MORDECAI: The Wicked Game

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

"Let's fish in the lake. And get something nice for tonight." Aurella says.

Aurella or Naullan is a good-looking gay, he's strong, and he can hunt too. But Aurella is not as good as Marzena. Good hunting partners are so hard to find. And now Marzena finds hers. They can hunt fish, birds, or deer for their family. Hunting is also their bonding. And Marzena loves that.

"Let's go," Marzena said.

Marzena gets her bow and arrow before she stands up from sitting.

Nilakad nila ngayon ang papuntang lawa sa gitna ng Mazuin. Hindi naman iyon kalayuan, siguro ay ilang minuto lang nilang dalawa iyon lalakarin bago nila marating ang lawa.

"Stop," biglang sabi ng kasama niya. Dumampot ito ng maliit na bato at inihagis iyon sa itaas ng puno. Siya naman ay inihanda ang pana na dala-dala niya.

Lumipad ang isang ibon oras na tumama ang bato sa puno na hindi kalayuan sa gawi nila. Nang makuha niya ang tamang angulo ay walang pag-aalinlangan na binitawan ni Marzena ang palaso. Pinanood nila kung paano iyon tumama sa ibon.

"Yes. Ang galing mo talaga, Marzena," anito habang pumapalakpak pa sa kanya na ikinatuwa niya. Halatang tuwang-tuwa ang kaibigan niya sa unang nahuli nila ngayong araw.

Tumama ang palaso niya sa ibon. Unti-unti itong bumagsak mula sa pagkakalipad. Sabay na tumakbo sila papunta sa pinagbagsakan ng ibon na nahuli niya. Ang black market lang ang bumibili ng mga nahuhuli nila ni Aurella.

Pagkatapos kuhanin ang unang nahuli ay nagtuloy-tuloy na si Marzena at Aurella sa panghahanap ng prutas at panghuhuli.

By the late morning they already have a dozen fish, a few birds, best of all, they have a plastic of grapes and other fruits. Nang masigurado nilang may sapat na silang nahuli para ibenta at may makakain na sila ay nagpasya silang dalawa na bumalik na sa bayan.

On their way home, dumaan muna sila sa black market na nasa abandonadong building malapit sa harang ng Ellesmere na ilang bahay ang layo sa bayan. Medyo marami na rin na tindahan ang sarado, pero abala pa rin ang black market kahit ilang oras nalang ay kailangan ng pumunta ng lahat sa Square, kung saan inaasahan ng lahat na mangyayari ang pag-aanunsyo ni Mazu.

They easily trade the fish and birds for good bread while the grapes and other fruits are for cheese and salt.

When Marzena and Aurella finish their business in the market, they go to the fruit shop to sell half of the grapes knowing they can afford their price.

Aracelie, the fruit shop's owner, welcomed them. Aracelie is a funny woman. They rarely talk, which Marzena likes. Today Aracelie is wearing an expensive dress, the lady is ready to go in the Square. She can see it through Arcelie's attire.

The dress Arcelie's wearing is such a pretty dress. She also wants to wear those but she cannot afford to buy one.

"You have a pretty dress, Aracelie," Aurella says.

Aracelie gave Aurella a wide smile. "Ohh.. thank you for your appreciation. Nagagandahan ka na ba sa akin, Naullan?" nang-aakit na sambit nito sa kasama niya.

Marzena wants to laugh when she heard the lady says Aurella's real name. Halata na may gusto ang dalaga sa kaibigan niya. Sad to say, ang hanap nito ay hanap din ni Aurella. Nang tingnan niya ang kaibigan ay hindi niya mawari ang itsura nito.

"Where're the grapes, Marzena?" Aracelie asked her, nang wala itong nakuhang sagot mula kay Aurella.

Iniabot ni Marzena dito ang plastic na naglalaman ng ubas at ibang klase pa ng prutas. Pinagmasdan at ininspeksyon muna ni Aracelie ang dala nila, tinitingnan kung maganda ba ang kalidad nito. Minutes passed at may kinuha ito at inabot sa kaniya- ang bayad nito sa ubas.

"Salamat, Marzena. Sa susunod ay dalhan mo ulit ako ng mga ubas o ibang prutas handa ako magbayad sa inyo ng ilang pilak. Kahit si Naullan na lang ang dalhin mo sa akin ay nako.. handa ako magbayad ng ilan ng daang piraso ng pilak," Arcelie joked.

"Salamat nalang pero hindi ako ipinagbibili Aracelie," yamot na sagot ni Aurella sa babae.

Dahil baka humaba pa ang usapan ay nagsalita na siya. "Salamat din. Mauna na kami. Kailangan pa namin maghanda para mamaya. Sa susunod na lang ulit," aniya at lumabas na sila ng tindahan kasunod naman niya ang kaibigan na bulong nang bulong sa likod niya.

Hindi niya pinansin ang walang tigil na pagbulong ni Aurella habang papalabas sila ng tindahan ni Aracelie sa halip ay tuloy lamang ang paglalakad niya. Kailangan na niyang makauwi sa bahay nila dahil baka kanina pa siya hinahanap ng Nanay niya. Kapag pinalipas pa niya ang ilang minuto ay natitiyak niyang mag-aalala na ito sa kalagayan niya.

Paglabas nila ng tindahan ay bumungad sa kanila ang anak ng alkalde ng Ellesmere. Mayroon pa rin alkalde sa bawat ward kahit meron nang bawat Council upang makatulong ng mga ito sa pamamalakad ng isang ward lalo na kung ang Council na nakaatas ay nasa Palasyo ng Mordecai.

Magandang maganda ang suot nitong bestida, halata na mamahalin. Pero masasabi niyang hindi iyon bumagay sa batang babae dahil sa mukha nito na parang sinubsob sa harina sa sobrang puti. Kasama nito ang mga kaibigan na masayang nag-uusap o mas tamang sabihin na nagpapayabangan ng mga suot nito. Hindi mababakasan ng paghihirap ang hitsura nito hindi kagaya nila na dama ang hirap sa araw-araw.

"Well, I'm not going to the Square, I just want to look nice, don't I?" pagmamayabang nito sa mga kaibigan kahabang pinag mamayabang ang mamahaling bestida nito na may magandang disenyo.

Now it's their turn to be confused.

"She won't be going to the Square?" Aurella asked Marzena, confused. "How come?"

Marzena looks at the mayor's daughter's dress. Beautifully crafted. It could keep a family bread for a day or more.

Marzena didn't answer Aurella. They just walk in silence. The system is unfair, with the poor getting the worst of it. Pagmayaman ka o may kakayahan ang pamilya n'yo ay maaaring hindi ka pumunta o sumali sa paligsahan na nangyayari taon-taon basta may bayad ka lang ng ilang libong pilak ay ligtas ka na. Easy, right?

But for them, they need to put their names on the list of contenders. But here's the catch. Say you're poor and starving as they are. Pwede mong ilagay ang pangalan mo ng limang beses kapalit ng masarap na tinapay at limang kilo ng bigas na maaaring kainin ng buong pamilya niya sa loob ng ilang araw.

So at the age of fifteen, Marzena had her name entered five times for a piece of bread and five kilos of rice because she had to for herself, Cora, Nova, and her parents.

So as you can see why someone like the mayor's daughter, who has never been at risk? The chance of their name being drawn is very slim compared to those who need to enter the fifth time. And even though the rules were set up by the Council, not by the Wards, it's hard not to resent those who don't have to sign up for bread and rice.

Ilang beses na ipinagdarasal ni Marzena na sana ay hindi sila mahirap ng sa gayon ay hindi kailangan sumali ng mga batang kapatid niya sa kahit na anong paligsahan sa Mordecai.

Even if they want to protest, they can't. The Council will never listen to them, to the poor people of Mordecai. The Council only sees them as weak and poor the poorest people. And it makes things unfair. Very unfair.

Aurella and Marzena divide their spoils, leaving two fish, one bird, a couple of good bread, a few grapes, and a bit of money for each of themselves.

"See you in the Square," Marzena says.

Aurella nodded. "Should I wear something pretty, today?" Aurella asked her.

She smiled. "Well if you can, why not?"

"Ugh! I want to wear something pretty like the mayor's daughter." Aurella complains.

Marzena took a deep breath and patted Aurella's shoulder. "But you can't. Maybe someday?" she stated.

Aurella can't wear some clothes for women because the people outside of Mazuin know Aurella as Naullan- a man not a woman. That's why Aurella hates the Council for being unfair for lower wards. Hindi pabor ang Council sa pagiging lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender nang isang mahirap na mamamayan ng Mordecai pero kung nasa pitong ward ka na nasa taas ay maari ka magladlad at hindi ka makakarinig sa kanila ng kung ano mang kapintasan. At isa pa na ayaw ng iba ay mga kulay-kape ang balat o kutis. Kahit kailan ay hindi naging pantay ang pagtingin ng Council at iyon ang gusto ni Marzena na mabago sa Mordecai. Gusto niya na tanggapin at mapahalagahan nila ang mga tao kahit na ano pa ang kasarian at ang kutis nito. People should be equally treated. They deserve to be treated fairly.

When Marzena comes home, she finds her parents and siblings are ready to go. Her mother wore an old dress while Cora wore her first outfit when she first entered the game. A beige dress that suits her little sister. It's a little big for her little sister, but their mother made it stay by sewing it. And her father and little brother are wearing polo and old pants.

When Marzena enters their small bathroom, a bucket of water waits for her. She scrubs off the dirt and even washes her hair. To Marzena's surprise, her mother has laid out one of her mother's dresses for her. A turquoise off-shoulder knee-length dress.

"Let's put your hair into a milkmaid braid," her mother said.

She let her mother towel dry her hair and braid it.

"Ang ganda mo, Ate Marzena," ani Nova sa kanya na kakadaan lang sa kwarto nila ni Cora.

"Thank you, Nova. Thank you, Mother," Marzena said and hugged her mother because she knew these past few hours would be terrible for their mother and father. Marzena also knew their parents were worried for her and her two siblings. They are still young to enter the game if ever Mazu is going to announce the game later. Marzena will protect Nova and Cora in every way she can, but she's powerless against choosing the players who will enter.

When they came out of the room, sinalubong siya ni Cora. "Hey, little princess," Marzena says and carries her sister.

Cora giggled and gave her a peck on her cheek.

"Marzena, tara na kumain na tayo," sabi ng Nanay niya sa kanila.

She planted a quick kiss on the top of Cora's head before putting her down.

"Umupo na kayo mga anak." Aya ni Tatay sa kanila. Naka-upo na ito at si Nova habang ang kanyang Ina naman ay inilalagay na ang lutong isda sa lamesa na siyang kakainin nila.

Mother decided to save the grapes and bread for the evening's meal to make it special, they say. Masayang kumain ang pamilya nila ng hapunan. Marzena treasures her family. And she'll do everything to protect them even if it will cost her life.

To save them. She can put her life at stake for her family. They are worth it after all.