Machiavellian

Chapter Seven

Honesty, Honesty

CYRA

"I didn't know you play chess." Francis quietly said beside me. His eyes gazed at me with suspicion. "We've been together all this time yet you didn't tell me about this. Nakapaglaro pa sana tayo..."

"At saan tayo kukuha ng chess board? We've been together all this time... Pero ni isang chess board ay wala pa tayong nakikita." Pakikisabay ko sa kanya.

"I could easily make one," he answered.

Napatawa ako. As if the real Sage would play with him. "That's not necessary."

"You saved us back there." He murmured and chuckled a bit. "That's something I never expected you to do."

"I was saving myself. Magagawa ko lang iyon kung mananalo tayo," mariin kong sagot. "A pawn couldn't win the game alone."

Nawala ang kunot sa noo niya. Tuluyan siyang umalis sa tabi ko at hinarap ako. Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang mga kasama namin. Hanggang ngayon ay nakaupo pa rin sila sa sahig at hinihintay magbukas ang sunod na pintuan na papasukan namin. A red door. I assume there are still other entrants taking the phase there.

"You still didn't answer my questions." He growled quietly again. "Bakit mo gustong makapasok sa Levaerun? Bakit ngayon lang? Your codename's revenge. Was that the answer? What do you want revenge for if you've never been in Levaerun?" Sunod-sunod niyang tanong.

Umiling ako. "Walang kinalaman iyon sa ginagawa ko ngayon."

"Then, why? What's out there?" He asked, more aggressively this time. Ahh... I'm starting to see it. He's not letting Sage go this easily.

"If I stay here, the time will come that we're going to eat each other because of starvation, Hunter."

He stilled. "What?"

"The Capital's on the other side of the bridge. It's the place where mainly food is being produced for the citizens there. Most of us survive here because of their wastes. Sa mga tira-tirang pagkain nila na lumalabas sa pader papunta sa tulay hanggang sa maabot na ng ilan sa atin... One day, once they solve the problem of environmental crisis like pollution and food wastes, they could easily cut down the bridge. Wala na tayong may pagkukunan pa rito..." paliwanag ko. "This so-called act of mercy of theirs will be gone."

"We have forests here. And you know how to hunt," he said. "Among all of the people I knew, I thought you will be the most prepared one if ever that happens."

Natigilan ako. Hindi alam ni Sage ang mga sinasabi niya sa lalaking ito. To survive is a make-believe thing that she always thought she could do for the both of us. But, no. It's been a long time since survival became nothing more but a myth.

"The animals will be gone soon. And plants won't produce fruit forever. Darating ang araw na mawawala rin ang mga ito dahil sa usok na lumalabas sa Levaerun..." sambit ko. "So I decided to just save myself before any of that happens."

He chuckled out of frustration. His jaw hardened before looking away from me. "And you really believed their promise of sanctuary? Ikaw na mismo ang nagsabi na hindi totoo iyon--'

Mabilis kong inabot ang bibig niya at tinakpan ng kamay ko. Napadaing ako napatingin sa paligid. "You better shut up if you want to live." I warned him. Mukhang nakakalimutan na niyang pinapanood pa rin kami sa mga sandaling ito.

"I made my choice alone. But you decided to follow me... Kung ayaw mong mapunta sa Levaerun, ngayon palang sumuko ka na. I don't want you to die here because of me." Because of Sage.