Every Game

Chapter 7

Chapter 7: Acceptance

Rocky treated us to a luxurious restaurant. Both Mikael and I refused and suggested a more affordable one but he insisted. We've been to a luxurious restaurant before but not like this one. Halos mapapakain na kami nang ilang linggo ng presyo. But, Rocky being generous... We just nodded.

We've been taught by our parents to act classy even if things are new to us. Hindi ako nahirapan na pakiusapan ang kapatid ko pagdating sa pagkain, mas mukha pa ngang first timer sa amin si Rocky.

I looked up at the grande chandeliers above. Pinunasan ko ang labi ko bago kinuha ang phone ko at kinunan ito ng picture. I smiled as I kept my phone in my pocket.

Naabutan ko ang titig ni Rocky. He just smiled at looked away.

"Whoa." Namilog ang mga mata ni Mikael nang tignan niya ang price ng pagkain namin. "You sure is one hell of a badass guy full of gold in your bank account. This is insane!"

"Mikael... Your words, please?" I glowered at my brother.

Rocky chuckled. "Where do you want to go after this?"

"Home?" I answered, unsure.

Tumingin sa akin ang kapatid ko kaya nginitaan ko siya. Napatango naman ito bago ngumuso.

"Sure? Maaga pa naman," ani Rocky.

"Oh noobs! I need to go home." Niyugyog ako ng kapatid ko. "ASAP, ate. 'Yung sinusubaybayan ko, mag-uumpisa na niyan."

"You can watch it on Youtube---"

"Nah. It takes time before they upload it!"

Napangiwi ako nang mamula na ang mukha ng kapatid ko kaya wala na rin kaming nagawa kung hindi ang agad na lumalabas ng restaurant na 'yon. Sayang lang dahil hindi namin nasulit ang engradeng lugar na 'yon.

"10 minutes before it starts," Mikael counted on the backseat. "It takes 15 minutes before we get home based on the calculation I made earlier. I am such a noob to forget it! Now, I am going to miss one episode."

"Shut up, Kael!" Pigil akong sigawan ito dahil kanina pa siya nagdadabog. "Hindi na kita isasama sa susunod. Mas mahal mo pa ang mga anime na 'yan kaysa sa amin."

"Of course! It entertains me while you bore me only."

Tumawa si Rocky kaya sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. Napatikhim na lang ito bago mas binilisan ang pagmamaneho.

"Ate!"

I bit my lip as I looked outside the window. Oh, gosh. This boy is testing my patience. Ano kaya ang magagawa ko? Sumama-sama pa kasi tapos biglang magdadabog kapag nakaligtaan ang anime.

The moment Rocky's car stopped in front of our house, Mikael waved goodbye and skedaddled the car. Hindi ko pa man nakakalas ang seatbelt sa katawan ko ay nakapasok na siya sa bahay.

"I'm sorry for that," I mumbled.

"Can't blame him. We all have a thing we can't afford to miss." He turned his face to me. May kinuha ito sa kanyang bulsa at inabot 'yon sa akin. "Your prize, partner."

I gulped hard when I felt its thickness. "M-May I ask how much is this?"

"30 Thousand?" Bahagya pang tumaas ang kanyang tingin habang inaalala. "Ah, no. 35 I think. Why?"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Wala sa sariling naibato ko sa kanya ang sobre na may lamang pera.

"T-This is absurd. You think I'll accept that?" I laughed, offended. "Hindi nga ako halos gumalaw sa game. And you treated us to a luxurious resto. I am not that fancy, Rocky."