Game of Death (Book 1)

Chapter 1

I woke up late and with a headache. I came up with the idea of not coming to school today but my Dad suddenly called me.

"Go to school early, keep yourself safe and go home alive. I love you, Fiona."

He's acting weird. Nag out of town sila ni Mom, hindi ko lang alam kung saan, basta biglaang meeting with the Japanese stockholders. Ay, ewan! Business is not my thing and it will never be my thing.

So with a heavy heart,  I prepared myself. Nag-breakfast pa muna ako bago ako nagpahatid sa aming family driver. I'm a Grade 11 student, just so you know.

As I step out of the car and walked inside Nakamoto Academy, I felt a different atmosphere. Parang ang bigat. Parang may pressure. Parang ang hirap huminga.

I looked around. Iilan na lang ang estudyanteng nasa paligid.

I looked at my watch. It's already 7:35 in the morning, I am already five minutes late para sa first subject ko. No wonder kung bakit halos wala ng estudyante sa paligid. This school is strict as hell.

I did not bother to run. Late na rin naman ako and ayaw kong mangamoy pawis this early in the morning. That's gross!

Bawat classroom na nadadaanan ko ay napansin kong may mga naka-kimono na mga Japanese sa loob at maging sa labas. It's like they are assessing or orienting something sa mga estudyante.

Hindi ko na lang 'yon pinansin at diretsong naglakad. Normal naman na 'yon dito lalo na at Japanese school naman 'tong Nakamoto Academy.

Tanging ang tunog na lang ng takong ng aking sapatos ang naririnig ko. Sound proof ang bawat classroom kaya tahimik ang buong paligid. Silence is everywhere. Nakakabinging katahimikan.

Pagpasok ko sa room, iba't ibang kulay ng upuan ang bumungad sa 'kin. Kumunot ang noo ko dahil wala ang mga kaklase ko sa kani-kanilang proper seat. Dumako naman ang tingin ko sa nasa unahan.

"And you are?" isang naka-kimonong babae ang nagtanong.

"I'm Fiona Sasuke." I saw her nod and gesture her hand in the class.

"As you can see, I told them to sit in any seats they wanted and since you are late, this black colored chair is what the only seat left." I looked at the chair. This is where my original seat was positioned.

Nagpasalamat na lang ako ro'n sa babae at umupo na sa upuang natitira.

Bago ako umupo, tiningnan ko muna ang mga mukha ng mga kaklase ko. Mukhang tuwang-tuwa sila sa mga upuan nila ngayon, siguro ay mga favorite color nila.

I placed my bag at my back then I noticed a small red button sa desk ng upuan ko. I was going to push it when someone held my hand.

Biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko dahil sa gulat.

It's the lady in the Kimono dress. She's looking at me intently. Walang emosyon pero nakakatakot. Nakatingin lang siya sa akin pero ramdam ko ang authority.

Hindi naman ako nasaktan by the way she held my hand. To be honest, ang lambot pa nga ng kamay niya.

"All of you, just sit properly and listen carefully to what I will be saying." Biglang tumahimik ang lahat.

Kailan pa naging masunurin 'tong mga 'to?

This section is quite a mess. Every teacher in the academy named us as the 'worst section' here in Nakamoto Academy. Iba't iba kami ng personality. May maingay, may basagulero, may tahimik at may matalino.

"Okay! So look at your arm chairs, students." I looked at the red button. Kasing laki lang ito ng pambura ng lapis.

"There's a small red button at the upper right part." I circled my forefinger into it. Nacu-curious na ako. Wanna push it right now pero hindi pa pwede.