Golden Ceremony

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

A Cat's Blade

Gulat na gulat kami na tiningnan si Mordecai, his arms crossed while leaning back against the chair, may nakapintang ngiting mapanloko sa labi niya. I was too speechless to say anything.

"Bakit pa nila tayo bibigyan ng reward sa huli kung wala rin palang mananalo?" Tanong ni Oslo na nakakunot-noo.

"Think about it," Mordecai crossed his arms between his chest. "Do you really think they'll just give away millions of pesos for you?"

Bigla kaming natahimik sa sinabi niya. It's too good to be true na ibibigay nila sa amin ang gano'n kalaking halaga na pera. Maaaring pinaglalaruan lang nila kami hanggang sa maubos kaming lahat at aangkinin lang din nila ang pera sa huli.

"Nakalimutan mo na kontrol nila ang games." Dugtong ni Mordecai. "Kahit ano pwede mangyari sa'tin. Pwede nila tayo patayin kahit kailan kung gugustuhin nila. The only thing that's stopping them from killing us all so they can watch us play and die to entertain themselves."

"You mean to say is," sabi ni Lothaire after a long pause. "We're all going to die."

"Yup."

"Wait? What?!" Ngumiwi ang mukha ni Oslo.

"Sigurado ka ba sa sinasabi mo?" Sabi ko.

"Baka kathang-isip mo lang 'yan!" Buwelta ni Enid.

"With all of my nine lives, I'm certain of it." Kampanteng sagot ni Mordecai.

Nine lives? Is he a cat?

"Look, Mordecat—" Napahinto ako sa pagsasalita nang napagtanto ko lang ang sinabi ko. I just called him Mordecat.

Tinaasan ako ng kilay ni Mordecai. Nagpipigil naman na tumawa ang tatlo habang inaabangan na mapagalitan ako ng pusa sa grupo namin.

"Mordecat?" He raised his thick eyebrow at me. His dagger eyes already feels like he's stabbing me.

"I... uhm..."

I imagined Mordecai having cat ears while blushing and being a tsundere, crossing his arms and frowning and insulting us. Why does it fit him so well?

"Don't call me Mordecat." He frowned and his face turning red. It's exactly like my imagination! Kulang na lang ng tainga ng pusa.

"Sure..." I smiled and shrugged, trying to choke back my laughter. "Got any more ideas... Mordecat?"

"Yeah and it's killing you."

Half of me just laughed at it, the other believed it. Whether it's a joke or not, saying that to someone makes everyone feel uneasy.

Nawala 'yung tawanan nila pati na rin ang magaan na vibe simula nang sinabi niya iyon. Lahat kami'y nakatitig kay Mordecai. Jokes like that can't be taken lightly now.

"I was just joking. Why is everyone suddenly so quiet?" Nagtatakang sabi ni Mordecai habang nainom ng can of soda.

Walang sumagot sa kanya. Maybe everyone is thinking the same thing. We must be careful who to trust.

Can I even trust my own team?

I mean, I should be. We looked out for each other throughout the games we've dealt together so far, but still... Anything can change in just a snap.

One minute we're all friends, and the next, there's a bloodbath. Sana naman hindi umabot sa gano'n na punto.

Pinagusapan namin ang mga theories at nag-debate tungkol sa Golden Ceremony. Just mentioning it makes my skin crawl and my spine chill to the bones. It all started when the principal announced it.