OPENING CEREMONY

I still ended up being Sirius' team's wild card.

Tama naman siya, hindi ko siya matitiis. I also learned that Nicolas' team was comprised of the 'greatest daw' including him, Lein, Iris, Chastille, and Lourd. Hindi ko nga lang alam kung sinong wild card nila ngayon.

"Dapat pala kina Nicolas nalang ako sumama. Malalakas naman sila, so baka hindi nila ako ilabas as wild card," angal ko.

"Subukan mo lang naman," babala niya pero inirapan ko lang 'yon.

"Yeah. It's too late na rin kaya." Because two weeks have already passed. The trainings and preparation for the Orphic Games made me so busy that I almost forgot Kuya Nine.

And even the academy officials haven't found him.

Nakilala ko na rin ang buong team— except Ruelle na sa games pa raw lalabas. Willyn Ace was actually unexpected. She has curly jet black hair with white and gold highlights. Akala ko naman katulad ni Sirius na tahimik, but she's not that quiet, though I admit that she is mysterious. Medyo nakakatakot lapitan, pero syempre hindi ako magpapatalo.

Naging mabait na rin si Astraeus sa'kin. Minsan nga lumalandi pa, iw. But he's taught me techiniques and everything about the game. Every year, nagbabago ang mechanics ng laro. Pero usually, the games require team work.

Kaiden is as usual mapang-asar. He's a good leader. Mang-iiwan lang talaga. Hindi ko pa rin makakalimutang iniwan niya ako sa C building dati, sa bar! However, the academy hasn't explained anything to me.

Mga animal sila, siguro sinadya nilang gawin akong busy sa pagpe-prepare para makalimutan ko ang mga nangyari.

Anyways, now, we're on the Orphic Cities. Sabi nila may gaganapin daw na event dito. Our lenses and watches are still with us, even though wala na kami sa academy. It serves as a tracker daw, in case something happens.

Jusko, sana naman wala!

"Nar'on na ba ang iba?" tanong ko. Tumango naman si Sirius at naglakad na sa papalapit sa isang malaking circle.

It actually looks like my orb, but hella bigger, maube it looks like Pluto? A small planet. This circle or planet-like thing was located in the center of all twenty-six buildings in the main Orphic City. Sadiya raw na dito ginaganap ang orphic games, dahil puwedeng magbagong-anyo ang nasa loob.

I move forward, then Sirius raises his hand quick. May nag-ding sa isipan ko, at kaagad akong binati ng robot sa utak ko.

"Welcome to the Orphic Circle, Orpheuses."

Ligh flashes over me. Naningkit ang mata ko dahil d'on. My heart gives big leaps as the soundtrack swells over my ears. Tila nakikisabay ang pintig ng puso ko sa lakas ng tunog. It vibrates all over. The soundtrack chosen for this event is off-the-charts epic. The beat was superb.

I look around and shock filled within me when I saw thousands— hundreds of thousands people watching down on us. Tila nasa mga lumilipad silang cinema seats. These people must be all the citizens of the Orphic Dimension. I didn't know that the dimension has this massive population.

Hindi ko alam na marami palang peculiar.

Above us was a sight of the outer space, the galaxy. There was an aurora in between floating seats. Pero tila hindi sila nakakapasok sa area kung nas'an kami, like there is an invisible barrier. Everything around here is magical and futuristic.

Above the music, a robotic voice echoes across the circle. “Welcome to the Orphic Game's Opening Ceremony.” Kasabay naman n'on ay ang hiyaw ng mga tao.

A soft ding sounds, and a text pops up in the middle of my view, though sigurado akong ako lang ang nakakakita nito.

Exiquel Four Bellisima
WILD CARD - Ophiuchus

Oh, I actually forgot to mention that the name of our team is Ophiuchus. Weird. Sabi nila isa raw 'yong constellation na ang ibig sabihin ay spirited, magnetic, impulsive, clever, flamboyant and united. Memorized ko, wuw. Plus, ang simbolo ng team ay isang lalaki na tila may hawak ng serpent.

A floating platform goes in front of the two of us. Napansin kong semi-circle ang form ng platform na 'yon. Nauna namang tumayo r'on si Sirius, at naglahad siya ng kamay sa'kin. I leaped up to the platform, and it immediately moves smoothly.

Napatalon naman ako nang tila may tumalon din sa platform. Napahawak pa ako sa dibdib ko, eh si Kaiden lang naman pala. He jumped to the semi-circular platform.

"Sorry, I'm late," sabi niya.

Tumingin ako sa paligid at napansing kahit ang ibang teams ay nakatayo rin sa mga platforms nila. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, mayr'ong ten or less teams lahat lahat.

I shrieked when our platform bumped into something. I realized we bumped into the other half of our team's circle. Muntik na akong mahulog, ngunit may humawak agad ng bewang ko. My hands fell into Astraeus' chest. Kininditan naman niya ako at nagulat ako nang mas humiyaw ang tao.

Humiwalay ako at napangiwi nang makita kaming dalawa ni Astraeus sa malaking holographic screen. Hay nako, issue na naman!

I sighed and just turned my direction to my back. Napaatras naman ako at naapakan ko pa si Astraeus nang makita si Ruelle. She smirked, and held out her hand.

"Long time no see, Four," aniya.

Napangiwi naman ako lalo habang inaabot ang kamay niya. Kinabahan pa ako dahil baka mamaya ay bigla na naman niyang kontrolin ang dugo ko. Jeez.

"Well, see you next tim— ay nice meeting you pala," mahina kong sambit. Tumigil naman ang paggalaw ng circular platform namin sa isang puwesto.

I looked around and realized that all nine circular platforms formed a circle. In the center is the stage where the announcer or the host is. Hindi ko siya kilala, so hindi siguro siya taga-Academy. At nine lang pala kaming teams.

All in all, fifty-four Orpheuses kami. Since 9 teams × 6 members = 54. Oh 'di ba, maalam naman ako ng multiplication.

"It's time for the annual Opening Ceremony for the Orphic Games!" sigaw ng host.

Napatingin naman ako r'on. Mas lalong naghiyawan ang mga tao. May ilang drones na nakatapat sa'min, at naka-flash kami sa isang screen, gayundin naman sa ibang teams.

The game announcer or host started the official pregame ritual, reading off something about good sportmanship and the like. 'Wag daw magkakasamaan ng loob, lels!

"By the way, nasabi ko na sa'yo kung anong kalimitan na ginagawa tuwing Opening?" tanong ni Kaiden pagkakulbit sa'kin.

Umiling naman ako, "Wala naman akong maalala."

He smirked, and when I turned to Astraeus, he was smirking too. Even Ruelle too! Pakiramdam ko tuloy hindi magandang ganap ang opening.

"Good luck, Four," Sirius said.

"And for our traditional opening game! One member will be sent to a horror mansion! Members, please push out your bet of the platform!"

Nanlaki agad ang mata ko, pero bago pa ako maka-angal ay tinulak na ako ng mga kasamahan ko pahulog sa platform namin.

Mga walang puso talaga. Ginamit lang ako, hmp. Papatalunin ko ang Team Ophiuchus.

Pero ano ulit?

Horror mansion?!?!?!

The Orphic Secret
By lostmortals
Plagiarism is a crime.

Thank you for reading!