My Favorite Game

CHAPTER 25

Sorry ngayon lang nakaupdate. Sumasakit nadin kasi ulo ko dito. xD

P.s. Labas mga silent reader para ganahan ako iupdate 'to. Haha. Thanks!

CLUELESS

2 years ago...

Simula pagkabata ni Ericka halos lahat ata ng taong masasalubong ang landas n'ya palagi s'yang sinasabihan malas. Well, she wouldn't disagree. Alam na alam ni Ericka kung anong 'malas' ang ibinibigay n'ya sa mga tao.

Ericka was putting her dark make-up when someone's knocked on her door. She stood up straight, at dumeretso sa pintuan. Hindi s'ya nasurpresa sa nakitang taong nakatayo rito. It was no other than Rake Alicante. He was so formal today, at seryoso parin ang mukha nito.

"Can I come in?"

"Sure, darling. You know, you're always welcome here." niluwagan ni Ericka ang pagkakabukas ng pinto. Nakita n'ya na agad nilibot ni Rake ang mga mata sa loob ng kwarto n'ya. It seemed like he was looking for something.

"No voodoo doll?"

Oh, he has humor. She thought.

"They're on their way. May papakulam ka?" nakangising tanong ni Ericka at umupo sa kama, humarap sa salamin. She tied her hair, exposing her tattoos to Rake. Napatingin ito agad doon, she knew it. He was interested in her tattoo.

"You..." tiningnan ni Rake ang magiging reaksyon n'ya. Tumaas lang naman ang kilay ni Ericka.

"I'm the witch, you can't. Gusto mo ba ng gayuma o paano makalimot?"

"Paano makalimot." ulit ni Rake.

"I can do that." Ericka said, at tumayo para lapitan si Rake. Hinawakan n'ya ang magkabilang balikat nito at nilapit ang bibig sa tenga. "I can do anything you want..."

Hinawakan ni Rake ang mukha n'ya, so she could looked at him straight in the eyes. "Sure you can, Quinn." hinila ni Rake ang kamay n'ya palabas ng pinto.

Nang sumakay sila sa elevator alam n'ya kung saan sila papunta, sa isang meeting room dito sa hotel. Before that, she saw Martha's shocked eyes. Pati narin ang ibang katrabaho nila doon. She accidently saw Greg's serious face too. Pero gaya ng dati hindi naman ito nangingialam sa trabaho n'ya.

When they entered the room, it was organized looking like a business meeting room but what made her curious was the only chair in the middle.

Rake made her sit in that chair. She crossed her legs. Tumalikod si Rake para patayin ang ilaw at binuksan ang projector sa harap n'ya. She was shocked when she saw the pictures that flashed on the screen.

It's the place of her old job back in the native land. The place suddenly making her uncomfortable. And so does sitting here. "I want to know you more. Let's start from here, Quinn."

PRESENT DAY

Mas nilakasan ni Ericka ang paghamapas ng belt sa kama. She was walking like a confident dominatrix. Just like her old job, this was how she treated her client. Rake on the other hand, doesn't seem affected. He was used to it, she guessed. It's been freaking two years, alam n'yang marami na din itong pinagdaanan.

"What do you want from me back then?"

Rake changed his position, but his face was emotionless not letting her know what really was his motives. "I just want you back then, Ericka."

Lumapit si Ericka sa mukha ni Rake, she held his chin up then kissed him lightly. "I want you too before, Rake. Pero alam ko kung ano ang kailangan ko sa'yo dati. I need your money for me to live. Ikaw ba, what do you need?"

Sinubukan ni Rake ilapit ang katawan sa kanya, but he couldn't do it because he was being paralyzed by the handcuff. Ngumisi si Rake. "I need you to suffer. I want you to feel pain. You don't deserve everything you have that time."

"You don't know what I've been through, Rake. You don't have freaking idea." lumayo na si Ericka at hinampas sa katawan ni Rake ang hawak n'ya.

He lets out a whimper. "I know everything about you that time, Ericka."

"You don't." Ericka said, now targeting Rake's leg. She hit it three times. "Because no one knows about me. Not even you." napangiti si Ericka nang biglang mag ring nanaman ang cellphone ni Rake. Nanlaki ang mata nito nang kinuha n'ya agad iyon mula sa lamesa.

"Don't you fvcking dare do that."

Ericka ignored him. Sinagot n'ya ang tumatawag agad lalo pa't nakita n'ya kung sino na naman ito. "Ericka, at your service. What do you need this time, Laura the bruha?"

"Bakit hawak mo ang cellphone ni Rake?!" naghehesterical na sabi nito. "Anong ginagawa n'yo?! Magkasama ba kayo?! Nasan si Rake?!" natawa s'ya sa tono ng boses nito. Mas natutuwa talaga s'ya kapag naasar sa kanya si Laura.

"Anong ginagawa namin?" napatingin s'ya kay Rake. Umiiling ito, telling her not to say anything about what they're doing. "Ehem. We're in a business meeting right now." she hit him on his foot.

"Fvck!"

"Sino 'yon? Bakit may sumigaw?!"

"Oh, that?" nakangisi s'ya kay Rake, ang sama na ng tingin nito sa kanya. "May maingay na kameeting kasi kami. Ano ba ginawa sa maingay? Edi, pinapatahimik."

"Ericka, I'm warning you---"

"And I'm warning you too, Laura." tumalikod s'ya upang hindi na marinig ni Rake ang sinasabi n'ya kay Laura. "Tigil tigilan mo ang kakatawag kung ayaw mong agawin ko ng tuluyan itong fiancee mo, maliwanag ba?"

"Hindi ako natatakot sa'yo. Ibigay mo kay Rake may nangyari kay Rebekah---" ibinaba na ni Ericka ang cellphone, nakatingin si Rake sa kanya.

"What did she say?" tanong nito.

Dumeretso si Ericka sa bintana ng kwarto ni Rake at itinapon ang cellphone nito. She heard his disapproval. "Oh, you know just checking kung itutuloy mo parin ba ang kasal n'yo. Nate-threaten ata sa akin ang fiancee mo. Mukhang alam n'ya kung ano ang kahihinatnan ng lahat ng ito." kinuha ni Ericka ang susi ng handcuff at hinagis kay Rake.

"Enough show for today, darling." she said.