Game Of Life: Volume 3

7. The one-man player

|| Sage ||

I can hear them all, laughing. I still can't see them, but considering how I can hear their voices well, they're not that far away.

Napaismid ako. Me? Losing?

Kahit naiirita, pinilit kong itago ang ekspresyon ko. Pasimple ko silang hinahanap.

"Foolish. I don't need a team, I'm a one-man player. I'm used at playing games alone." Pinasok ko sa bulsa ang magkabilang kamay ko. "I can win whatever challenge you have, try me."

Nagkaroon ng sandaling katahimikan, sa puntong akala ko'y iniwan na nila 'ko. Hanggang sa makarinig ako ng pag-apak mula sa likuran ko. Prente ko itong nilingon.

There I saw the creatures behind the voices.

"You talk big, kiddo," the old man said.

He have long white hair and a long white beard, clothes in medieval style. Next to him is a girl who have same clothes, hair in braid. With the last guy wearing the same as well, hair short and brown.

Other than the type of clothes they wear, they have also another thing in common.

Their height, its probably 3 feet at most.

Dwarves.

Tinuro ako ng babaeng nasa gitna, magkasalubong ang dalawang kilay. "A team with only one player can't win the game!!!" inis niyang sambit.

Walang ekspresyon ko silang tinignan. Not that I'm that surprised since I took this probability as a chance, but I still didn't expect that it could happen at this moment. Sa likod ng malalaking boses at mabibigat na salitang mga binitawan nila, hindi ko inaasahan na ito ang sasalubong sa 'kin.

My eyelids are straight. This is a waste of time.

I sighed. Hindi naman 'yon pinalagpas ulit ng babae.

"Ah!" She sounded so offended. "Disrespectful brat! We should teach you a lesson!!!"

Marahan siyang hinawakan ng lalaking nasa gilid niya, ang isa pang bata. "C-Calm down, Arietty." Pagpapakalma niya sa kasama na hindi naman siya pinansin.

Pinilit ng nangangalang Arietty na dwarf ang kasama niyang tanggalin ang pagkakahawak sa kaniya. "No! Let go of me, Goya! This brat!!!"

They look like they have a different world, that made me look and give my attention to the oldest and the elder man they're with. He's also looking at me with a serious expression. He's examining me.

"Boy." Malalim talaga ang boses niya, nahinto ang dalawang nasa gilid niya. "Seeing your face, you don't see us as a threat," aniya.

I faced him, and answered him straight. "I don't. Not because of your race, nor appearance. But just because you're NPCs. NPCs in an unregistered district without a game general. Of course, I won't see you as a threat."

Unlike Arietty who was offended again, the old man remained calm, as if he expected and understood my answer.

"Indeed, we're not like the other districts. But we, are still programmed to play and challenge you— players." Hindi nawawala ang pagtingin niya sa mga mata ko. "What we said was true. We can't let you leave if you don't win against us. Do you think you can win against us on your own, boy?"

Hindi ako nagpatinag, tumaas ang noo ko. "What I said was true as well. I can play solo, and I can win on my own."

Marahang pumikit ang kaharap ko at humingang malalim. Nang minulat niya ang mga mata niya, humampas ang hangin.

"Very well. We challenge you in a game, one-man player." The atmosphere suddenly changed, there's tension between us.

I answered back. "I accept your challenge."

He stepped his right foot. "I, Gild, will be the arbiter as well as a player of the said challenge." He gave the guy next to him a look, he as well, stepped forward. "Goya, my grandson, will be your first competitor."

I glanced at Goya. With just a look, I can tell he's soft and fragile. Seeing his actions with Arietty as well. A light character. Hindi ito nawawala.

"What's the challenge?" tanong ko, tinignan pabalik si Gild.

"Each competitors have different challenges. You need to fight all of us and win twice or thrice to win the challenge. If only you have a team, each one of you could've fight one on one," sagot niya.

Patago akong napaismid.

Team, team, team, team! They keep mentioning it even after I said I could do it on my own.

I looked at Goya who couldn't even look straight at me. "Then? What's the challenge?"

He bit his lower lip. Before he can even answer, a log emerged in front, between us.

Nabigla ako, mas lalo nang ibuka ng kaharap ko ang bibig niya at sumunod ang boses niya.

"A-Arm wrestling."

My eyes widened a little, surprised.

And just like that, the way I see him changed.

Yes. Just like how I first saw a certain someone, and how I see him now.

Nauna siyang lumapit sa troso pagitan namin, nilagay niya rito ang braso niya. Now, Potchi have an expression on his face. He looks worried as I put him down to a rock.

"Okay," I said as I walk towards him. At the same time, I'm folding my sleeves up to my upper arm. Saktong pagpwesto ko sa harapan ni Goya, nakaangat na ang sleeves ko at nakikita ang braso ko.

"Let's play."

Pareho naming pinatong ang braso namin sa kahoy. Malalim akong huminga. Again, a challenge that I didn't expect, but I should win.

I still need 2 more chess pieces to challenge the Game Master, I can't waste my time here.

Hinawakan namin ang kamay ng isa't isa. I can feel his grip, a dwarf's strength is no joke. They're known for being blacksmiths in most lore. I shouldn't judge his strength based on his appearance.

It felt like time slowed down as Gild give us the signal to start. I was ready to give it my all, of course. It's a challenge I'm really not comfortable with. Unlike for him, this is quite hard for me. It's not my forte.

Eyo!

I was taken aback. It was too fast, yet it felt like the time is still slow. The next thing I knew, I felt the sting on my arm that was on sideways, Goya's arm pinning it down. Natauhan na lang ako nang iangat ni Gild ang kamay niya at narinig ko ang boses niya.

Shit . . . too fast.

"First challenge, you lost!"

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