LEVEL 10

LEVEL 10

Migo found myself staring at the ceiling of their classroom as his World Religion instructor was explaining something about Buddhism. Hindi s’ya makapag-concentrate nang maayos sa tinuturo dahil sa inaantok ito. I can really feel the strong urge of my eyes to sleep.

Gusto n’ya na lang humiga at ipahinga ang sarili n’ya. You see, I haven’t recovered after that fight with Poison inside the virtual world. His real body was aching due to the maximum level of Sensory Control Setting. Hindi n’ya masyadong naintindihan ang paliwanag ng mga developer patungkol rito.

What he had only understood was, due to the maximum pain they felt inside the virtual world, their brains interpreted it as a real pain–you know, complicated nerve cells things.

Pero sabi nila, uminom lang daw ng pain killer ay mawawala na 'yon. But if it becomes worse, sila na ang bahala sa pangpa-ospital n’ya.

After that accident, he hadn’t played INTO FANTASY for a while. Gusto n’ya munang magpagaling at asikasuhin ang mga nalalapit nilang presentation lalo’t nalalapit na ang midterm exam.

How about Astrid? I actually don't know. Dahil hindi pa s’ya naglalaro ay hindi n’ya pa ito nakakausap. Hindi ko 'rin alam ang social media accounts n'ya kung saan pwede ko s'ya kausapin. They just knew each other inside the game. Wala rin silang kaalam-alam tungkol sa kung anong itsura nila sa totoong mundo.

And truth be told, that is the reason kung bakit wala akong tulog kagabi.

On Saturday, for the first time, Leviathan as Migo would meet Astrid in real life. Magkikita kami ng personal.

So, what was the deal about it? Ewan. He felt so nervous thinking that she, or maybe he, would see the real person behind Leviathan.

Bakit naman pala ako kakabahan? 'Di ba s'ya dapat makaramdam ng kaba?

Baka dapat dalawa sila?

“Ay, ewan. Felix n'yo sabog.”

"Mr. Manansala!" Nabalik ito sa reyalidad nang tawagin ni Mr. Burgos. He noticed that everyone's attention was on him.

"S-Sir?" Nangangatal nitong tanong. He saw on his peripheral how his effin' best friend, Haruto, was holding himself not to laugh. Tinago n'ya pa talaga ang mukha n'ya sa librong hawak.

"Kanina pa kita tinatawag, tulala ka lang. Ano ba? Broken ka ba?" Everyone laughed and Haruto was the loudest.

Napangiwi na lang si Migo .Bukod sa nakakairita ang malakas na tawa ni Haruto, ang korni pa mag-joke ng instructor nila.

🎮

"Sana all, broken!" patuloy na pang-aasar sa kan’ya ni Haruto. Lunch break na at katulad dati ay nandito sila sa paborito nilang table. Silang dalawa lang ngayong araw ang magkasama. His cousin, Sabrina, was absent today.

Migo just raised his middle finger right at Haruto’s face then rolled his eyes. He took a piece of his french fries and had a bite. "Bakit pala absent si Sab?" he asked while munching.

"Bakit? Miss mo?" Nakangisi nitong sagot. Mukha s'yang asong hindi naturukan ng anti-rabies. Sinamaan n’ya ito ng tingin.

"Ito naman, charot-charot lang. She told me that she is feeling sick, nakaraang araw pa. Baka naho-homesick na?"

Sick? Since last day? And she’s an IF player…

Hindi kaya naapektuhan rin s’ya ng insidente last time sa loob ng virtual world? Naka-log in siguro s'ya ng mangyari 'yon! Sana hindi malala ang nararamdaman n'ya.

Some of Poison's victims were hospitalized due to the damage they'd received. Luckily, they were all just mild damages. Kung malala ang mga 'yon, mas malala ang haharapin na casualty ng Fantaxia. It could cause a permanent shut down to the virtual world.

"Actually, pupuntahan ko 'yon mamaya, sama ka?"

Mabilis itong sumagot. "Oo."

Migo paused when he noticed Haruto maliciously staring at him. His eyes widened on the realization. He felt his cheek burning and reddened.

"Ikaw ha—" he cut him off.

"Bwisit," he hissed, averting his eyes to the green landscape on their right.

🎮

Migo bought an energy drink earlier that, thankfully, made him awake on the following subjects. Ayoko na ulit matulala sa kisame. Nakakatakot. Hindi n’ya namamalayan na picture-an na s’ya ng mga mokong n’yang kaklase gaya ng nangyari kanina.

'Pag s’ya ang gumanti, ipapaskil n’ya pa 'yon sa announcement board sa tabi ng SSG office.

Like what Haruto had said earlier, they went to his cousin's apartment to check on her. Bago sila pumunta doon ay dumaan muna sila sa palengke para bumilhan si Sabrina ng mga prutas at panghapunan nilang tatlo doon dahil doon na raw sila kakain.

Okay lang naman ‘yon sa akin, Migo thought. Nami-miss n’ya na rin kasi magkaroon ng kasama tuwing hapunan. Madalas kasi ay ka-call n’ya lang ang kan’yang mga magulang.

Nang makarating sila sa apartment ni Sabrina ay walang habas na kinalampag ni Haruto ang pinto nito na kinagulat ni Migo. “FBI ka ba?!” The latter just gave him a playful smile. Maya-maya pa ay nakarinig sila ng yabag na papalapit sa pinto.

"KAHIT KAILAN TALAGA HINDI KA MARUNONG KUMATOK!" When the door opened, Sabrina was revealed. She was wearing her jacket and a warm thick blanket wrapping her slender body; she was pale, her cheeks were burning due to the heat crawling on her skin.

"Parang wala ka namang sakit, e!" pangbu-buwisit pa ni Haruto. Sabrina rolled her eyes. Malakas talaga mang-buwisit ang isang 'to, talo naman kapag ginantihan.

Then, their eyes met. For a moment, Migo found himself trembling, it was so hard to breathe; his heart seemed racing. He felt strange movements on his stomach—are my worms moving?

He averted his eyes to the floor.

"A-Ano 'to, sahig?" Napakagat na lamang ito ng ibabang labi.

What the f?

He heaved a heavy, frustrated and an embarrassed sigh first before he spoke. "Ayos ka lang? Sabi ni Haruto nilalagnat ka daw simula nakaraang araw."

Nice. I just told her the obvious!

Bago pa mamuo ang awkwardness sa pagitan nilang dalawa, hinatak ni Haruto si Migo papasok sa loob ng bahay ni Sabrina.

Inasikaso ni Haruto ang may lagnat n'yang pinsan. He gave her the medicine they bought at the pharmacy near the place. May caring side 'din pala ang hinayupak na 'to, akala ko puro pangbubugbog lang alam n'ya.

After that, they watched random movies on Watchflix.

"Ay oo nga pala, may mga dala kaming prutas," tumayo si Haruto, "Let me just wash and peel them. Bilisan n'yo ng mag-decide ng papanoorin. 'Pag ako nainis manonood tayo ng Fifty Shades!"

Sabrina threw her pillow directly on his head. "Gaya mo kami sa 'yo!"

"'La! Si Migo nga 'rin nanonood no'n, e!"

Sinaluduhan naman s’ya ni Migo ng kan’yang gitnang daliri. Natatawang umalis ang ugok, leaving them alone.

There was silence for a moment.

Tumikhimang binata. "So, ano? May naisip ka ng panoorin?"

Sabrina pouted while browsing cinemaflix. She was feeling better now after taking medicine. Her skin was no longer pale, her cheeks were no longer burning as they were before "Wala pa nga, e! Ikaw, may naisip ka na?"

"How about, Scream? I like that movie," Migo suggested. Tumango ang kasama nito at s-in-earch ang sinabi n’ya.

Scream was a late 90s horror-slasher movie. It was about a teenage girl who had been haunted by a killer named Ghostface.

"Anyway," nilingon n'ya ako, "Was it because of the previous IF accident that made... sick?"

She nodded. "Yeah, unfortunately isa ako sa mga na-trap na player sa loob ng IF. That Poison was too hard to defeat! Kahit sa virtual world lang 'yon, real body ko nanakit!"

His forehead wrinkled. She, what?

"You fought–" He was cut off when finally, the movie she played started and Haruto came with the fruits.

The day ended quickly for Migo.

Hindi nagtagal ang dalawa masiyado sa bahay ni Sabrina para makapagpahinga ito nang maayos. Pinainom lang nila ito ng gamot at sabay-sabay silang naghapunan bago umalis ang dalawa.

Tumalon si Migo sa sa kan’yang kama at dinama ang malambot nitong mattress. It had been a tiring day. He had already cleaned himself up. Bumalikwas ito nang pagkakahiga at hinarap ang blankong kisame.

Bumalikwas ako ng pagkakahiga at hinarap ang blangkong kisame. His mind started to fall into deep thinking.

For the nth time, he heaved a deep sigh. He was too occupied with a lot of questions in his mind. Hindi s’ya makatulog hangga’t ‘di na nasasagot ang mga iyon.

Ano’ng ibig-sabihin ni Sabrina kanina?

“Hindi kaya–” he paused. He brushed his hair and then placed his palms at the back of his head. “Let’s just not overthink it…”

Dahan-dahan n’ya na lamang pinikit ang kan’yang mga mata hanggang sa ‘di n’ya na namalayan na nakatulog na pala s’ya.

🎮

Saturday.

The day was the day. I am going to meet the CEO of Fantaxia Gaming Company... and the real person behind the avatar of Astrid.

Muli na naman s’yang nakaramdam ng kaba. Hindi dahil makikilala na n’ya ang isang bigating CEO kung hindi ay dahil kay Astrid.

Was Astrid a he or a she? Big or small? Was Astrid a human?

He frustratedly brushed his tousled hair. "God, bakit ba ako sa kanya kinakabahan? Hindi naman siguro s'ya nanapak 'di 'ba?" He rolled his eyes and took a deep breath.

According to the message sent by the CEO, he would meet them at his office at 12 noon and it was hours from now.

I should fix myself now. The office of Fantaxia was located in Central City. If he were to ride a train, it would take him at least an hour before reaching his destination.

Migo headed to his closet, took a black shirt layered with a green polo then tucked it on his straight cut black pants. He also wore a pair of black loafer shoes. He would meet a CEO so he needed to look decent and formal.

"Ugh! I hate this part," he whispered as he glanced at his messy raven hair in the mirror. Nasanay na talaga s’ya sa pagiging magulo nito, minsanan n’ya nga lang kung suklayin n’ya ito. Tamad ako at sanay na ako sa gano'n.

They said he still looked so fine with it. He blew a frustrated sigh. He took his comb, the hair blower and his hair wax. It took him some time para magawa ang isang matinong brushed up hair.

"I look good, I guess?"

For his final touch, he applied a few drops of his favorite cologne on his neck and some part of his body.

Nang makuntento na sa kan’yang itsura ay umalis na ito.

He had no car so he had to ride a cab to the train station. 'Pagpasok n’ya sa loob ng tren ay sinalpak n’ya sa kan’yang tainga ang kan’yang pares ng airpod para may pinapakinggan s’ya habang nasa biyahe.

Mahaba-haba ang biyahe patungong Central City kaya nakaidlip s’ya sa byahe.

🎮

"Welcome to Central City..."

Nagising s’ya sa anunsyo. He finally reached Central City. He got outside the train station and heaved the city air; it was way too different from his city, Riverdale. This city seemed too modern and industrial. Tall buildings, piles of cars on the road, busy people wearing their work attire. Napakalayo sa nakagisnan n’yang lugar. Iilang beses pa lang s’ya nakapunta rito kasama ang mga magulang o naman kaya ay si Haruto. May mga magagandang pasyalan kasi rito at nandito ang mga national museum. Nandito rin kasi ang main branch ng company ng kan’yang mga magulang. Dito sila pumapasok.

"Now, to the Fantaxia building!"

Sumakay s’ya muli ng taxi at binigay sa driver ang address ng building na kan’yang pupuntahan. Habang nasa biyahe, nagsimula na naman s’yang manginig sa kaba. Hindi ko alam pero mas kinakabahan akong makita si Astrid talaga!

He had speculation about her but he wasn’t so sure about it. He unknowingly bit his lower lip.

Ano naman ngayon kung tama ang iniisip n’ya? Ano naman ngayon kung s'ya nga 'yon? Ano naman sa akin?

He lowered his head as a weird sensation was digging down his stomach. Nababaliw na ako.

"Sir, nandito na po tayo," the driver announced, making him feel more anxious. Pinilig n’ya na lamang ang ulo at kinalma ang sarili.

Inabot n’ya ang bayad sa driver bago lumabas.

"Thank you po." Hinatid n’ya ng tingin ang taxi saka nilingon ang... napakatangkad na building!

Woah!

The Fantaxia building was taller than the building of the company run by his parents. He wondered, how many people were working in that place?Saan d'yan ang opisina ng CEO?

That building, the place where the virtual world of INTO FANTASY was created…

He gulped then cleared his throat. Migo felt so intimidated just by looking at the building. What’s more pa kaya 'pag nasa loob na ako?

Pagpasok n’ya sa loob, unang bumungad sa kan’ya ay ang lamig ng aircon. Malawak ang loob nito, puno ng mga employee na busy sa kani-kanilang Gawain. For the nth time, Migo blew a heavy sigh before he headed to reception.

"Good afternoon, sir! How can we help you?" He stilled when the lady receptionist greeted him. Ano ang sasabihin ko?

“Hindi ko 'to pri-in-actice kagabi!”

Tatanungin n’ya na lang kaya kung nasaan ang washroom nila tapos tatakbo na lang s’ya papunta kung saan man ang opisina ng CEO.

"A-Ano... can you tell me, where's your wash-" he was cut off when he heard a familiar voice on his back.

"Hello po! Ask ko lang kung saan ang CEO's office–" she paused when their eyes met. A curved smile slowly appeared on her lips. She was wearing a pastel blue floral dress. Her straight hair was laid on her back. She really looked like a shampoo fairy.

He wondered kung pinipilahan s'ya ng mga shampoo brands para gawin itong endorser. Surely, she was perfect for the job.

Her porcelain skin was standing out, making her almost look like a Japanese doll.

"Hey there, Leviathan!" She greeted him then quickly flashed a wink. Migo felt stunned. She called him by his IF username!

“Sabrina…” he called her name.

If that is so… She is Astrid?!

Natawa ito sa gulat n’yang ekspresyon. I mean, she is Astrid! My game partner in the virtual world! The person whom I shared epic quests with!

He was about to speak when a tall man wearing a black formal attire appeared on their side. "I assume, both of you are Astrid and Leviathan?" Kapwa n'ya sila tinignan. They answered him with a quick nod.

"I am Hugo, The CEO's secretary. Please follow me," tumalikod na ito naglakad palayo. Nagkatinginan muna sila ni Sabrina bago sumunod. Damn, she’s also the Astrid I know!

They used the elevator to the CEO's office.

Nabigla si Migo nang sikuhin ni Sabrina. "You look so tense!" Tawa nito.

Umiling ang binata. "Sinong hindi, 'no? He is the brain of INTO FANTASY... almost the god of the virtual world," he replied with fascination. We both laughed. Salamat sa kanya nabawasan ang kaba ko.

The elevator opened. They followed Mr. Hugo on the long hallway. Sa bawat gilid ay may mga kwarto kung saan may mga abalang employee. Some seemed brainstorming for their new projects.

"Hey, I really can't believe you're Leviathan."

"E-Eh?" He felt his cheeks burned; he averted his eyes somewhere. "Bakit naman?" he asked.

"Kasi malayo ang personality mo at ng avatar mo. Leviathan seemed bold and outgoing, ikaw naman mukhang mahiyain. Sa school ako lang at si Haruto ang madalas mong kausap."

Leviathan was Migo'$ alter-ego. The complete opposite of Migo; his ideal self. Leviathan was his hidden personality that, for some reason, he couldn't bring outside the real world. I am a shy and silent person-well except those persons that I am personally close with. Hindi ko alam how can I show that side of mine.

"Hmm," pagtango nito. "Ako din naman ay nagulat nang malamang iisa kayo ni Astrid! Magkaibang-magkaiba kayo yet I had the speculation na iisa lang kayo."

"Weh? Bakit mo naman naisip 'yon?"

And that made him feel wanted to slap his cheek. Idiot. Why did I tell her that?

"H-Hindi... ano kasi–" thanked God when Mr. Hubert cut him off.

"We are now at the CEO's office."

To be continued.