Unveiling the vile behind

17

17

Has he wished me luck?

Imposible... siguro naniniwala siya sa reverse psychology-that's why he said that for me to have bad luck. Pero bakit naman? Eh, we are in the same group, so if I win, he also wins. If he loses, I also lose.

I gawked. Maybe he wants to embarrass me in front of thousand people.

"Lalo tuloy akong kinabahan," Sunod-sunod akong napamura sa isipan. "Tangina kasi nung Xion na 'yon, hindi na lang tinikom yung bibig niya. Hindi rin nakakatulong amputa."

I gave myself a few moments before making myself calm down. Inayos ko ang aking postura habang ang dalawang mata ay naka-pokus sa screen, pinapanood ang gagawing paglabas ni Xion.

The crowd's fervor increased threefold as soon as they saw Xion show up. Mapait akong napangiwi nang makita ang pagkaway ni Xion sa camera at gamit ang nakasanayang emosyon na nakapaskil sa mukha, kaswal itong naglakad patungo sa kaniyang upuan.

"Ang yabang amputa," Bulong ko sa sarili. "Sana matapilok."

I waited for him to trip, but all I could do was roll my eyes when he eventually settled into his gaming chair.

"And finally, our newly drop dead cool mage, Cid!"

Malakas na kumawala ang mura sa aking isipan. There was a loud cheer, but I was startled to hear some screams. Ano pa bang aasahan ko? Malalaking banner na may pangalan ko? tarpaulin na may mukha ko?

Eh, ang dami ngang may galit sa'kin dahil patong-patong ang issue ko sa media.

I closed my eyes tightly and took a deep breath before opening them too. Hinila ko pabalik ang sarili sa wisyo. I know I should stand straight and act unbothered as if the issues hadn't happened to me.

Mabibigat na hakbang ang ginawa ko hanggang sa marating ang entablado. The spotlight quickly shifted to me, making me even more nervous.

Hindi ko pinansin ang camera na nakatutok sa'kin at nag-lakad patungo sa gaming chair ko. Nang makaupo sa sariling gaming chair ay tila ba nabunutan ng tinik ang lalamunan ko.

How I hate walking in front of a lot of people.

"Okay ka lang?" Bulkan asked me from my side; only his mouth was moving. Nakatingin siya sa camera at nakangiti, patagong nakikipag-usap sa'kin. "H'wag kang kabahan. Madudurog mo naman 'yang mga 'yan."