"Kailan mo ba kakausapin si Cinco?"
I focused myself in walking. The hall was quite and the moon was up. Doctor Brew told us to sneak and don't let anyone see us.
This never happened before. Nevertheless, both of us obliged.
"Kapag may oras na. Maybe tomorrow. 'Wag kang magmadali, sampong araw pa bago ang kompetisyon."
We silently went inside Dr. Brews room. Nakaupo siya sa isa sa mga higaan at tila hinihintay kami.
Nang mapansin ang presensya namin ay nagpakawala siya nang malapad na ngiti.
"Come," aniya sabay tayo. Kami naman ang naupo sa kaninang puwesto niya.
"So, I guess you are ready?"
Tumaas kaagad ang kilay ni Tres.
"Are you seriously asking us that? Are you bidding goodbye?"
Muntik na akong matawa sa sinabi nito. Nanibago lang din siguro siya sa mga gawi ni Dr. Brew. It appears like the doctor was trying to do everything at once. Na parang may hinahabol siyang oras at dapat hindi pa ngayon mangyayari ang mga bagay na ito.
But then maybe, I'm just overthinking.
"Do I sound like that? So what's your last words then?" Sinakyan naman ni Dr. Brew ang kabaliwan nito. I might as well join.
"I just want to ask why Tres pick a man like Katorse," wika ko. Nanlaki ang mga mata ng babaeng katabi ko.
"Hey! Wait, are you still into that?"
I stared back at her. "Curious."
"Oh, it's not against the rules, right? 'Di ba Doctor Brew?"
"Doctor Brew was out of the topic. But, here's the news, once I knew you're still hanging out with that junkie, trust me Tres, I'll hang his head at the middle of the field."
"I got no idea what's going on. Pero sa tingin ko Tres, makinig ka kay Uno. Seryoso siya sa sinabi e. And isn't she sweet?" Dr. Brew stated. It earned a frown from Tres.
"Right! Let's get on with this," maktol niya.
Dr. Brew turned her computer and the area at our back lightened up.
It revealed an emty room with a glass barrier. Oh, I guess will be undergoing a physical trial. Iyon naman talaga ang purpose ng silid na 'yon. I wonder what it will be this time.
"Pumasok na kayong dalawa," utod niya.
Sabay pa kaming tumayo ni Tres. But I remembered something.
"The control?" Itinuro naman niya ang isang maliit na bagay sa lamesa. Napatango ako saka tuyang pumasok. Who knows, we can probably break the glass.
"Sit five meters away from each other." Rinig kong wika niya mula sa speaker na nakalagay sa pinakataas na parte ng kuwarto.
Sinunod naman namin ito at naupo sa sahig. Wala ka namang makikitang kahit anong gamit sa loob. Tres and I were maybe just about a meter before reaching the walls.
"Close your eyes, this will hurt a lot. But please endure it." Kasabay noon ang pagpatay ng ilaw at muling pagbukas nito. It made me shut my eyes immediately. Lumiwanag kasi ang buong silid at hindi ito makayanan ng mga mata ko.
"Remember, endure it Uno and Tres."
Sa una, parang kagat lang ng langgam ang sakit pero habang tumatagal mas lumalala ito. The stings were beginning to make me bit my lips.
Napapaso ang katawan ko at pakiramdam ko ay mapupunit na ang balat ano mang oras. I heard Tres indistinct grumble.
While I could now taste my own blood. Nasugatan na ang bibig ko sa sobrang diin ng pagkakagat ko.
