Chapter III

Chapter III

"Where are we going?" tanong niya sa dalawa habang inaayos niya sa pagkatali ang buhok. Hindi sa pinapagandahan niya ang mga ito. Ayaw lang talaga niyang hindi nakatali ang buhok. Mukha na kasi siyang nawawala sa katinuan dahil buhok niya.

"To where you left your friends," sagot ni Secret while waiting for her. Nakatayo lang uto at nakasandal sa pader. Tahimik at mukhang malalim ang iniisip.

Hindi alam ni Tayce kung tamang ideya ba na masayahan sa isinagot nito. After kasing malaman na bangungot lang ito ay hindi na niya alam ang gagawin.

Parehong nasa bangungot at nasa iisang lugar sila ng mga kasamahan niya dahil pareho silang lahat naaksidente. Ang sabi pa ni Secret ay kung may mga kasamahan man siya na wala sa listahan ng mga hawak ng Nightmare Govern at wala rin sa kanila ay paniguradong patay na sila sa mundo ng katotohanan. Nakikita lang niya sila, gaya ng nangyari kahapon, dahil isa sila sa mga kasamahan niya bago sila napunta dito. Maging ang pangalan niy, ayun sa kay Secret, ay nandoon rin sa Govern. Kung ano man ang dahilan ay hind nito sinabi sa kaniya. Nagtataka siya gayong hawak naman nila siya.

"So... Nightmare Govern iyung mga humahabol sa akin kahapon?" Tumango ito. "Is it really their job to capture us?"

"Ganun ba kahirap sa 'yo intindihin 'yun? Stupidiot?" Secret asked, mocking her. If there's a way that she could get rid of the attitude of his ay kanina niya pa ginawa. But too unfortunate for her, there's none.

"Nakakarami ka na Kaito ha".

"Tss."

"Maka 'tss' 'to. Sorry kung hindi pa masyadong nagsisink-in sa utak ko ang mga nangyayari." May bahid ng lungkot ang bawat salitang lumalabas sa bibig niya. Hindi lubos maisip na ang isa sanang masayang event sa buhay nilang mga kolehiyo ay mauuwi sa isang trahediya. "Sobrang hirap tanggapin ng utak ko." She just shook her head.

"As if you have a brain," wika nito..

Tayce threw death glares at him through the mirror. If hindi niya lang talaga kailangan ang tulong nito, she really won't endure being with this person na sobrang taas ang tingin sa sarili.

"Let's go?"

With Help's word, her emotion suddenly changed, even the atmosphere. It became light and warm. Kararating lang nito at kung saan man ito galing ay wala siyang alam. Kahapon lang sila nagkita kaya hindi pa niya sila masyadong kilala. They look nice though—Scratch! Thatcs only for Help.

"Tara," Secret said with a hint on his voice that she can't determine.

Sinundan niya lang sila ngunit napatigil siya nang tumigil sila at nilingon siya na nakapagpakaba sa kaniya. "W-What?"

"You can't go out unless you change your feature." Secret said, and his voice implies a playful plan.

"Why not? Are you fooling around again? Tell me you're joking because I really don't believe you." She crossed her arms.

"Mahahalata ng Govern at makikilala ka nila. Hindi sila titigil hangga't hindi ka nila nakukuha sa amin kaya kakailanganin mong magpalit anyo," Secret explained.

He's quite knowledgeable. Siguro ay dahil matagal na sila dito. But they look so young. Ni hindi niya alam kung ano ang iniisip nila. Ngayon at hindi pa masyadong magsink-in sa utak niya ang nangyayari, she would think that she was called into this parallel world like what happened in some Animé she watched.

"Ano kaya ang bagay sa 'yo?" Help asked, placing his hand on his chin, thinking deeply of what he will do.

"Ayusin mo lang." She warn him. Ito na siguro ang pinakamalalang animé kung magkataon man. She never planned nor wanted to be here and to be with this kind of creatures. But she can't do anything. She's stuck.

She doesn't even want to know if the probability of getting out from this world is enough. Because she know in herself that it is not. She still want to live. She still want to see her parents, those persons who mean to her, especially him.

Ngumisi si Help at napatingin sa ulo ni Secret. Secret's gazed at him. "Captain," he called. "You know I am very loyal to you, right?"

"M," tugon ni Secret.

"And you trust me, right?"

"I think hindi sa pagkakataong 'to," Secret said at napabusangot si Help. "We should get going. Hayaan na lang nating makuha 'yan ng Govern. She's not even helping herself."

He turned his back and if it's not just because of Help, who called his name ay hindi siya babalik. She don't know where he got that but he surely knows what she feel. Is it her fault if she want to help herself but all those help are just a mere imagination?

"Secret naman eh. Payagan mo na 'ko. At isa pa para na rin naman ito kay Tayce." Help stared at her. She looked away and inhaled deeply before heaving a gently sigh. "We need to make sure first na safe siya. And second, kailangan nating mabura ang pangalan niya sa listahan ng Nightmare Govern."

"Pangalan... ko?"

"In order to ride on the train and depart from this place, you'll be needing your name as your ticket," sagot ni Help. "But it will be tricky... sometimes."

"Kaya triple ang pagpapahirap mo sa amin, stupidiot." She shut her eyes. "First, ay ang safety mo. Second, ang pangalan mo. And third, ang travel natin ng ilang milya mula dito patungo sa train station."

"Sorry, okay?! Hindi ko naman kasalan 'to eh. Why does your statement always implies that it's my fault?! I never meant this!" She grits her teeth. "You said there are other Breakers. I am apologizing if I went in your place first without knowing. If only I ended up with other team, then it wouldn't end up this way. Bakit hindi niyo na lang kaya ako ibigay sa iba. O di naman kaya sa Govern na 'yun! It is so unfair that I'm being saved while my professor, especially my senior who sacrificed himself for me to escape, will end up dead."

Natahimik sila pareho. She can't contain herself anymore. If there's one thing she hate the most, iyun ay ipapasa ang fault kahit hindi niya naman ginawa, plinano, o ginusto. That's so unlawful and insane!

"Stop uttering moonshines," Secret stared at Help and they discussed.

Natahimik na lang siya at napaupo sa wooden chair. She feel weak and defenseless. He would probably laugh at her if he's here. But she doesn't want to drag him in this choatis world. She'd rather be alone here than putting his life in danger.

She gazed at them once again and caught Secret staring at her. She looked away. They said life has never been easy. But there's nothing more difficult than being stuck between life and death.

In the end ay tinungo nilanv tatlo ang resto na kung saan sila kumain. She saw many Governs in the parameter pero parang nagsasaya lang sila. It's like they are also normal people, having fun and making every second as the happiest moments of their lives.

Wondering why none notice her? It's because Help's idea to hide her inside Secret's hat while he shrunk her into a one-inched human. Ayaw niya man pero hindi niya maiwasang punain ang lambot at bango ng buhok nito.

"Stop making my head as your bed kung ayaw mong tirisin kita diyan". Secret's never been friendly.

"As if! Ang baho-baho kay ng ulo mo. Tapos parang steel brush ang buhok mo!" Maybe it's one of her way to show him that she hate him for this.

"Inggit ka lang. Buhok mo kasi mukhang walis-tingting."

Umasim ang mukha niya and thinking for revenge. She grab his hair and pulled it up.

"Damn!"

"I think you're also losing your sanity, Secret." It's Help.

"Wait for you turn, stupidiot."

Serves him right. Heh!

Tayce heard a click of door.

"Excuse me." Helpcs voice dominated.

Tayce went close to Secret's hat to eavesdrop through a small hole. She saw the familiar old man who looked shock and afraid upon seeing Secret and Help. Dahil ba Nightmare Breaker sila? Ganun na ba sila ka kinakatakutan ng mga taga dito?

"Hey! Where are the humans who came here yesterday?"

Tayce's almost stoned upon hearing Secret. They are born in prestige for sure. Their behavior sucks.

"You mean... iyung may isang kasama na nakatakas?"

Siya at ang tinutukoy nito.

"Yes. Where are they?"

Sipain kaya niya ang ulo nito. Wala talagang respeto.

"S-sapalitan silang tinali at isinakay sa kotse ng Nightmare Govern."

"Ilan sila?"

"Dalawa lahat. Isang guro at isang binata. Ang dalawang kasama naman nila na mukha mga kolehiyo at ang isang kasama nilang lalaki ay bigla na lang nawala na parang bula."

Tayce was shocked that couldnct even notice her tears.

"Ask him where did they took them Secret." She begged

"That's all," Secret said

"Secret please." She begged again.

How ironic. Sge used to curse him but she ended up begging for his help. But he's way more difficult to deal. Wala lang itong narinig at naramdaman sa paulit-ulit niya paghila ng buhok. He just walk away.

"Hindi si Doom... ang pumunta dito." It's the old man.

Secret frozed. Mukhang hindi niya inexpect iyun. Who's Doom? Another identity?

"Then, sino?" Help asked.

"Si... Death, Help."

She couldn't here anything after the click of the door. Ilang sandali pa ay tunog ng malakas na hangin ang narinig niya at matapos ang ilang segundo ay tumigil ito.

Secret took of his hat and place her on the floor. Bumalik na siya sa normal Pero hindi alam kung makakabalik pa siya sa mundo niya. Nakaupo lang siya sa sahig habang umiiyak.

"Why does it feel this way? I want to go back to my parents! And I want my fellow students and my teachers to go back to the world where we really belong. But... don't you think this is too much? I want to hold to the only hope I have but the hope... it's zero probability. It's an imagination."

"We understand you, Tayce," said Help. "But... not all the things you want will be granted."

"Someone will survive. Someone will die" Secret uttered that made her to stare at him.

"How can you say that? Ganun lang ba para sa 'yo kadali 'yun?"

He heaved a sigh and stared at her. "Crying for them will not help you. So stop crying and stand up! Magiging walang saysay ang pagpapatakas ng senior mo sa 'yo kung hindi mo tutulungang maisalba ang sarili mo." He turned his back.

Tayce was stoned by his words.

"You asked us for this, then face the consequences. At least, you knew the truth". Tinutukoy niti ang kagustuhan niyan malaman ang kalagayan ng kasamahan niya.

She stood up, wiping her tears. "Do you know... where they will be taken?"

"I know. But ilang oras na ang lumipas simula ng pagtakas mo kahapon. Besides, that merciless Death was the one who lead the Nightmare Govern to capture you."

Tayce saw how his grip on his cane tightened. "Did... he do something? To you?"

"To us," Help corrected.

Help's eyes depicts sadness with the mixture of anger. It looks serious kaya hindi na siya nagdare na tanungin pa silang dalawa.

Secret faced her. "Hey!"

"If this is about my stupidity and idiocy, thank you na lang." Tumalikod siya for she can't take anymore mock for her own state.

"There's one crucial thing that you failed to do in order for you to leave this world."

In an instant, hearing his soothing words, she froze. There's something unexplainable filled her chest and system. She want to know it pero ayaw niyang harapin ito.

"What is it?"

If there's anything she want for this moment from him, iyun ay may sabihin siyang makapagpagaan ng loob niya.

"You forgot to trust your Nightmare Breakers, Tayce the Dreamer."