GAMBLE: Rule of Cards

CHAPTER 32

“HOW IS Paul and Sandra?” Denton mumbled as he placed his hand on Sandra’s forehead. Both Paul and Sandra were on two separate beds, still unconscious. For all that is confused of what is happening, Dennis brought them back to the real world, far from the game venue and on where they were from before the game happened. How does that happen? Dennis will explain it later. “They were shot on vital points, that must be why they are still unconscious until now. They really wanted everybody to die during the elimination since they want only the winner to survive alone.”

Dennis cleared his throat. “Both Sandra and Paul were shot on vital points, as you said, because the game master wants them dead. Fortunately, I was able to get them from the disposal room and bring them back here, like what I did to Jannah,” Dennis explained. “Jannah was not critical when I brought her here. She has merely blood on the tummy and with that, I asked her what happened. She said she put something on her tummy to block the bullet to enter her body. That was smart of her to do so. The two, Sandra and Paul, were stable now, said the doctor that I personally know. I literally learned first-aid just to save you and your friends.”

“Well, technically, you made it. You saved all of my friends inside the game,” Denton muttered as he placed his arm wrapping around Dennis’ shoulders and when he had a chance, he messed Dennis’ hair. “You did well, Dennis. You risked your life for me and for that, I was thankful. However, you have a lot to explain to me. Let’s talk.”

After he told Dennis to go out of the room and meet him in the living room, Dennis went to Jannah and told him something. “I know how much you hated being commanded but this is a request,” Dennis said as he grabbed pieces of bills inside his pocket. “Can you please get us food and drinks, so we’ll have a proper welcoming for my brother being back to us? Please…”

Jannah grabbed the bills and nodded. “You do not have to lie to me. Just say that you two will have a heart-to-heart talk with each other, and you do not want me to hear it. You can just say that and I will still follow, though. This is still you house…” And, she walked out of the house.

“Jannah has always been like that. When I first knew her, she was really stubborn. The thought of entering my team never crossed her mind, unless I started moving to get her in my team,” Denton replied. He looked at Dennis who smiled upon hearing a story about Jannah. “Now, can you stop smiling and start with all the explaining that you must do. I am super curious how you knew that I was going to enter that game. I need explanations, now, Dennis.”

“You know, Kuya, I keep track of you, especially because you told me that you will be out looking for money for Denise’s medical expenses. I located where were you and just found out that you went to a lone island, which I followed and got a chance to enter after acting as if I was a guard,” Dennis initiated his explanation. “When I got the chance to enter the game, I was first assigned in the disposal room, where I dispose the eliminated players like they are bubbles who popped, no signs of existence at all. After some time, when something happened inside the disposal room, I was switched to guarding the players, but I am not assigned to eliminate players. That is when I looked for a possible chance to talk to you. I realized that it will be much better if I will never tell you my identity as it might affect your performance inside the game. I was that one guard who always checked on you. I was that guard who you always meet in the infirmary.”

Denton nodded. “You are the lost guard, right? Where did you stay inside the game?”

“You know that one hole inside the infirmary, right? That is where I stayed, but after you discovered that, it seemed that it can have another purpose. That is why I always patch the hole after you wreck it, so that nobody between us gets to be identified,” he explained. “My life there was very hard and chaotic, I stayed there like I was illegal to do so. I stayed there even though they are massively looking for me just so I could protect you, kuya. I was really worried about you in the last round. I was really worried that I cannot save you in the last round, because the loser of the last round will be eliminated in a different room, and they will, for sure, make sure that the loser is dead before they cremate them or they will cremate them alive.”

“You definitely did a good job, Dennis… but, I would not want you to do that again, to risk your life once again, just for me. I am older than you, Dennis, and it is my responsibility to be the father of this family after our parents died,” Denton replied. “Fortunately, I got to win the last round and win these luggage of money here. I am kind of complaining why they did not just give me the check of my winnings.”

Jannah entered the house with a lot of things on her arms. “So, you really won the whole game, old man?” Jannah asked Denton who was surprised after hearing Jannah’s voice entering the scene. Jannah placed the foods and beverage on the table and went onto where the siblings are. Without further ado, Jannah opened a luggage and was surprised to see millions of money in there. “You really won the game, huh? I thought you have the lowest chance of winning individually because you are better at teamplay.”

“This is a lot of money, kuya,” Dennis mumbled as he looked at the pile of money inside the luggage his brother brought home. He started counting a whole pile of bills and was really excited to know how much the whole money is worth. “How much is the whole prize? Where are you going to use this?”

“The prize money is a total of twenty million dollars. I used a hundred dollar for a taxi to the hospital where Denise is admitted and towards here,” Denton replied. “You know where I will use it. The primary reason why I joined that competition is for me to find a money that I will use to pay for my daughter’s medical expenses. Since this is too much for me, I think I will be using some to build a house and build a business for myself. It has been a dream for me to become an owner of a big venture and I think it will most probably happen now that I have a lot of money. Some will be put back to my savings for Donna and Denise’s academics. Also, I will help Jannah, Paul and Sandra with their lives. I promise them that I will help them once I win the game. I think it will be easier to put it that way. I think I can live with that already.”

“Nice plan, kuya. Well, at least, if you make your own business, your money will circulate and that will most probably make you richer than now,” Dennis told his brother. Dennis looked at Denton who was thinking hard about something during that time. “Speaking of business and ventures, what business do you want to make?”

“I want to make a business about something close my heart,” Denton replied which made Dennis nod in agreement. Even Jannah smiled to what Denton has muttered that exact moment. “You know how much I loved gamble, right? Loved, because it was a part of the past already. If you think I’d make a casino or a gambling place, it’s a no. What inspired me when I came inside the game were the materials. I would like to make a business who creates high quality gamble materials such as poker cards and things like that. Gamble, for sure, is the primary reason why I entered the game… but gamble is also the reason why I won the game. It might not be bad but my ability in gambling is a great factor why I survived and still breathing the same air as you two.”

“I agree with that. That must be one of the main reason why you won that last round. It’s either you are too good with that or you are too lucky to be winning this prize and the rest of the game,” Jannah muttered. “You sure deserved this after all the thing that happened. That Hector guy was really a hindrance to your success but you still overcame that. How I hope that Paul and Sandra gets to wake up sooner so we’ll celebrate your victory together.”