Smiles and Untamed Hearts [SC SERIES #3]

Kabanata 3: Life Is A Game

[Zyra's POV]

"What the hell happened here, Suviske?–"

"It's Zyra!" I cut her off without taking my eyes off the lollipops. Binuksan ko ang ibang kahon at napanguso para pigilan ang pagngisi dahil sa satisfaction na nararamdaman. I love lollipops! Especially the rainbow-colored twirly one.

"Where's Ignimus?" Tumayo ako at kikibit-balikat na sana pero naaninag ko siya na pababa na ng hagdan.

"There he is!" Natutuwa kong sagot habang nakaturo sa kanya. Magulo ang kanyang buhok at namimilog ang mga mata habang sinusuri ang palagid.

"Ahm... what happened?"

"I burned down the kitchen," I said and his eyes got even more wider.

"Not again," I heard my cousins whined as they scattered around the house.

"Reese! Lia!"

Napairap ako sa patuloy na pagtawag nila sa mga maids. Nung hindi nila mahanap ay kinakabahang nilapitan ako ni Danilyn.

"Where are the maids?"

"In the quarters."

Lahat sila ay napunta sa maid quarters para siguro pagalitan ang mga maids dahil hindi nila ako napigilan mula sa pagsunog ng kusina.

"Gosh, call the ambulance!"

"Bilis!"

"Ang first aid kit pakiabot."

I heard them screaming at some point pero hindi ko sila pinansin at nagpatuloy sa pagkalat ng mga lollipops.

"Zyra!"

"What?" I asked Danilyn with my third lollipop inside my mouth.

"The maids are severely burned, hindi ka man lang tumawag ng ambulance?!" Gosh, I hate her mouth. Ako lang ang may karapatang sumigaw.

"Do I have to? I thought we're just gonna let them rot?" She groaned in frustration before she headed outside.

"Tulungan mo silang ihatid ang mga kasambahay sa ospital," nakakamot sa kilay na utos ko sa dalawa kong tauhan.

"Did you just literally burned down the entire kitchen?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Castiel nung makahanap siya ng pagkakataong malapitan ako.

"Yeah, it's one of my talents. You know, the arson." I smiled so proudly and his brows furrowed.

"The maids were hurt."

"Exactly!"

Napaawang ang kanyang mga labi bago umiling na parang hindi makapaniwala. Fire is inevitable when I'm around.

"Have we bought some take-outs?" My cousin, Zeek asked his brother, Loid.

"No, may niluto na raw kasi ang mga maids."

"The entire kitchen was burned, Kuya."

"Oh, I bought dinner!" Napatingin silang dalawa sa akin nung sumipot ako sa usapan.

"There's plenty for all of us!" I cheerfully said while pointing out the fifteen box of lollipops.

.

"I can't thank you enough, Danilyn."

"It's okay, Sam. I understand." Dani hugged her so tightly. I don't know why both of them look teary-eyed. Samantha and her husband will be away for just a month. What's the big deal?

"I'm sorry for the trouble today." Danilyn said as she eyed me.

"No, it's fine." Samantha genuinely smiled and it made me pout.

"Are you going to be okay?" Nilapitan ni Samantha ang kanyang anak bago niyakap. Nahihiyang napatango si Castiel sabay yakap din sa kanyang ina.

Samantha and Everest left. Nakalimutan kong pabaunan sila ng lollipops.

"Zyra..." galit na nilapitan ako ni Danilyn.

"What?"

"Ano ang plano mo sa mga lollipops? You had six box last month!"

"Kakainin," I murmured while I was busy finishing off my fifth one. She frustratedly let out a sigh before going back inside.

"Zyra," I heard Colt... my Dad, calling me.

"Yes, Colt?"

"You're not going to change, are you?" Disappointment was visible in his eyes. He looks tired and frustrated the way Danilyn is.

"You want me to?"

He let out a sigh. Napayuko siya saglit bago ako hinarap muli na may tipid na ngiti. "Nah, I love you the way you are." My Dad pulled me into a hug. My heart softened when I felt him kissed the top of my head.

"Go to sleep now." Iyun ang huli niyang sinabi at ginulo ang buhok ko bago sumunod kay Danilyn.

.

It was around nine pm when all the lights inside the house were turned off. Napabuga ako ng hangin bago kinatok si Castiel sa kanyang kwarto.

"Yeah?–"

"Tara na," mabilis kong ani at patakbong bumaba ng hagdan.

"Saan tayo pupunta?" Tanong niya habang nagsusuot ng itim na jacket.

"Maglalaro," sagot ko bago siya hinila papasok ng itim na van.

"Do you always... play?"

"Life is a game, Castiel, and I play every day." I said to him when the car's engine started.

Dalawang van ang palaging nakasunod sa amin sa likod. I actually don't need a lot of guards because there is no threat against me. Ginagamit ko lang ang mga tauhan ko kasi, ano naman ang gagawin ko sa mga taong sobrang dami nang may utang sa 'kin? Kaya naman minsan kahit sa pag-toothbrush sa sarili ay sila pa ang inuutusan ko.

"Hindi ka maglalaro diyan?" Turo ni Castiel sa casino na pinaglaruan namin kagabi nang madaanan namin.

"I can't play in the same casino for twice or more in a row."

"Why?"

"Nalulugi ang casino kaya karamihan sa casino sa bansa ay banned ako," ani ko at tumawa nang malakas. I glanced at him to see his reaction and my smile immediately faded when I saw the hint of entertainment written all over his face.

We arrived in a casino-hotel that just opened last month. The casino gives off the Vegas vibe. Sobrang dami ng lights na kulay puti at pula ang nakapalibot sa edifice and the music... damn, I can't wait to play already!

Madaming tao tulad ng inaasahan. The casino offered all the guests free drinks. There's also free snacks for players.

Panay headbang ako dahil sa sound na super bass na pinapatugtog. Ang mga gaming machines sobrang dami, most of it are claw machines and the 7-slot one.

Napaawang ang labi ko nung makita ko na ang entrance ng Poker Lounge. Malaking pinto iyun na pinapalibutan ng golden lightbulbs.

"Let's go!" Tili ko tsaka kumaripas ng takbo papasok.

I bought chips for two million. Nagulat pa ang teller at dalawang beses pa akong tanong. Kaya naman ininguso ko na lang ang dalawang duffel bag na hawak ng mga tauhan ko. Umawang ang kanyang mga labi bago dahan-dahang tumango.

"H-here are your chips, Ma'am."