2: GOOD WAY TO START THE GAME

Tuesday was normal day. It was the only time we get to explore the city. But I usually sat around the corner and watch people playing around.

Sighing, I looked up to the sunset that was setting to the horizon. Ha, funny bitch, wasn't it? There was something about it that made me freaking sad.

Maybe it was its color or the way it captivated my soul to bring back my memory from once carefree life I had. The dawn was coming again and here I am, doing the same freaking life cycle.

Still not aiming what I wanted that Judith, my Tiya, would swallow every hurtful word she told me.

Anyway, why am I fucking ruining this moment? Sunset supposed to be romantic. It helped me remember my old self; loving and caring.

Pero parang magic na nawala ang lahat sa'kin. I didn't care anymore, lalo na ang mga tao sa paligid ko. If there was only person I cared the most, it was only my sister, na hanggang ngayon hindi ko parin nakikita.

Tumayo ako nang makita ko si Rake Alicante na naglalakad. Hindi katulad ko, mukhang nagmamadali ito.

Tumabi ako agad sakanya at sinabayan siya ng lakad. "Napag-isipan mo na ba 'yong offer ko sa'yo?"

He looked at me with intensity. "Kaya mo ba bumuhay ng patay? Kung oo, papayag ako sa sinasabi mo. Kung hindi, pwede mo na akong iwan."

"Oh come on, darling. Don't be such a coward," I told him while biting my lips. "Do you honestly think na paniniwalaan kita na ayan ang gusto mo? Of course, I won't. I know you're just afraid of me dahil nakikita mo ang sarili mo sa'kin. You're a dominant and I am, too, walang magbibigay satin ng daan kung sino ang dapat na masunod."

"Then I don't have to agree playing your game," sabi nito. "Kung alam mo na naman pala kung ano at sino ako, nasaan ang twist? Nasaan ang mystery?"

Huminto ako at tiningnan siya na nagbabaga ang mata. "Nasa akin," sagot ko sa tanong niya. "Stranger, hindi mo pa ako kilala. Ayaw mo ba mangyari 'yon kapag pumayag ka? You'll get to know the real me. I know, just like them, curious kadin sa pagkatao ko gaya ng pagkaka-curious ko kung bakit ka talaga andito."

"Sa tingin mo ba ano ang gusto ko sa'yo?"

"My body, of course. Wala naman iba. Unless you want my money yet I know, you don't need it already."

He smiled but it didn't reach his eyes. "Your body. . .what a wonderful idea. Gusto kong itali ang mga paa at kamay mo hanggang sa hindi kana makagalaw at hindi makakawala, gusto mo ba 'yon?"

Napaatras ako dahil parang may laman ang sinasabi niya. "Nah. I would like to do it to you instead. Just let me be incharge and do what I have to do. Let me have your money, wealth, loyalty, happiness and soul."

"You're too greedy, lady. Mukhang hindi tayo magkakasundo dahil halos magkapareho tayong dalawa. We're a match like the two sides of a coin; equal," napahinto siya nang papasok na ito sa loob ng hotel. "Who are you, really?"

"But that coin have a different history and a diverse story to tell, right?" I smiled at him seductively. "Come on, let's stop talking about that. Let's talk about you and me, now guess my name first. I'll give you a clue."

Umiling si Rake. "What?"

I winked at him. "There are four in a deck of cards

and it is a size of a bed,

In countries with a monarchy

This is the female head, so who am I?"

It made him smile, oh well, mukhang unti-unti ko nang nakukuha ang loob niya.

"All I know is you are a dangerous type of a woman who likes to play dirty game, who doesn't like to lose and who will do everything to win even if doing that will hurt everyone around her."

Inilapit ko ang mukha ko sakanya. Making him smell the fresh breath coming from my mouth. Hinawakan ko siya ng marahan sa braso, hindi siya gumalaw kaya itinaas ko 'yon papunta ng balikat niya. I massaged it a little, giving him tempting touch he wouldn't forget.

"Come on, stranger. Play my game and you'll never have to worry if you lose,"  I slowly whispered while touching his nape. "Kapag tinanong kita at sumagot ko ng kabaliktaran ibig sabihin pumapayag kana. Now what's your name?"

Hindi niya ako sinagot. Hinawakan niya ako sa bewang at hinigit papalapit sa katawan niya mismo. Napapalitan ng init ang malamig ng pwesto na kinatatayuan namin.

"Ekar," he simply said.

It made me smile because he finally agreed to play my game. Ito na ang simula ng pag-angat ng kapangyarihan ko. It was him, who would save me from this life cycle.

"Oh, I see. . .you are Rake. So how old are you, Ekar?" naglalaro ang kulay bughaw niya na mata sa'kin. Para akong napapaso sa titig niya. "Come on, tell me. . ."

"I have some age issue so I won't tell you that."

I laughed sardonically. Alam ko na kung ilan taon na siya, I was trying to fool him around. "Funny you are, Ekar."

"Only for you. . ." he whispered then held my hair.

Mas lalong lumalapit ang mukha niya sa'kin. Hinawakan ko ang dibdib niya. Oh God. . .his body was still in shape though he was a bit older. But for me. he's the definition of a sex god.

"Do you like me?"

"Yes," maikling tugon nito.

"Ouch."

"Tapos ka na?"

"Hindi pa."

"Love?" I asked confidently.

"Certainly."

Lumayo ako sakanya para makita ng buo ang mukha niya. "Funny, wala ka talagang gusto sa'kin. O puro kasinungalingan talaga 'yong sinasagot mo. I know you're up to something that's why you're here."

"Bakit hindi mo hulaan?" he smirked. He lowered down his defense. I knew it. Mas lalo ako napanglalakasan ng loob na gawin ang mga plano ko sakanya na gamitin siya.

"Bakit ko huhulaan kung ayaw mo naman magsabi ng totoo?"

"Dahil hindi lahat ng bagay kailangan mong malaman. Lahat ng bagay may hangganan."

I rolled my eyes. "Are you playing your games with me? Because if you do, don't play games with someone who can play better."

Rake crossed his arms. "It's not yet the end, you'll never know what will happens next or who'll win this game. This is only our beginning."

"Huh? Trust me. I master this game of mine. Alam ko kung ano ang kahihinatnan. I played this one too many times before, I never lose, keep that in mind," sabi ko sakanya at lumakad na ng tuluyan papasok sa hotel na tinutuluyan namin.

"Hey, lady," napahinto ako sa pagtawag niya sa'kin. "I know who you are."

I gave him a smirked. "So what am I?"

"The way I analyzed your riddle, you're a Quinn."

Tumawa ako at tumitig sakanya. "So what does a Quinn do?"

"Gusto mo ba talaga malaman?" seryosong tanong nito sa'kin.

"Of course, why not? It's all about me. I would gladly listen."

He lowered himself to my left ear then put his hand on my shoulder. "What you do is fuck everyone's life and destroy everything about them. Then you run and move on. Now, it is one of your cues that you won your game."