RISA MOONSTEIN

Chapter 7

Nakarating kami sa lokasyon ng duel just fine. Everyone was already there at nakapalibot sila sa isang malaking circle sa gitna. Nandoon na sina Victoria and Sabrina who both had surprised faces nang dumating kami. I saw their faces crumple into frustration.

"Buti nakarating pa kayo." sabi ni Victoria.

"Why are you so surprised ?" laban ni Diana. We both had the thought na baka sila ang may pakana ng pagkakakulong namin ni Locke sa may freezer na iyon. 

"Tss... Let's just get this over with. May pupuntahan pa ako."

She gestured to Sabrina na siyang lumapit at may binulong. 

"Our fight will not be a duel dahil a duel is only for 1 on 1's." anunsyo ni Sabrina. 

"Tch... scaredy-cat. Takot ba kayong matalo ?" sambit ni Diana at nakita kong dumagdag iyon sa inis ni Victoria.

"We are only abiding with the rules." 

So ganito pala rito. Ang duel ay para lamang sa labanan sa isahan at hindi dalawahan. So ang iksabihin ba noon ay silang dalawa na lang ang maglalaban and I'm already out ? That would be perfect.

"Then we'll split it."

"Huh ?!" kaunting napasigaw ako roon at napatingin sa akin ang lahat. Diana only winked at me with her wide grin. I straightened up because everyone's eyes were on me.

"Split it up ?" tanong ni Victoria nang hindi makapaniwala. Me too, Victoria. Me too...

"Yeah, we'll hold two one on ones. If that's okay with the two, though."

Tumingin si Victoria kay Sabrina. Tumango-tango naman si Sabrina indicating that she agrees. Now it's up to me kung papayag ba ako. Honestly, sa una pa lang ay ayoko nang makipaglaban pero napag-isip kong maganda na rin ito upang ma-test ko ang sarili ko. This will serve as an experience as well for more battles to come.

Lumipat ang tingin ni Diana sa akin. I know she's already feeling guilty dahil she's dragging me into this kahit ayaw ko initially. Nagulat siya nang tumango ako sa kaniya. She smiled at hinarap sina Victoria. "It's set. Pumayag na si Risa."

"Good. I thought she'll chicken out." mayabang na sabi ni Victoria. Mas nakaramdam ako ng inis sa kaniya. "Now for the agreements."

"How about kissing each other's feet ?" suhestiyon ni Diana na ikinagulat ng lahat. Kahit ako. 

"What are you doing ?" bulong ko sa kaniya. 

"Just see. Ayaw mo namang matanggal sa Rose High, no ?" tugon niya.

A smile played on Victoria's lips. "Very good. I like it. The loser shall kiss the winner's feet."

I can see that Diana played Victoria's game. Alam niyang mahilig si Victoria sa mga prideful stuff and she took advantage of it. The cost of it nga lang ay ang aming dignidad kapag natalo kami sa laban. I'm sure I'll be facing with Sabrina dahil ang talaga namang magtutunggali at may pakana ng laban ay ang dalawa.

"See... kung siya ang pinag decide ko at hindi ko pinangunahan, they'll think of expelling whoever loses. This is the least that the agreements can do." bulong niya sakin.

I can now see the logic behind her actions, kung bakit niya ginawa iyon. I thought it was just something that she crazily thought of, but it was really brilliant.

"You can use whatever weapon you want." sambit ni Sabrina. Tumango kaming dalawa.

The first one to fight were us. I can't believe that I'm going to fight with my magic. Ang naiisip ko lang para sa mahika ko ay para sa pagsasaya and entertainment ko lang but I never saw it as a weapon that could potentially kill somebody. It just really proves how little I know about myself and the true world that I really belong in.