"gahhh….Je ne me sens pas tres bien~" I spoke to myself and laughed like a drunk lunatic. Nasa labas na ako ngayon ng restaurant at pagewang-gewang na ang lakad ko. Pinagtitinginan na ako ng iba pero ang inintindi ko ay ang bigat na nararamdaman ko sa katawan ko. I felt so dizzy kaya napasandal muna ako sa poste to regain my composure. Adora, people are looking! Don't lose your damn poise!
"Adora, c'mon…let's get you back to your house." Dinig kong sabi ni Donovan sa tabi ko at akmang aalalayan na sana ako pero tinampal ko ang kamay niya.
"I don't want toooo!!!" Like the spoiled heiress I am, I don't take orders from anyone. I am more stubborn when I'm at this state. Hahakbang na dapat ako sa kung saan man pero hindi ko napansin ang bato na nakaharang sa harapan ko.
"MERDE!" I gasped and cursed in shock as I almost fell and hurt myself, kung wala lang humigit sa braso ko. Imagine what could have happened to my beautiful skin because of my drunk, clumsy ass! Stupid, stupid Adora! Ugh.
"Careful…" A husky voice whispered beside me. I looked at the source of that voice at napagtanto kong siya ang tinatawag na "Damon" ni Donovan kanina sa loob. Oh my, he's actually taller than Donovan and definitely a hottie too!
"oh, Merci—I mean… thanks again, handsome!" I tried my best to give my dashing smile kahit na hindi ko alam na ang hitsura ko ngayon. Most likely, I look like a mess right now! What a bad time to flirt with a… uhm… bachelor? He looks older than me by a few years but he's definitely yummy.
Pinakawalan niya na ako at pinanood nilang dalawa ang pagewang-gewang kong lakad ulit. Damn these stilettos!
Tutuwad na sana ako para tanggalin ito, when I heard someone curse behind me and before my drunken ass could register what happened, I was already in Damon's arms. He was carrying me like the princess I always deserve to be treated. Napahawak ako sa dibdib niya dahil sa gulat at pagkahilo but I can definitely tell that he works out.
The moon I always admired in my childhood was nothing compared to the adoration I'm feeling with this man right now. He's so gwapo! The moonlight illuminated his features perfectly and as if on cue, the wind blew his hair which made him look better than the models my mother hired for Lefebvre's clothing line for men. Mariin ang titig namin sa isa't isa at wala sa amin ang nagpatalo. I was drawn to his eyes so much that I felt myself sober up.
"Ako na ang bahala sa kanya, Damon. Alam ko kung saan siya nakatira. Ipasok mo na lang siya sa kotse ko." Panirang utos ni Donovan. Kahit na mukhang ayaw niya ay sumunod pa rin naman si Damon kaya pumunta na kami sa parking lot. Nang ipasok niya na ako sa loob ay nagkatitigan na naman kami ng ilang sandali. Nagkasalubong ang kanyang kilay nang bumaba ang tingin niya sa damit na suot ko kaya napatingin din ako dito. I was wearing a simple black dress pero mailki lang ito kaya kung uupo ako ay kitang-kita na ang mapuputi kong hita. He buckled my seat belt at tuluyan nang isinara ang pinto ng kotse ni Donovan.
I was definitely feeling better already pero ramdam ko na rin ang antok dahil sa pagod. I wanted to forget about my problems for a while but my drinking problem wasn't doing my wishes any justice. I felt my emotions haywire back in that restaurant in front of so much people who surely have lower net worth than me. That was so embarrassing! Gosh, I need help.
Bumibigat na ang mga talukap ng mga mata ko at tumataas ang balahibo ko dahil maginaw sa loob ng sasakyan dala ng aircon. Tumingin ako sa bintana at kahit na tinted ito ay kitang-kita ko ang pag-uusap ng dalawa ngunit hindi ko ito marinig. Humihithit ng sigarilyo si Donovan habang si Damon naman ay nakatuon ang atensyon sa sasakyan. Ramdam ko na nakatingin siya sa akin kahit na tinted ang bintana. Does he know that I'm looking at him too?
Umaandar na ang sasakyan nang maalimpungatan ako. I wasn't aware that I fell asleep. Dumadaan na ang kotse sa madalas kong ruta pabalik ng bahay. Hindi na ako giniginaw gaya kanina pero sumakit nang bahagya ang pwet ko sa pwesto ko kaya inayos ko ang sarili ko. Habang ginagawa ito ay naramdaman ko ang coat na nakalagay sa aking katawan. Napahawak ako dito at hindi tumakas sa pang-amoy ko ang pabango ng lalaki. The scent screamed of manliness and the coat was big enough to make me feel warm. Agad rumehistro sa isip ko ang mukha ni Damon.
"Have you sobered up? We're almost there, Adora. Don't sleep again." Donovan looked at me and the coat I was holding. "That's Damon's. Don't bother giving it back." He answered, as if he read my mind.
"I lest que—…What time is it?" I groaned and looked at my phone while combing my hair using my hands. It's past midnight at may pasok pa ako bukas! Sighing in defeat, I leaned back on the seat again and closed my eyes.
"I said don't sleep!"
***
Nanlaki ang mata ko dahil sa naalala ko. Now that I'm not drunk, I could assess the man in front of me better. This man's huge! I mean, I'm already tall compared to the women in my batch at 5'6'' but this man makes me feel small. I bet he's 6'0" and based on his defined features, may lahi din siya, gaya ko. That perfect facial structure and bronze skin paired with a clean cut that not only made him look professional, but also seductive without much effort which made me look at him the way I admired those renaissance sculptures so much.
I thought my drunken state was fooling my judgment of this man but thank goodness I was wrong! He's too hot to be true… it's almost fictional! Now that I see his face clearly, I remember him from our school's latest magazine issue which I've read recently!
Dan Montavius S. Ainsworth, Summa Cum Laude graduate of Business Administration. He graduated last year at tandang-tanda ko pa ang reaction ng mga tao nang makita ang mukha niya sa magazine. Women were lusting over him kahit na maayos naman ang suot nito sa picture. That's how strong his sexual appeal was giving off on paper. I wasn't really impressed with his pictures because of the thought that it was edited, but now that I see him in person, oh my!
Speaking of which, what is a man like him even doing in this org?
"As expected of the Montecarlos clan. Right, Damon?" Sheena Miller pertained to the man in front of me. Napagtanto kong masyadong matagal ang pagtitig ko sa kanya which does not happen quite often with me. People stare at me to admire my beauty and status, not the other way around!
Iniwas ko ang tingin ko sa kanya, umatras at inilibot ang tingin sa labas, nagbabasakali na may iba pa bang mga applicants na nakatapos na. Hindi niya pa rin tinatanggal ang mata niya sa akin pero kita ko sa peripheral vision ko na nakangiti siya. Not the happy kind though… it was more like a smile of someone with secrets that no one should dare to know. What a mysterious man.
"t-thank you…" I was shocked of my stuttering. I won't admit it but I'm kind of intimidated by his strong aura. Something tells me he's dangerous and because my intuitions are always right, then most likely, he is indeed… dangerous. However, that doesn't mean I shouldn't thank him for his help. I know that helping voice was his.
Mayroon nang dalawa at nagulat ako nang makita ko si Lancelot, ang ex-fiancee ko at yung babaeng kausap ko sa van kanina. Both their faces were plastered with relief as they were congratulated by the other members. Nang makita ako ni Lancelot ay nilapitan niya agad ako. Maging siya ay napatingin kay Damon pero umalis ito para pumunta sa kung saan.
"Comment tu te sens ? I'm sorry for your loss…." Lancelot kissed both my cheeks and hugged me. Nahagilap ko ang seryosong tingin ni Damon sa amin. He was at the corner now, watching us while drinking what I'm sure was whiskey. Nang mahuli ko siya ay agad siyang umiwas ng tingin at nilagay ang kanyang phone sa kanyang tenga na parang may kausap dito.
"Thank you, Lance… I…" I couldn't find the right words dahil naalala ko nanaman ang pinagdadaanan ko. Lancelot Sevilla was my puppy love. We were high school lovers nang ipinagkasundo na kami ng mga magulang namin in France but we called it off when we learned na may nabuntis siyang iba. He went back to the Philippines to study while the girl and their child stayed in France, supported by his family. We've moved on with our lives but right now, I'm the one who's facing an even worse crisis.
"I hope they find tita Margaux as soon as possible. Is there anything my family can do to help, Adora? We might not be together anymore but that doesn't mean we can't help."
"I've hired my men, Lance… I believe they're a day closer to finding her." I replied, determined. I was about to ask what he was doing in a place like this but we were interrupted by the noise outside. I sighed as I saw the other applicants on their way to our place. All in all, there were only six of us who succeeded out of the 25 applicants. I was not fazed by this information. Hangga't hindi pa ako nakakapasok sa org ay hindi ako magdidiwang.
"Ready for round 2?" Sheena asked with excitement evident in her eyes. We were in the middle of the facility while the members were watching from the corners. May isang upuan at lamesang nakalagay sa gitna malapit sa amin. She took out a revolver and emptied the chambers, in which six bullets fell on the table. Sa tunog pa lang ng pagkabagsak, alam mo nang totoo ang mga ito. Napalunok ako dahil alam ko na ang balak nila. That's…fuck!
"Let's play Russian Roulette! I love games that rely on luck!" This bitch is crazy! Napatingin ako kay Lancelot at kita ko sa mata niya ang takot. We played this in high school pero nerf gun ang gamit namin. Hindi naman siguro sila gagamit ng tunay na revolver, di ba? I mean, our lives are at stake here!
"R-russian Roulette?! That's dangerous!" dinig kong sabi ng kausap kong babae sa van kanina. Others nodded in agreement. Humalakhak lang si Sheena na para bang joke ang narinig niya mula sa amin. "Silly rabbits! The moment you step in this place is the moment you let us control your lives." She smirked and took one bullet, inserted it in a random chamber then gave it a good spin to her heart's content. Tumingin ako sa gawi ni Damon at wala siyang emosyon na ipinakita. Again, he was staring at me like I was some painting he was trying to critique.
"Don't worry, you get to bet on which chamber you think the bullet is inserted! You can shoot your bet at that wall over there! But if you lose before you could shoot your bet, well…" She snickered like an idiot.
"Sinong gustong mauna?" She held the gun in front of us and pulled the trigger without any warning. Walang lumabas pero na-estatwa ako sa posisyon ko habang ang iba naman ay lumayo o napaluhod sa takot.
"Hmmmm…." She hummed innocently while wandering her eyes at us, as if she was choosing which designer bag to buy.
Kumalabog ang puso ko ng sobra dahil tumigil siya sa harapan ko at tiningnan niya ako na parang may napili na siya. Butil-butil ng pawis na ang tumutulo sa nook o dahil ramdam na ramdam ko ang tension sa amin. Ngumisi ulit ito na parang demonyo at pinatunog niya ang kanyang heels na parang nag-iisip muli.
"I choose you, baby boy~" tinutok ni Sheena ang baril sa isang lalaking naka-salamin na katabi ko. Kumawala sa akin ang hangin na parang naiwan ko sa loob ng systema ko ng ilang taon at ngayon lang nailabas. I felt Lancelot hold my hand tightly. His hands were sweaty, tanda ng kabang naramdaman niya.
Walang emosyon ang lalaking napili at matapang na tinanggap nito ang baril. "Oh, a brave soul! Let's see… is it gonna be your lucky day?"
Ngumisi lang ang lalaki sa kanya na parang nang-aasar at nahalata ko kay Sheena ang pagkairita. Umupo ang lalaki sa upuan. Huminga muna ito ng malalim bago itinutok ang baril sa kanyang sentido. Ngayon ko lang napansin ang nanginginig niyang kamay at ang butil ng mga pawis na tumutulo rin sa kanyang noo. Maging ako ay kinakabahan para sa taong ito!
Oh god, what have I gotten myself into?!
"Tingin mo, nasaan ang bala?" tanong ni Sheena ulit habang ang ibang members ay nagbulungan at ang iba pa ay nagpustahan. Compared to us, they were entertained at what they were witnessing! It was sickening. I….Damn!
"1st chamber is empty. So my guts will bet on the 3rd chamber." He spoke with courage, but failed dahil pumiyok siya. Rinig ko ang tawa ng ibang miyembro. I was pissed with the shitshow I have thrown myself into! Naramdaman ito ni Lancelot kaya pinisil niya ang kamay ko para pakalmahin ako. Nahuli ko nanaman ang tingin ni Damon pero ngayon naman, nakatutok ito sa kamay namin ng aking ex. Hinayaan ko lang ito.
"3rd chamber? Hmmm… I bet on the next! The 2nd chamber!" Sheena's eyes sparked at her words, like she was having a eureka moment. Nagulat ang lalaki dito at mas lalong kinabahan. "C'mon! C'mon! Pull the trigger and let's see who wins!" She jumped in excitement. Mas lalong na-stress ang lalaki at nawala na ang composure nito. Malaki na ang bawat paghinga niya at mas lalong kita na ang panginginig ng buong katawan niya.
I looked at the revolver and focused on it.
No… I have a bad feeling about this!
It's not the 3rd chamber! I can feel it!
It's a higher possibility that the bullet's in…
Nanlaki ang mata ko sa aking napagtanto.
"NO! DON'T—"
Pinikit ng lalaki ang mga mata nang pinutok niya ang baril at umalingawngaw ang malakas na tunog mula dito. Tumalsik ang dugo niya sa damit ko at nahulog ang walang buhay niyang katawan sa sahig. His blood spilled all over the floor as the members rejoiced upon winning their bet, especially Sheena as she was skipping around the room like a fucking rabbit while the others cursed the dead man for their loss. Sabay-sabay silang humugot ng pera sa mga wallet nila at inabot ito sa kapustahan.
Natulala na lang kaming pinagpupustahan dahil sa nangyari. Wala akong maramdaman na kahit ano. Para akong namanhid dahil sa sakit ng dibdib ko. Ang ibang applicants ay kung hindi umiiyak ay niyayayakap pa ang sarili. Hindi ko pa napansin masyado ang pagyugyog ni Lancelot sa balikat ko para bumalik ako sa realidad.
"Adora! …. Adora! Let's get out of here! Now!" Nagmamadaling sabi ni Lancelot. He cupped my face just for me to look at him and listen.
"I…d-don't want to die…" Ang tanging sambit ko nang mapatingin ako sa kanya.
Not in a place like this!
Or by betting my life with mere chances!