Golden Ceremony

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Golden Coin

We are all drowning.

I found myself looking back in the past, how depressed I was with the situation in my life and wasn't able to fully experience the fun teenage life that most movies and adults told us we would be.

I wanted to experience so much things in life and yet here I am, being pulled down everyday from the weight of my expectations, responsibilities, constant doubts, and pain.

All I ask is to give my freedom back.

I have to fight for it everyday because the world are always finding new ways to take away our freedom. If I get pulled down, I will pull myself back up again.

Dumating kami sa pinakailalim ng pool. Nakita ko na ngayon kung sino ang humihigit sa akin. Babae siya na maikli ang buhok na lumulutang sa tubig. She has bright brown eyes and a few bruises on her right arm.

She must've been fighting for her freedom too just like I do, to the point it brought her into killing me.

Isa siya sa mga tao na nakaantabay sa laban nina Ponsol at Mordecai, naghihintay ng ibang tao na aagawan nila ng golden coin dahil hindi nila magawa iyon kila Ponsol.

Kinapa-kapa niya pa ang katawan ko para hanapin lang ang golden coin sa akin kahit wala pa akong nakukuha o nakita man lang.

I tried to throw a punch at her pero dahil nasa tubig kami, halos dumaplis lang iyong suntok ko sa mukha niya at naiwas niya rin iyon agad.

Hinigit niya iyong braso ko atsaka tinapakan ang aking dibdib upang sumalpak ang aking likod sa tiled floor ng swimming pool.

Inanggulo ko ang binti ko, bending it until my knees are almost close to my chest, atsaka binigay ang buong lakas ko sa paa ko upang sipain siya.

Nawalan siya ng balanse at nabitawan niya ako, rolling away from the water because of that force. And I desperately need air right now.

Kinuha ko na iyong tsansa ko na lumangoy paangat sa tubig, naninikip ang dibdib ko at dumidilim ang paningin ko pero nilalabanan ko lang ito, my lungs felt painful like it was being ripped apart.

I waved my hands up as fast as I can until I could see the red lights surrounding the pool. My head popped up to the surface of the water, my mouth gasping for air after long minutes being dragged underwater.

Trickling water fell down my face and hair. Napaubo ako at tuloy-tuloy ang paghinga para makabawi sa lakas. Nilingon ko ang paligid ko pero wala pa 'yung apat.

I was about to dive back down until I saw Oslo's head popped up from the water with Enid holding onto his back.

"Just hold on to me, baby! Don't ever let go!" Oslo said to Enid while they're both panting heavily.

"You didn't have to kill them, Oslo. Kung ano pang mangyari sa'yo!" Sambit ni Enid na mukhang naiiyak pa.

"Where's Lothaire?" Walang sumagot sa kanila dahil kahit sila hindi nila alam kung nasaan siya.

Hindi pa siya umaahon hanggang ngayon. It's been longer than two minutes now.

Ayokong mag-aksaya ng oras kakahintay sa kanya. Something could've happen down there. I have to find him.

I collected as much as possible before diving back down the water. Kahit naririnig ko ang pagtutol ni Enid at Oslo, hindi ko na sila pinakinggan pa, lumangoy na ko pailalim ng pool.

Nakita ko si Lothaire na hinihigit ng dalawang tao sa ilalim, the one that dragged him down and the short-haired girl na nagtangkang lunurin ako.

Oslo pulled the other guy away from Lothaire while he struggles to set himself free from Oslo's strong arms. However, out of the five of us, Oslo has the most brute force. So, he managed to hold the other guy tightly.