Golden Ceremony

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

The Prison

We went to another room with white walls, floor, and ceiling. Crying, groaning, and murmurs echoed across the air from all those who won the game but had lost their sanity along the way.

Nilibot ko ang aking paningin para hanapin si Lothaire sa white room then my eyes landed on him. He's standing by the wall, leaning against it with his hands on his pockets. 

Sinalubong ako ng ngiti ni Lothaire nang nilapitan ko siya. Hinihintay niya pala ako.

Tiningnan ako ni Lothaire na nakangisi. "Your grade is a lie, isn't it?"

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, c'mon, Cove. You're not really a Grade F here." Sabay tinuro niya ang kanyang sentido. "You're probably a Grade A there."

Nagkibit-balikat lang ako. "Who knows?"

"I do." Lothaire said confidently. "So, why did you end up in Grade F if you're really a Grade A?"

Sa halip na sagutin siya, napagtuonan ko ng pansin ang mga schoolmates namin na nagkukumpulan habang palakas nang palakas ang ingay nila.

There was a loud noise from everyone protesting and begging to leave Golden Academy, away from all the games of death. The students on the front are banging on the closed double doorway while the others are piling behind them as if the building was on fire.

Halos hindi ko na marinig ang sinasabi ni Lothaire kaya kailangan ko pang ilapit ang tainga ko sa bibig niya para lang marinig ko siya.

"They won't let us go no matter how much we all wanted to leave. What they're doing is useless." sabi niya.

"Ano pa bang magagawa natin?" humalukipkip ako. "Everyone is desperate. Natatakot sila sa nangyari sa atin. The Manhunt was a massacre, tapos ang nangyari pa sa Examination, napilitan tayong lahat na makitang mahulog at mamatay ang schoolmates natin."

"I know. It's expected for everyone to panic like this." He shrugged.

"Makikisigaw na rin sana ako ngayon pero wala lang akong enerhiya na sumigaw man lang."

"Don't. Maybe this is just part of their scheme, to make everyone fear the Golden Ceremony."

Biglang natahimik ang ingay mula sa umalingawngaw na school bell. Sa sobrang lakas nito, napatakip kaming lahat sa aming tainga para lang hindi ako mabingi.

Nang natapos ang school bell, sumunod ang beeping sound mula sa intercom bago may nagsalita ng boses babae, the same monotonous robotic voice.

"Please remain calm before we deliver our announcement of your promotions."

Lothaire and I exchanged confused glances.

"Do you think they're upgrading our prizes on our heads?" Tanong ni Lothaire. Hindi ko siya sinagot dahil napatingala na lang ako mula sa nag-flash na lumabas sa flatscreen sa pader.

It's the same white background with bold black letters but this time, kasama na ang mukha ko sa iskrin. Me and Lothaire looked at the screen with bewildered eyes.

"Cove Molina has been promoted to Grade E!"

Nang makita nila ang litrato ko sa iskrin, bigla silang lahat napatingin sa akin. Maski si Lothaire at Enid ay hindi inaasahan ang pahayag nila.

May mga kasunod pang binanggit ang intercom ng mga pangalan na umangat ang ranko.

Hindi namin napansin noon pagkatapos ng Manhunt pero dumadagdag pala ang halaga namin. Masyadong naging busy kami na problemahin ang second game, may reward na pala kaming natatanggap mula sa Manhunt.