Dahan-dahan akong naglakad, counting my every step, and pinching my arm every millisecond. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa lahat ng nangyari sa 'kin. I stopped abruptly when I saw the open gates. I'm finally here.

Napakalaki ng school, at parang mas tumitingin ako sa isang mansion kaysa sa isang high school building. I gawked at the cream-colored building, the lawns carefully and perfectly mowed. May isang fountain sa gitna at sa ibabaw no'n ay may isang estatwa ng babaeng nagbubuhos ng tubig.

Tumingin ako sa lahat ng napasama sa Chosen. We were only four; the Council must have been picky this year. Pero kahit na. At least, kasama ako. Hinigpitan ko yung hawak ko sa mga bagahe at nagsimula muling maglakad.

Dalawang guard ang naka-station sa magkabilang side ng pintuan pagdating namin sa building. We showed each of them our Tickets, unsure of what to do, and then they let us inside. Parang nasilaw ako bigla nang makapasok na kami. Lahat makintab at napakalinis — para kaming nasa commercial. Bigla tuloy akong na-conscious sa kung anuman ang nasa ilalim ng sapatos ko. I looked at my sides before profusely wiping my shoes on the carpet. I made sure the action was concealed.

May isang babaeng nakatayo lang sa likod ng counter. She was smiling. Mukha siyang may lahi, dahil ang tangkad at ang ganda niya. She gave us all our keys then rang the bell. Maya-maya ay may kumuha na ng mga bagahe namin at igi-nuide kami sa may elevator. Sabi nung nag-assist ay sa pinakataas na floor kami, pero hindi raw namin papasukin yung Royal Suite, which was also on the same floor as ours.

Pagpasok namin sa elevator ay medyo nabigla ako sa dami ng buttons. Meron dun na walang number pero may tatak na korona. Siguro yun yung Royal Suite. Pinindot na lang namin yung button sa baba nu'n.

I felt awkward again. Each of us was standing at the corners — magkakalayo kami. Huminga na lang ako nang malalim.

Matagal-tagal din nang bumukas ulit yung elevator. Nauna akong lumabas, and the rest followed. Napakatahimik sa floor, and I felt shivers run down my spine. At the north was a door with the same crown. Hinanap namin yung kwarto namin. We separated once again. Sobrang lawak ng floor, I couldn't believe only two rooms were placed in here. And just then, I found a brass doorknob.

"Guys, nahanap ko na," I said, carefully controlling my voice as not to disturb who's inside the Royal Suite.

Yung susi ko na lang yung ginamit ko, at saka na nga kami nakapasok. The room was enormous. The walls were painted in what looked like dirty white, with golden leaf accents crawling here and there. Ang una kong nakita ay yung tatlong malalaking sofa, all angled to face the large LED TV placed on the wall. There was also a fireplace, and upon seeing it, I just now realized how cold it was in here. Naglakad ako, and so did the others. Walang firewood, which was absolutely odd. So this fireplace was only here for show? Napailing na lang ako.

I ran my my hand over every furniture. My house was nice, but this — this is priceless. Hindi ko aakalaing isang Ticket lang ang kukunin mo para mapasa'kin 'to.

I smiled. I decided to rest, not really in the mood of thinking much more. For now all these are mine, and mine alone. For now, ako na muna ang namumuno. I shut my brain just as I sank down on the sofa.

This Ticket is my key to riches, power, and everything that I wanted, this is surely what all of you are thinking right now.

But then you didn't think a Ticket would cost you sacrifices . . .

This is only the start of the end.