Hide And Seek With Mr. Devil

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Artiona Novaliege.

Waiting for the elevator to reach its destination is like spending years before the door opens. Being with De Niro inside an elevator is not as calming as I thought. There's something accumulating and we both could feel that. Hindi ko maitatangging ang pagbukas ng pintong 'yon ang pinakahihintay kong mangyari sa pagkakataon ng buhay ko. Sinubukan ko namang hindi 'yon ipahalata at huminga lang nang malalim nang tumambad sa'kin ang naglalakihang mga lamesa.

It's an underground casino, no wonder in some investigations ay hindi 'yon mahanap. Bumungad din sa'kin ang amoy ng alak, pero mahahalataan ang kamahalan ng amoy, kasama na ang naghahalo-halong mga pabangong may kanya-kanyang tatak. Malamig rin ang buong kwarto na mala-mall sa lawak at taas. Kung iisipin, parang imposible ang isang 'to na nabuo sa ilalim ng lupa pero kung si De Niro ang tatanungin, paniguradong sapat na ang makita.

"How about a little tour, Novaliege?", malambing n'yang tanong na malapit sa tainga ko. He's standing behind me and talagang sinandya n'yang mag-lean to reach my ears. Tumayo naman ang balahibo ko pero hindi naman ako nagulat.

I ignored him at naglibot ang mata. The games are like the mini games in Malls. The smashing squirrels, shooting, and all other ordinary games but the thing in here is hindi tickets ang lumalabas sa machine. It's all money.

"This area is called the World of Fun, not the typical playground for kids as you see pero it's all about fun. They will buy tokens in the booth, the tokens are made of gold by the way, and, they will win cash in exchange of their little happiness.", he explained.

Pinanood ko naman ang iilang negosyanteng naglalaro roon. It's true, they are like kids na nasa mall but they are built different since all of them are so competitive. Corporate world does really taught them that the world is full of competition.

"Then tell me, those money are for those prizes?", tanong ko at dinuro ang counter na may presyo and prizes. There are keys, phones, tables, jewelries, and fine wines.

De Niro nodded with an, "Hmm."

Tumango naman ako at muntikan nang matawa. De Niro seems to heard it at nagsalita.

"These people is the real thing. Money can't buy happiness? Then why are these people are here? I made this casino for them to have fun without other people telling them what to do.", he casually said with a serious tone. Hindi ko s'ya naintindihan and looks like he really tried his best to lessen what he wanted to say.

Tumango naman ako. "Yeah? Well, it's true that money can buy happiness pero it's not a forever thing.", I casually said, trying to reason something out of his serious tone.

"Hindi nga, pero wala namang panghabang-buhay na kasiyahan.", he said na nagpatahimik sa'kin. Gusto ko s'yang tanungin kung saan n'ya 'yon nakuha but I chose to be silent since I will cross the line. "Anyways, happiness is not forever but my casino is better than that. Follow me.", he is back to his usual self at naunang maglakad sa'kin.

Sinundan ko naman s'ya at pinagmasdan ang paligid ng casino'ng to. The architecture and overall design is exquisite to the point na I wanted something like this too. De Niro is pointing out things. From a machine to it's price and to his favorite game.

"I like shooting balls.", nakangiti n'yang sabi nang matigil kami sa machine kung saan magsho-shoot ng bola at kung saan bibilangin ang score mo to be converted into money.

I stared at him and nodded. "Do you play basketball?", tanong ko at umiling naman s'ya na ipinagtaka ko. Umiwas naman s'ya ng tingin at nagpatuloy na sa paglalakad.

"I do pero hindi ako nakikipag-laro sa iba. Naglalaro lang ako pampalipas oras.", paliwanag n'ya habang nakatalikod sa'kin.

Habang nakikinig sa kanya ay naalala ko ang files na galing sa agency about kay De Niro. He doesn't have any important information to be used. Nakalagay lang doon kung ilang taon na s'ya, kung saan s'yang ampunan, at kung ano ang mga negosyong meron s'ya. He was always a mastermind pero he was never arrested since walang ebidensyang makuha kahit isa.

"I wonder why not everyone can prove that this Casino really exists...", bulong ko at parang kinakausap ang sarili. Hindi naman n'ya ako nilingon at nagpatuloy lang sa paglalakad habang nasa tabi ko.

"Because this is a secret lair.", simple n'yang sagot.

Tumingin naman ako sa paligid at hindi ko naman makita kung saan ang sinasabi n'yang secret dahil napakaraming tao rito. "Really?", sarcastic kong tanong. Nilingon naman n'ya ang tinitignan ko.

"There's a rule inside my Casino.. Fun in exchange of life. Kapag pumasok sila, there's an agreement where they will promise that no information will leak out or else, I'll kill them or destroy their life.", paliwanag n'ya dahilan oara maintindihan ko ang lahat. Kaya pala kahit anong pagpapaamin ang gawin ng agency sa mga posibleng witness o kaya ay biktima, wala silang sinasabing kahit na anong impormasyon tungkol sa loob ng Casino. "I know some people ask for your agency's help."

Tumango naman ako sa kanya kahit hindi 'yon isang tanong. "Did you kill them?"

"I killed some but I think death is the most luxurious one so not really. Kinuha ko lang ang mga dahilan nila para mabuhay.", he said deeply.

"This is why you have a lot of enemies.", sambit ko at mahina naman s'yang natawa.

"A player is supposed to compete and earn enemies."

"Looks like you really like playing games.", deretso at kaswal kong sabi na nagpatigil sa kanya. I put meaning to it kaya naman agad n'yang naintindihan. We both know that my question is meant for the fact that he is playing this little friendly thing with me.

He looked at me from his shoulder then shrugged. "Maybe yes, maybe no."

Hindi ko na s'ya kinontra pa at sumunod nalang. He is still explaining about things and the machines he owned. Minsan ay tumitigil kami para manood ng mga naglalaro at habang s'ya naman ay pinapaliwanag kung ano ang nangyayari like I never know. I am just acting clueless but lahat ng dito ay kaya kong tapusin ng mabilisan.

Matapos namin malibot ang halos buong lugar ay tumigil naman s'ya sa isa pang malaking pinto sa gilid ng espasyong 'to. There are bouncers outside at hinarang ako. They stand in front of me at hindi naman agad gumalaw nang magsalita si De Niro.

"Let her in.", he said and hindi naman agad sumagot 'yung guards. They all looked at each other at maya-maya at ibinaba ng nasa harap ko ang ulo n'ya.

"The rule is rule, Alas.", he said politely. I looked at De Niro and looks like that's how he is address here.

Tumango naman ang isang 'to. "I know. But, I am the rule.", matigas n'yang sabi na ikinatingin lahat ng guard sa kanya. They looked puzzled and afraid.

I also attentively looked at him and listen. Sinalubong naman n'ya ang tingin ko at malalim na akong tinignan.

"Don't touch this woman. She's.. mine."