Dead Reckoning - A Gregorio del Pilar x Reader story

III - Monachopsis

n. the subtle but persistent feeling of being out of place, as maladapted to your surroundings as a seal on a beach—lumbering, clumsy, easily distracted, huddled in the company of other misfits, unable to recognize the ambient roar of your intended habitat, in which you'd be fluidly, brilliantly, effortlessly at home.

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"Ako nga pala si Isidro Wenceslao, isang sundalo. Maligayang pagdating sa Revolución Filipina ng Batang Heneral."

I stare at the young man right in front of me at this moment. A young man with handsome features despite the dirt and grease on his face. A gentle and carefree expression, and a visible stature that clearly defines him as indeed a soldier.

Revolución Filipina! May posibilidad ba na...

My eyes widen at the sinking realization. "'Wag... 'Wag mo sabihin na... talagang nasa loob ako ng game..."

"Tama. Ngayon ay nasa mundo ka na ng laro na ito. At ang unang yugto ng laro ay ang magkita tayo rito." His smile widens much more as he shakes his outstretched hand another time, informing me to take it since he had been reaching out at me for quite some time already.

I take his hand, thanking him when he helps me to stand up from my seat. And I am still dumb-struck right at this moment about all of this. It seems like for a few seconds right now, the whole place is not filled with the sound of gunfire or screams or whatsoever. As if, at this very moment, it had been just me and him on here. And this is all part of that video game. I mumble, "Anong kabaliwan ito?"

His eyes widen and he gasps loudly the moment that I grab for his arms, my hands balling into tight fists on his sleeves.

"Gusto kong umalis rito! Nasaan yung Esc button, ha? Hindi... panaginip lang ito. Hindi maaring totoo ito! Walang ganitong laro!" I scream at him, shaking him to make him realize how desperate I am to leave this place.

But Isidro calmly replies to me, "Pasensya na, binibini. Pero wala dito. Ang paraan para makalabas dito ay simple lamang. Iyon ay M-A-N-G-G-A. Kapag kumain ka ng mangga, doon ka lang maaring makalabas sa laro na ito."

I stop, pulling away from him as I stare up at him. My curiosity and me being dumb-struck with everything that is going on doubled. For one thing... I can't believe that he'll be serious to say that the way for me to leave this place will be...

Mangga?

"Naiintindihan mo ba?" He inquires, inclining his head to the side. He then turns away from me and looks at me over his shoulder, saying, "Ngayon, sasabihin ko na sa iyo ang iyong misyon."

I bite my lower lip. Tears are starting to prick the back of my eyes. I brush them away with the back of my hand, hating the notion that someone has to see me crying. But I can't help it. I don't have any intention to listen to him or even play this stupid game, now that I find myself right in the middle of a battle. I mumble, "Gusto ko lang bumalik sa mundo ko."

Isidro just looks at me. The smile he earlier has disappears. The sound of gunfire continues, but he doesn't seem to mind it at all; even though it is coming from just a few meters away from where we stand right now. Yet, at this point on, it appears like the start of a usual game where there's the briefing and everything before you are pushed right at the boiling pot of where the game actually begins. He then remarks, "Noong sinimulan mo yung laro na ito... binago mo na din ang iyong tadhana. Kapag pinili mo na hindi magpatuloy... naalala mo ba ang sinabing babala sa simula pa lamang? Masusumpa ka sa buhay mo."

I stop crying at that. Much more scared now at the prospect of what curse that will be. I look at him, waiting.

"Pero, kapag natapos mo ang laro na ito, magkakaroon ka ng walang hanggang kayamanan sa buhay mo. Natatanggi ang kailangan mong mapagtagumpayan sa laro na ito. Kailangan mong tulungan maging isang bayani ang tinuguriang Batang Heneral, pero ang pinakamahalagang tungkulin sa lahat ay ang siguraduhing 'di siya malilihis ng daan."