"Sorry, medyo traffic," ani Stephan nang makarating sa basement ng SKT Gaming hub. Bumungad sa kanya sina Rexord, Rederan, at Jelo.
Stephan sat down on the sofa as she placed her phone on the side table. Isang tanong lang ang gumugulo sa kanyang isipan, iyon ay kung nalaman na ba nila kung sino ang traydor sa grupo.
"We're very disappointed, 2nd," wika ni 8th, na nakatayo sa harapan niya. "We thought you're loyal to this group. Si 11th pa talaga ang napili mo?"
In that moment, Stephan got her answer. Sunod siyang napatingin kina Rexord at Rederan. Si Rexord, bagama't may bakas ng pagkadismaya sa mukha, ay tila nanatiling mahinahon. But Rederan couldn't hide his anger.
"Hindi mo ba inisip kung anong sinira mo? Years of friendship and trust. Lahat iyon, tinapon mo lang para kay 11th!" hindi naiwasang magtaas ng boses ni Rederan mula sa bar area.
"Hindi ko alam kung ano pang ginawa mo kasama si 11th, pero 'yong pagbibigay mo ng confidential information sa kanya tungkol sa members, lalo na 'yong mga ibang bagay na tayo lang ang dapat ang may access? Hindi siya parte ng exclusive, 2nd! Alam mong isa 'yon sa ipinagbabawal dito, at hindi 'yon palalampasin ni kumpadre."
Stephan opened her mouth to speak, but suddenly the door opened. Everyone's attention shifted to Blaster, who walked toward Stephan with a serious expression.
Stephan's eyes widened. She knew this moment would come, but Blaster's cold and intimidating look still caught her off guard.
"Stephan Pascual..." pagdidiin ni Blaster sa pangalan ng babae. "How bold of you to do that! You're the wiser member, I expected better from you."
"Do you know what you've done?" He stepped closer as his jaw clenched. "You broke our trust. For what? Para sa gagong 'yon?"
"I did it for Vinassy... to solve her death case."
Blaster's eyes narrowed. "And you thought working with 11th was the perfect way to do it?"
"Oo," nanatiling matatag ang boses ni Stephan. "Kasi alam kong matutulungan niya ako, lalo't magkapatid sila."
"What made you think I wouldn't help you with her case?" Blaster almost exploded. "You should've come to us! Hindi kay 11th!"
"Paano ko magagawa 'yon? Nawala ka, it felt like you abandoned us. At sigurado ka bang walang iba pang naging traydor sa grupo?"
"Pucha naman, 2nd!" daing ni Rederan, na halos masira ang hawak na baso. "Hindi rason ang pagkawala ni Zero para hindi ka lumapit sa amin. Nandito pa naman kami, oh!"
"Madali para sabihin sa iyo 'yan, 7th. How could I trust anyone here when even Yna did those things to Vinassy? Iyong lecheng 6th na 'yon na mas malapit pa kay Blaster at parte rin ng exclusive members."
"Yna is different from us," Jelo replied, trying to calm his voice. "Hindi porket nawala ang tiwala mo sa iba, kalilimutan mo na kami."
"I was... lost. Hanggang sa dumating si Vince, at naisip kong makakasama ko siyang pwedeng maghanap ng mga sagot."
"Tss! Kaya tuluyan mong piniling makipagsabwatan sa kanya?" Rederan asked in disbelief.
"Hindi. Hindi kasama sa plano ko 'yon. I was investigating alone until he cornered me. Hindi ko alam kung anong ginawa niya noon, at nang malaman ko, huli na para umatras."
"Kami pa rin ang naunang kakampi mo sa lahat," pagdaing ni Rexord. "Kung kinausap mo sana kami tungkol sa imbestigasyon mo, sana hindi ganito ang sitwasyon ngayon."
"I would've done everything to help you. Para kay Vinassy. Ang dami mong ginawa bilang 2nd na alam mong ipinagbabawal sa grupo," ani Blaster at napahimas sa sintido.
BINABASA MO ANG
Group Chat (GC Series #1)
Mystery / ThrillerGroup Chat tells the story of Zhavie Fuentes, a girl who was living a mundane life until she was added to a mysterious group chat named σκοτώνω. Little did she know that becoming a member would change the course of her entire life. ARE YOU READY TO...
