Alia’s POV

I’m already lying in bed pero di pa rin mawaglit sa isip ko kung paano nagawang manalo ni Dominic sa lahat ng games sa casino.

Napahiya pa ako when I said suwerte-suwerte lang yun. He can really outwit me. But come to think of it kung talagang alam niya ang trick sa mga casino games, hindi na niya kailangang magtrabaho, yayaman na siya dun.

Hmp! I’m sure tsamba lang yun at gusto lang niya akong inisin.

But I really didn’t expect that he would take me to a casino. Sino ba namang matinong lalaki ang dadalhin ka sa casino on your first date? Weird!

Oh no! It wasn’t a date!

I was about to sleep nang umilaw ang CP ko na nasa side table. I want all lights off when I sleep kaya naman ang liwanag ng paligid nang umilaw ito.

I opened the message. It came from a new number. I was puzzled as I read the message.

Hi! Have a sound sleep, strawberry girl! I enjoyed our time together!

Si Dominic ba ito? Why does he call me strawberry girl? Hmm, weird!

Baka may kamukha ako that reminds him of strawberries.

I put the phone down pero umilaw ulit ito. This time the new number is calling.

“Dominic?” I whispered over the phone.

“Wow! Your heart recognized me!” he exclaimed.

“You texted me a minute ago!” depensa ko.

“I didn’t put my name in the message.” He chuckled. I rolled my eyes kahit di niya ako nakikita ngayon.

“Stop rolling your eyes, baka maduling ka!” he said. Huh? This man is really unbelievable.

“How did you know?” I asked.

Tawa lang ang narinig ko sa kabilang linya.

“Tumawag ka ba para mang-asar?” I said boringly.

“I just want to hear your voice. Can we see each other again tomorrow?”

Napakunot ako sa sinabi niya.

“Hear my voice? Or see each other tomorrow? Make up your mind! You can’t serve two masters at the same time, you know?” I said trying to tease and test his intelligence. Kanina pa kasi niya ako iniisahan, makaganti man lang.

He was silent for a moment.

“Hello, Alia? Are you still there?” he asked.

“Yes, I’m here! What?” I answered.

“Alia, I can’t hear you. There must be something wrong with the line. I guess I’ll just have to see you tomorrow. Goodnight!” dire-diretso niyang hayag. Before I could even say anything, the line went dead.

Ugh! Naisahan na naman ako ng loko!