Chapter 4: All Eyes on ME

It's been three days since I lost my last battle with ACEofSPADE. Every time I entered the Monkey Room it was total silence. Daig pa ang ghost town sa katahimikan ang sarap tuloy magtirik ng kandila at mag alay ng bulaklak sa mga chismoso at chismosa na naka-antabay sa latest happening tungkol sa akin.

I felt that the players are all talking behind my back and they are all disappointed in me. Some of them manage to chat with me, but I have this the awkward feeling that they are just trying to fish out some information from me. Paranoid lang!

I haven't seen Daredevil since the last time we chatted, he was the one who is more upset from my defeat. Maybe because he hated ACEofSPADE so much that he can't bear to accept that our team was defeated by him. I admit I was to blame. I was always stubborn and rebellious towards Daredevil, and now that he is nowhere on sight. I kinda missed him. Nakakainis na lagi na lang sa huli ang pagsisisi, kung sabagay masagwa naman kung umpisa pa lang nagsisi ka na kahit wala pang nangyayari. Manghuhula lang?

I act as if nothing happened. I played the games I used to play and all seems to be normal, but I still have a feeling that all eyes are on me waiting for my next move or should I say, my next mistake. I learned my lesson now and tried to be more cautious and avoid accepting challenges from another room.

Hours have passed then came TongITS.

Start of private message conversation:

TongITS: Ei howdy? Have you prepared yourself for the upcoming GGC?

LOLLIPOP: GGC? Oh yes, I totally forgot about that do you know where it is?

Sobrang lutang ang isip ko, nakalimutan ko tuloy ang tungkol sa GGC. Palibhasa wala itong ibang laman kung hindi si DareDevil. Hindi ka ba napapagod? Palagi ka na lang tumatakbo sa isip ko. Charot!

TongITS: Well yeah, it was posted on the homepage of this site. It's a three days event.

LOLLIPOP: What? Where are we going to stay? Is there any entrance fee or do we have to book our own hotel? How bout the food? I don't know it was that long.

Sunod-sunod ang tanong ko sa kaniya. Bigla akong nataranta at hindi ko inaasahan na aabutin ng tatlong araw ang event. Akala ko parang field trip lang ito na pagkatapos namin mag kita-kita, konting kwentuhan at laro ay magsisiuwian na rin kami.

Bigla ko tuloy naisip ang trabaho ko. Kailangan ko mag file ng leave at kailangan ko ring mag handa at mag empake ng damit. Iilan pa naman ang matino kong damit na pang alis. Hindi kasi ako sanay maglalabas kaya wala akong damit na pangmalakasan. Kailangan ko pa ba bumili ng push up bra? Ang dami ko na ngang iniisip, dagdag pa ang iyang pagpapaganda at pagporma.

TongITS: Ah yeah, your new and it's your first time to attend. You don't have to worry about the hotel and food it was all covered by our sponsor.

LOLLIPOP: Seriously? May sponsor tayo?

Bigla kong na-realized na sobrang bigatin pala talaga ang event na ito. Hindi ordinary ang mga manlalaro at mga taong dadalo dito.

TongITS: Did you know every room has its own sponsor? Of course, if you have good players in your room the more sponsor you will get and more chances of winning. Oh 'di ba bongga? All sponsors will bet on their preferred rooms and they will benefit from the rooms every time they win a game. It's easy money for them. Some Sponsors became super-rich after the GGC just by betting on the top players.

LOLLIPOP: This are all new to me. Akala ko ang dami ko nang alam about this site. I was wrong. What I've known so far was just the peak of the iceberg. Tell me more about the event.

Huminto na ako sa paglalaro at mas importante na makakuha ako ng maraming impormasyon tungkol sa event. Ayaw ko mag mukhang tanga pagdating ko doon. Kaya pinagpatuloy na lang namin ang aming chikahan. Maswerte ako at mabait tong si TongITS. Napakatyaga niya magturo sa akin. Isa lang talaga ang problema ko sa kaniya. Masyado siyang inglisero. Nalo-lowblood na ako sa kaniya sa sobrang nosebleed.

TongITS: The first day was the GGC Party. It's like a ball where every player will dress up to look their best and they will be introduced to their sponsors. It will serve as a welcoming party for all newcomers. Also, it is an introduction to the high rollers and top players that will represent each room. Apart from that, they will reveal the order of the game. Who are the players that will compete and who are they competing with... and lastly, it is the time where all players will get to meet and see each other. Its the best time to get to know and collect data from each player.

LOLLIPOP: Wow, all that in the first day of the event? Wait, can we take a break? I think I'm having information overload. What will happen on the second day?

Kahit na sumasakit ang ulo ko sa dami ng nakalap kong impormasyon ay nanaig pa rin ang pagiging chismosa ko kaya ipinagpatuloy namin ang aming chikahan.

TongITS: Well... the second day is the tournament, the start of the event. And the third day is the awarding of the winners. That's about it.

LOLLIPOP: I see, thank you so much for the info. I really owe you one!

TongITS: Tss... Unlike you I'm reading the newsletter and announcement. Doon ko lang din nalaman ang ibang information. Basa-basa rin pag may time hindi puro laro at landi! Kailangan mo mag mukhang maganda at panigurado na 'andoon ang iyong fafa.

LOLLIPOP: Fafa? Sinong fafa?

TongITS: Oo nga naman, sino ba sa kanila? Si Ace o si Dadidevil?

Bigla kong naalala ang date namin ni AceofSPADE, kaya napilitan ako magpaalam at itigil ang aming chickhan.

LOLLIPOP: Mauna na muna ako sa'yo at marami pa pala akong dapat asikasuhin. Thanks sa info!

End of private message conversation:

After my conversation with TongITS, I immediately check my closet for a dress to wear.

"Is it going to be red? What if there's a red carpet? I will just blend in the carpet, it will be unnoticeable. How about a green dress? The color of casino tables are usually green," para akong baliw na kinakausap ang sarili. Nalilito kung anong damit ang isusuot ko, buti sana kung marami akong pagpipilian pero iilan lang talaga ang meron ako.

There's one more dress left to wear, however, this is an old dress I wore during college days and I can't afford to buy a new one. There's nothing left but to modify the dress. I took my sewing kit and sew my dress until I'm satisfied. Buti na lang nag pay attention ako sa TLE subjects ko at kahit papaano ay marunong ako magtahi ng damit ko.

Finally the day every player had been waiting for...The GGC event. We're all gathered in the designated location. What they called the Sodom and Gomorrah or the Sin City and center of the gaming industry, where all types of sports and casinos are located. Everybody gathered for the briefing then everybody went to their assigned room.

The room assignment depends on the player's rank. The higher the rank, the better and bigger room. As I entered my room it was just a normal deluxe room. Nothing fancy, since I was one of the players who were in the lowest rank. I took out my dress and try it one more time, then put it in the closet. I wanted to go out and grab something to eat, but since I'm used to locking myself in the room, I just stayed in and order some food.

The place was owned by one of the sponsors and has a large casino located in the basement of the building. It is exclusively reserved for the CASINO ROYALE online players' GGC event. Some players went directly to the casino to play and others rested in their respective rooms, while some enjoyed the facilities of the building.

As for me, I just eat and sleep in my room and wait for the GGC Party to start. I was planning to drop by and just show up to ACEofSPADE for a short while since I was his date for tonight. Then check out DareDevil, because I'm super curious to see how he looks like in person and since I'm not a sociable person, I've decided to sneak my way out of the party and head back to my room until the event is over.

I really want to doll up for the event. The first impression always lasts. So I want to look really nice, just in case I get a chance to meet DareDevil. Hoping he will find me attractive and maybe, just maybe he will feel something for me. Maybe not the same way I feel for him, but a little something or just a pinch of his feelings will do. Wala naman masamang mangarap hindi ba?

I worked so hard to put on my make up and fix my hair. All thanks to the YouTube tutorial. And finally, I wear my royal blue spaghetti strap with a plunging neckline, a backless long gown with a very high slit. The dress looks like screaming to be noticed by my special someone and I hope and pray he will do notice me, even one glimpsed will make me happy.

Just when I'm busy daydreaming, the doorbell rang and it was ACEofSPADE.

"Geesh, why is he too early? and why does he have to pick me up from my room?" I said to myself, opened the door, and wow! My jaw almost drops to my surprise. Not bad as in not bad at all. He looks really nice wearing a black suit. Tall, dark and handsome Latino hunk ang dating. Pag bungad pa lang niya sa akin ay amoy na amoy ko na kaagad ang kaniyang mamahaling pabango. Mukhang yayamanin, parang leading man sa mga telenovela na napapanood ko. Ang yummy, Rawrrr!

"Hi, you're early," I shyly said to him and simply look at my stainless steel wristwatch.

ACEofSPADE's eyes widened when he saw me. "Wow, you are stunning!" He has a big smile on his face. Ngiting tagumpay! "I mean you really look amazing! I brought you this dress, but you won't be needing this... I love your dress!" His eyes were scanning me from head to toe.

"Thank you, you look nice too," pabebe kong sinabi. Magkahalong kilig at kaba ang aking nadarama. Ang gwapo kasi niya, pero ayaw ko naman na masyadong ipahalata baka lumaki kasi ang ulo niya hindi lang sa taas pati na rin sa baba. Delikado na.

"Hindi ko alam na may itsura ka pala. Ang akala ko talaga mukha kang dugyot na hampas lupa!" Tanginadis! Putragis! Okay na dinagdagan pa mapapamura ka na lang talaga. "I'm sorry, where's my manner? I'm ACEofSPADE, but my real name is Paul."

Kahit na naiinis ako ay pinilit ko pa rin na pakalmahin ang sarili ko. Sayang naman ang porma ko kung masisira lang sa gagong ito.

"Nice to meet you Paul. I'm LOLLIPOP, but you knew that already. My real name is Me'ann."

"Nice to meet you too Me'ann, shall we go?" He extends his arm for me cling on.

"Sure!" I excitedly replied to him.

Then we head over the basement and I noticed while walking through the casino everybody is staring at us. It is because I was with a good looking man?

Then ACEofSPADE whispered to me and say, "look at them, all their eyes are on you. They are looking at the beautiful lady walking beside me," he softly said while looking into my eyes. "You just triggered their curiosity, now everybody wants to know who you are!" He smiled at me as we continue to walk together.

I was very flattered by his words and that makes me wonder, is daredevil also looking at me? How I wish those words come from him instead of ACEofSPADE...