When The Night Sky Becomes Lively

XIV

"Just kidding. Blue, nine!" Disappointment was displayed on their faces.

Risking to reveal the color switch is necessary. Who knows? Baka pumabor sa'kin ang laban. At saka, hindi naman nila alam ang isa pang card ko. Though, I couldn't be certain. I can only have two moves. Either I place the switch card or the four, blue, first.

"Blue, eight," Rojanie declared, placing her cards.

"Yellow, eight," Matthew retorted.

"Green, eight," Jerome declared.

Shit. Different colors. Kay Phia lang ako aasa. Please, Phia! Just this once, pumabor ka sa'kin!

"Green, seven," Michiko declared.

Doomed. There's no-I forgot that a joker's on me. I can switch the tables to my favor...but...

"Green, one," Sophia declared.

"Pass," I said in a tired robot manner. Agad akong kumuha ng isang card. I received a seven, yellow.

"Pwede mo namang ilapag na 'yung color switch? Why bother picking a card?" Rojanie furrowed her brows.

"I'd rather play safe than be a fool then fall in love to someone who will leave me once I no longer useful to her."

At nanahimik silang lahat. All of them wearing their poker faces. Nagpalitan na lang kami ng tingin. Bruh! Di pa ba kayo sanay?! Pero naiintindihan ko naman na minsan ay naiinis na sila sa mga hugot ko.

I coughed intentionally, breaking the awkward silence I made. Bumalik muli ang tension sa laro. Another round of placing cards and it's Sophia's turn already. Agad naman siyang naglapag ng red, seven na sinundan ko ng aking yellow, seven. And also received a glare from Roja who picked at the deck. Nilapag niya naman ang isang yellow, three.

Sumunod naman ang yellow, four ni Matthew at green four ni Jerome.

"Mag-color switch tayo mga dai. Ilagay natin kay color blue," Michiko declared.

I maintained my poker face despite having my lucky win. I also heard Jerome's scowl, probably because he has no blues. Siguradong titira si Phia ng blue o kaya ay kukuha siya sa deck. At lumabas na ang inaasahan kong blue. Nilapag niya ang isang blue, nine. Agad kong nilapag ang aking blue four at...

"UNO!" I declared.

"Uno!"

"Uno!" Rojanie and Michiko declared a milisecond late. I was really lucky na ako ang unang matatapos. Mabuhay si Phia.

I motioned my arms like waves, as if they're being animated like curves and mischievously giggled. So that's it. As I received a glare from Roja and a threat of FO from Sophia, I declared in my thoughts.

My victory has been secured.

****

After a sumptous meal of sunny-side up eggs, pancit canton and rice(courtesy of me frying the eggs), niligpit namin ang pinagkainan at pumunta sa kusina. Well, I must say that I'm somehow confident sa way ko ng pagluluto...sa itlog.

Simple lang ang design nito at medyo monochrome, 'yung tipong may ibang parte na hindi na pininturahan at walang renollium ang sahig. Hinugasan naman nina Rojanie at Michiko ang mga plato.

Habang nag-uusap sila tungkol sa mga movies ay nakasandal lang ako sa pader at binuksan ang Messenger. Agad kong pinindot ang isang convo na hindi ko inaasahang susulpot. Ang convo namin ni Alcantara.

I entertained the idea of ghosting her, but that would leave a bad aftertaste. Baka makasaktan siya if I ghost her. She's still a human despite being a yakuza heiress.