Chapitre 8: Chapter 7: Just got Lucky
I stayed up all night. Could it be that I'm used to working in a graveyard shift? Awake during the night and asleep in the morning or maybe because of that stupid kiss? I kept thinking about what happened last night. Sino ba naman ang hindi mapapakali sa nangyaring insidente? Ano na lang ang mukhang ihaharap ko sa kaniya sa susunod na magkita kami? Sobrang nakakahiya, ni hindi ko man lang siya nagawang mapasalamatan sa pagkakaligtas niya sa'kin kay Paul. My mind is too pre-occupied with so many questions and didn't notice that it was already morning. The second day of the event....the tournament.
I have a terrible headache due to lack of sleep and I'm too lazy to get up. Tamad naman akong talaga pero ngayon masama talaga ang pakiramdam ko at wala ako sa wisyo para makisalamuha kahit kanino.
Since it's mandatory for everybody to participate in the event, I have no choice but to prepare myself and go down to the basement to check the itinerary of the players, the list of the games, and who I will be competing with. Each player needs to complete with another player from another group. They will serve as the representative of their respective team.
Kahit tinatamad ako ay pinilit ko ang sarili kong tumayo sa kama at halos gumapang ako papunta sa banyo para maligo. Hindi naman talaga ganoon kasama ang aking pakiramdam sadyang hindi lang kami bati ni water at masyado siyang cold sa akin.Masama man sa kalooban ko ay naligo ako nang mga limang minuto. In-fairness, nagawa ko pa maglaba ng underwear sa loob ng limang minuto! Iilan lang kasi ang baon ko kaya wala akong choice kung hindi ang wash and wear.
After taking a bath, I went to my cupboard and choose something to wear. Simpleng blouse lang at pants ang suot ko. Masyadong malamig doon sa casino dahil sa aircon kaya nagsuot na rin ako ng manipis na jacket. Pagkatapos ko mag ayos ay bumaba na ako sa basement para tignan ang bulletin board kung saan naka-paskil ang mga manlalarong maglalaban-laban ngayong araw na ito.
As a member of team Monkey, I was assigned to compete with the member from the Rat Room. The player's nickname is Riddler and we are about to play the Russian Roulette. This is no ordinary game from the usual Russian roulette. The organizer has their twisted way of making the game more interesting, fun and it always involved a greater risk. Matalo o manalo wala naman mawawala sa akin dahil ang rank ko ang pinakamababa kumpara kay Riddler na mas mataas ang rank sa akin. Kung sakali mang matalo ko siya ay aangat ang rank ko katulad ng sa rank niya. Exciting hindi ba? Pero nakakatakot at kaba.
The game will start in thirty minutes. I went to see who are the players in the Casino and almost all of them are preparing for their own battle. I decided to go to the table where I will be competing, but just when I was about to reach the table, I see all my team members waiting for me, including daredevil. Blood rushes into my veins. I felt my face turned in red. My breath became shallow, and my heart is beating so fast. Parang gusto ko na yatang mag-collapse noong nakita ko siya.
Bigla kong naalala ang lahat ng nangyari kagabi. I just can't get any closer, I was so embarrassed and has no confidence to face him. Sa higit na ipagpatuloy ko ang paglalakad papunta sa table kung saan ako maglalaro ay bigla akong napaatras bago pa nila ako makita. Sa sobrang taranta ko ay napapasok na lang ako sa isang souvenir shop para panandaliang magtago habang hindi pa nagsisimula ang laban.
"Mamaya na lang ako pupunta doon kapag malapit na magsimula ang laban," sa isip ko.
While I was in the souvenir shop I stumbled upon some of the cute figurines and refrigerator magnet that were displayed in the rack. I was a sucker for a refrigerator magnet. Since I was not able to travel a lot because my whole life revolved around only in my room, I love to buy a refrigerator magnet whenever I get a chance to go out.
It feels as if I found a hidden treasure. I chose as many refrigerator magnets as I can. I was so busy and was so amazed by all the souvenirs in the shop that I almost forgot about the battle. Good thing there is an announcement from an intercom that called upon all players five minutes before that start of the game. When I heard my name in the announcement, I immediately purchase the souvenirs and place them all inside my jacket pocket. I have no time to bring it to my room and I don't want to be late in my battle, then head over the table I was assigned to play.
Pagdating ko sa lugar kung saan ako maglalaro kapansin-pansin na lahat ng tao ay nakatingin sa akin. Hindi na ako nagtataka, late kasi ako dumating. Pakiramdam tuloy nila na nagpapa-importante ako.
Shortly, the dealer entered the room and stand before us. "Good day! I'm Bill, your dealer in this game, and here is the Mechanics for the Russian Roulette." He looked at all of us and said, "Players, are you ready?"
"Yes, we're ready!" we said in unison.
Bill starts to explain the mechanics, "this game is played by getting some whiskey, white rum, cognac or tequila and filling a shot glass with it. There should also be two other shot glasses, except they are filled with water. You can also have four liquor glasses and two with water, split it down the middle, or any chosen variation."
Habang nasasalita ang dealer na si Bill, hindi ko maiwasan ang luminga sa paligid para alamin kung sino-sino ba ang mga nanonood sa amin. Pasimple akong lumingon sa kinaroroonan ng mga miyembro ng Monkey team at nakita ko na nakatitig si Yujin sa akin.
"Shet! Henebe, wag mo akong titigan, baka matunaw ako at hindi ako makalaro ng ayos," sa isip-isip ko. Hindi ko mapigilan ang aking sarili na kiligin. Feeling ko ay namumula na naman ako sa hiya. Kaya tinakpan ko na lang ang aking mukha.
"These six-shot glasses should be reordered by someone who is not in the game and that would be me, while the players have their backs turned. Players are not allowed to turn until I finished re-ordering it. The glasses, now jumbled should be numbered with each player rolling the dice, therefore prompting them to drink the glass corresponding to the number rolled," he continued.
Pasimple ko ulit sinilip si Yujin, parang nakakunot noo na siya ngayon habang nakatingin pa rin sa akin. He is trying to decipher my thoughts? "Ay, huwag ganoon baka malaman mong ikaw ang laman ng isip ko," kung ano-ano tuloy ang pumapasok sa utak ko. Hindi ko tuloy mapigilan ang mapangiti kaya tinakpan ko ulit ang aking mukha para hindi niya makita.
"The glass that was drunk from the game will replace it with another glass with the same or different product and reshuffle. But unlike the ordinary Russian Roulette game, it will not stop if the player gets to drink the liquor. The game will continue until one of the players either quit, throw up, or passed out of drunkenness." he paused for a while and continued, "is there any question?"
I raised my hand and say, "Ah, excuse me, can you please explain the mechanics?"
"Are you kidding me? I just did!" He raised his brows and gave me a deadpan stare.
Everybody starts to laugh they thought I was just fooling around. Ang totoo ay hindi ko naman talaga naintindihan ang mechanics at busy ako sa pag mumuni-muni.
Kinalabit ako ni Allan at pasimpleng binulungan, "Ghorl, are you with us? Hindi mo ba talaga naintindihan?"
"LOLLIPOP, you're spacing out. Snap out of it!" Yujin yelled at me. Attitude na naman siya!
"My name is Me'ann," pasimple kong sinabi.
"It doesn't matter, you need to focus on the game!" Bakit ba hindi niya matandaan ang pangalan ko?
The crowd started to realize that I was not kidding and they stop laughing and start murmuring at each other. I bet they are gossiping how stupid I am.
"I smell something in the air," Riddler said. Ako naman itong tanga na luminga-linga pa at inamoy ang kapaligiran. "Can you smell that? That's the smell of my victory!" Then he starts laughing. The crowd laughs along with him.
"Pwe, amoy anghit!" pangungutya ko. Makabawi man lang at pahiya ako doon. "Dream on!" banat ko pa. Kahit man lang sa confidence manalo ako.
"This is an easy match. Saglit lang ang laban na 'to," pagyayabang niya.
"Miss Me'ann, did you understand the mechanics or shall I repeat it for you?" the dealer ask me.
I just smiled at him and say, "Pwede isa pa?"
Since there is a rule that says the mechanics should be well-understood by both parties, the dealer has no choice but to repeat it once again. Pero ngayon nakinig na ako mabuti at nakakahiya na kung ipapaulit ko pa ulit.
I feel like I am being punished when I heard the mechanics. I am not a good drinker, I get drunk easily just a bottle of beer or a shot of hard liquor. Naalala ko pa nga noong college ako na sa sobrang kalasingan ko ay natulog ako sa boarding house ng classmate ko dahil napagkamalan kong bahay ko. How can I survive in this game? The only chance I have is when I get to pick the water instead of liquor.
As I stepped in the battlefield, I mean my place in the table, you can feel the intensity of the area. The crowd cheering for us, all eyes are looking and giving us their unwavering attention. Not to mention the look of my opponent as if he wants to devour me whole. Swerte siya ang yummy ko pa naman.
I'm nervous and excited at the same time, but most all afraid that I will pass out if ever I get my first liquor drink. Huwag naman sana akong bumigay ng maaga at nakakahiya naman. I'm not planning to give up easily, not without giving him a good fight.
The battle begins...
I rolled my first dice. I closed my eyes and inhaled. When I opened my eyes, exhaled and smiled when I saw my number. Luckily, the corresponding number I rolled was a glass of water.
Now it's Riddler's turn to roll his dice, unfortunately, it's the same as mine. It's water. The glasses were replaced by another set of drinks. I can't tell whether it is water or liquor, one this is certain, the remaining glasses are liquor.
My turn again, I rolled my dice. It was breathtaking. Everybody in the audience is quiet. Some are praying for me to get the liquor. They just can't wait to see who gets to drink the first shot.
Unfortunately, I get my first shot of liquor. I want to get over it quickly, so I took the shot as fast as I can. It was strong. I felt my head spinning as soon as I drank the whole glass. My team member saw my reaction and got worried, but they keep on cheering for me.
Then Riddler rolled his dice for the second time. The lucky bastard got water once again. The game went on and I noticed that I'm the only one who kept on drinking the liquor while he was only drinking water.
Hindi ko na mabilang kung gaano na karami ang nainom kong alak. Isa lang alam ko, pilit kong nilalabanan ang sobrang kalasingan at pagkahilo. Nararamdaman ko sa sarili ko na ilang shot na lang ay malapit na akong bumigay at tumumba. Umaasim na rin ang sikmura at lalamunan ko, konti na lang ay malapit na akong sumuka.
"Okay lang ako. Kaya ko pa," paulit-ulit kong sinasabi sa aking sarili. "Bakit ba parang ang bilis naman nang pag inom niya? Puro na lang tubig ang nakukuha niya samanatalang ako ay puro alak?"pagtataka ko.
Ako na naman pala ang titira, pero sa sobrang kalasingan hindi ko na halos makita ang table ng aming pinaglalaruan. Pasuray-suray na rin ang aking paglalakad at halos dumapa na ako sa mesa dahil gusto na ng katawan kong tumumba.
Kinuha ko ang dice, at inalog sa aking mga kamay. Sa sobrang kalasingan ay nadulas iyon at nalaglag sa sahig.
A man from the audience was about to lend his hand and about to take the dice. "P-please, don't b-bother. I will take it," my words start to slurs.
I went down on my knees and search for the dice and grab it. As soon as I take the dice, my vision became hazy, my legs are too weak and shaky, so I decided to relax a bit and sat on the floor. Just when I was about to get up, I noticed something, the dice is sticking in my jacket pocket.
"It's weird, am I that drunk and hallucinating already?" I said to myself. Then I remembered that I bought a refrigerator magnet earlier. "Why is the dice being attracted to my souvenir?" I questioned myself.
Finally, I figured it out! Bigla na lang ako napasigaw...
"This game is rigged! He is cheating!" Then point my fingers to Riddler.
"What the hell are you talking about?" his lips were trembling as he speaks. "You are drunk. You better quit the game, such an embarrassment to your team!" He's sweating like a pig.
Everyone starts talking. Some are laughing, others are confused. the crowd has mixed opinions on the matter.
"Miss Me'ann Benitez, stop making a scene or I will be forced to ask you to leave. You are causing a commotion," the dealer calmly told me.
"LOLLIPOP are you ok? Can you still play? If you had too much to drink its okay to quit. Nobody will blame you for losing," Mababakas sa mga mata ni Yujin ang labis na pag alala sa akin.
"My name is Me'ann! Hik!"
"It doesn't matter! Focus on the game!" He commands. He started to return to his bossy attitude.
"Stop nagging!"
"You're wasted. Can you still play?" Napailing na lang siya. Siguro kung malapit lang siya sa akin baka nabatukan na niya ako. Halata naman na gigil na gigil na siya sa akin. Dahil sa pagmamatigas ko sa kaniya.
"I'm okay, he is cheating!" once again, screaming at the top of my lungs and pointing fingers to Riddler. "C-can s-someone pluleasee check the dice. There's a magnet inside. He manipulates the result of rolled dice with magnets!" I hand over the dice to Bill. "I don't know-how, but he is cheating. Please, check the dice."
Bill took the dice from my hand then scan it with the rest of the judges. They put the game on hold and each player was taken to a separate room to wait for the result.
After one and a half hours, Bill called us back to the table and make an announcement.
"We found out that the dice was indeed swapped with magnetic dice."
After hearing the announcement, everyone was shocked and starts to talk. The crowd went wild. Some are throwing trash at Riddler, others are taking pictures and videos and the rest were just gossiping.
Bill hammered the table with his hand that creates a loud noise and makes everyone stop and turn their attention back to him. "Since cheating is not allowed in the tournament, Riddler will be eliminated in the game and will be banned in CASINO ROYALE. As for the winner, Me'ann Benitez also known as LOLLIPOP will be declared as the winner!" Everyone starts to cheer. Just like that, I won the game by default.
While everybody is busy cheering and gossiping, Yujin walks towards me, pat my head and say, "good job!"
In that very moment, our eyes met once again. Bigla kong naalala ang lahat nang nangyari kagabi at biglang na naman ako nakaramdam nag pagkailang at hiya. Pakiramdam ko ay pulang-pula na aking mukha. Buti na lang at sadyang mapula na ang mukha ko sa sobrang daming alak na aking nainom.
"How did you know about the magnet?" he curiously asks.
I just smiled at him and said, "I just got lucky!"
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone