His Sinful Duty [SPG]

(9) Guardian Angel

ELEAZAR SERGIO'S POV

"All in," I said, pushing all my remaining chips in the center which made all the men look at me.

"Are you serious?!"

"What?"

I smirked as I put the cigarette against my mouth while giving a challenging look on my opponents.

"Tsk! Fine, all in." Mas lalong lumawak ang aking ngisi nang sabihin niya iyon. This man right in front of me is too eager to bring me down in gambling.

Sa tuwing pupunta ako rito upang maglibang, wala ni isang araw na hindi ko siya makikita rito.

"Are you sure 'bout that, Mr. Choi?" I asked and he glare at me.

"Just shut up, kid."

Oh dear, this old man seems like I'm getting on his nerves.

Minaniobra na ng lalake ang mga baraha namin. At tulad ng aking inaasahan, nanalo na naman ulit ako. Mr. Choi cursed when I grabbed all the chips in the table and toss a couple of chips to the man as a tip.

Sa oras na itataya ko lahat na meron ako, alam kong mananalo ako.

But this old man wanted to humble me by trying to beat me but... he just couldn't.

Tsaka isa pa, wala naman talaga akong pakialam sa pera kaya ako pumupunta ng mga casino para sumugal. I just wanted to have fun by looking at me opponent's sullen face after I took the victory.

Their disappointed face brings a different level of satisfaction in my system.

And also, I have a mission.

"Mr. Montenegro." Iginalaw ko ang aking mga mata upang tignan ang lalakeng nakatayo na ngayon sa likod ng bakanteng upuan na nasa aking harapan.

Mr. Choi already left with nothing in his pocket.

Nang magtama ang paningin namin ng bagong salta, palihim akong napangisi nang makita ko siya.

Look who's here to use his father's money?

"Can I play poker with you?" tanong niya sa akin dahilan upang mapatingin sa aming dalawa ang mga taong nakapalibot sa poker table.

Umangat ang isang sulok ng aking labi bago tinanggal ang sigarilyo sa aking bibig. I crashed the cigarette against the ashtray and intertwine my fingers altogether as I places both of my elbows against the poker table.

"Sure, Mr. Falcon," I responded as I watch him take a seat.

Dave Falcon... Eveion's ex-boyfriend is going play poker with me.

How interesting.

Nagismula na kaming maglaro at nong una ay hinayaan ko itong manalo. The smile on his face is an evident that he thought that lady luck is on his side right now.

"Isa pa?" Aniya habang nakatingin ng sa akin. I look at him, signaled one of my men to bring me more chips, and nodded at him.

Mas lalong lumawak ang ngiti sa kanyang labi hanggang sa maglaro ulit kami.

I smirked. How ambitious for you to think that you can win this time.

"All in?" I said with a casual face, tapping my finger against the table.

"All in." He answered before putting all his chips on the table.

Ambitious and impulsive. Two traits that will bring me more fortune tonight.

Unang ipinakita ang mga baraha niya at nang mapatingin ako roon, palihim akong ngumisi sabay yuko.

Dave Falcon, thank you for the money.

"Wow."

"He won again."

"Pang-ilang panalo na niya ba ngayong gabi?"

Iyan lang ang mga bulong-bulongang naririnig ko rito matapos kong ipanalo ang sugal. Dave was utterly shocked when all his chips were transported to my side.

Pero kaagad din itong napakurap atsaka ipinakita ang kanyang ngiti sa akin. He stood up, extended his hand at me and waited for my response.

I hate shaking other people's hands as a form of greetings, but I'll let this pass.

Just this one.

"Congratulations, Mr. Montenegro," aniya na ikinatango ko lang.

"You got me on the first round, not bad for you as well Mr. Falcon," I commented, and he took it as a compliment.

Pathetic fool.

"It was good seeing you here and playing poker with you. Sana magkita tayo ulit."

Ah... I see how it goes...

He's trying to build connections.

Dave Falcon is going to inherit his father's company after he graduates. Kilala ang pamilya ko sa larangan ng negosyo but the thing is, we hardly negotiate nor merge with other companies or group.

But if we do, I'm certain that that specific person or company will be on top with us.

Kaya marami na ang sumubok, pero marami rin ang nabigo.

This is pure business. Kung kinakailangan mong makipagplastikan para umangat, gagawin mo. These kinds of people make me p**e. They're disgusting.

"Sure, Mr. Falcon."

"Drop the formalities," he said. "Dave na lang."

Umangat ang magkabilang sulok ng aking labi bago binawi ang aking kamay.

"Have a great night, Dave." I answered and tossed another chips to the man as a tip before turning my back against everyone.

Kaagad na sumunod sa akin ang dalawa kong mga tauhan papalabas ng casino. Sa paglabas ko, kaagad kong nakita si Mauro na ngayon ay nakatayo sa labas ng itim na kotse.

"Kaya pala hindi ka sumulpot sa pagpupulong dahil nagsusugal ka," aniya na ikinangisi ko.

"If losing all my money concerns you, don't be. My money just doubled tonight." Nilagpasan ko ito atsaka pumasok sa loob ng sasakyan.

"Sergio, you just missed something important."

"Does it involve my mother?" Tanong ko.

"Hindi."

"Elaine?"

"Hindi rin."

"Then it's not important, Mauro." I said before resting my back against the car seat. Narinig ko itong napabuntong-hininga na tila wala na siyang nakikitang pag-asa sa'kin.

"But it involves your grandfather, Sergio." Nang sabihin niya iyon, kaagad nitong nakuha ang aking interes pansamantala.

Yes, of course, my grandfather.

That old man.

"And what about him?"

"Malapit na siyang bumalik dito, kaya kinailangan natin ng matinding preparasyon. You know him, we can't mess this up."

"Matinding preparasyon?" Hindi ko maiwasang mapatawa ng mahina sabay lingon ko sa kanya. "Sasabak ba tayo sa giyera, Mauro?"

He closed his eyes when I said that halatang nagtitimpi na sa ugaling pinapakita ko ngayon.

"Kailan ka ba magseseryoso?" He asked and I look away, diverting my gaze outside the window and watch the vehicles passing by on the other side of the road.

"Do I have to put the Perez girl on the conversation for you to tighten up the screws in your head?" When he mentioned Eveion's last name, something just tingles in my ear, and I went quiet.

"Turn the wheel." I ordered the driver.

"Anong ginagawa mo? Uuwi ka na."

"I said, turn the wheel."

"Sergio." Mauro used his authoritative tone but it won't budge me if I really wanted to do something.

Mabilis kong hinugot ang baril na nakatago sa ilalim ng aking inuupuan atsaka ito mabilis na itinutok sa nagmamaneho ng sasakyan.

The driver stiffed and Mauro looked at me with disbelief.

"Turn the wheel or I'll blow your head off." I said and everyone went quiet. "Bring me to the Perez's girl, apartment." I continued and Mauro shook his head.

"You little rascal." He whispered under his breathe when the driver turns the wheel and went on the opposite direction. Pasalampak na napasandal si Mauro sa kanyang kinauupuan bago napahilot sa kanyang sentido.

He even pinched the bridge of his nose with a crease on his forehead.

Kaagad kong binawi ang baril atsaka ito ibinalik sa lalagyan nito kanina.

"Relax, Mauro, bibisitahin ko lang siya." Isang masamang tingin ang ibinigay niya sa akin dahilan upang mapakurap ako. "Don't give me that look, you're the one who gave me the idea of visiting her."

"I just mentioned her to bring you back to your senses!" He said with disbelief, and I shrugged my shoulders.

"Ganon ba 'yon?"

"Jesus Christ." He closed his eyes once again "Kahit siguro demonyo ay susuko sa kabaliwan mo, Sergio," dagdag pa nito na ikintawa ko.

Sometimes, playing with Mauro like this also give me a different kind of satisfaction.

GOOD HEAVENS, look what in a good timing it is.

Nakita ko si Eveion na ngayon ay naglalakad papasok sa isang eskinita patungo sa kanyang apartment. It was a shortcut.

"San ka pupunta?" Mauro asked when I ordered the driver to stop. "Susundan mo siya?" Dagdag pa nito na ikintango ko.

"I'll be back right after."

"You better be." He said with seriousness in his voice before I close the car door and followed Eveion on her way.

Nanatili lang akong nakatingin sa kanyang likuran habang nakasunod dito. I kept my distance far enough for her not to notice me, but it seems like she's busy on her phone to even notice the people around her.

She just came from the flower shop dahil weekdays ngayon. During weekends, she'll work on a coffee shop nearby. Mostly, she'll just walk home but during rainy nights, she'll grab a bus.

Hindi ko maiwasang mapangisi sa aking sarili.

I'm really playing a good role of being a stalker right now.

Alam ko halos lahat ng gagawin niya. From her morning routine, and even the time she goes back home.

Eveion's life is too boring-- repeating the same cycle every day.

I stopped when she suddenly stopped. I was about to hide behind a wall when I saw her walk on the side, avoiding the two men looking at her.

One man whistles when she passed them and the other glued his eyes on her thighs. She's wearing a skirt with a black stocking underneath.

Eveion have a good set of legs. It was long and slender. Truly an eye-catching kind of a sight.

When she successfully passed the two drunk men, I saw how fast she ran towards the light near her apartment.

Good job, angel. You run pretty quick.

Nang makita kong nakapasok na siya sa loob ng apartment building, mabilis kong nilingon ang dalawang lasing na lalake na ngayon ay nakatanaw sa apartment building.

"Kita mo 'yon? Ganda diba? Yun yung sinasabi ko sa'yo pare. Madalas ko yung nakikitang dumadaan dito."

"Ganda nga, ganda ng kutis."

"Natakam ka?" Natatawang saad nong isang sumipol kay Eveion.

"Oo, natakam ako bigla." Both of them laughed, not minding the danger that awaits from the shadows.

My face darkened as I walk towards them in this empty alley. This is a dangerous path to take but Eveion will always use this route for the sake of getting back home faster.

No, this path is not dangerous without these kinds of people.

Natigilan ang dalawang lalaka nang makita nila ako. Dahil sa katangkaran ko, kaagad silang napatingala sa akin.

Should I make this path safer for my angel?

"Sino ka? Ang sama ng tingin mo sa'min ah." Maangas na wika nong isang lalake atsaka ako inambahan ng suntok. But I caught his fist instead which made him froze.

"Ang liit ng kamao mo," komento ko habang na ikinapitik ng sentido nito.

The other man suddenly broke the bottle against my shoulder which made me look at him. Gulat itong napatingin sa hawak-hawak niyang basag na bote bago napatingin sa akin.

I grabber his neck using my other hand and pinned him against the wall.

"Ack!"

"T-Tulong! Tulongan niyo kam--" Hindi niya natapos ang kanyang sinabi nang mabilis ko siyang sinuntok sa panga.

The man turned pale gasping for air as I tightened my grip against his neck-- trying to strangle him to death.

Binitawan ko ito dahilan upang mapaubo ito kaagad. I took out my gloves inside my coat pocket and wear it.

I slammed the drunk men faces on to the ground after hitting them with my fists. Nang makita ko silang nakahiga na sa lupa, kaagad kong sinipa ang tiyan ng isa at mukha nong pangalawa.

I exhaled before taking the empty bottle of alcohol on the road and slammed it against the man who also did the same thing on me earlier.

I grabbed the conscious man's hair as I lowered down to see him.

"Tandaan mo, sa oras na makita ko pa ang pagmumukha niyo rito, hindi lang ito ang maaabutan niyo, maliwanag?" He grunted as his response since he's unable to speak clearly.

"And one more thing, that girl is not yours to watch." Napalunok ito bago ko ito hinaayang mawalan ng malay.

With blood splattered against the walls of this tight alley and on to the ground, I didn't noticed Mauro standing behind me who actually decided to follow me after realizing I took so long to come back.

"Sergio, what the f*ck have you done? Akala ko ba susundan mo lang siya? Ano 'to? Ba't nagkakalat ka sa ibang bakuran?" Hindi makapaniwalang saad nito habang nakatingin sa mga lalakeng wala ng malay, dugoan at may pasa sa buong katawan.

"Sergio."

"I just hate how they look at her, Mauro." Sagot ko matapos kong pagpagin ang aking suot at tanggalin ang guwantes na may bahid ng dugo bago ito itinapon kay Mauro. He caught it immediately.

"That's it?!" He exclaimed in disbelief.

"Hmm." I nodded once before casually turning my back against him.

Mauro sighed after seeing my mess. Bigla akong may maalala dahilan upang mapahinto ako sa paglalakad.

"Ah, Mauro, don't forget about Cathy," I said and looked over my shoulder to check on Mauro who is still standing in his position-- looking at the two unconscious drunk men who are beaten almost to death because of my temper.

Kaagad na bumaling ang atensyon niya sa akin nang mabanggit ko ang pangalan ng bagong asawa ng ama ni Eveion.

"I want her to hurt so bad more than she hurt Eveion."

"Just like what you did to Candice?" Mauro asked and I shake my head.

"No, let's make a difference this time." Tuluyan ko na itong hinarapan. Nang makita niya ang pag-angat ng isang sulok ng aking labi, alam kong palihim na naman itong napapamura sa kanyang isipan dahil may panibago na naman akong kabaliwan na ipapagawa sa kanya.

"Let's make her crazy and give her the name 'Crazy Cathy'. That suits her." Bigla akong nanabik nang maisip ko iyon.

Mauro closed his eyes and nodded at me as a response.

"Consider it done. young lord." I smiled at him and started to walk back the car after taking a glimpse on Eveion's apartment.

As I turn my back against Mauro, my smile grew wider when I noticed something in Eveion's apartment.

She opened her windows.