Played to Love You

Epilogue

Kilian Laudiano Yoshida

"Agh! Talo nanaman badtrip." Nahampas ko ang roulette table, nagulat pa yung payatot na dealer. "San na ba si Papa? Sabi niya tuturuan niya 'ko neto ah."

"Kausap lang si Senyor Escobar, Cloud." Sambit ng bodyguard.

"Diba sabi ko boss tawag mo sakin?" Inis kong singhal pero tumawa pa ang gago.

"Mag-palakas ka muna, kapag natalo mo na si boss saka lang kitang tatawaging boss." Ngisi niya, tinutukoy si Papa

Whatever. I'll just hire my own bodyguards when the time comes. Ngayon kailangan ko munang aralin kung paano mananalo sa mga 'to.

Inikot ko ang paningin ko sa casino. I'll try my luck with the slot machines. Lalapit na sana ako doon pero napatingin ako sa lalaking kasalubong ko. His eyes are cold as fuck pero ang yabang ng dating.

Binunggo ko ng sadya. Ang akala ko yayabangan niya ako pero tiningnan niya lang ako na parang walang pakialam.

Son of a —

Hindi niya ba alam na kami may-ari neto?

"You're new here. Are you here to play?" Mayabang kong sinabi.

"Play? Is there a game where I can kill?"

"Sira ba ulo mo? You're in my casino, not some cheap underground fight club."

Mabilis niya akong kinuwelyuhan.

"Then don't fucking waste my time. Si Escobar lang pinunta ko dito. Take me to him."

"Get your hands off me." Seryoso kong sinabi.

"If I let go of you, my hand will get my gun and blow your head off."

Napalunok ako. He looks really serious. What's his deal? Parang halos kasing edad ko lang siya pero mas seryoso pa siya kay Papa.

Lumapit na ang ilang bodyguards ni Papa pero di pa rin napapatinag ang isang 'to.

"Ice! Let go of him!" Sigaw mula sa likod. Pag-tingin ko nandun na si Papa kasama si Escobar.

"Looks like they're getting along." Biro ni Papa, tinapik-tapik pa ang balikat ni Escobar.

Saka lang ako binitawan ng Ice na 'to. Tsch.

Getting along? He's a cold fucking monster in disguise, I would never try to get along with the likes of him.

"Pardon him Clodoveo, he's been training real hard this past few months. It can't be helped that it gets to his damn head. Apologize Ice." Utos ni Escobar.

Nginisian ko agad si Ice. Inaantay na mag-makaawa siya sakin para patawarin ko siya pero tinalikuran niya lang ako.

"I only say sorry after killing, you want me to kill him first?" Tamad na tanong ni Ice.

Muntik nang malaglag ang panga ko pero tumawa lang si Papa.

"Never mind him. I'm looking forward to our deal. Let's meet again soon." Sambit ni Escobar kay Papa.

Pag-katapos nilang mag-paalam sa isa't-isa ay umalis na rin si Escobar kasama si Ice. Masama ko silang sinundan ng tingin habang pinapagpag ang mamahaling t-shirt ko.

"Just shrug it off Cloud. I heard something happened to his parents but he was not like that before, remember?" Inakbayan ako ni Papa.

"Huh? Before? I don't remember meeting that monster in my life."

Humalakhak si Papa.

"Maybe you were too young. Tsaka nag-quit ka kasi agad kasi ayaw mo. Remember? Pinasok kita sa martial arts school, you were just six years old back then. Kasabay mo si Ice and his friend, I think the name's Red."