Sumunod sila sa staff na sumundo sa kanila sa baba. Inakyat nila ang hagdan na mala-hagdan ng titanic ang design. Tahimik ang buong second floor kumpara sa baba. Every tables has staff.. Maliban sa dealer.. And there's a bar at the corner. Those who are resting and waiting for their partners are drinking at the bar.
"This way Ma'am. " boses ng staff na sinusundan nila. Dumiritso sila sa isang area kung saan ginagawa ang second body checking. Para marahil sa anti-cheating.
'Huh.. As if they don't cheat to all players here." She murmured..
'Be careful.." Bulong ni David sa kanya.
Pwede nya ba sigawan ang lalake na tigilan nito ang kabubulong sa kanya? Hindi mapakali ang kanyang marupok na katawan. Sigh....
"Got it." Sagot nya. "Why are you here, anyway?"
"I already answer that.."
"But you aren't playing...?" Taas kilay na sabi nya.
"I'll bet on you" tipid nitong sagot. "Your turn now." Anito na ang tinutukoy ay ang body checking.
Bumitaw sya dito para lumapit sa sa staff na nag che-check. Hindi na kailangang I check ang katawan nya simula sa leeg pababa dahil showy na ang suot nya. So they focused on her eyes..
Somewhere in inside the building..
Man #1: She's not wearing 'eyes'.
Man #2: Impossible.. Is she really good at playing? Our dealers wears 'eyes'..
Man #1: We will found out if we watch more how she plays.
Man #2: Yeah.
Back to the game room.
Jenny, Mark and Zion sits together. Jenny is facing the dealer and other players.
"Are we waiting for another player?" Tanong ng isang babae na nasa 25 na ang edad.. The girl is wearing very revealing gown. Looks like a model.
"Yes. Ma'am." King of gambling will be joining." Sagot ng staff na nakatayo malapit sa table. Not the dealer.
"Oh! Mr. DeCordova will be joining?" Ani ng babae na excited.
Jenny's heart jump up after hearing those. She grip her hands too hard under the table. She started to sweat.. And her whole body started to tremble.
Zion on the other hand notice the uneasiness of the little girl in front of him. He leaned in and whisper.
"Are you okay?" Gustong gusto nyang hawakan ang kamay ng dalagita ng mga oras na yun.. But he control himself.
"En." Malamig na sagot ni Jenny.
What happened to her to act like this? Tanong ni Zion sa sarili.
"Yes. Maam." Sagot ng staff sa babaeng nakaupo sa tabi ng bakanteng upuan. "He's here.." Dugtong pa nito. Parang iisang ulo ang mga nakaupo sa lamesa na nilingon ang nasabing "King of the gambling" maliban kay Jenny.
"I'm sorry, I'm late." Ani ng boses ng lalake na puno ng sweetness.
"Oh.. It's okay.." Malambing na sagot ng model.
"We have new player?" Ani nito na ang tinutukoy ay si Jenny. "She looks younger" sabi na nito.
"Yeah.. She just came in." Walang interest na banggit ng model.
Iniiangat ni Jenny ang paningin.. And her gaze and the man's gaze meet.
'Kevin DeCordova..' Usal ng utak nya. Sinong mag-aakala na ang nag-iisang kaagaw ni John DeCordova (her ex-fiancee) sa kayaman ng pamilya nito ay sa harapan nya ngayon.
"I'm Kevin DeCordova, little girl.. What is your name?" Tumayo ito upang umalok ng shake hands.
Tumayo naman si Jenny.. She can't control her own voice to sounds very cold.
"Miss. Sanchez." Tugon nya.. If you are in riches world.. You knew what's the meaning of not telling your first name but only tell your last name. It means.. She doesn't care who this person is in front of her.
Nakita nya ang pagdilim ng anyo ng lalake pero sandali lang. Naitago din nito yun kaagad. 'As expected to the person who have DeCordova's blood.' Bulong ng utak nya.
Sabay nilang binawi ang kamay. She seated again and so the guy.
Zion is observing quietly.. Thinking.. 'This little girl is making trouble again.'
"Let's play poker..." Ani Kevin.
Pumapalakpak naman babaeng halatadong interesado sa lalake. "Yes.. Yes.." Sagot nito.
"How about the others?" Tanong nito .
"I'm okay with anything." Sagot ni Jenny.
"Great.." The guy snapped.
Bahagya sya nag lean back. At saka bumulong sa dalawang tao na nasa likuran nya. "Don't bet yet.." Aniya na sinangayunan ng dalawa.
They started to play..
"Ugh! Kevin.. You, won. " ani ng babae.
"Just got lucky." Anito na malapad ang ngiti.
Ahh.. Bulong ni Jenny sa sarili.. 'I like to see you smile more.'in that case.. I can see your losing face'..
Nagpa-plano pa lang sya kung paano maghihiganti sa pamilya DeCordova, hindi nya akalain na bibigyan sya agad ng unang pagkakataon. She leaned back again.. "You guys can bet now" aniya..
"Game two will begin.." Ani ng dealer. "I will shuffle the cards"
A moment later..
"Raise..." Si Jenny.. Napalingon sa kanya ang lahat ng nasa mesa...
"You're raising your bet?" The girl.. "Little girl don't be like that.. You knew how Kevin play.. You're losing your parents money." Anito.
"I'm betting my own money.. And not someone's money.." Aniya without interest in her tone. "I'm here to play.. Not to pick up some gold chips." "Are you?" Walang expression at malamig nyang tugon.
"You...!" Kita ang gigil sa mukha ng babae pero hindi nya na pinansin.
"Little girl.. We didn't open the 3rd card yet.." Ani Kevin.
"You're the king of gambling... So, I'm sure youre not afraid of losing.." Aniya.
Napa smirk naman ang lalake. "Of course not" anito saka nito itinulak ang tokens na nasa harapan..
"Raise.." Anito habang nakatingin sa kanya.
Kevin will be having full house while she has straight flush.. Nang lingunin nya ang dealer.. Kita nya sa mata ang excitement nito. While Zion and Mark is waiting for her signal. She shrugged.. Then Zion and Mark raise their bet.
"Raise..." Aniya..
"Call.." Sagot ng isang player na kalaro nila. Nag fold naman ang dalawa.. While the girl also said call.
The dealer open the 3rd card..
"Raise..." Masiglang banggit ni Kevin.
Napangiti si Jenny ng palihim.. "You see... I only have 127 millions worth of tokens here.. " sabi ni Jenny.. "And you have at least half a billion.." Napalunok ang mga taong nasa paligid nya ng marinig ang kanyang sinabi. Nilingon nya ang dealer... "Do you think it's okay for me to go All-in?" Tinitigan nya ito ng derekta sa mata.. The dealer didn't react at first.
Somewhere inside the building
Man #1: .....
Man #2:.....
"According to the rules, players has a right to bet all of their tokens." Sagot ng dealer halatadong umiwas sa obligation.
"Hmmm... Then.. I'll go All in." Ani Jenny na nagpasinghap sa buong nakapalibot sa mesa...
Napalunok naman ng palihim si Kevin. "What is she planning?" Ani nyasa utak nya.. Is she that rich that it's okay for her to spend these money?"
" Call.. " sagot ni Kevin.
"I'll reveal all the cards then..." Ani ng dealer...
Pigil ang hininga ng mga nasa paligid.. Even Mark and Zion.
"Full house!!!!! " sigaw ng babaeng model.... Nagpalakpakan naman ang nasa paligid..
Kevin look at her.. With a wide smile on his face.. "Little girl I told you... "
"I got Straight flush..." Putol nya sa sasabihin nito...
Napatalon sa kina uupuan si Mark ng mga sandaling yun.. Napasigaw ito ng malakas.. While Zion also stand up.. Receiving the brotherly hug from Mark..
"It seems I won..." Ani Jenny habang ipinapatong ang kanyang chin sa likod ng kanyang palad habang nakapatong ang kanyang siko sa table. Tinitigan nya ang biglang pamumutla ng mukha ni Kevin.. Napangiti sya ng tunay... What a great feeling..'
Napabuntong hininga si Jenny maya-maya.. Saka tumayo.. Inilahad ang kamay sa kalaban..
"I feel totally entertained while playing with you." Aniya dito.
Pero sa halip na tanggapin ang shake hands na inaalok nya sa lalake.. He just turned his back and walk away.. Sumunod naman dito ang babaeng model. While the other is congratulating her.. Zion calls his people with Tommy.. And they prepare to leave.
Kumuha sya ng isang token worth 250 thousands at inabot yun sa dealer..
"Thanks" aniya saka tumalikod na.. Nag bow naman ang dealer bilang pasasalamat sa kanya.
Bitbit ng kanyang bodyguard at kay Zion ang mga tokens na papapalitan nila.
"Little girl.. You really played very well back there." Ani Mark.
"I just got lucky." Aniya.. Her eyes feels itchy suddenly.. She tried to rub it..
Nakarating sila sa exchange booth. She still rubbing her eyes..
"What's wrong?" Tanong ni Zion
"My eyes feel itchy.." Aniya..
"Don't rub it.. Do you wear lenses?" Tanong ni Zion..
"No.. " sagot nya.
Lemme exchange this first.. Wait for me to check it.
"En.."
Saglit lang din ito sa ginawa.. Pagkatapos nitong I distribute ang napalunan nito at ni Mark ay bumalik na ito ulit sa kanya.
Nagpasalamat naman si Mark sa kanya.. While Zion pull her to go outside.. Nakasunod sa kanila ang mga bodyguard.
Inside Zion car..
"Lemme see, don't rub it.." Inawat nito ang kamay nya.
The guy leaned closer to check her eyes.. He's using phone light..
"It's red.." Anito
Hindi si Jenny umimik kaya napatitig ang lalake sa kanya.. There's only 1 inch distance between their faces.. Their breath mixed.. Their lips almost touched. Nakita nya ang paggalaw ng adams apple ng binata.. Her throat became dry suddenly..
"I... I guess it'll be okay later.." Paos na sabi nya maya-maya.
"Yeah.. " mas paos na sang-ayon ni Zion.. Bahagya na itong umtras but the door suddenly open and a bag hits his back.. The impact pushed him back to lean closer again.. But that small distance create an earth shattering event.
"Namimilog ang mga matang nagtama ang kanilang mga mata.. Their lips touched.. An ACCIDENTAL KISS happened..
Author's note: MVP award goes to the bag.. Hands down.