Triumphs (Book 2 of Trials End)

Chapter 70

I took this chance to calm down myself and rest for a while. While Aldo is busy monitoring all the screens to help Echo.

The scorching heat is starting to take effect on everyone. I could see everyone struggling with it.

"Aiby," Aldo called. "Look, Alpha.....really stick with their strategy."

I sat properly and leaned closer to him. Nilapit niya ang laptop sa'kin at nilagay sa screen ng Alpha.

Tinignan ko ang isang grupo na sabay sabay at halos magkakadikit naglalakad. This is Alpha's strategy; magkakasama at sabay sabay aatake.

It's a sure win every time they will encounter someone.

"But.. may mga Alpha na natanggal kanina ah?" I was confused when I remembered some of the announcements a while ago.

"Hmm," Aldo stretched his arms. "I think they let their weaker classmates roam around."

"For what purpose? Pwede silang matalo ng dahil don."

'Yon ang hindi ko maintindihan sa ginagawa nila. Hinayaan nilang mawala at matanggal ang iba nilang member. And knowing Alpha? They won't waste any opportunities to save points.

"I dunno, I'm not Brice, Aiby. Hindi ko kayang basahin iniisip at ginagalaw nila." He only shrugged at binalik ang tingin sa screen.

Alpha's team is made mostly by boys, ang mga babaeng kasama lang nila ay grupo ni Jessica. Did they really just remove their weaklings?

Just as I was busy understanding them.... They faced 6 opponents.

They stopped walking and started talking to each other casually. Niccolo is the one who's doing the negotiation. He slowly walked to them and removed their name tags.

Isa isa

Dahan dahan

20 points from Beta will be transferred to Alpha

80 points from Delta will be transferred to Alpha

20 points from Charlie will be transferred to Alpha

When the speaker turned off once again, Aldo and I looked at each other. Confusion, realization and amusement was traced in our facial expression.

Damn, Alpha.

We're busy using our environment, our own resources, our own experiences...

And Alpha is using their everything here. Their name, their power, their connection, their relationships...

"Don't tell me Aiby that..." Aldo muttered.

I nodded. "Yes. Yung mga Alpha na nawala sa section nila ay naghanap ng ibang section" I smiled. "They used everything."

"Wala namang mali don diba?"

I shook my head. "Wala, walang wala. Hindi lang natin naisip na pwede nating gamitin ang reputation sa labas." Inisip namin ang bundok, kami at kagamitan na nandito. Habang sila, naisip ang maroon sila pati sa labas, whether it's people or power.

"Aiby!" Aldo hurriedly called me.

Binalik ko ang tingin sa screen and I found Alpha fighting. Niccolo and the other boys are defending the inner circle of their formation–the girls– they seem desperate to rip the name tags and defend.

Niccolo locked the other guy's arms and lifted his body. He threw him to the ground and the man landed on his belly kaya nakuha ni Niccolo ang name tag sa likuran.

I also found the guy who eliminated me. I clicked my tongue when I remembered how he pinned me down. It was hard and fast.

One guy slipped to their defense and make way to the inner circle. I can say that all of them can fight, Jessica single handedly defeated the guy.

How the hell did we defeat them last time in our room if they were so good?

"Awesome, huh?" Aldo arrogantly scoffed. "Keith and Earl can solo them," Nakangisi at mayabang kung panoodin niya ang laban ng Alpha.

"They can?" I asked.

"For Earl, yes. For Keith...just removed the girls and with no whatever weapons. Mahihirapan lang siguro sila kay Niccolo and Tristan–the one who eliminated you. Niccolo and Keith trained together. Earl trained in the military and I often saw Tristan in the boxing ring and take note...he's a gymnast, kaya talo ka talaga don."

So, he's Tristan. Kahit pala anong gawin ko kanina ay matatalo ako sa kanya. That was awesome.

Tinawanan lang niya ako at tinapik sa balikat.

"Oh..Okay." Every time they say that 'Oh Keith and Earl is strong' I still can't believe it.

I want to see it in my eyes but at the same time I don't want them to be in danger.

Nilipat ni Aldo ang screen kaya nahati muli ito sa apat. Nakita ko si Twilla at Ivo sa isang screen na may isang kalaban. Ivo was pinned down habang si Twilla ay tumitili yata sa tabi. I saw Ivo shouting too... to Twilla.

Twilla stepped forward and.....slapped their enemy?

Aldo whistled. "That slap was personal." Sabay kaming tumawa.

Their enemy held his cheek with confusion as Ivo ripped his name tag.

I looked at the other screen and found Brice and Blanca hiding at the bush.

It didn't take 5 minutes until Blanca rushed forward, Brice tried to stop her. Blanca ran towards the man and woman. Pumunta siya sa babae at sinubukang kunin ang name tag but the man stopped her. Lumabas na si Brice sa tinataguan niya.

Blanca's name tag was ripped. Si Brice naman ay sumugod sa likuran ng babae at mabilis niyang kinuha ang name tag.

Habang nag iintayan si Brice ang lalake, si Blanca naman ay busy.......... Hamunin ng away yung babae?

Napailing ako. "These girls," Sabay na naman kaming tumawa ni Aldo.

"Si Asra at Ayer ang panoodin mo!" Malakas na sabi niya habang tumatawa. Nakaturo pa siya a screen.

Napatingin ako sa screen na nasa dulo at nakita si Ayer at Asra na tumatakbo palayo. May 4 na lalake na sumusunod sa kanila. Asra and Ayer hid behind the trees at inaabangan ang apat. Ayer tripped them with his new found...stick?

Pinag sisipa sila ni Asra at si Ayer naman ay abalang makipag hilahan ng name tag. Thank God that we put our tags at the hem of our jogging pants, hindi kami kaagad natatanggalan.

Ayer's name tag was removed pero tatlo na ang nakuha niya. Ang isa naman ay natanggalan ni Asra.

"Not bad," Aldo clapped and I nodded.

Keith is doing well handling Ely, kasama naman niya si Ella. Sila Iris at Rave naman ay sabay natanggal dahil may nakasalubong na 7 babae mula sa Charlie. Graig is already out and on his way to join us. It seems Deborah is more strong-willed than him.

Lastly, si Earl at Fabian na napaka bilis kumilos at ang pinakamaraming natatalo. I looked at Earl and Fabian's screen and found Earl hanging at the tree branch.

He used his legs to lock his enemy then he let go of the branch and pinned him down. Kasama siya sa pagbagsak ng katawan ng kalaban.

While Fabian on the other side, handling 2 girls simultaneously. Thankfully he's the one who faced them. Baka kung si Earl ay mamaya may mga pasa na 'yan.

"We'll win this," Aldo said.

"Of course." I gave a small laugh to match my confidence.

"Ilan na lang ba lamang ng Alpha?" Tanong ko.

"360 points,"

"18 na tao pa," bulong ko sa sarili ko.

Binalik ko ang tingin sa laptop ni Aldo at pinanood silang lahat. Ang ginagawa na lang namin ni Aldo ay paiwasin sila sa Alpha. Kaya naman ng tumalo ng Echo ng 18 pa basta 'wag lang makahaharap ang Alpha.

If ever half of us will be eliminated, we'll ask Earl and Keith to go wild.