Game Of Life: Volume 2

6. Invitations

Eivel

I looked at Sage, dumbfounded. Napakurap-kurap ako habang pinoproseso pa ang sinabi niya.

"W-What-"

"Just kidding." He chuckled.

Hindi ako natawa sa sinabi niya. Bagkus, hindi maipinta ang mukha ko. For pete's sake! I can't tell when he's serious or not! Pare-pareho ang ekspresyon lagi ni Sage!

Napainat siya ng leeg bago dumeresto ang tingin at sumeryoso ang ekspresyon. "Well then, let's solve this and challenge the Mad Hatter, Challengers."

Napatingin ako sa harap. Doon ko nakita ang matatalim at mga seryosong tingin ng mga nakapaligid sa amin. I saw Kid gulp and Potchi's, overreacting, horrified expression at the corner of my eye.

"So? Do you have any idea to find out who's not invited, kid?" May tono pero bakas ang pagka-eleganteng sambit ni Miss Candine.

"Let's see..." Sage paused for a moment. "Let's tell each other who invited us here."

Walang umangal, bagkus, mabilis na sumang-ayon ang mga bisita sa sinabi ng kasama ko.

"Sure, I'll start then." Panimula ni Miss Candine. Pare-pareho kaming nakinig nang mabuti sa sasabihin niya.

"I was invited by the Mad Hatter himself, we're having a toast when he invited me to this tea party." Pangunguna niya.

I made sure that we had an eye contact while she's talking. I know she hates liars but that doesn't mean that she can't be a liar herself. Mas mabuti na ang makasigurado. Pero base sa pananalita at ekspresyon ni Miss Candine, sinuportahan nito ang impormasyon na binigay ng game.

She really hates liars, and she won't lie herself.

"I'm next," sambit ni Grumpy. Nakuha ng atensyon namin nang maglabas siya sa bulsa ng suit niya ng isang envelope. Walang gana pero seryoso niya kaming tinignan. "I also got invited by the Mad Hatter himself... he gave me an invitation for the tea party."

Walang naka-react sa sinabi niya. He has an invitation, a proof that shows that he's really invited. 

"Me! Me!" Pagsingit ng lalaking may subo-subo pang cupcake. "I wash invited by the dormoushe, he told me that I can eat anything I want. Mish Candine wash there... (I was invited by the dormouse, he told me that I can anything I want. Miss Candine was there...)" Sambit ni Mr. Tea. 

"Yes, it's true that I was there." Pagkumpirme ni Miss Candine.

Nalipat ang mga tingin namin kay Lady Sly na may malagkit na tingin at mapang-akit na ngisi. Mr. Tea has a witness... and Miss Candine hates liars. Pasimpleng tumalim ang tingin ko. The only one left is the sly fox.

"Hm, I was invited by the white rabbit." Malambing na sambit ni Lady Sly. "Mr. Tea was there, he saw it. Right?" Nalipat ang tingin niya sa lalaking kain nang kain.

Mr. Tea paused for a moment. "I wash? I guesh... yeah! I wash there, I shaw it. (I was? I guess... yeah! I was there, I saw it.)"

I had a dull expression. There's 0% chance that I will let that half bake reason pass. Pasimple akong napaismid. Hindi pwedeng gano'n-

"How about you guys? Who invited you here?" Muling pagsasalita ni Lady Sly.

Lahat ng mga tingin nila ay nasa amin na parang binabasa ang bawat galaw at salitang lalabas sa mga bibig namin. Taas noo akong sumagot.

"The door invited us here." May tonong sambit ko.

Pinagtaasan ako ng kanang kilay ni Lady Sly. "That's it? Do you have any witness? I'm sure you can't testify one another," she chuckled. "I mean, you entered one after another. So, no one can tell if you're telling the truth."

Ramdam ko ang pagbigat ng tensyon sa pagitan naming lahat. Mas lalong tumalim ang mga tingin sa amin. Parang dinidiin kami ng babaeng kaharap ko.

"Well, still, it can't be all of you." Pagsali ni Grumpy. "After all, there is only one uninvited." Dagdag niya.

Dumiin ang pagkakagat ko sa ibabang ngipin. H-Huh?! They're freaking suspecting us now?! Nalipat ang tingin ko kay Sage na walang ganang nakasandal sa upuan. Mukhang wala siyang balak na makipagtalo. On the other hand, Kid is clueless as always. 

"Well, my first guess is the guy with the black hair. Pft, I mean, he's the first one who said that there might be an uninvited, right?" Pagtuturo ni Lady Sly. Nalipat ang tingin nila kay Sage.

"Hm, but if he really is the uninvited, he could've just let is passed, right? But he insisted, therefor, I'm not quite sure." Kumento ni Miss Candine.

Kita ko ang bigong ekspresyon ng babaeng nandidiin sa amin. Nalipat ang tingin sa akin ni Lady Sly. Tinapatan ko ang mapang-asar niyang tingin. Ako naman ba ang ididiin niya ngayon?-

"Well, how about the blonde guy? He's quiet since the start... maybe guilty." Lady Sly chuckled.

Nalipat naman ngayon ang mga tingin nila kay Kid na bakas sa mukha ang pagtataka.

"I noticed that too." Naningkit ang mga mata ni Grumpy.

Paismpleng humigpit ang mga kamay ko sa ilalim ng lamesa. Now, they're freaking targeting Kid. Of course, he's quiet! He has no idea what's going on!

To be honest, I was doubting too... but then I realized that it's not the same as before. Walang rason para hindi sila pagkatiwalaan. May proweba man o wala, nagsasabi man sila ng totoo o hindi, pagkakatiwalaan ko sila... katulad ng ginawa nila sa 'kin.

"So? What do you think? It's probably one of them-"

"We have a proof... that we really are invited here." Pagputol ko sa sasabihin ni Lady Sly.

Tumaas ang kanang kilay niya nang mapunta ang lahat ng tingin nila sa akin. Walang ekspresyong umangat ang tingin ko sa kanilang lahat.

"And what is that?" May tonong tanong ni Lady Sly.

Malalim akong huminga bago unti-unting umangat ang hintuturo ko. Pare-pareho silang natigilan nang tinuro ko ang sarili ko.

"We... we ourselves are the proof."

"Huh?! Are you messing with-"

"Eyo! Nagsasalita si Eivel!" Pagsali ni Kid na kinatigil ng babaeng kaharap namin.

Kumurba ang labi ko sa isang ngisi. "The fact that we're here right now, wearing costumes, means that we are invited." Pagsagot ko.

"We are all wearing a costume that the door provided for us, a proof that we're all invited."

"None of my team is a liar, and of course, the uninvited."

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