Deep

Yesterday end peaceful as we seperate way back to our dorm. Night is silent and days are alive.

Me and Nasha discuss it in secret way. We use code and something her tech things.

And as the announcement yesterday. Today is the day where the mechanics will be posted. And andaming tumitingin mamaya na lang ako. Ayokong makipagsiksikan dyan. May klase pa ako.

"Did you read it?" Diello ask me. As he walk with me. I glimpse at him and answer.

"Not yet. They are lot of people down their ready it. And I will not fit myself to read that when I have some time later," mahabang explain ko habang papasok na kami sa room.

"Sabagay may point ka. Sabay na tayo mamaya," anyaya niya saka naglakad patungo sa upuan niya. Napatingin ako kay Coffee nakatingin din siya sa akin. Ngunit may kakaiba sa tingin niya.

Saka niya iniwasan ang tingin ko. Tahimik akong umupo kung saan katabi ko siya.

Hindi ako nito pinansin. Kakausapin ko sana siya ng dumating naman ang prof namin. Wrong timing naman si Sir.

May pasuprise quiz pa. Nabalot ng katahimikan ang buong room. Buti na lang din at nagbasa basa ako kagabi.

"B yan," he murmur simple at me. Tinignan ko naman siya sa gilid ng mata ko. Saka napangiti ng maliit.

This guy! I mentally shook my head.

Hanggang sa natapos na iyon saka sinundan ng panibagong prof. Discussion roar along the time.

"Ahhh lunch time," i exclaim. I'm hearing my own tummy wanting to eat. Maging ang katabi ko. Kanina pa iyan nagpipigil ng tawa.

Paseryoso seryoso pa kanina tatawa naman din ngayon.

"Finally the dragon inside of your tummy will be tame," he pisse me. Huminto ako saka masama siyang tinignan.

Kaagad naman siyang lumayo sa akin. I smirk... mukhang natunugan niya ang gagawin ko dahil nagsimula na siyang tumakbo.

"Bumalik ka dito!" i shout and run after him. We run through the corridor. Some student look us confuse.

Mabilis siyang nakababa kahit may mga kasabay. Habang ako napapatigil dahil may nakakasalubong.

"Hoy!" i shout at him. Mas lalo siyang tumakbo papunta sa tambayan namin. Ang lalakong iyon. Ang haba ng bias hirap habulin.

Pagkarating ko sa may pwesto namin. Andoon siya nakaupo akala mo hindi nagpahabol sa akin. Habang ako hingal na hingal.

"You." i point him. And he look shock. Napaturo pa siya sa sarili niya.

"Me?" he confuse ask me. Like he doesn't know what I'm talking about.

"Ay hindi yung halaman sa gilid mo," inis kung sagot saka inirapan siya. Pagod akong umupo sa harapan niya. Itong lalaki naman na ito pangiti ngiti pa.

Huminga ako ng malalim saka kinuha ang baonan ko sa bag. Ilalapag ko na sana ng may maglapag ng lunch box sa gilid ko.

Sabay kaming napatingin ni Coffee doon. At tinignan kong kanino iyon.

"You." we both muttere. And he doesn't seem bother about that.

Umupo siya sa kabilang gilid ko. Masama ang timpla ng mukha. Parang may kaaway. Nakatingin lang kami sa kanya ni Coffee.

"Titignan niyo lang ba ako o kakain kayo," he ask us when we don't leave him our eye. Doon kami natauhan ni Coffee.

Nagkatinginan muna kami ni Coffee bago nagbukas ng lunch box namin. Hindi pa kami nakakasubo ng may maglapag muli ng lunch box sa kaliwa ko naman.

Napatigil ako sa pagsubo at tinignan iyon. Napatigil din si Coffee sa pagnguya habang nagbubukas pa lang si Cato.

"Ikaw rin?" i exclaim. When Nilu seat at our table. Pansin ko naman ang ilang paglingon ng mga estudyante sa amin. Gosh! they making attention.

"What are you doing here?" malutong na tanong ni Cato kay Nilu. Cato face become darken and Nilu face is light like pissing him off.

He smile and answer, "Eat my lunch like them. Why? I'm not in here?"

"Your not invited here," he through at Nilu. Then Nilu smirk at him. Saka pinatong ang baba sa kamay niyang nakatungkod sa lamesa.

"Same as you," he fire at him making him glare at him. I just want to eat my lunch since I'm totally hungry. And this two butt in and fighting in front of the food. Making me boil.

"Will you two stop. Both of you are not invited so get your things and leave us alone," i order them with my iritate tone voice. Nakayukom na ang kamao ko sa inis.

Napunta naman sa akin ang atensyon nila. They look at me.

"Sorry honey but I won't," Cato answer and he glimpse on Coffee. Masama naman silang nagtitigan.

"He won't... I won't too." he smirk and open his lunch box. Pareho naman siyang tinignan ng masama nila Coffee at Cato. And he doesn't even bother by their stare and keep eating.

"Ikaw akala ko ba gutom ka na. Kumain ka na rin dyan," Utos niya pa sa akin. Nagpipigil ako sa puyos ng galit. Jusko, ang sarap manapak. Ang gusto ko lang kumain bakit may mga asungot pa.

Masama ang loob akong kumain kasabay nitong tatlong asungot na ito. Na mamaya't maya ay naglalabanan ng masamang tingin. Tusok tusukin ko mga mata nito ng magtigil eh.

"Hm, by the way. How's your feeling anyway. Better?" Nilu ask about myself referring to that incident.

"Yup, feel better than past few days," i answer without looking at him. May naramdaman naman akong titig. Pagkaangat ko, masamang tingin ni Coffee ang nakita ko.

Habang lukot naman ang mukha ni Cato.

"Of course she feel better cause I take care of her," Cato butt with smirk on his face. Pissing off Nilu.

Hindi ko pinansin ang pag aaway ng dalawang ito. Kay Coffee lang ang atensyon ko dahil wala nga pala siyang alam doon. At ewan ko bakit ako na-guguilty.

Hindi niya ako nilubayan ng tingin kaya ako na lang ang umiwas. Habang itong dalawa na ito hindi pa rin tumitigil sa bangayan.

Ito ba iyong kinatatakutan dito! Bakit parang mga bata kung mag away! Ibang klase din.

Sakto naman malapit ng mag-time kaya inayos ko na ang mga gamit ko. Saka sila iniwan doon. Naramdaman ko naman ang pagsunod ni Coffee. Iyong dalawang 'di pa tapos kumain ang naiwan doon.

"What they talking about?" he whisper on my ears when we seat on our chair. Napalingon muna ako sa paligid bago sumandal papunta sa side niya.

"An incident," maikli kong sagot. Habang nakatingin sa harap.

"What incident and seem that those two involve?" he fire another question again. But I remain calm cause there's no reason to feel bother.

"I explain later after class," i end our conversation as we arrive in the room. Karamihan ng mga kaklase ko andito na sila.

"Eirlys!" Diello call me. Tumayo siya saka lumapit sa akin bago pa ako makaupo sa upuan ko.

"Yes," i answer while putting down my bag and face him. His cheerful look welcome me. Unlike my seatmate na mukhang nalugi ng isang milyon.

"Kakaunti na lang ang tao sa baba. Tara na basahin na natin yung announcement," he inform me about what we talk about earlier. Because of this three guys I almost forget.

"Oh, sige tara," i agree and I let him walk first. Napalingon ako sa gawi ni Coffee pero hindi siya nakatingin. Anong trip non?

"May problema ba?" Diello ask me. Siguro dahil sa tahimik ako habang pababa na kami.

"Nothing," maikli kong sagot.

"Really? Hindi ba kayo nag away ni Tope?" he ask me. Nakakunot noo naman ako sa binanggit niyang pangalan.

"Tope?" i curious ask him. Napahinto naman siya saka lumingon sa akin. Nakataas ang isang kilay niya.

"Tope si Toffee yung seatmate mo. We call him, Tope. We're classmate back in Senior high," he explain to me. Napatango tango naman ako.

"Okay, I get it," i nod again as I speak.

Sabay na kaming tumingin sa announcement board. He was right we only the people here infront of announcement board.

Announcement :

Dear, student of Eastford University we have some announcement for everyone.

What: Annual: Hide and Run Game.

When: Starting September 25 - May 13, 2020.

Where: Eastford University.

Who will the participants : All of the student enrolled in this school year.

How: We have three stages of this Game.

The first stage : Watch list

In this stage, the Student council will be the host. They will monitor all of the student who will be suit to be the player for the second stage.

Monitoring will be confidential and only discuss with the Game Master and the Judge.

How it you know if you we're the one who will monitor. Simple at the end of the stage. Each participants who will receive the warning sign. Are the player who will advance to the next level of the game.

The second stage: Haunting

In this stage, the student nor participant who receive the warning sign. Are able to be in this level. How this play. Easy!

Once you been warning all you have to do it to get alive until this stage is done. How? by running to the haunters will assign to you. And hide on the basement provided for you to be able to survive until the end of the game.

We have prepare safe basement for you to hide or you made for you. Its okay if you don't hide in our prepare basement. But participants the basement is allowed within the vacinity of our University. Who will prove or catch outside the University ground will be eliminated.

Get your own map!

Lastly, The last stage : Eliminating

In this stage, participants who will survive all those previous stage will be able to play in this stage. You were lucky if you still alive at this level.

How this last stage play? Easy!

All of you be prepared for the battle of survival. Yes! survival. Each participants will have a partners to face and the final all of the remaining will be fight until one participants only be survive.

And that's the Game be ended.

Ps: While this game is on going the non participants or participant still have to attend to their classes. Game is only provided on the specific time. And that's when you hear the alarm sound. And ended with the same sound.

When you hear it. Its time for you to Run and Hide.

Goodluck student. May your luck be with you.

Student Council Organization
President, Zemex Balter

While reading the post mechanics it give me chill feeling. I have strong intution that this game is not an ordinary annual game.

Given the University background. I'm sure its kinda hell.

"Uh hu, they add some new mechanics," he side comment. He cross this arm and look the announcement more intense.

Oo nga pala magkaklase sila its means, nakasama na rin siya sa Game na ito.

I look around first and ask him.

"Did you join also the last annual game?" i ask him in whisper tone. Tinignan niya ako saglit saka sumandal sa may poste.

"Yes, but not the participants. Lahat naman kasali but its different if your in the game," he answer me. Natahimik ako. Hindi nasabi ni Tofee if participant siya o hindi. Pero naalala ko nakakuha siya ng warning sign?

"Bakit?" he summon a question to me. Napansin ata ang kilos ko.

"Huh? Wala may naalala lang ako. Tara na baka dumating na yung prof natin," anyaya ko sa kanya na bumalik sa room. Anong oras na rin.

"Wala si Ma'am may meeting mga prof natin. You know," his lips point the announcement. Napa 'O' naman ako.

"Edi wala tayong afternoon class?" i ask confuss. Wala naman nabanggit si Tofee.

"Mayroon pa rin. Mabilis lang naman iyan. Itong first subj. lang ang wala. Pero yung kasunod meron na," he explain to me. Nakasandal pa rin siya sa may poste.

Napatango tango naman ako.

"Uhm, 'di ka pa ba aakyat?" takang tanong ko. Napasalubong ang dalawa niyang kilay. Saka umayos ng tayo.

"Well wala naman akong gagawin dito. Tara na sa taas. At baka sumabog na sa init iyong isa yari pa ako," bulong niya sa huling sinabi niya. Na hindi ko naintindihan dahil sa hina.

"Anong sinabi mo?" i try to ask him but his step become bigger. Sa tangkad niya mabilis siyang nakalayo sa akin. Anong problema non?

Napairap na lang ako saka mabilis na sumunod. Sakto naman pagkaupo niya ng makapasok ako sa room. Habang yung katabi ko ganoon pa rin. Mas lumala lang dahil salubong na ang dalawa niyang kilay.

"What with that look?" finally I ask him. Kanina naudlot ngayon hindi na. Kapansin pansin ko rin ang kakaibang katahimikan sa loob ng room.

"None of your business," masungit na sagot niya saka nagsuot ng earphone. Aba't ang kupal na ito. Moody ampucha!

Hmpf bahala siya dyan.

Nilabas ko na rin ang phone ko saka nagbrowse sa twitter ng biglang nawalan ng internet. Refresh ako ng refresh pero cannot retrieve tweets ang nakalagay.

Scroll pa rin ako ng scroll pero wala. Anong nangyari. Maging ang signal na kanina ay full bar. Ngayon wala na nakalagay. Emergency call. What the!

"No signal until it end. The game protocol," he lazy muttere to me. Nakalumbaba naman siya ngayon habang tulalang nakatingin sa harap.

What? so its mean no connection outside this campus? Even emergency?

"Are you serious about it," pigil inis kong tanong sa kanya. Ito na lang nga ang pinagkakaabahalan ko. Mawawala pa!

"Dead serious," he look not funny at all. Arghhh! this is ridiculous!

Grabe pati signal ipagdadamot. Ganoon ba kalalim ito? Arghhh! wala ka na ngang makita sa internet na articles related sa school event. Mga pangyayari tulad ng sa kapatid ni Tofee.

Badtrip, what this phone use? Wala naman akong game dito. And ayokong iconnect sa wifi dito. Baka makapasok pa sa system ng phone ko. Makasama pa ako sa game na iyan.

"What's with the grumpy look?" now his the one who striking question. Napairap ako bago siya badtrip na sinagot.

"No internet my phone is useless," mataray kong sagot. Napatawa naman siya sa sagot ko. Kaya liningon ko siya saka pinaningkitan ng mata.

"Can't live without internet? Tsk... even your not participant. You can't survive here if you can't live in a week without your internet life. Cause for sure maboboring ka dito," he piss me again. Kung nakakamatay ang sama ng tingin ko kanina pa ito nakabulagta sa inuupuan niya.

"Mad? tsk... you can only use your phone outside this campus. May pangharang sila ng internet signal dito," he explain at me. Inis akong sumandal sa backrest ng upuan ko.

"Kaya ko naman mabuhay kahit walang internet. Once in a month lang ako magpaload no. Kapag mag isesearch lang. And sa computer shop ako kapag need i print," maldita kong sagot sa kanya. Ang akin lang eh nasa loob kami ng campus. At twice a month lang pwedeng lumabas. Sa weekend pa. Kahit iyon lang pang libang sa sarili. Sana kung may park dito na pwede magrelax.

"Ganoon naman pala ano pinuputok ng butchi mo dyan," saad niya ng may kasamang pang aasar. Masama ko siyang nilingon sa gilid ng mata ko.

"Kasi naman pang palipas oras ko lang iyon tapos mawawala pa. Diba kainis, tsaka paano kapag may need na i search," dahilan ko. Napataas kilay nan siya.

"Edi yung wifi meron din naman library," sagot niya. Tsk... school equipment. Wala ka talagang kawala!

Humarap siya sa akin. Nakalumbaba at seryoso akong tinignan.

"See how they can manipulate things inside here? Even simple things they can turn the table around. That's how they done," he hint while having eye contact on me.

I gulp multiple times. Now I wonder my Kuya's are not happy when I informed them I want to enter in this University. And probably cause Kuya Evertt graduated at here.

Biglang dami ng tanong sa isip ko.

"They are evil and this is hell," i can't help to be mad. Masama talaga ako magalit. Tumatalas ang tabas ng dila ko.

"Say so," he added.

Arghh i feel like this something as an ocean. Wide and like nothing end. When you look at the horrizon you can't see where it end.

And deep like you can't swoop until you reach the sea bed. Cause there are currents will stop you. Like how they manipulate things here.

Its like I'm a diver in a deep ocean blue. Who will try to succeed to touch the sea bed. And back alive in the surface of the sea.