LEVEL 2

LEVEL 2

Their bodies collided and they fell on the ground. Leviathan could feel the strong impact of his back as it hit the ground. It made him groan in pain. "Damn! That hurts!" The player cried. The impact decreased his health points a little. Leviathan was about to stand up when he felt something heavy on his top. He tried to move his hand and he felt something soft...

He squeezed it.

What on earth is this?

Then he felt the sudden jolt of someone laying on his top when he squeezed once again that soft, squishy thing.

Leviathan slowly opened his eyes. His body froze for a moment when he realized what was– who was on his top.

A player... A woman!

Tila ba nabato pa ito lalo sa pagkakahiga nang makita n'yang minumulat na ng babae ang kanyang mata. Oh, lord.

"Medyo masakit 'yon ah!" Ani niya sabay sapo ng ulo. She was about to stood up when she finally realized something.

"T-teka..." She lowered her head to see her breast... that Leviathan was touching. He saw how her eyes widened.

Her face turned red as a tomato when she noticed that his hand was cupping her right breast. She froze for some time until her senses went back. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin, hindi rin ako makakilos sa sobrang kaba! Leviathan's heart almost wanted to burst out of his chest!

When her senses came back, she stood up immediately, covering her breasts.

Tumayo na rin ang binata na natataranta. Swear! Hindi ko 'yon sadya!

"M-miss, sorry! Hindi ko sinasadya–" He was cut off when a straight hard punch touched his cheek. It almost felt like his head was bashed by a hard stone. His vision circled as he lost his own balance. Blood gushed out of the player's nose. Leviathan could feel his cheek throbbing. Namamaga ito!

God! I can see stars above my head.

"What the hell?!" He tried to compose himself. "Miss, look! That was an accident, okay!" He tried walking closer to her, but the latter pulled a sword out of her sheathe and pointed it at him, as if he was an enemy. "Subukan mong lumapit!" She warned. Her face was so red from both anger and embarrassment.

"Sorry na! Promise talaga di ko 'yon sinasadya!" Leviathan cried once again, "H-hindi ko sinasadyang h-hawakan 'yong–" She cut him off before he could finish his sentence.

"Banggitin mo pa at sisiguraduhin magpipiraso-piraso katawan mo!" Asik n'ya.

"Sabi ko nga, e," Leviathan forfeited. But cross my heart! I didn't mean to touch her... basta! Hindi ko 'yon sadya!

He scratched his nape. "If there's only way para makabawi ako sayo sa pag–"

"TALAGANG UULITIN NYA PA!" Bulyaw n'ya dahilan para matutop ang bibig ng binata. Leviathan acted zipping his mouth. Kainis! Unang araw pa lang sa larong 'to pero may kahihiyan na agad akong nagawa. Mag-log out na kaya ako?

Natahimik ang kaharap n'ya saglit. Her eyes were moving back and forth as well as her pointed lips. Leviathan's vision went to her player's identification on the top of her head.

Her username was Astrid. She was on level 20. That explains why her punch almost killed me earlier. Actually, until now, he could feel his cheek throbbing in pain. Leviathan saw Astrid touch her chin. Later on, her lips turned into a lopsided smirk.

"And if there's a way?" She asked, flashing that weird-looking smirk. Nagulat ito sa tinanong n'ya.

"T-Then, I will do it." I guess?

I shouldn't have said it. If she demands for coins as an act of payment, I don't have anything to give her. Kakarampot lamang ang coins na nakuha ko sa dalawang quest na nagawa ko kanina at lahat ng iyon ay ginastos ko na! Pakikipag-argumento ni Leviathan sa kan'yang isip.

But that would be a shame if he didn't pay for it. Aksidente man o hindi, Leviathan made a mistake. It was unpleasant not to take responsibility for your own actions— especially for a man. He learned it from his father.

"Sure 'yan ha!" Paninigurado nito.

"Ha? Ah, oo naman," Leviathan answered... unsured. Please, don't demand any kind of payment! Wala talaga akong maibibigay.

He saw Astrid's grin widened. As if she was thinking of a devilish plan. Leviathan gulped, mukhang hindi maganda ito.

She activated a window and tapped some icons on it.

A window appeared in front of him

[ NOTICE ]

P

layer «Astrid» wants you

to join her party.

Accept

Decline

"Huh? Ano to?" he asked.

"Oh? Sabi mo gagawin mo ang lahat para makabawi sa akin? E, 'di iyan!"

"Para saan naman ito?" This time, she washed her face with her palm in dismay. Leviathan was a newbie, he knew nothing much about this world's system!

She sighed. "Ganito kasi 'yon, meron quest sa dark cave."

"Tapos?"

"Patapusin mo muna kaya ako?!"

Leviathan acted by zipping his mouth then remained silent for a while. "So 'yon nga," She continued, "That quest requires a level of 20 above and a partner."

He scratched his nape. "Eh... level 2 pa lang ako e," pag-amin nito. Mamaya pa kasi dapat ito magpapa-level. And reaching level 20 was pretty hard, too!

"Okay lang 'yan, sasamahan kita sa pag-level up," she walked closer to him and..."Please! I-accept mo na! Please!" She almost cried. What the hell?! Earlier, she almost killed him with her punc, but now everything turned upside-down!

"Sige na!" Pagsusumamo nito. "I-accept mo na–!" He cut her off. Wala naman na itong magagawa pa kung hindi tanggapin ito. Taking responsibility for your own actions, right?

"Ito na, ito na! Just stand up, will you? Nakakahiya, ang daming tao," He told her when she was about to kneel down. Nakakahiya s'ya. And what was with her sudden change of attitude?!

Astrid stopped for a moment.

Slowly, her eyes got wider and wider, until she exploded like a bomb.

"Waah! Salamaat!" Sigaw nito. Niyakap n'ya pa ang binata.

Beat.

Leviathan froze for a moment.

A hug.

He slowly felt his cheeks turning red in embarrassment. Leviathan stepped backward and lowered his head to hide his burning red cheek.

"A-Accept ko na," nangangatal nitong banggit. Astrid, who seemed not affected by what she had done, jumped in too much joy.

"Yey!"

She's weird.

[ NOTICE ]

Player «Leviathan» joins

your party.

"Oh, ayan na!" Leviathan said, blowing a sigh. I don't have any idea about this party system. Bahala na lang si Batman sa akin.

One again, Astrid shouted and jumped simultaneously in joy. Para s'yang sinagot ng ultimate crush n'ya.

"Will you please calm down?"

Napasapo na lamang nito ng ulo. She's unstoppable.

She suddenly paused and looked at the tall clock tower. She cleared her throat. "Okay, enough with this celebration," wika n'ya at nilabas ang kanyang floating window. She was about to log out.

"Hey, Leviathan! Mag-online ka bukas ng 8pm bukas dito mo na ako park. Please don't be late." Bilin pa nito bago tuluyang nag-log out. Her body disappeared into the air.

"H-hey!"

She had already logged out.

Leviathan sat on the nearby bench, feeling drained. "Hindi pa nga ako pumapayag umalis na agad siya," ye whispered. Bakit ko pa kasi naisipang i-accept 'yong party offer niya!

"Tsk, ang uto-uto ko sa part na 'yon."

He activated his profile window and tapped the log out button. His body slowly illuminated light until he disappeared from that world.

🎮

Migo pulled out the Dive Gear inside from head and stood up. He took a clean towel on his drawer and wiped all the sweat on my face and neck. Nakalimutan ko pa lang buksan ang aircon sa sobrang pagmamadaling maglaro.

Once done, napatulala na lamang ito kisame at muling inalala ang mga ginawa n'ya sa loob ng game.

What can I say about entering the virtual world for the first time? AWESOME! Ang astig! I find it cool fighting monsters like the hairless mole rats earlier. And I received a rare item! What a luck.

"I'll play that game more often," he thought.

Migo stood up and headed to the shower to clean himself. After that, he went to the kitchen to eat. Tanghalian na at nagugutom na ito. Matagal-tagal rin pala s'yang nagligalig sa loob ng INTO FANTASY.

Luckily there was still food left from their breakfast earlier. Tinatamad pa naman s'ya magluto. He just pre-heated those in the oven. After that, he took some on his plate and went to the living area.

Migo sat on the couch, turned the television into his favorite cartoon channel.

Habang busy sa pagkain at panonood, tumunog ang cellphone n'ya. Haruto, my half-japanese friend, was calling.

Sinagot nito ang tawag ng mokong na hapon. "Oh?"

"Hoy Migo Felix Manansala, magbihis ka na at samahan mo ako sa mall!" Utos nito.

"Paano kung ayoko?" Tahasan nitong tanong. Binabaan n'ya nang bahagya ang volume ng TV. "Bilis na! Parang sinamahan kita sa pagbili ng game chip ah?"Sumbat ni Haruko. Migo irritatedly brushed his hair. "Bumili ka rin naman!" He hissed.

"Bilis na kasi!"

"Ano ba'ng gagawin mo?!" This guy. He really knew when and where to disturb his peaceful life. Migo couldn't remember why they became best friends. Or maybe he did some japanese incantation to control me?

"Ah, basta! Mamaya mo na malalaman! Bilisan mo hihintayin kita sa may ice cream shop–" and he just hung up the call. Ang sarap mo patayin, bwisit na singkit!

Migo had no choice but to follow. Mukhang kawawa e. Nagpalit ito ng damit pang-alis at sumakay ng taxi sa labas ng subdivision patungo sa mall.

🎮

The sun was roasting hot when Migo reached the mall. He felt like it could burn his skin and turn him into a roasted human. Mabuti na lang talaga at nagsuot lang ako ng t-shirt. He entered the mall and found Haruto at the ice cream shop, munching ice cream.

"Bakit ang tagal mo?" Taas-kilay nitong tanong nang makalapit ito.

Sorry ha! Traffic kase," He replied, sarcastically. Kasalanan ko bang mabagal ang usad ng trapiko?

Migo's face twitched when he saw his friend's face. "Yuck! Haruko disi-otso ka na pero ang kalat mo paring kumain! Punasan mo nga!" Suway nito. He was 18 but his attitude was like ten years younger.

"Pakialam mo ba? Mind your own business!" Sabat nito.

Mind your own business my ass.

In the end, Migo forfeited with a sigh. Tere would be no sense arguing with a guy possessing a child's mind. He just went to the counter to buy an ice cream for himself. "Ano ba talaga gagawin natin?" He asked.

"We're going to buy a gift."

"For whom?"

"For Sabrina."

Migo's forehead creased. "Who is she?" Is she a girlfriend? May girlfriend ang singkit na 'to?

"My cousin."

"Bakit, anong meron sa pinsan mo?"

"Dito na siya sa apartment namin sa Riverdale titira for free para makapag-aral sa school natin." Haruto said while eating his ice cream, not minding the mess on his cheeks. "Bilisan mo ng tapusin 'yan at makabili na ng regalo."

After that, they wandered around the mall to buy a gift for that 'Sabrina'. Ewan ko ba, ako pa ang sinama ng siraulong ito.

"Ano ba'ng bibilhin mo sa kaniya?" He asked while his eyes were roaming around. He had also thought of buying things for himself since he was there already.

"I don't know."

Migo stopped for a moment.

"Bakit–teka, aray!" Sigaw ni Haruko nang malakas s'yang batukan ng kasama. Pinagtinginan agad sila ng mga tao na narito sa mall.

"The hell! Bibili ka ng regalo tapos hindi mo alam kung anong bibilhin mong regalo?!"

He pouted, "Kaya nga nagpasama sa'yo e."

Tsk. Migo brushed his hair in frustration. What an idiot he was. Matalim n'yang tinignan ang kaibigan na nakanguso pa 'rin. "Stop pouting, nagmumukha kang tilapiang hapon."

Haruko's lips pouted more.

"Teka, 'di 'ba close kayo ng pinsan mo?" Tanong nito para mawala na ang inis n'ya. "Ah, oo naman! She's my closest cousin sa side ni Mama," the latter replied with a smile.

"At madalas kayong magkasama?"

"Selos ka naman? Pre, pinsan ko 'yon! Isa pa, hindi tayo talo dahil may nota tayo pareho—aray!" Muli n'ya itong kinutusan ito. Siraulo.

"Umayos ka nga! Ano? Madalas ba kayong magkasama?" He asked again.

"Shit! Ang sakit! Oo no'ng nasa probinsya pa kami."

Napahawak ang binata sa kan'yang baba. What would be the best gift for this ducker's girl cousin? "No'ng mga araw na kasama mo siya ano yung madalas hawak niya?"

"If I'm not mistaken, libro ang madalas niyang hawak—tama libro nga!"

"Anong klaseng libro."

"Kahit ano, gaya ng ABaKaDa," pabirong sagot ni Haruto.

An idea popped out inside Migo's head. He immediately dragged his bestfriend down to the first floor where they could find the bookstore. "May ireregalo ka na," He said with a grin.

Pagdating nila sa bookstore ay agad nilang tinungo ang lugar kung nasaan nakahilera ang mga libro. "E? Alin naman dito ang bibilhin ko?" Tanong ni Haruko habang pinagmamasdan ang mga libro sa lalagyan. Then a book caught his attention, "Ang cute naman ng cover ng librong to!"

On the other hand, Migo pulled a book at pinakita sa kaibigan. The book was entitled, 'FUEL'. "Ito," mungkahi ng binata. Maganda tong libro na ito. Nagandahan ako sa mga characters pati sa mismong plot. One word to describe this book: cool!

"What a brilliant idea!" Sigaw ni Haru kung kaya't napatingin sa dako nila ang mga tao dito. Skandaloso ang boses!

"Sab will surely going to like this!" Mahigpit niyang hinawakan ang braso ni Migo at tumungo sa counter.Kumuha ng pambayad si Haru sa kaniyang wallet at binayad sa kahera. Of course, Migo took the chance to buy a book to read. Halos lahat kasi ng libro sa kwarto n'ya ay nabasa n'ya na. He needed a new book to spend his time with.

"You're the best, dude! Salamat sa tulong." Pagpapasalamat ni Haru sa kaibigan. Aba, dapat lang.

"Anong salamat? May kapalit yon!" Migo said with a wide grin. Agad na bumusangot ang mukha ni Haruko at naglakad palayo. "Tara na!" Aya niya sabay pasok sa loob ng isang fast-food restaurant. This dude knows me very well.

Sometimes, having Haruko as a friend was somehow good. Napaka-uto-uto.

To be continued.