Me and the Eight Cards

Chapter 1

c1.

Zech's POV

Nagulat kami nang magising kami sa mga taong kinakalkal ang mga gamit namin. Pati na rin ang mga kapitbahay namin. May kinukuha sila sa amin na hindi namin alam kung ano. Pilit ko silang pinipigilan.

"What are you doing in our house?" Tanong ko sa kanila. They're muscular, halatang mga guards pero they're wearing such fancy clothes para magmukha silang guards.

"Move," firm na sagot ng nakashades na guard. I think he's the leader.

"Found it, sir. He's one of the nine." sabi bigla ng isang guard wearing yellow suit and red pants.

"Are you sure that's the right gem?" Tanong nung leader.

"Yes, sir."

"What are you talking about?! What gem?" Tanong ko sa kanila, pero instead na sagutin nila ang tanong ko ay bigla nilang sinuntok ang puso ko and blackout.

Nagising na lang ako sa isang room na may walong iba't ibang nilalang. They're wearing blindfolds unlike me na nakatie ang kamay. They don't have the same body like me. Medyo hawig kasi ang katawan ng lahi ko sa mga tao sa Earth.

"Well, well, well. Look who's awake now." Nagulat ako sa taong nagsalita. I look up, and nakita ko ang isa sa mga nilalang na nakilala ko noon. I've known him since nung lumipat kami sa planet na tinitirahan ko ngayon.

"Trien."

"Zech! Good to see you, and I'm glad na you're cooperating with my plan."

"I am not. I was forced."

"Oh I see, so hindi mo pala talaga 'ko tinuring na friend."

"What the— what are you saying?"

"Nothing." Then he left and tried to wake the others up.

Rinig na rinig ko ang mga tanong at reklamo ng iba kong kasama, tinatanong kung bakit sila nandito at kung anong ginagawa ng ibang nilalang sa room na 'to.

"Listen!" Sigaw ni Trien. Tiningnan ko ang paligid. May dalawa akong namumukhaan na nilalang, pero I don't clearly remember their names. Farcia? Farhs? Ugh, nevermind.

"Nine of you are given the Card Chances. Either waste it or make it work, your choice." Sabi ni Trien sa amin.

Lahat naman kami napatingin sa mini-table na nasa harap namin, at nakita nga namin doon ang isang manipis na card, the size of the card fits perfectly on my hands. Ang iba naman ay hirap hawakan ito.

"What is this all about, Trien?" Napalingon ako sa nagsalita dahil napakalalim ng boses nito para sa isang babae. Kung ginogoosebumps man ang lahi namin, ay nagoosebumps na ako.

Trien just smiled, an evil one.

"I will leave you to live on Earth, but you won't remember anything about your existence. Just the cards you're holding."

We held our breaths, trying to decipher what he had said. Earth? Why Earth?! Of all the planets?

Sunod sunod na nga ang reklamo ng iba't ibang lahi at nilalang, natigil lang ang pagrereklamo nang may ipalabas na video sa harap namin. Kitang kita namin ang bombs and guards na nakapalibot sa bahay ng bawat isa sa amin. Our families are scared.

May napatayong isang babaeng purple ang kulay ng balat, she's wearing a hat kaya hindi ko malaman kung anong nasa buhok niya, but I know for a fact na basa yun, always.

"WHAT THE FCK ARE YOU DOING WITH MY FAMILY?" Sigaw niya pero nang malapit na niya malapitan si Trien ay bigla siyang natumba sa sahig at napahiga.

Trien looked at us, "Don't you even dare to lessen the distance between us. Or you'll go to Earth without bringing or knowing anything."

May bigla namang lumitaw na bagong video sa gilid. Ang purple na babaeng nakita ko kanina ay naging tao na. She's tan, with long hair and naked. I can see from the video na pinagtatawanan siya ng ibang tao.

"And you'll end up like her." Trien said, and smirked.

Natakot ako bigla.

"I'll give you the instructions, tips and some survival kits tomorrow. Remember, a day on this planet is a year on Earth. And everyday, your family will be punished if you don't accomplish your task well."

Someone tapped my shoulder, "We can do this. For our family, and for everyone."

I half-smiled.