mga tainga nito at pamumula ng mukha. Halatang pinipigilan ang pagtawa. Silver bit his lower lip but suddenly he burst out laughing.

"Who's your master?" excited na tanong ni Ice.

"That woman," Silver pointed out to me. Sumimangot ako dahil sa itinawag ni Silver sa 'kin.

"I'm your master, Silver," paalala ko sa kanya.

"I know, human," nakangusong sabi ni Silver. Malakas namang tumawa si Ice. Ngumuso ako dahil sa itinawag niya sa 'kin. Kanina woman, ngayon human. He should have called me Master.

"You managed to get a rare pet," namamanghang komento ni Ice.

"Bakit? Wala ka bang nakalaban habang papunta rito?" kunot-noong tanong ko sa kanya.

"No. I just encountered some random wild beast," nakangusong sagot niya sa 'kin. "Unfair. Bakit ang swerte mo?" naiiling na sabi ni Ice.

"Nagkataon lang," nakangising sabi ko sa kanya. Napansin ko ang paglapit ni Cember kay Sky. Lihim akong sumimangot.

"Are you fine?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Cember kay Sky. Sky nodded.

"How about you? Let me see your cuts," kunot-noong tanong ni Sky habang nakatingin sa mga hiwa ni Cember sa braso at pisngi. Damn! Agad akong lumapit kina Ice. Hindi man lang niya napansin ang mga sugat ko kanina pero 'yong kay Cember, pinansin niya!

"Nakasabay mo rin si Cember sa daan?" bulong ko kay Ice.

Lumingon si Ice sa direksiyon nina Sky at Cember at nakakalokong ngumisi. Bumaling ang tingin niya sa 'kin. "Yes. Bakit? Mukhang may nagseselos dito ah," mahinang pang-aasar niya sa 'kin.

"Sana pinagaling na lang niya ang sarili niya," nakasimangot na sabi ko.

"You got bruises too. Sky didn't notice?" nang-aasar pang tanong ni Ice sa 'kin.

"Si Silver ang napansin niya. He's a jerk," naiiling na sabi ko.

Malakas na tumawa si Ice kaya napalingon sina Sky at Cember sa 'kin. I looked away but obviously I'm pissed. I hated it when I couldn't control my jealousy. I shouldn't feel this way. Mariin kong kinagat ang labi ko.

"Itali mo na kasi," bulong ni Ice sa 'kin.

"Ano'ng itali? Sa puno? Ibibitin ko ng patiwarik?" inis na bulong ko rin.

Tumawa si Ice. "I mean, marry him. That way, wala ng makakalapit sa kanya. Madalas pa kayong magkasama. You have the right to be angry and to be jealous," natatawang sabi niya.

"Ice, kahit pakasalan ko siya, wala pa rin akong karapatang magalit o magselos. This is just a game," nakasimangot na wika ko.

"Hmmm. Himala. Hindi ka na nagdedeny," nakangising sabi niya. "Tanggap na tanggap mo na talaga, friend. I'm so proud of you!" she said and giggled. "Pero seryosong advice, gawin mo ng boyfriend sa totoong buhay para may karapatan ka na," natatawang sambit niya.

I hissed. "Seryoso na 'yang advice na 'yan?" Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay bago tumango.

"Seryoso 'yon," she smirked. Kinikiliti pa rin niya si Silver at tumatawa pa rin ito habang iwinawagayway ang mga buntot sa hangin. I sighed heavily. Imposibleng mangyari ang advice niya. I don't think, I should even consider it.

"Sa tingin ko, may gusto si Cember kay Sky. Nagpapasimple lang pero dumidiskarte," bulong pa sa 'kin ni Ice. She seems like a devil whispering in my ears. But I won't listen. Kung may gusto si Cember kay Sky, wala naman akong magagawa. Feelings and emotions are uncontrollable. Out of hand. That's why, right now, I can't also handle being hurt. It felt like sharp needles were pricking my heart. Annoying and painful even though I don't want to feel this. Hinaplos-haplos ko na lang ang buntot ni Silver.

"Ano'ng pinagkakaguluhan ninyong dalawa?"

Agad kaming lumingon ni Ice sa likod naman. Fire was grinning at us. Dumating na siya kasama si Zeal. Nakalaban na namin ni Sky si Zeal noon sa Shot To Kill Tower. Pinagtulungan namin siya noon. Kaswal na lumapit si Zeal kina Sky.

"Who's that cat boy?" takang tanong ni Fire sa 'kin. Lumapit siya at umupo sa tabi ko.

"I'm not a cat, I'm a fox," pagtatama ni Silver dahil tila nagpanting ang tainga niya. Naiinis na tumingin siya kay Fire at biglang nagtransform. He's a tiny fox now. Tila gusto niyang atakihin si Fire. Mas lalo namang namilog ang mga mata ni Ice dahil sa nasaksihan. Maging si Fire ay nagulat din at natuwa.

"Whose pet is this? What's his name?" natutuwang tanong ni Fire nang kunin niya si Silver. Nakasimangot na nag-transform ulit si Silver. He was now poking Fire's nose.

"Mine. He's Silver," sagot ko sa kanya.

"You're lucky," nakangising sabi ni Fire. Pinaupo niya sa hita niya si Silver. "And you named him Silver. You named him after your dog!" natatawang sabi ni Fire. He looked at me while smiling big. Nakangiti rin ako sa kanya pero biglang napawi ang ngiti niya sa labi. Ilang beses na napalunok siya habang nakatitig kami sa isa't isa.

"Damn!" he silently cursed and looked back to Silver. Kumunot ang noo ko. I wondered if there's something wrong.

"Nakatingin sa 'yo si Sky," bulong sa 'kin ni Ice. Biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. Nag-aalangan at pasimpleng lumingon ako kay Sky. I caught his eyes. He was really looking at me. Agad din siyang nag-iwas ng tingin. Maging ako ay ganu'n din ang ginawa.

"May mga sugat ka," mahinang komento ni Fire pero hindi pa rin ako tinitingnan.

"Silver fought me. That's why," I said and shrugged my shoulder.

"I'll heal you," he offered. Inalis niya ang kamay kay Silver at hinawakan ang braso ko na kinagat ni Silver kanina. Napangiwi ako dahil sa sakit. May dugo pa rin na lumalabas doon. Hindi ito lubusang napagaling ng health replenisher ko kanina.

"No. Ipunin mo na lang ang lakas mo," nakasimangot na sabi ko pero hawak na niya ang staff niya at pinapagaling na ako. Bumuntong-hininga ako dahil sa ginawa niya. "You're not listening to your leader," mahinang bulong ko.

He chuckled. "Matigas din naman ang ulo ng leader ko kaya ayos lang," he grinned.

"You two look closer than the other guy," Silver said out of the blue. Kumunot ang noo ni Fire.

"Other guy?" takang tanong niya. Napalunok ako dahil kilala ko na kung sino ang tinutukoy ni Silver. Before I could stop him, he already answered Fire's question.

"Yeah. That guy named Sky," he answered. Natigilan si Fire pero tahimik niyang ipinagpatuloy ang paggamot sa sugat ko. I wondered what he was thinking. Nakatitig lang siya sa sugat ko at malalim ang iniisip. I patted his head. Marahan kong ginulo ang buhok niya.

"May problema ba?" nag-aalalang tanong ko sa kanya. Hindi niya ako tiningnan sa mga mata pero tahimik siyang umiling. I sighed heavily. Alam kong may problema dahil nararamdaman ko. "Fire..." I whispered. He didn't respond. "Frey..." mariin kong wika. Bigla siyang natauhan at naguguluhang tumingin sa 'kin.

"Sorry," he sighed heavily. "I was lost in my thoughts," he smiled hesitantly. Ngumiti na lang ako sa kanya pero hindi pa rin mawala ang pag-aalala. Napagaling na niya ang sugat ko.

"Thanks!" I said sincerely. He just nodded. Tumayo na ako. Tumayo na rin siya at binuhat si Silver. Bumulong naman si Ice sa 'kin nang tumayo siya.

"Buti hindi kayo namatay sa tingin ni Sky kanina," pang-aasar niya sa 'kin. He looked again? I don't know. Hindi ko na siya tiningnan pa muli para makumpirma ang iniisip ko.

Dumating na sina Phoenix, Scithe at Angel. Sugatan din sila pero masaya ako dahil nakarating silang lahat dito. Angel got a pet too. She captured an eagle. Lumapit naman sina Light, Heather at Draco kina Sky. Light is a girl and she's a bard too. Zeal is an archer. Heather is a berserker carrying a large axe. Draco was an assassin like Ice.

"Now, will you explain everything?" kunot-noong tanong ko kay Sky nang lingunin ko siya. Pero sa tingin ko may ideya na ako ngayon kung bakit kami napunta rito. Bago kami pumunta rito upang hanapin ang Lost City, wala kaming alam kung ano ang naghihintay sa 'min dito. Hindi namin alam kung ano'ng meron dito. But now that we witnessed and already had an idea on what's waiting for us here, we already know what to do. We need more comrades for this dungeon raids.

"Hiniling ko kay Ara na dalhin kami kung nasaan kayo," he answered. Kumunot ang noo ko. "Of course, she won't let us. Kailangan ko pang gawin ang gusto niya," he continued. "But it's not that important. Alam ko na hindi na magiging madali ang mga susunod na dungeons. Hindi ito kaya ng isang party lang. Ngayon ko lang din naintindihan. This is a dungeon raid. Four parties ang maximum capacity para sa isang raid. We barely survived the second dungeon. Hindi na magiging madali ang pangatlo kaya naisip ko ito," seryosong saad niya. No doubt that he's smart. Mabilis niyang napag-isipan ito unlike me. Bakit ba hindi ko ito naisip?

"I get it. So, you want to team up with us until the very end?" kunot-noong tanong ko sa kanya.

"It's the only way to survive," he answered. Hindi ito ang oras upang magmatigas. They needed us and we needed them too. Ito rin ang mas mabuting gawin.

"Fine. So, what's the plan?" I asked then crossed my arms.

"I don't have plans. We just need to fight, win and stick together until the end," nakangising sagot niya. Umangat ang kilay ko.

"That's your party's motto?" kunot-noong tanong ko sa kanya. He nodded and smiled playfully.

"And that will be our motto soon too," makahulugang sambit niya sa 'kin. I could feel my cheeks burned hot. I don't want to assume the meaning behind his words but I couldn't help it. Now, I wanted to throw rocks on his face for making me feel this way. And stupid heart was throbbing with excitement. It's fucking stupid and I can't even say anything!

"That's enough. Let's now go inside," seryosong saad ni Fire. I heaved a deep sigh and nodded. Ngumisi lang si Sky bago niya binigyan ng instructions ang mga kasama niya.

"It's settled. There will be two leaders. Me and Zeus. Depending on the circumstances, we will give out instructions and be sure to follow our leads," he said with authority. His hard and full voice was mesmerizing and overpowering me. Pakiramdam ko, lahat ng mga sasabihin niya o iuutos niya ay susundin ko talaga. Pakiramdam ko hindi ko magagawang baliin ang kahit anong sasabihin niya. Tiningnan ko ang mga kasama ko.

"You heard him. Since we're a group now and we're all here and united for one purpose, you need to follow Sky's lead too. I'm sure he will not let us down," seryosong saad ko.

"You're trusting him too much," Fire commented with a bitter tone.

"That's one of the keys to survive this game, Fire. Trust. We need to trust our comrades and believe in each other's strengths and capabilities. If we doubt our comrades, we're screwed. We will not be able to move and carry on to our final destination. We will not survive if we fought this alone by ourselves," sersoyong saad ko. Tiningnan ko siya. Kakaiba ang ikinikilos niya ngayon. Hindi naman siya nakikipagtalo noon sa mga ganitong bagay. Alam kong alam niya na tama ang ginagawa ko ngayon, pero bakit? It seemed that he didn't like to be with Sky's party. He bit his lower lip and nodded hesitantly. I sighed in relief. Sana walang maging problema sa team up namin ni Sky. I hope my team can work with his team smoothly.

Lumingon ako kay Sky na naghihintay na sa 'min ngayon. I nodded at him. He smiled gently.

"Let's go," he said. Naglakad na kami patungo sa harap ng silver gate. Kahit nasa harapan pa lang kami ng gate ay nararamdaman ko na ang malakas na aura na nagmumula sa loob nito. Kinuha ko si Silver sa kay Fire.

"Silver, you're not going to fight. Just watch from afar and avoid the attacks," seryosong utos ko sa kanya.

Ngumuso si Silver. "That's boring but if that's what you want then fine," he answered. I never thought that he'll be obedient.

"Good boy." I smiled and kissed his forehead. He blushed.

"It seems like you're talking to a dog. Remember I'm not a dog," he said and frowned. I chuckled. Ibinaba ko siya sa lupa. I patted his head. Unti-unting bumukas ang silver gate ng West Gate. Nakaramdam ako ng kaba. Medyo madilim ang loob ng dungeon. The violet lights illuminating the whole room was a sign that everything will not be easy from here on.

Naglakad na kami papasok sa loob nito. The gates were now slowly closing. And we could clearly see a demon with three horns. Ang isang sungay nito ay nasa noo. Mahaba ang buhok. Mapupula ang mga mata at malaki ang pangangatawan nito. It's height was not normal. Nakatingala na kami dahil sa sobrang tangkad nito. It was holding two large metal balls with thorns connected with long chains. Pakiramdam ko, isang hampas lang nito sa 'min ay madudurog na ang mga katawan namin. My body wanted to tremble in fear. Hinawakan ko nang mahigpit ang Crystal Bow. I should have upgraded my weapons to its maximum but I didn't and it's too late now.

"As much as possible avoid contacts with the Boss. Hindi ito basta-basta," Sky commented. We could see it clearly. Ang malakas na aura na bumabalot dito ang nagsasabi sa 'min na hindi magiging madali ang lahat.

"Switch more faster and accurate," seryosong saad ko. "Let's see what everyone can do. I'll try to analyze it and give out instructions when I figured something out," seryosong saad ko.

"Good. Then watch for afar while attacking the Boss and analyze everything. Avoid its attacks too. Be careful. Everyone, move!" seryoso at maawtoridad na utos ni Sky. Naiinis ako dahil sa pagiging effective leader niya. He was so powerful when he speak and give orders like that. I can't probably say no to his words. Naghiwa-hiwalay kaming lahat upang palibutan ang dungeon Boss. Naiwan sa isang sulok si Silver. Tiyak na isang tama lang ng bolang metal sa katawan niya ay mauubos na ang health points niya. I don't want to lose him that fast. Malayo ako sa halimaw. Hinawakan ko ng mahigpit ang Crystal Bow ko. Nakatutok ang palaso ko sa ulo nito. It was wearing heavy and thick armor. Mahihirapan kaming tibagin ang depensa nito. It will took our time too much. When everthing was already set, we started to move and attack the boss with all our might and strength.

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TO BE CONTINUED...

Author's Note

Maikli lang ang update since tinatamad pa akong magsulat haha. Thanks sa pagbbasa. Comments? Next time ulit. Busy-busyhan lang eh.