"Behind those smiles that we exchange is a harsh truth that shrouds our genuine sentiments"
A few hours later we had lunch as well. We have all been waiting for a minute. Author says, same time, same place. Everyone's past happiness is gradually being replaced by sadness and nervousness.
Sixzen and Aeith are stretching and exercising. Tenth, Sixth, Fourth just finished organizing the kitchen. Forzen and Twentieth joined Sixzen and Aeith to have a body warm-up. We have no definite idea what game we are playing but the chances are high that we're also going to play a physical-intensive game. We better prepare our bodies than not. On the other hand, Aeizen, and Sectwen are in the living area sitting on the sofa.
I went to the living area and sat on a sofa.
"How are you, guys?" I asked Aeizen, and Sectwen.
"I'm fine," a simple answer from Aeizen. She seems to be lost in her thoughts. She seems to think of something but none of us can figure out what it is about.
I looked at Sectwen expecting a response from her. She is spacing out. After a few seconds, she looked at me. "Same"
"Why don't you join them for a body warm-up?" I invited the two of them to join the group of Aeith just to make a conversation because they don't socialize very much even with girls.
"I'll conserve my energy for the game," Aeizen refused but she gave me a shy smile.
Sectwen was about to answer when Sixzen interrupted. "Sectwen! Come here!" she called her. Hesitant but Sectwen stood up and joined Sixzen's company.
I shrugged and approached Aeizen and Forth. After a few hours and minutes of body workout, Third, our lone leader, speaks up.
"I think it's about time. Let's go."
We went up to the fifth floor even if it's a little early, it's okay to be sure. Still dark and empty space. We just sat on the side and waited for Author. After a few minutes, we were not disappointed.
"Greetings! Everyone is already here in rendezvous. The results of yesterday's and today's match will be announced after the girl's games. The game will begin momentarily."
And since we already had an idea of what was going to happen, everything changed, and the empty space transformed as it became a volleyball court. There are lines dividing the two teams and there is a net in the middle.
I didn't even notice or feel right away that we had transformed. We were wearing volleyball player clothes, mine is silver and the others wear gold. The girls are wearing a sleeveless top with an embroidered ordinal number name, shorts, and white rubber shoes. I was immediately taken aback by our attire. I'm not used to wearing this kind of stuff where most of my skin is exposed.
"Whooo! Go girls!" Seventh shouted.
Fifzen whistled while Seventh is still shouting. I don't know if they're cheering or teasing us.
And because we were wearing sleeveless, I stared at the arm tattoos of others. Some are still pure black. Others are fading and being replaced by the color gold. Mine is a has gold color but still, the dominated by black. It's almost like First's tattoo.
Just like yesterday, the boys from the silver basketball team were sitting in our bleacher seat. The opposite side of the bleacher is for the gold team.
"Are you okay?" Third checked out on all of us and I think it's my turn. After the passing of Firstwen, he's still doing his job. And he looks more eager today since he's our only leader.
"Worried?" I mischievously answer his question.
He shrugged. "Worried that you won't make it?"
I paused for a moment. I admit that I am getting nervous and not confident about this one. "Kind of. What about you?"
"Worried if you guys failed to win this one."
Now he's kind of acting like a demanding one. "You didn't even win the last game." I teased him.
Our conversation lasted for a bit giving the girls of the silver team some advice from him as a leader and someone who has played the previous game. Fifth and Seventh also gave us words of encouragement. Seventh even told us to 'break a leg' which I didn't want because its literal meaning might happen. First greeted me as well.
"Hey," He smiled at me calmly. Looks like he's not troubled anymore compared to yesterday. "Nervous?"
I nodded.
"How can I help you?"
I shook my head.
"Speechless?"
I nodded.
"I know a charm"
I looked up at him and was curious about the charm he was saying.
"Lend me your hand"
And I held out my right hand to him. He opened my palm.
"I can do this," he said. He then raised his pointer finger as if he were writing something on my palm. After doing that he cupped my hand and held it with his two hands. He brought it to his mouth mouthing something and closed his eyes as if praying.
"Alright"
"Hahaha!" I laughed at his behavior.
First believes in charms? For a person like him to believe those stuff doesn't suit him but I find it cute.
"Thank you"
"Anytime"
I smiled at him and so did he. The depth of the way he speaks is sometimes beyond my understanding.
Everyone is nervous even though practiced our bodies even for a short period. What happened yesterday could happen again, and that's what we all fear the most. Maybe one of the girls will be the victim. The one who gets hurt or dies could be one of us… It could be me.
I shook my head to rub away my negative thoughts. However, being anxious has been part of me before the day started. After witnessing to what happened to Firstwen, I can't help but overthink. Nevertheless, we have prepared for the trials that are ready to hinder our victory. That's why we had fun last night, and we bonded as friends because in this game, we will compete as enemies. Even if we don't want to fight because someone is hurting, we will be forced to hurt one for the sake of the majority. 'Once and for all'. Behind the smiles we show each other, a dark truth struggles to hide our true feelings. We have accepted the sad truth. But the question is, can we handle our acceptance of the truth?
"Welcome to wealth level stage 2!"
Everyone's attention was grabbed when Author came to the center and the game was about to start.
"First, the girls will play Ball of Net. 10 girls, divided into two groups, the silver, and gold group. 5 players each team..."
Author then explained the mechanics that are often heard in the ordinary game of volleyball but a strange version of it because we're here on nth planet.
Gold versus Silver, same battle as before.
Gold team- Forzen (14th), Sixzen (16th), Aeizen (18th), Twentieth (20th), Sectwen (22nd) from private high schools
Silver team- Second (2nd), Fourth (4th), Sixth (6th), Aeith (8th), Tenth (10th) from public high schools
"Go, gold team!" Sevenzen's voice is audible.
"The silver team won't lose. Show 'em what you've got!" Fifth cheered on us.
"I'll cheer you all because you girls are all pretty!" Seventh never fail to break a joke. What a great influence Ninezen has been to Seventh's life.
I can't figure out if the boys are even serious, but this is also good to release the tension.
They lighten the mood of our growing anxiety and fear.
After more than ten minutes of waiting, Author appeared in the middle of the court. We gathered to find out what the hologram's message would be.
"10 players, 2 teams, 5 players each team. Clothing, check. Net, check. The audience, check. Ball, check!"
This is exactly what Author also did yesterday, with the checking and stuff before starting. I just don't know if the same things will happen today as exactly it did yesterday—which are the gruesome parts of the event.
"Before the game starts, I'll explain first the special mechanics of this extraordinary volleyball game."
That being said, there are special mechanics as well. We just need to prepare ourselves for how hard and how we will be tormented by this game.
"The ball that you are going to use is an ordinary ball made of outstanding quality materials. It will only project an image and color."
I calmed down because of that. It was just an ordinary ball, but I immediately wondered what image the ball would project. Is there something inside the ball like in basketball?
"When the ball falls to the ground at your team's territory, the image that the ball projects will affect one of your members."
Here it is again. The thing that is part of the game that I do not want to hear.
"Huh? What do you mean? Like yesterday, a member of us was hurt?" Aeith asked audaciously while pointing at Author's hologram.
"Unlike in an ordinary game, you will be having 5 rounds to play and 3 minutes for each round, a total of 15 minutes. Only 1 minute will be the given time interval per rounds."
For boys, it was 5 minutes per round. For us it's only 3 minutes. It still didn't answer the question of Aeith.
"Hey, answer us first!" Sixzen complained.
"The scoring will be on what team would last and endure the agony of this amicable match."
Author already said this. It's exactly what it said yesterday.
"Only this time, it's more extraordinary. Boys can endure the pain of being physically hurt while girls can endure the pain of being emotionally hurt. In this game, more unforeseen events will happen. Good luck."
And again, Author disappeared like a bubble. I'm not sure if I was even motivated by Author's last phrase wishing us good luck.
"Players, proceed to the court. I repeat, proceed to the court."
We were startled by the speaker because everyone was thinking so deeply. I looked up at both walls, the timer. Yesterday it was also attached to the basketball ring, now it's just on the wall.
We gathered in the middle.
"Position, two teams separated according to your assigned teams."
The two teams parted ways. We were well-positioned.
"Rules and regulations are the same, when defied, certain castigation will be given."
What kind of punishment is that?
"The game will start in 3, 2,"
The ball caught my attention again. It's still dark blue like yesterday but it has a small brain inside, on the side and the one in the middle looks like a piece of paper with writing on it. The brain looks like it's just animated or cartoonish which is unrealistic compared to yesterday that looks exactly a human organ.
"1 *whistle *"
What kind of trial is it this time?
"Move!" My trance returned when I heard Aeith's voice. I looked ahead and the ball was flying towards me! "Outta way!"
I immediately stepped aside and Sixth made a move. The ball went to the other team. While the other members strike their position, Aeith looked at me. "Focus," she said to me.
I nodded and collected my full attention on the game. I'm trying to concentrate but I can't beat the fear I'm feeling. I immediately remembered First's charm. It didn't seem to be effective.
It's been a minute and the ball hasn't fallen to the floor yet. We thought, before the game starts, we will maintain the flight of the ball as much as possible without getting hurt, just like the strategy of the boys in basketball during round 4. But we're all aware that this strategy won't work anymore. I hope that using this plan again won't render consequences.
01:35
The dark blue ball turned to gold. The ball dropped in the gold team's line. We were all stunned to act. It was as if the surrounding is in total freeze. Everyone was staring at the members of the gold team, waiting to see if something bad would happen to one of them. We were in silence for ten seconds, but nothing happened. Nothing was affected. No one was hurt. It weirded me out, but I am glad that this happened instead.
"Continue the game" Commanded by the timer. It noticed that we all froze, and that silence was wrapping around us all. We continued the game.
I'm getting stirred. If yesterday the boys were writhing in physical pain because the opponent team has scored. On the other hand, nothing bad happened to the girls even though we scored against the opponent. What's with this game?
Everyone is so serious, even the boys can't cheer us up because this is not an ordinary game for fun. They are hesitant to do so because we want everyone to win. Twentieth caught my attention. She looks tensed and doesn't seem to focus well. She looks like having a hard time following the ball. At first, I didn't mind because we're newbies. Like me, she doesn't play this sport, but her actions are somewhat off.
02:48
The first round was coming to an end when the ball suddenly flew in front of me again. I hit the ball with both hands. It went to the gold team and was passed around when it landed on Tenth's back, she couldn't catch up with it because it was far and it would definitely cross the line.
*whistle*
The ball landed just past our line when the timer whistled, not counting that turn.
We ran to our bleachers and drank water. I touched my skin, I noticed I wasn't sweating but I was thirsty, that's also what I noticed yesterday in boy's match. Everyone gathered including the gold team at the bleacher of the silver team.
"Guys, why can't we feel anything?" Sixzen asked everyone.
"Yeah. Are you sure none of us were affected?" Tenth checked us one by one to see if we were all right.
Everyone shook their heads to say no. The boys approached us.
"What's okay?" Fifth's question worried everyone.
Not everyone could answer because of too much concern and astonishment.
"It's good that nothing bad happened to all of you. That hologram probably feels guilty," Thirtwen commented.
"He's right. Just keep playing and let's see what happens next," Sixzen suggested. Everyone agreed to Sixzen's suggestion because as of now, no one can answer this tricky game.
Fifzen with a green spiky hair smiled at us and said, "Go, girls, you can do it!"
It's not that we want to feel something bad on our bodies, it's just really surprising and our curiosity is consuming us.
"One minute break is over. Players, back to the game. I repeat, players back to the game. Round 2 will start in 10, 9,"
We returned after a one-minute break and the boys went back to their seats.
"You can do that!"
"Whooo!"
"Let's gooo!"
I was happy with the boys because even though it wasn't obvious that they were all worried about us, they cheer us to lift up our spirits.
"8, 7, 6, 5,"
Aeith is ready to serve the ball. To be honest, I have no idea that Aeith is good at this. She didn't mention anything about being a sporty girl, but I can't deny that she has good stamina for this.
"4, 3, 2, 1, *whistle *"
And the ball went to the other team. If the ball used to turn gold because it landed in their territory, it returned to being dark blue as it was passed around. When the ball is passed around, it is dark blue. It changes color depending on which team the opponent is playing. The inside of the ball has an animated brain on the side and its center has a large red-letter F in the middle.
"Mine!"
I suddenly backed away from Sixzen. Aside from Aeith, Sixth is also doing great. I can see that he has good coordination and agility. Her sincerity about playing and the desire to win is visible in her eyes. Their exercise paid off. How I wish I started joining them earlier to get my body into shape.
"Hya!" I also looked at Sixzen. She possesses balance and strength when hitting the ball. She mentioned that she plays volleyball yesterday as her memories are becoming visible. She is very eager to play because she misses the feeling of playing since we've been imprisoned in the castle.
Of the two teams battling, Sixth of the silver team and Sixzen of the gold team were the best members of the two teams. I don't know what's in the number six and coincidentally they're both good at volleyball.
0:54. The ball turned to gold. The ball fell again to the gold team.
For another ten seconds, there was silence. Staring at which member will be affected in the gold team because our team scored again.
"For the third time that you will hesitate to continue the game, the bleachers won't hesitate to explode."
"Whaaa!"
We were startled because we heard the explosion. The gold team's bleacher exploded at the corner. It was still hissing and smoky. Good thing and no one were harmed but the boy's strategy in the basketball game has failed again. We turned our attention back to the game. Round 2 continues.
01:43
We are still trying not to let the ball fall to the floor. It went back to dark blue, and the flesh still had a brain on the side and a currency sign in the middle. As I continue to play, I also continue to analyze our situation. Why does this game have no effect on us? I notice Sixzen's eyesight is getting naughty.
02:57
When the ball was exposed to me again, I was lucky to be still alive. Aeizen passes the ball to Forzen and she spikes it. In slow motion, we stared at the ball flying towards our team. Aeith and Fourth ran at the same time, collided. Aeith sat down and scratched her head. Fourth tried to chase but she stopped. The ball turned silver—it crossed our line. The gold team scored.
*whistle*
"What happened to you, Aeith?" Fourth gently asked her.
Aeith scratched and held her head. I also noticed her strange behavior after round 2. I thought she got exhausted because she sat down earlier, but she said she is okay.
"There are memories that entered my brain."
"What do you remember?" I asked her as we sat and rested for a moment.
"W-we don't have money. We don't have anything to eat. There are voices of children crying. Noisy cars. Voices of people fighting. Then I feel like I'm crying too. Someone cried and asked for help from others... " she told us a story that we can't understand how and why she suddenly has memories of those. My forehead furrowed in confusion. "Oh, I don't know! Isn't that weird? I don't know what it is. My world just stopped."
"Maybe your memories are slowly coming back." I looked at Fourth.
Aeith scratched her head. "I don't know, really!" She looks tired and perplexed. "If it's like that, then it's good to know who I am."
If Aeith's memories slowly came back, then the memories of Twentieth and Sixzen also came back when we scored against them. Does that explain why their actions and facial expressions also changed? They both looked troubled a while ago. Is this the effect of what we play if we score against the opponent? So, it's still random whose memory comes back every time a team scores. I mean, I must fight to get my memories back as well, but we need to win to gain that. And because someone died on the gold team in basketball, maybe someone in my team will also die if we lose this in exchange for memories. This is bad and absurd at the same time.
"Players, back to the game. I repeat, players back to the game. Round 3 will start in 10, 9,"
After a short conversation, we returned immediately.
"8, 7, 6, 5,"
Before the timer counts down again, it has a follow-up message.
"Starting in round 3 will be a special one."
Everyone was silent and listened intently to what the timer had to say.
"What the ?!"
My eyes also widened looking to our side. What is this? On our side, where there is no longer a line painted on the floor the border should be. From being a concrete floor to being m-mud? The whole floor, except for the bleachers and the volleyball court that we're standing on, were already surrounded by mud.
"Better be careful on where you're stepping and don't cross the line. Round 3 will start in 4, 3, 2, 1, *whistle*"
It is evident on our faces that we are confounded on what kind of gimmick was that again. The timer told us to be careful and not to cross the line. Maybe, we'll get muddy when we step on it. I could also hear the boys, but they are unable to approach and help us because of the mud separating us from the bleachers to the court.
0:42
I am the one to serve so I threw the ball in the air and slap it hard with my right hand. I passed safely and straight to the other team. Passed back to us and it is spiked by Sixth. The gold team tried to follow the ball when...
"Ah!" Aeizen's squeal was audible to the court. She fell into the mud.
We winced at what we saw and the rest of her group immediately helped her get out of the mud.
"Continue the game. It's your choice to help your co-member but you must continue the game."
We were delayed by the timer's warning. Why did it take so long for Aeizen to get out of the mud? She still can't take her feet off the mud pit so Twentieth helped her while the three continued to play. We were worried if we still must continue the game.
I hear Twentieth grunts to pull Aeizen's one of her feet with all her might.
"Darn it! I'm sinking even more!" Aeizen panicked.
We stopped playing and I caught the ball. We looked at Aeizen's position and were surprised that before only her feet were submerged in the mud, now it's up to her waist. The gold team are agitated and help Aeizen up to get up.
"That's not just mud, it's a quicksand!" Seventh called out.
Yes, he is right. You will sink more you move. The boys were worried and wanted to help but impossible because of the quicksand that surrounds us.
"Continue the game," the timer warned. The tone of its voice was alarming.
"Go ahead. Play without me," Aeizen pushed out her teammates to play without her.
We can't do anything. We must help our friends but if we stop playing, worse is about to happen. The game continued.
01:32
The ball fell to the gold team. It turned to gold. Inside, there is still a brain and it looks like there are wrinkles on the side and in its center. Forzen lost focus on playing but she still insisted on playing.
"Forzen!" Sixzen called out Forzen but Forzens seems to be spacing out so she adjusted herself and ran again to pass the ball to us.
02:00
Aeith had the ball and passed it to the other side. She passed it to us and Sixth was about to strike when she went out of balance and she wasn't able to pass it to the other side. When the ball fell in front of her, she kneeled and covered her both ears. I immediately looked at the ball in front of her before it went back to being dark blue. It is silver because it landed in our territory, but it is no longer the brain inside, but an animated heart. The one in the middle is two animated hands holding but it has a crack in the middle. Sixth stood up while still covering her ears. She looks troubled as if she was having a nightmare. Everyone felt there was something wrong with her.
"'Don't-" I no longer stopped her from walking when she crossed the line.
The former mud that surrounded everything, it became a cloud. Blue and white but we couldn't feel the wind, wait w-we're in the sky?
"Aaaahhh!" We heard two female screams. One is to Sixth and the other is to Aeizen.
The quicksand transformed and became a sky. It's like we're on an airplane where you can see the sky. It's not just an illusion, we don't even feel the strong wind that you naturally feel. This is getting stranger. They both fell and fortunately, their hands clung to the concrete floor of the court. It was as if they had fallen into a ravine. We were all alarmed and helped the two before they fell that could result to their death.
"Continue the game!" the timer exclaimed.
*explosion*
We were stupefied when we heard an explosion. Ninth got hurt.
I looked at the timer and it was less than a minute away. I don't know what we're going to do. The lives of everyone are at stake. How are we going to save each other?!
"Save those two, we'll play!" authoritative command but mixed fear by Tenth.
That's right, that's the only solution. I help Sixth lift her up to the ground while Twentieth aided Aeizen. Everyone was forced to focus on the game because someone had already been affected by the explosion.
"Just hold on to me," I lifted him with all my might. It was hard because the wind seemed to increase his weight.
I looked the other way and Aeizen was already up, thankfully. A few seconds later Sixth was lifted safely. Sixth immediately ran closer to the ball and passed to the other group. She's playing normally now as if nothing happened. When he hit that, round 3 was over.
*whistle*
"Safe!" Aeith declared.
I noticed the clouds stopped moving. The ball through the sky but magically it didn't fall. I stepped forward with my right foot and tried to step into the sky. The surface of the sky is as solid. It was as if we were stepping on a glass floating in the sky, but the concrete was as strong as glass. Other girls stepped as well and immediately ran towards the bleachers.
The girls hugged each other because of the tension. Aeizen sobbed and we gave her water to drink. The boys greeted us. She sat alone trying to distance herself from us, so I approached her myself.
I stepped aside and hugged her and turned to me. "Why?"
"Is something wrong? Earlier, I noticed you were panicking while covering your ears. You look stunned."
"I don't know"
"Do you remember anything?"
"I don't know, but when the ball fell on the floor, I remember something."
"What's that?" I interrogated her to find clues from the questions that formed in my mind.
"I had a friend—a close friend, my only friend in my whole life. We had a strong relationship. But in an instant, I-I lost her." I felt sad when she shared her story.
She forced herself to smile for us to stop worrying about her. "I'll be okay"
This is the first time I see Aeizen scared, that she needs a friend. If it is true that those are her memories, then those are unpleasant ones. If the expression of others changed when the opposing team scores, their memories slowly return. If they cried after knowing their truth... would I still want to know the truth about me? Behind those smiles that we exchange is a harsh truth that shrouds our genuine sentiments.