Day 01: Group Yourselves

Kalison City, Philippines.

March 13, 2037. Friday.

8:25 am.

00:04:59 left.

Jayce Santos.

"I wasn't even acting," I retorted and saw how he shook his head like he had enough of me when in truth this was the first time we talked after a very long time.

I wasn't acting cold either. That was just how I am. Apathetic.

"Nevermind. I'm glad you're safe," he muttered as his gaze trailed off to the guy I was with.

He was sitting and whining on the floor.

"Same goes for you."

I decided to tap the guy's shoulder and offered my hands to help him stood but he refused while showing his hands which was stained with blood.

"Hindi pa tuluyang nagsisimula ang tournament pero duguan na ako. Nakakahiya naman sa suot ninyong dalawa," natatawang pansin niya sa kanyang sarili.

Kung sabagay, lukot lang ang mayroon sa all-white uniform ko samantalang kay Herald ay parang bagong plantsa pa.

"I was with the council office the whole time."

Itinuro niya ang nag-iisang pintuan na nasa itaas. It was the Student Council's Office.

"Ang swerte ninyo," bulong ng lalaki habang nakatitig sa pintuan ng SCO.

"Not really." Herald shrugged off. Bigla na lang naging maingay sa kabilang entrance. May limang estudyante ang nakapasok tatlong minuto bago matapos ang countdown.

"I'll head back now."

The guy sent Herald off enthusiastically like a cheap brothel woman sucking up to her patron. It wasn't a nice adjective but that was how I always perceived things when it comes to the bastard. His mere sight is irritating me.

"Magkakilala pala kayo ni Timotee," bungad sa'kin ng lalaki matapos okupahin ang upuan sa tabi ko.

"Who wouldn't know the bast- the President's name?"

Ah right, I forgot he's still the current dictator of KalSU.

"Gagi, hindi! Halimbawa ako, alam ko ang pangalan ni Timotee pero hindi niya alam ang pangalan ko. Tapos ikaw may, 'stop acting cold, Jayce.'" Ginaya pa niya ang tono ng pananalita ni Herald which I didn't find funny. Although I appreciate his effort of easing atmosphere.

"Probably because I'm popular," I joked. If we went back to the time I met Herald and the things between us, tapos na ang 13-day tournament ng Havoc ay hindi pa ako tapos magkwento.

"Sikat ka nga. Bentang-benta ka kaya sa junior ng LegMa," tatangu-tangong pagsang-ayon niya.

So he knows me?

"I'm Christopher but everyone calls me Tope," he introduced himself and I nodded as a sign of acknowledgement.

"You can call me Jayce."

He smiled. Pagkatapos no'n ay parang wala lang. Naupo lang siya sa aking tabi habang inaayos ang itim niyang headband at may kung sinong sinusuyod sa kabuuan ng mga estudyanteng nakaligtas.

Wala pa ba siyang balak umalis?

My chance of surviving this shitty game if I were alone is high. I wouldn't need to be wary if my partner or groupmates will betray me.

Problema ko nga lang ang physique ko. Hindi ako gaanong kalakas gaya ng iba. Kahit nga sa pagtakbo kanina ay hingal na hingal pa rin ako. Hanggang ngayon ay nire-regulate ko pa rin ang aking paghinga.

"Ang weird ba natin?" Napahinto ako sa narinig kong tanong mula kay Tope. Nilingon ko siya at nadatnan din siyang nakatingin sa akin.

"Kasi tingnan mo." Nilibot ko ang aking tingin sa paligid. "Tulala pa sila. Iyong iba naman umiiyak pa. Bakit tayo... bakit parang galing lang tayong dalawa sa takbuhan?"

"Maybe because we don't really care about other people."

Nakita ko kung paano siya napabuntonghininga. His back lowered looking disappointed and I knew exactly what he was thinking.

"But it doesn't mean you're bad. It's just, they aren't the people you care for."

"Isn't it basic for a human to sympathize, is it?"

"Did humanity tell you who to sympathize with? You're a human not a saint. Hindi mo obligasyon ang lahat ng tao."

Coming from me...

But I don't do it blindly. Ipinagkatiwala sa akin ang mga kaklase ko kaya ginawa ko ang lahat para iligtas sila. Kung isasama pati ang kabilang section, I'd straight out say no.

"I'm scared too. I think of a lot of what ifs too but I'd rather hide and forget the fear for I know it won't do me any good. I should think of ways to survive and not count the things I fear."

"One thing, iba-iba tayo ng level of acceptance at pag-cope up. Maybe for us, this whole undead ordeal isn't the scariest we've experienced."

There's something scarier than a deadly virus and undeads. That's the trauma you tried to hide and forget.

It's the worst nightmare.

"So what's your nightmare?"

Bago ko pa man masagot ang tanong ni Tope ay muli na namang umalingawngaw ang isang mechanical voice. Kasabay nito ang paglabas ng isang malaking hologram.

Gaya ng dati, nakapaloob dito ang natitirang oras ng event at ang mga natitirang tao. Mula sa 300+ na KalSU students ay 52 na lang ang natira.

Limampu't-dalawang estudyante...

Just how hard was it for them?

[Congratulations! You've passed the preliminary examination of Project Revise. From this moment onwards, all of you are now the official participants of this tournament.]

Most of the students who were wailing earlier shut their mouth and listened intently to Monitor 091. Ang iba ay napatayo pa at tila handa ng tumakbo. Kami ni Tope ay nakaupo lang sa gilid.

[Day 01: 23:59:59 left.]

[For thirteen days, you are to complete the tasks given by the monitors assigned to your groups while walking the path towards the Final Quarantine.]

By team...

[Failure to comply with the rules and regulations will also result to punishment.]

"091, where's the Quarantine?" asked by someone named Herald. Nasa tapat siya mismo ng hologram.

[The location of the Sole Quarantine will be revealed through completing the task. Failure to complete the task before the given period means disqualification.]

Does it mean death?

[To officially start the tournament, we will give you ten minutes to choose your team wisely. Remember. A team cannot exceed seven members.]

Nagsimula na ulit umingay ang paligid ngunit wala ni isa ang gumalaw. Mula sa iba't-ibang kolehiyo at grupo ang 52 na nakaligtas. Hindi rin madaling pumili ng gagawing kagrupo dahil kahit ako rin ay gusto kong hindi pabigat ang mapupunta sa akin.

"091, what are the rules and regulations?" Herald asked again. We seemed to forgot about it for a while.

[The only rule of Project Revise is to survive with any means possible. This is the survival of the fittest, Project Revise.]

Everything's fine. Even killing and cheating. Just straightly fucked up.

"Dalawa na agad tayo sa team." Tope nudged at me. I nodded as an acknowledgement. With his build, he won't be a drag anyway.

"Hey!" Pareho kaming napalingon ni Tope sa sumitsit sa amin. May isang babaeng nakasuot ng jersey at jogging pants ang patakbong lumapit sa amin sabay hagis ng kung anong kulay puti kay Tope na siya namang nasalo niya.

"Count me in!" she turned towards me.

I frowned. Who is she?

"Wow! Salamat, Maui! Kanina ko pa talaga gustong magpalit ng damit," Tope exclaimed. His eyes were shining as he stared at the white shirt given by the Maui girl.

"Mukha kang galing giyera, Tope."

"Haha, gyera talaga kanina sa CSS."

"Maniniwala na sana ako kung hindi sobrang linis nitong kasama mo." Maui-girl finally turned towards me. She gave me a smile before continuing, "I'm Maui and I'd like to join the team you're forming."

"Why would I let you join?"

"Pumayag ka na, Jayce. Si Maui na 'yan."

"Hindi ko alam? I just know I won't drag the team at sa lahat ng nandito, kay Tope ako pinakapamilyar."

"Jayce," I also introduced myself but before I could go on, another voice cut off.

"I like to join too."

It was Herald. Arms crossed, he looked resolute like he's not gonna take no as an answer.

"You can join the council team," I pointed at the honorable members of student seats which by now have already formed a team.

There were six. One spot left for Herald maybe.

"Bakit ang sungit mo kay Timotee?" Lumapit pa sa akin si Tope para lang bumulong.

"Out of all the people here, I trust you the most."

I crossed my arms and gave him a lopsided grin. "But I don't trust you, Herald."

"You're calling him by his second name yet you're saying you don't trust him," Maui chuckled and I felt how satiric her remarks were.

"Timotee isn't his name in the first place." Lumingon ulit ako kay Herald. "You'll lead."

Did I say that his mere sight is irritating me? But on second thought, I would rather let him join the team than just anyone.

"Here! I'll join here!"

A woman intruded our four-person conversation. I figured she's a Tourism student given her face value and the bright yellow pair of uniforms.

"You'll let me join here, Herald, right?" Lumingon siya kay Herald na halatang dahilan kung bakit siya sumali sa grupong ito.

"Andrea, kung maghahabol ka lang kay Timotee, please lang, sa ibang grupo ka na. Mamamatay na lang tayo lalandi ka pa," prangkahang wika ni Maui na ikinainis ng bagong dating.

Pinadyak niya ang kanyang paa at nakataas ang kilay na tumingin kay Maui. Andrea's taller than Maui with or without the heels but the latter looks physically fit. If they ever decided to fight here, Maui's gonna win.

"Take care of her," I said to Herald. Maui didn't say anything and I didn't explain myself too.

She survived the undeads while still on her heels and still thought about pursuing love, this girl has charms of her own.

"Lima lang tayo?" Tope asked.

"This is better."

"Jayce." I glanced at the familiar voice. I tilted my head to see how is he after leaving me alone earlier.

"Glad you're safe, Carlo. What do you need?"

"Jayce, isali niyo na si Carlo sa grupo niyo. Pito na kasi kami," singit ng isa pa nilang kasama. I don't know her personally but if she was with Carlo, taga-CSS siya malamang.

"We're not adding anyone na and he looks like a coward so it's a no for me."

"Hindi kita kilala kaya hindi rin, par."

"Kayo ba si Jayce?"

"Hindi. Pero parte kami ng grupo na gusto ninyong tapunan ng basura ninyo."

"Ang tigas mo naman pala, Jayce. Matapos mong hayaan magkagulo ang mga ka-blockmates mo at iwanan mag-isa si Carlo, ayaw mo siyang isama sa grupo ninyo. May dalawang pwesto pa kayo ha!"

My forehead ceased due to her reasoning. Who let them flee? Who left who?

Kasagsagan na nga ng kaguluhan, nagagawa pang gumawa ng kwento ng ibang tao.

"Jayce won't do that." Herald protested. Saka lang nila napansin na ang presidente ng school council ang isa sa mga kagrupo namin. "If I were to mention someone who I think won't run away from responsibilities, that's going to be Jayce."

"Ang laki pala talaga ng tiwala sa'yo ni Timotee," Tope mumbled. I eyed at him but did not say anything.

"Pero Pres, trabaho mo rin dapat na siguraduhing ligtas kami."

"That's ridiculous! Sino ka para intindihin pa ni Herald?"

"Stop that," Herald massaged his forehead and looked at the people around. We've become the center of attention.

"Ask-"

Before Herald could speak out, I stood and faced Carlo. I just knew Herald would not get angry.

"Since the first day I made it clear that I am someone who wouldn't budge unless I'm involved. I was your class monitor and I did my job to ensure order earlier but who ran off on their own? Who was it that left me behind? I can still vividly remember your cowardly act, Carlo."

I grinned at him. Looking at him, I remembered how he made himself a joke earlier. Does he forgot why he's wearing a jersey?

"You don't need to feel guilty. I wasn't even blaming you for your cowardice." I tapped his shoulder and smiled satirically.

I don't do charity here. Ayos lang sa akin kanina kahit gaano pa siya kaduwag at kapabigat dahil trabaho ko bilang class monitor nila ang ayusin sila.

These new teammates, although si Herald lang ang kilala ko, they seemed to be more reliable in terms of wit and strength than Carlo.

Sinenyasan ko ang iba ko pang kasama na lilipat kami ng pwesto bago binalingan ng tingin si Herald.

"Do what you are supposed to do, Mister President."

Sumunod naman sa akin sina Tope ngunit hindi pa man ako nakakahanap ng magandang pwesto ay may isang maliit na hologram ang lumabas sa harapan namin.

[Hi! This is Monitor two one nine, assisting you until the end of Project Revise. Before anything else, I would appreciate it if you enter your names. Please take note that the first name you'll enter will be your team leader.]