Anathema (The Academy of the Cursed)

Chapter Forty-Seven: High Stakes

The game used is Choice Poker from Kakegurui. Yung Yumeko vs. Manyuda hehe

-chapter forty-seven-

"Shall we start this betting game with these six lives in line?"

A table was brought in the dim-lighted hallway. Isang maliit na lampara ang inilagay sa gitna ng mesa. Hindi naman sobrang dilim ng paligid, but they wanted to put more lighting.

Leviathon's calmly sitting in front of me. Behind him stood the defeated Kelvin and Akiru who was avoiding eye contact. It had a lot to do with someone's temper.

"Ano ang ginagawa ni Akiru diyan?!" singhal ni Kahel. "Bakit nasa panig ka ng kalaban?"

"He was never on our side, Mad Dog." sagot ko.

Sa akin bumaling si Kahel. "Anong ibig mong sabihin wala siya sa panig natin?!"

I rolled my eyes. "Simple." nilingon ko siya nang may masamang tingin. "Dahil doon siya nakatayo kaysa dito sa'tin."

Kahel frowned at me and flickered his gaze towards Akiru. Confusion consumed his eyes and there was the underlying and unconscious betrayal in his face. Mukhang alam niya nang nangyari pero ayaw niya lang itong paniwalaan.

After all, Kahel, no matter how he was prejudiced, has never been betrayed a lot. That's why he can easily trust people and be loyal to them. His heart is golden as his fist is bloodied.

Sa tabi niya ay tahimik lang si Keian. He was staring at his cousin. Siyempre, Akiru must be less important for him dahil hindi naman talaga sila close. I don't think they've talked to each other before.

"Baka- Baka nablackmail lang siya!" depensa ni Kahel. "Hindi niya magagawa 'yon kay Ana."

Leviathon crossed his arms. "Believe what you want, beast, but the truth will never change. The shifter has been under my leash since he was born." ini-angat niya ang tingin sa'kin. "I'm even more curious why you failed to notice the clue I've been throwing, Serena."

Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. What is he saying?

"Seven." he muttered. "Like Akiru's number. But, oh well, since you decided to ignore it, we have to play this game now. What game are we playing again?"

Natahimik ako sa sinabi niya. Seven. It has appeared a lot of times but aren't those just pure coincidences? Kaya nga hindi ko na pinansin nang sabihin ni Akiru na siya ang ikapitong shifter na nakakulong. Should I have paid more attention to it?

Ngunit, wala na ring magagawa ang pagsisisi ko ngayon. The truth has been exposed and I was helpless. Akiru's already at the other side as a prisoner of war. There is no more going back.

Kaya naman sinagot ko na lang ang tanong ni Leviathon, "It's called Choice Poker. It's similar to poker dahil bibigyan tayo ng limang baraha, five of a kind is the strongest hand while high card is the weakest. Ngunit may kaibahan dito."

"Kaibahan?"

"Mm-hmm." tumango ako. "You see, we can only bet and raise. The player with the highest bet can decide the flow of the game. Pwede siyang pumili sa stronger or weaker hands. We can also exchange cards, like the main game, face-up."