Group Chat (GC Series #1)

Epilogue (Part 2)

EPILOGUE PART 2
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VINCENT

I never planned to join any group, lalo na ang Skotóno. Hindi 'yon ang mundo ko. Pero nagbago lahat nung nalaman kong kasama roon ang kapatid ko.

From the start, the identity of "11th" was never mine. It was meant for Vincent Rialde, the real 11th.

He grew up in an orphanage. Siya lang ang tunay at kaisa-isa kong kaibigan. Skotóno gave him the life he never had: connections, privilege, and money. Kaya naiintindihan ko kung bakit siya sumali. Matalino siya at magaling sa laro, pero may mga kalokohang tinatago kaya siguro nagawa naming maging malapit kaagad.

Hanggang sa isang araw, sinabi niya ang isang bagay na babago sa buhay ko.

"Sigurado ako, tol. Si Vinassy 'yong 5th," saad niya habang pauwi kami.

I was in denial at first. I knew my sister, she wouldn't join something like that. But maybe I was just holding on to who she used to be. Gusto kong makita kung gaano na kalalim ang koneksyon niya sa grupong 'yon. And the only way to do that... was to enter that group.

"Huh? Gagamitin mo 'yong account ko?" tanong ni Rialde habang nag-aayos kami ng dekorasyon para sa event sa orphanage.

"Sa GC lang ako naman magbabantay. Kumbaga shadow lang ako. You're still the face and name they know."

Hindi madaling mapapayag siya, pero nakumbinsi ko rin sa huli. He taught me everything. And slowly, I started acting like one of them.

Lagi akong kinukumbinsi ni Rialde na ligtas ang kapatid ko roon, lalo na't malapit siya sa head admin at mukhang may namumuong relasyon sa kanila. Pero hindi pa rin ako nagpakampante.

I warned Vinassy to leave Skotóno. I even confessed I was part of it. But she told me I was the one with issues and hurt Axiel when we were younger, not the other way around. Alam ko naman 'yon. Ayoko lang na madamay siya sa gulo. I was scared of what they'd do to her if they found out she was my sister.

"Tol, ilang buwan na oh. Chill ka lang. Saka kahit malaman nilang kapatid mo si Vinassy, imposibleng madadamay pa siya sa gulo niyo ni Axiel," saad niya habang nagmamaneho ako pauwi.

That night, we celebrated his tournament win. Puro lang kami tawa habang pinag-uusapan ang mga balak naming gawin sa mga susunod na taon. Until an incident happened.

It was a heavy rain. All I remember was the loud screech of tires, and everything went black. Pagmulat ko, ospital ang bumungad sa akin.

Fuck. Why am I here in the place I've hated since I was a kid?

Napalinga ako, agad hinanap ng mata ko si Rialde.

Nagwala ako sa loob nang malaman ko ang balita. Matagal na raw akong walang malay, at ilang araw na siyang pinaglalamayan. Lahat ng tingin sa'kin, parang ako ang may kasalanan dahil ako ang nagmamaneho nang gabing 'yon.

Tumakas ako ng hospital. They said Vinassy was on her way to visit me, but I couldn't face her. Gusto ko lang makita si Rialde.

The streets blurred in my vision. Before I could even find him, I got into another accident. This one was worse. I fell into a short coma and missed everything, even my sister's debut.

Pagmulat ko, may sulat mula kay Vinassy sa side table. Ramdam kong may mali kaya nagmadali akong umalis sa ospital.

"Vinasy!" Pinigilan ako ng mga tao dahil lalong lumalaki ang apoy. "Bitawan n'yo 'ko! T*ngina, nasa loob ang kapatid ko!"

When I finally got close, all I saw was a charred body, barely recognizable. The only thing I could save was the silver necklace I made for her.

Huli na nang malaman kong umalis na siya sa Skotóno at may isinama na exchange member, si 19th. Hindi malinaw ang lahat, pero mabilis kumalat ang balita. Suicide raw.