Chapter 12: Gamble for LOVE

Hindi ko halos nagalaw ang pagkain ko. Siguro dala na rin ito nang labis na kasiyahan. This is my first major battle and my first time to reach the semifinals. Sobrang laking achievement ito para sa akin. Everybody was still having their lunch, but I excused myself and decided to take a walk and get some air.

Outside the building, there is a small greenhouse. I walked over there to clear some air and to relax. I get a sudden feeling of anxiety. The realization hits me and everything that had happened is starting sink inside me.

"I feel nervous and scared of what if I lose in the semifinals? What if I never get the chance to battle against Yujin" questions are filing inside my head.

The greenhouse may be small, but there are lots of different flowers with vibrant colors. Sobra akong na-impress at namangha. Nalibang ako sa pag tingin sa mga iba't ibang uri ng cactus na naka-display dito. Hindi ko na tuloy namalayan ang oras.

I was busy taking selfies until I remembered that I need to head back to see who I will be competing with. I went out of the greenhouse, but then I saw Yujin outside the building and walking around the area. Sa sobrang gulat at taranta ko ay napatakbo ako pabalik ng greenhouse.

Unfortunately, he followed me inside. I tried to hide under the table where the fertilizers where stored. Of course, the greenhouse was too small and It's impossible to hide considering my size. As expected, he immediately caught me. Bakit ba kasi ako nagtago? Pahiya lang ako at nagmukha lang akong tanga!

"Seriously, are you trying to hide away from me?" He was looking down on me while I am sitting under the table along with the fertilizers.

"No, I'm not I'm just looking for something," I said then pretend that I am indeed looking for something.

"I thought you've changed, but you haven't changed a bit. You're still as stupid always!"

"Eh 'di wow! Akala mo naman siya nagbago na. Suplado at mapanlait ka pa rin," naiinis kong sinabi.

"How did we end up here?" he seriously asked.

"I don't know about you, I came here to get some air," I sarcastically replied.

"I wasn't talking about that. You ended up with Dragon room and now, we will compete with each other." He faces changed and looks sad.

"Maybe I wasn't good enough for the Monkey room that's why I transferred to another room," I said to him. "I'm just wasn't good enough for you," my voice slightly trembled. I tried to hold back my tears. I don't want him to see me cry.

There's no way I'm letting him see my weakness. I walked away from him and about to leave the greenhouse when he grabbed my hand and tries to stop me from leaving.

"So that's it? You'll just leave me after confessing to me that you like me, after giving me the love I never asked for? You are just going to leave me, just like that?" His voice increases and his grip in my hand tighten. "You are so unfair. I let you be part of my life, my daily routine and my whole system. I don't know what kind of spell you cast upon me, but I want you to take it back! I keep thinking about you. As much as I tried not too, but I still missed you so much and I want you to know that!"

"Thanks for telling me, but you see I'm now a gambler just like you. It will take more than a confession for me to believe what you are saying. From all I know, it's just your way to distract me from the game!" I pushed his hand away from me and walk away from him.

"You know, I have no reason to lie." He doesn't have to tell me that. I can see the sincerity in his eyes.

"We'll see about that. I'll see you on the battlefield." I remain calm. I am stronger than I am before.

Then, I left the greenhouse and never looked back. When I returned to the game room, everyone is waiting for me. I checked the bulletin board to see who will be my opponent. My jaw almost drops when I saw that it was daredevil that I will be competing in the semis. I can't help but teared up. It was the moment I have been waiting for.

Everyone gathered in the room and Yujin was already waiting for me in the table. I sat down and smiled at him. Tyet ang plastic ko!

Each player was given a total of Five thousand peso worth of chips. Since everyone is set, the game begins.

The first set of the card has been drawn. Yujin bet one hundred peso worth of chips. Everybody was waiting for me to make my move. People are chatting and gossiping. They are all curious about whether I will fold or call the game.

I was staring at him the whole time and did not flinch, not even once. Both of us are trying to decipher what others were thinking. Then I started to make my first move. I placed all my five thousand pesos worth of chips in the middle of the table.

He was shocked by my actions. As a matter of fact, everybody including Sensei was shocked by my move. Not knowing what I am thinking, he decided to fold his card. For the first time, DareDevil folded his card.

The dealer starts to draw the next set of cards. I placed all of my chips including the one I won earlier. Everybody was once again shocked by my action. I heard some were saying that I'm crazy pulling off this kind of trick. But this time Yujin called and placed all of his chips.

"Do you really want to lose this badly? Acting stupid again!"

"Mr. Dealer, please don't show the cards yet. I am not finished betting," I politely request to him.

"What do you mean? You have no more chips to bargain with," He curiously asked.

"I don't have chips, but I will bet on something else. Let's make it more interesting, shall we?" I smiled at him.

"What do you have in mind?"

"If I win, I will have your heart. You will be mine and I will be yours. I will love you as long as I can and as long as you want me too. I will be obedient as I should have been before, will remain faithful, loyal and will stay by your side for as long as you desire."

A facepalm is all the reaction I get from him. He pauses for a while trying to figure out his next move. "LOLLIPOP, that's insane! And what if you lose?"

"You will never see me again. I will quit playing and will never visit the website ever again. I will stay out of your life for good. So, Yujin, do you call, or will you fold?"

Everybody was surprised by the bet I just made. The place was in total silence. Now the pressure was once again channeled to Yujin. Everybody is waiting for his next move.

I'm sweating like a pig, I don't know what he was thinking right now. He was just staring at me. I don't see any emotions nor reactions from him. I cannot read what's on his mind. Then he said to me.

"You are stupid. Do you know that?"

I started to cry knowing that he will call and I will lose the game. I checked my cards and found out that I never had a good pair, a flush or a good hand to begin with.

The unexpected thing just happen. He throws away his card. I can't believe my eyes. Did he just fold his card? He conceited. Does it mean that he accepted my offer? I burst into tears. I finally won his heart!

Bigla akong napabalikwas sa pagkakaupo ko ay napatakbo sa kinaroroonan niya. Napatalon ako sa kaniya sa sobrang tuwa at yumakap ng mahigpit. Mabilis naman niyang sinuklian ang yakap ko nang mas mahigpit na yakap na may kasamang gigil. Hindi kaya parang gumaganti siya sa akin sa pagkatalo niya sa sugal na halos mabali ang lahat ng buto ko sa katawan? Wala akong paki alam! Basta ako ay masaya at mamatay na sa inggit ang iba!

Everybody was cheering and screaming at us. I'm the only person who defeated the DareDevil. Bagong record na tatatak sa history ng CASINO ROYALE!

I can't stop crying. He keeps on comforting me, telling me that everything is fine and the game is finally over. Feel na feel ko ang moment na 'to. Daig ko pa ang nanalo sa super lotto. Gusto ko ngang tawagan ang nanay ko para sabihing "Ma, may jowa na ako!"

After things cool down, I went back to the table and take a look at his card. It was a possible flush. He could have won the game, but he throws it all out for me. Tyet kinilig ako! Ang ganda ko! Ang mo-moment ako nang lumapit sa akin si Yujin at tumabi.

"How did you know that I'm going to fold and you're going to win?"

"I don't, I just take my chance." Sa totoo lang, hindi naman talaga ako sigurado kung mananalo ako sa laban. Nagkataon lang talaga ang lahat.

He then looks deep into my eyes and leans over to me and this I'm certain that he is going to kiss me. So, I gently closed my eyes and cling onto his shoulder and hug him tight. That very moment we shared the most passionate kiss in front of the crowd.

I wanted to leave the building with him so badly, but I still need to stay for one final game. I already got what I came for, so I just let my opponent win the game. I mean, it's not like I throw away the game. My opponent was really skillful and I was no longer interested and focused on the game.

I received second place and as agreed, I gave all my winning money to Sensei. The sponsors were not happy with Yujin's performance. They strip away all of his privileges. After the match, Yujin quit gambling and decided to work as a bartender in the club together with his best friend Edward Madrigal.

As for me, I took my prize with me, my Daredevil. Life is like a GAMBLE. You win some. You lose some and my motto in life is only gambled what you can afford to lose.

THE END...