His Sinful Duty [SPG]

(4) Game Maker

ELEAZAR SERGIO'S POV

"Sergio, anong ginagawa mo rito? Kailangan na nating umalis."

My eyes never bother to look at Mauro in the midst of this chaos.

This party is ending here. Lahat ay nagsitakbuhan na dahil sa gulong nangyayari. This party is not just your typical party, this hall is full of powerful individuals who has other identities just like me.

Simply because we're not just ordinary.

"Your grandfather is looking for you! Halika na, Sergio, kailangan na nating umalis!" The man in his early 30s is trying to pull my arm but I immediately snatched it away from him.

Where are you? Are you safe?

"Eleazar Sergi--!" Hindi natapos ni Mauro ang gusto niyang sabihin nang mabilis kong tinahak ang isang lugar nang may makita akong isang pamilyar na babae.

She's hiding herself under the table and holding on one of its legs.

Seriously, why won't you just run you damn girl.

"Hey!" I shouted to get her attention as I ran towards her. Nakita niya ako kaya ang kaninang takot na takot nitong mukha ay kaagad na napalitang na ginhawa.

"Elie!" I extended my hand at her which she immediately took. Mabilis ko siyang hinila patayo atsaka tinignan ang buong paligid. She pressed her body against mine and clung into my tie.

"Get off me--"

"N-Natatakot ako, hindi ko makita si mama." Hindi ko natapos ang gusto kong sabihin nang niya 'yon. That's the moment I realized that she's trembling in fear.

I just met this girl before the party started and now, she's calling me by my nickname. Wala akong nakitang mga batang kasing-edad ko dito hanggang sa nakita at nakilala ko siya.

I easily got bored so I chose to be with her instead rather than listening to old people talk.

But I wish she's a boy, so I have someone to talk with my gun and some other stuffs that only boys like me feels the thrill.

"F*ck." I hissed before enveloping my single arm around her. "Edi hanapin natin siya."

"Talaga?" The hope in her voice irritates me but I budge it off.

"Yeah, whatever, let's go." Kaagad kong hinawakan ang kamay nito atsaka kami sabay na umalis sa gulong ito.

Ilang party na ang napuntahan ko kasama ang lolo ko pero ngayon ko lang siya nakita. I wonder what family she comes from. Kung nasa ganitong klaseng party siya, hindi kaya pareho lang din kami ng pamilyang pinanggalingan?

A family of mob.

"Eveion! Eveion!" I heard a woman's voice from a far calling this girl's name.

Nang mapalingon kami sa isang magandang babae na umiiyak sa gitna ng gulo ay napansin ko ang pagkabato ng babaeng kasama ko.

"Mama!" She automatically let go from me and ran towards her mother who is now extending her arms at her.

"Eveion Anastasia!" I stare at the woman who called her daughter and couldn't help but to stay on my position.

Her face looks familiar, pero hindi ko na maalala kung saan ko siya nakita.

Anastasia...

I never knew she have a second name.

"Sergio!" Napalingon ako kay Mauro na ngayon ay nagtitimpi na sa akin.

"I said we need to go, you rascal." He said with an authoritative tone before grabbing my arm and led me to the exit.

Ngayon ko lang napansin na may hawak-hawak pala ako, nang tignan ko ang aking kamay ay don ko nakita ang isang bracelet na mukhang natanggal nong biglang umalis ang babae.

"Mauro, she left her--"

My eyes widened when my butler forcibly carry me like a sack. Napuno ng sigawan ang buong hall at ilang putok ng baril dahil sa hidwaan ng dalawang grupong nagkagalitan kanina.

My grandfather's men immediately shieled us from the chaos and my 13-year-old self did nothing but to just stare at the girl I left with her mother in the middle.

"KANINONG bracelet 'yan?" Rinig kong wika ng kapatid ko habang prente akong nakaupo sa sofa niya.

I immediately put it back inside my pocket and continue watching the movie flashed on her TV screen.

"That's none of your concern," tugon ko bago ito tinignan. My eyes furrowed when I look at her who is now walking around her condo with huge holes on top of her head that she called ' hair rollers'.

"Why are you dressed like that?" Kunot ang noong wika ko.

"Coz I'm going to a party? Duh." She rolled her eyes as she put some shiny thing on her lips.

"You look like a harlot."

"Kuya?! Why are you so not supportive ba?! You're not like dad." Hindi na ako nagsalita pa atsaka mas tinuonan na lang ng pansin ang TV.

"Oh, here's your clothes and other essentials ha? Wala na akong utang sa'yo." She tossed the paperbag.

Nang makita kong nasa isang mamahaling papaerbag nakalagay ang mga damit ko, kaagad ko siyang nilingon ulit.

"Change it."

"Ano na naman ang gusto mo?" Halatang napapagod na ito sa mga utos ko sa kanya, pero wala itong ibang magagawa.

"Change that paper bag."

"Ang OA ha? This is my newest paperbag, wala pa nga 'yang gusot oh--"

"Ilagay mo sa isang plastic ang mga damit ko." Pasimpleng wika ko dahilan upang magulat ito.

"Plastic?! Gosh, I don't have any plastic dito, I love mother earth." Parang may pumitik sa sentido ko nang sabihin niya 'yon.

"Then find one."

"But kuya, I'm leaving in less than--"

"Elaine." The coldness in my voice immediately sends her to action as she stamped her way out her condo unit with her high heels and find a way to get some plastic bag.

Nang bumalik ito, itinaas niya ang isang itim na trash bag habang masamang nakatingin sa akin.

"I hate you." She declared before taking my things out from her luxurious paper bag and put everything inside it. A grin appeared on my face when she even tied it and marched inside her room, slamming the door.

Tuluyan na akong tumayo sa aking pwesto atsaka nag-iwan ng ilang papel na pera sa ibabaw ng center table niya bago umalis na bitbit ang isang trash bag.

This is better than that paper bag.

"You better be home before midnight, Elaine." I warned as I walk towards her door.

"What?! But that's really maaga, kuya." Bigla nalang itong lumabas ulit atsaka ako hinarap.

"12 sharp and that's it."

"Kuya--"

"No."

"Urgh! You're the worst!"

"You're welcome. I left some bills on the table. Enjoy." I casually said and left. Kaagad akong umalis ng condo building ni Elaine atsaka pumara ng bus.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako pinagtitinginan ng mga tao.

Was it because I'm holding a trash bag or because of how I look? I don't really know; I don't give a f*ck anyway.

Walang kaalam-alam ang kapatid ko kung ano na ang nangyayari sa buhay ko, she tried asking but I told her not to stick her nose in my life, so she eventually stop.

She's my younger sister at dalawa lang kaming magkakapatid so I'm a bit protective when it comes to her. Siguro dahil nakaugalian ko na rin 'yon mula pa nong mga bata kami.

She's still in her senior year in high school while I'm supposed to be in college-- first year.

Supposed to be.

But because of my intelligent capacity, I'm already done in my education. Habang nasa high school pa ang mga ka-edad ko noon, nasa college na ako.

So, yes, the uniforms, IDs, everything is all fake. Everything is just a show. Everything is for Eveion Anastasia to notice me.

Biglang nagvibrate ang de keypad kong cellphone sa loob ng aking bulsa habang nakasakay ako ng bus.

I can hardly fit inside this bus. My knees are already hurting coz it's so tight in here.

"What?" Bungad ko sa kabilang linya.

[Is that how youngsters greet their uncles nowadays?] Napakurap ako at hindi maiwasng matigilan nang mabosesan ko siya.

"Uncle? Are you insane, Atlas? You're my cousin." I stated and he laughed.

Pinsan ko siya pero kasing-edad siya ng ama ko.

[Kamusta ka ana, Elie? I heard what happened.]

Ah, of course.

"Andito, sumasakay ng bus." Tugon ko atsaka tinignan kung malapit na ako sa lugar kung saan ko makikita si Eveion.

I immediately took out my fake university ID and wear it around my neck.

[No way, you're riding on a bus? Kasya ka ba diyan?] I rolled my eyes.

"This is better." Better than in a car where all my actions are being observed.

[Alright, I won't bother you much, but you better come see me too before grandpa arrives.]

Before grandpa arrives...

"Fine." Bago ko binaba ang tawag, may tinanong pa ito.

[At isa pa, nakita mo na ba yung babaeng hinahanap mo?] Hindi kaagad ako nakapagsalita sa sinabi niya.

Atlas knew about me trying to find someone, but I don't know if it's best to give him more details about it.

"No, not yet."

[I see, goodluck then. Bye for now, Elie.] Binaba ko na ang tawag atsaka ito binulsa.

I look at the bus window and decided to think of an excuse on how I am going to ask Eveion out. Living with her is not yet permanent but that's better than nothing at all.

Ang tanging may alam lang ng mga plano ko ay si Mauro, my trusted butler who looks out for me since I was young.

"Para lang po!" The bus stopped when someone wanted to drop off. Sa pagtingin ko sa kabilang kalsada, hindi ko maiwasang mapatitig sa isang pamilyar na lalake.

I saw a man assisting a woman towards his car on the other side of the road.

Both of them are smiling, looking like a lovely couple.

Huminto muna silang dalawa saglit atsaka pinagsaluhan ang isang mainit na halik. My expression didn't change at all as I stare intently at the man who I know.

It was Dave, Eveion's boyfriend. And the woman beside him is none other than Eveion's stepsister, Candice.

Nang tuluyan ng umalis ang bus, don lang nawala ang paningin ko sa dalawa.

My poor Anastasia... you've been played really well, sweetheart.

If you're gonna ask me why I'm doing all of this, the answer is just simple.

The original plan is just to give this bracelet that looks sentimental back to her, kaya hinanap ko siya. Pero nang makita ko siya ulit, I found her in a very devastating situation.

Her mother died and since then her life turned up-side down.

And just like that, I found myself finding more about her. Sino ba talaga ang isang Eveion Anastasia? Sino ba talaga ang babaeng minsan ko nang nakilala noon?

And upon digging more and more about her, I found something I couldn't just turn a blind eye for.

I found myself interested in a woman for the very first time.

Bumaba na ako habang bibit ang isang trash bag atsaka nagsimula nang maglakad papunta sa apartment ni Eveion. From being a princess, she's now down to a commoner.

Tiningala ko ang isang disenteng apartment bago tuluyang pumasok sa loob.

But when I was about to enter, I saw a familiar woman on the side.

Nang tignan niya ako mula sa pagkakayuko, I saw how her puffy red eye looks at me.

"Elie." She uttered before running towards me and enveloped me with her arms. The trembling crying woman made me froze on my position.

"Anong nangyari?" Kunot-noo kong tanong.

"W-Wala. Wala."

Wala, pero umiiyak ka ng ganito?

"Si Dave..." She murmured against my chest while clenching on my shirt. "... nakipagbreak sa'kin si Dave."

Ah...

Now, what should I do with this kind of situation?

"Do you want us to talk about it?" I asked like a 'genuine' friend.

Bigla itong tumingala sa akin dahilan upang magtama ang paningin naming dalawa. I think this is the closest contact we had since what happened 5 years ago.

"G-Gusto kong uminom."

Ah, of course. A heartbroken woman craving for alcohol during a breakup is so damn common.

"Okay, we'll do that." I then guide her to her apartment as I left to buy some alcohol to drink.

Habang naghahanap ako ng maiinom sa isang minimart, hindi ko maiwasang maalala ng nangyari limang taon na ang nakakalipas.

My grip tightened against the neck of the bottle as I clenched my jaw.

How could you ever forget that night, Anastasia?

Napatingin ako sa hawak kong bote at hindi maiwasang mapa-isip.

Should we recreate that tonight for you to remember or let's just continue playing this kind of game that I made?