The Billionaire's Dangerous Game

Simula

I looked at my wristwatch. Alas-tres nang madaling araw. Lumabas ako ng bar at dumeritso sa parking lot. Kahit nahihilo'y pinilit kong magmaneho. I need to be safe. Ayoko sa lahat 'yong madidisgrasya pa kung pwede namang sa langit na agad diba? I arrived safe in my house. I was staggering. I'm so sleepy and exhausted. Binuksan ko ang switch ng ilaw sa labas ng bahay.

"Oh shit!" Napatili ako nang may lalaking bumulaga sa harapan ko. I covered my eyes.

"Hey." Kumunot ang noo ko sa pamilyar na boses ng lalaki. I tried to see his face. My eyes widened a fraction and my purse fall to the ground. "Here." Pinanood ko siyang lumapit sa akin.

My lips were trembling. Gusto kong magsalita ngunit walang lumalabas sa bibig ko. This is fucking insane! Agad nangilid ang mga luha ko sa pisngi. I could feel my heart breaking and weakening.

"K-Kofe?" I said in my faint voice.

"H-Hi," he uttered. I step forward, closing our distance. I touched his handsome face. He caught my hand. Napahagulhol ako. He feels warm and real!

"Did you come for me?"

"Yes baby." Garalgal ang boses nitong tugon. Napangiti ako, nangingilid ang mga luha. "I-I am sorry. I missed you so much," he said, sobbing silently. He kissed my forehead and hugged me tight. He's really warm. I withdraw from his hold. I closed my eyes and opened it again. "Are you okay? Masakit ba ang ulo mo?" Umatras ako sa tangka niyang pag-hawak sa akin.

"What the hell is happening Kofe? Why aren't you disappearing?"

"Baby ako 'to. I'm real. Alive!"

"W-What!?" He nodded. Hinawakan ko ang nananakit na ulo. My knees weakened. Napa-upo ako sa sahig.

"Venice!"

I cursed silently. I must really insane. Paano ko naisip na totoo siya? Baliw na nga siguro ako. In between my tears, I laughed liked a mad woman.

Nagising ako na parang binibiyak ang ulo sa sakit kinabukasan. I hurried to the sink as I felt throwing up. I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I have dark circles around my eyes. Napa-iling ako sa sarili. I always get drank because of him. Malungkot akong lumabas ng kwarto pagkatapos ayusin ang sarili. Alas-diyes nang umaga, medyo ginugutom na ako. Day-off ko sa trabaho kaya okay lang gumising nang tanghali. Binuksan ko ang music player. Ano kayang masarap kainin ngayon? My forehead creased when I smell food in the kitchen. Dali-dali akong pumunta sa kusina. Napaatras ako sa nakita.

"Who are you?" The man turned around to face me. Laglag ang panga ko nang makilala ito. Napako ang mga paa ko sa kinatatayuan. Tears started forming in my eyes. Parang sinuntok ang dibdib ko sa iba't ibang uri ng emosiyon na sumalakay sa akin. I must be still drunk.

"As I stand here in front of my woman, I can't fight back the tears in my eyes."

Nagising ako pag-karinig sa chorus ng kanta. Bumalik ako sa sala para patayin iyon. Namamanhid ang buong katawan ko, hindi ko na maramdaman ang mga paa ko sa sahig.

"Oh, how could I be so lucky? I must've done somethin' right. And I promise to love her for the rest of my life."

That was our theme song, hearing it brought me back to our memories and to my pain of losing him. Pinupunasan ko ang mga luha gamit ang palad. I couldn't think straight. I think I'm going crazy and my body was shaking. My mind went blank when he hugged me from the back. My world stopped at his embrace.

"Please relax. Breathe mahal." Lalo akong napaiyak sa lambing ng boses niya. I missed his voice so much and hearing it again made my heart burned. Pinaharap niya ako sa kanya para mayakap ng maayos.

"I cooked for us. Are you hungry?" Nagsalita siya noong mahimasmasan ako. Nakaupo ako sa sofa, kaharap siya. Nilingon ko ang kusina.

"T-Thanks, not yet."

Our eyes met. Suminghot ako. He looked more handsome as he aged. His eyes were penetrating my soul. Something has change but I can't point it out. Mas lumaki rin ang kanyang katawan, mas tumangkad. Moreno at mamula-mula ang mga labi nito. Ang matangos nitong ilong ay dumadag sa kanyang kagwapuhan. His dark complexion is much more appealing, manlier. He's like a beautiful painting, a dream.

"You looked beautiful." Nagising ako sa sinabi niya. His serious face made me nervous.

"Hindi ba ako mukhang haggard? I think I aged a lot."

"You're still beautiful, as always." I smiled a little. Like the old times he never fails to make my heart flattered.

"You too. Away from me is good for you, huh?" His face turned dark. I felt like being stabbed straight in the heart at his reaction. I scold myself for being sarcastic. "Kumain ka bago umalis. I need to sleep more." My tears fall. Halos takbuhin ko ang kwarto sa bilis ng mga hakbang ko. Napahagulhol ako. I should be hugging and kissing him right now not liked this.