Tequila's POV
Day's passed and everything is working well. Tinupad ni Vino ang mga pangako niya sa amin. He is holding our business at tinatambakan niya ng pera.
Well, he will marry my son sooner or later that is why I did not hesitate to accept his offer. Honestly, I love Vino. Gustong-gusto ko talaga siya because I can see myself in him which I don't see at my children.
He is brave, strong. Oh, not just strong; he is very powerful just like me. I bet, no one can take him down even our new enemy.
Ang kaso lang, I can also see his weakness. He is longing for family. Kitang-kita ko sa mga mata niya kung gaano siya kasabik na magkaroon ng pamilya and we have what he wanted.
Tingin ko, 'yun din ang dahilan kaya patay na patay siya kay Soju. It is all because my son has a family that he is dreaming of.
It is my main reason to trust him. Ramdam ko na hindi siya babaliktad sa amin as long as we are treating him as our family. Kailangan lang iparamdam namin sa kanya na totoong pamilya niya kami and everything will be fine.
Ang problema, Gin is still doubting him. I think he will never trust Vino. It looks like he is so jealous of Vino. Nag-iinarte na naman yata si Gin.
Right now, I am preparing for my game tonight. I really have to relax. Maglalaro ako sa casino.
Honestly, Vino offered to give me money but I refused. Baka kasi isipin niya na pineperahan namin siya kahit 'yun naman talaga ang nangyayari hahahah. I just need to use my remaining money.
I just put on my lipstick...
Sinuot ko na rin ang korona na binigay sa akin ni Vino. It fits perfectly on my head!
Everything went bad this month but someone is fixing it for me. Si Vodka, mukhang na-trauma talaga sa nangyari sa kanya.
Right now, we can't still figure out who did this. Ang sabi ni Gin, siya ang bahala na alamin kung sino ang gumagawa nito sa amin.
I can't ask for Vino's help because he is too busy fixing our businesses and properties. Ayokong biglain siya at baka ma-turn off siya sa pamilya namin. I will just let him do what he wanted.
Sooner or later, he will be our protector or shield. Siya ang ipang-babangga ko sa mga kalaban namin.
Bumaba na ako ng hagdan. Everything is ready tonight. I just have to enjoy and relax after what happened to us.
"Mom, you have an appointment this evening?" Gin asked.
"Yeah, I will relax at the casino tonight. Why? Did you get already the information that we need?"
He is shaking his head slowly...
I just rolled my eyes. What took him so long? Bakit hanggang ngayon, wala pa rin kaming clue kung sino ang may pakana nito?
"Everything is clueless. Nililinis lahat ng pwedeng ebidesya. It looks like someone planned this very well."
"Or you are not just doing it right," inis 'kong sagot.
"M-Mom, I'm doing everything that I can but trust me! Everything is clueless! Parang sanay na sanay sa ganito kung sino man ang may kagagawan ng lahat!"
I just looked away...
"Someone must have a great power to play with us like this," I whispered.
"Or that someone is so close to us."
I glared at him...
"Why are you still doubting him?"
He did not answer because I know that it is just his feeling. Wala siyang sapat na rason para pagdudahan si Vino.
"Listen, you have to try trusting him. Know him better. You'll realize how much he is helping us," I said.
"That's it, he is helping us too much and that is why I am doubting him."
Napahawak na lang ako sa sintido...
"My gosh, Gin! Try to look at our opportunity! What do you think his reason for loving Soju and for helping us in this situation?" I asked him.
He is just looking at me like an idiot who didn't know the answer. I don't want to ruin my mood pero kaunti na lang, mahahampas ko na siya.
"It's because he wanted a family!"
Nagulat siya sa lakas ng boses ko...
"Now, tell me honestly your reason for doubting him!" I said.
"He is too mysterious. I can't take full research about him. Everything about him are hidden."
"It's because he is a very private person! He doesn't want anyone to research about him!" I said.
"And that is the reason why Rum died. He is researching about your enemy, Queen Marga!"
Nabigla ako sa sinabi niya. He has a point right now. Maybe, it's true that Rum died because of researching about that woman.
"The researches about Queen Marga went missing. She could be the reason behind the murder of Rum," he said.
He is right...
"I also asked Vodka. She is in trauma but she told me that the person behind this is an evil woman."
So, that Margarita could be our real enemy? Why is she doing this?
I mean, what have we done to her? Hindi ko siya matandaan. Hindi ko pa siya nakikilala noon so I don't know her reason for doing this to us.
"You see? She is a suspect! If she is our enemy, Vino could be her ally!"
"Why? Because both of them came from China?"
He nodded...
"That is too racist of you, Gin! Alam mo naman na halos lahat sa business community ay Chinese! That is a very brat way of doubting him!" I said.
He just looked away...
"I don't really like him," he whispered in the air but I heard it.
"You are just so jealous of him because I like him more than you."
Nabigla siya dahil sa sinabi ko. Well, it is nothing but the truth. I just started walking away. Sige lang, magduda ka sa kanya hangga't gusto mo.
"Do your best in researching about our enemy and maybe I will be proud of you soon," I said while walking away.
Umalis na ako...
I just need to relax right now. I just went inside my car. Gin is right. That Chinese woman could be our real enemy. She could be the main reason behind this.
The problem is, we are not yet sure. We don't have a solid evidence.
Everything is just under our speculations. I never thought that this will be very hard for us. I just clenched my fists.
I will make them pay!
Wala akong ititira sa kahit na sinong involved sa ginawa nilang paninira sa pamilya ko! I will definitely kill all of them!
I went at the most luxurious casino in the country! The Castillo Royalty! I'm so excited to play! I heard that the owner of this casino is the cousin of Hibiki Castillo.
Well, I wish I could meet him personally. Baka nga na-meet ko na siya but I just didn't know him. The truth is, I don't greet people who don't greet me first.
This casino is my favorite place!
I really love enjoying in this luxurious casino! I'm so excited to play! I just went inside a room and I saw my amigas!
We started playing while chatting...
"Oh, how are you Tequila?"
"We love that crown!" They said.
"It's a gift from a very close friend."
"It must be very hard for your family to cope up because of what happened to your businesses."
I just rolled my eyes...
"We have other sources of wealth. What happened to our businesses are completely nothing!" I said.
"We heard that your son is having a good time with Vino. Is it true?"
I just smirked...
"Yeah! They look so cute together!"
"Hindi ba medyo off? They are both guys, right?"
I just rolled my eyes...
"Come on, homophobia is not a trend nowadays! Matatanda na lang siguro ang homophobic ngayon. Why? Are you homophobic? Oh gosh, that is too old hahahhah," I said.
"N-No! Of course we're not!"
I put down my cards and I won! Hahahah I really love playing this!
Alam na alam ko rin kung paano sila paikutin. Napakadali nilang pag-laruan. Sometimes, people in high class are so easy to play with.
A moment later, the door opened...
"May I join the game?"
I looked back and I saw a devil...
A Chinese woman in red dress with matching red lipstick. Umupo siya sa harapan ko. I just looked at her.
Suot niya rin ang korona na nakuha niya sa auction! Mabuti na lang at suot ko ang korona na binigay sa akin ni Vino!
"Oh, you are Queen Margarita, right? It's so nice meeting you!" My amigas said.
"Nice to meet you too! So, is this your game, tonight?" She asked while getting the chips.
"Yes!" They answered.
She looked directly into me...
"I'll show you how it's played..."
I clenched my fists! Ikaw talagang babae ka! Humanda ka sa akin! I will beat you in any game that you know!
We started playing the game and she put on all of her chips. Nabigla kaming lahat sa ginawa niya.
"Y-You are putting all of that?" My amiga asked her.
"Of course! Why? This is a game, right? Don't tell me that you are afraid to lose your chips!" She said while laughing like an evil queen.
"Of course not!" I said while putting all of my chips.
She smirked at me...
Binigyan na kami ng mga baraha. Oh, I feel so lucky tonight! I will definitely win this game. This is so bad for you, Margarita!
"I heard that your businesses were burned down together," she said.
"Someone gave the order," I said.
Nagkatinginan na lang kaming dalawa. She is just looking at me with her emotionless face.
"I think that person is so mad at you," she said while smirking.
Sobrang inaasar niya talaga ako. Sige, mukha namang ikaw ang uuwing luhaan mamaya.
"Maybe that person is here," I said.
Nagkatinginan tuloy ang mga amiga ko sa isa't-isa so I laughed.
"Or maybe not hahahah."
They put down their cards and I smirked. I already won this game.
Kaming dalawa na lang ni Margarita ang may hawak ng baraha. It's my turn so I put down my cards. I just smiled at her.
She looks so anxious and she cleared her throat. I want to laugh really hard. Alam ko na talo na siya.
"Come on, put down your cards!"
She looked at me and she put down her cards. Talo na nga siya hahahah. Kinuha ko na lahat ng chips.
I already know how to win this game. Hindi niya ako kayang talunin.
"How about a rematch?" She asked.
I laughed...
"You want to lose one more time?"
She laughed also...
"Only if you can," she said.
Talagang mayabang siya. Akala mo naman may maibubuga hahahah.
Binalik ko lahat ng chips...
"Oh, that is yours! That is too boring! How about this one?" She said while removing her crown and placing it at the table.
I smirked...
It is my chance to get your crown!
"You are a queen and so am I!"
Nilagay ko rin ang korona na binigay sa akin ni Vino sa table. It is sapphire versus ruby. I'll take your crown and I'll show you who is the true queen.
Kaming dalawa lang ang naglaro. Nanunuod lang sa amin ang mga amiga ko. She looks like an idiot putting patternless set of cards.
After a moment I put down my last set of cards. I looked at her and she looks so anxious again. It looks like she is about to cry hahahah.
"Come on, show them that I won..."
Natatawa na ako sa kanya. Her face is so hilarious! After a second, she smiled at me like a psycho!
"I just showed you what your face will look like after this," she said while putting down her cards.
S-She won? It can't be!
She started laughing like an evil queen! She started wearing back her crown! Hindi pwede na kunin niya rin ang korona ko!
Kukunin na sana niya ang korona ko pero kinuha ko na bigla.
"I'll buy this again!" I said.
"That is not for sale," she answered.
Nagkatitigan na lang kami. I want to slap her! Nanginginig ang mga kamay ko habang nakatitig sa kanya. Gusto 'kong isaksak sa leeg niya ang korona.
"Ok, it doesn't look good if I take the crown of my fellow queen just like what I did many times before. You know the price of my crown from the auction."
"What do you mean?"
"Bayaran mo 'yung halaga ng pinusta ko sa larong ito o kukunin ko 'yang korona mo!" She said seriously.
"But it is worth a billion!" My amigas said like an idiot.
"I prefer to get your crown," she said.
I clenched my fists while holding my crown. I shouldn't give what she wanted! Hindi pwede na makuha niya ang korona ko!
A billion pesos is huge because I am still recovering from loss of my businesses. If I give her my crown, it will look like that I'm not worthy as a queen and Vino might get mad at me because I lost his gift.
I don't have a choice!
Kumuha ako ng cheque sa bag at sinulat ko ang halaga ng kailangan niya. Halos isampal ko sa kanya ang pera ko.
She started smiling while receiving my money. Kinuha niya ang phone niya at may tinawagan siya. Naka-loud speaker pa.
"Good evening, Queen Marga! This is Great Love orphanage!"
"Oh, I know that it's late night but I have a very good news for you!"
She looked at me...
"I have a billion pesos donation for your orphanage. I'll send it right away."
Biglang nagtilian ang nasa phone kaya pinatay na niya. She is just looking at me while smiling.
S-She just donated that amount of money? Is she insane or something?
"I don't take money from gambling..."
"And so?" I asked her.
"In layman's term, I am not like you!"
I can't hold it anymore!
"Kanina ka pa! What do you mean by that, huh? You will pay for doing this to me! Itatak mo ito sa utak mo! I will make you pay!" I said.
She just laughed at me...
"You are so mad... Sorry, I can't get mad to people like you," she said.
"People like me? What do you think of me, huh?" Inis 'kong sabi.
She is just holding back her laugh and it is very annoying! Gustong-gusto ko na siyang sampalin! Ipapatumba na kitang babae ka!
I will cut your head as my trophy!
She is still holding back her laugh...
"Are you insulting me?"
She took a deep breath and she started looking at me from head to foot. What the!
"Do not compare my personality to your dirty quality!"
Napatayo ako bigla sa sinabi niya at sasampalin ko na siya. I'm about to slap her face but she caught my hand.
"Slapping my face won't make you reach my level! I'll send you where you truly belong!"
Bigla niya akong sinampal ng sobrang lakas kaya natumba ako sa sahig.
"You belong to the ground because you are just a lowly person!"
She looks so serious! She is a monster!
"There is only one queen because I slay my own kind!"
She started walking away from me. My amigas tried to help me stand up but I pushed them away.
Pinahiya mo na naman ako! This is the last thing that you do this to me! Mamamatay ka na!
Umalis na ako sa casino and I went directly into my car. I started shaking because of rage! Ipatutumba ko na siya. Wait, I will torture her first!
Pahihirapan ko siya sa lahat ng ginawa niya sa akin!
I lost a billion because of her! Ayokong umuwi na nauubos ang pera ko! Pinaglaruan niya ako!
I burst in tears because of rage. Sinubukan ko na tawagan si Vino and he answered. I want to meet him in his mansion.
Papunta na ako sa kanya. His mansion is so huge just like what we have!
I can notice the golden designs from his mansion. Sobrang laki! I never expected that he is living in this kind of place. It looks like a dark palace!
I went inside and he is sitting in a throne! He looks like a king!
I noticed that he is holding a Mexican black kingsnake. He smiled when he looked at me. Lumapit na siya sa akin.
I'm about to kiss him pero muntikan na akong tuklawin ng pet niya. Napaatras tuloy ako bigla.
"Oh, sorry about that! Ayaw kasi niya sa ibang tao. Alfonso is only listening to me."
"It's name is Alfonso? Cool! You must be very special that is why you can tame it," I said.
"I think this beautiful snake knows who is the true king," he said.
We smiled at each other...
"Oh wait, your cheek is reddish! What happened to you, mom?" Nag-aalala niyang tanong.
"It's just an allergy, don't worry!"
"An allergy? It looks like someone slap your face really hard!"
Nag-aalala siya sa akin...
"I told you, it's just an allergy!" I said.
"I'll call my servants to buy meds for you. Gosh, I'm too worried!" He said.
"Don't worry too much! Uminom na ako ng gamot. I'll be fine," I said.
"You are wearing the crown that I gave you. It looks perfect on you!"
"Yeah, because I'm a queen!"
"You! Are no queen to me!"
Nabigla ako dahil sa sinabi niya. His face is too serious while looking at me. Anong ibig sabihin nito?
"What do you mean by that?"
Nakatitig lang siya sa akin...
"It's because you are a goddess!"
Nagtawanan na lang kami dahil sa sinabi niya. Akala ko naman kung ano na dahil sobrang seryoso niya.
"Mom, why do you want to see me this late night?" He asked.
I took a deep breath...
"I really need your help," I said.
"Come on, what is it?"
He is helping us too much! I can't ask money from him. Lalabas na inaabuso ko ang kabutihan niya.
"Can you lend me a money? I'll pay for it soon! I just really need it right now."
"How about selling me a property? That would be better," he said.
"What property?" I asked.
"Your mansion..."
My mansion?
He wanted my mansion?
I am just looking at him and he is just smiling at me. He started laughing.
"Come on, it will always be your mansion. Doon pa rin kayo titira but I just want to take the ownership for Soju. I will give the ownership to him on our wedding as a gift."
Oh, 'yun pala ang plano niya...
"Obviously, alam ko na ipapamana mo sa isa sa mga anak mo ang mansion. Honestly, I don't want Gin or even Vodka to get the ownership. I can build another mansion for Soju but I cannot buy the memories that he had at your mansion that is why I want to take it for him."
In that case, wala akong nakikitang masama kung bilhin niya ang mansion ko.
"Ok, if that is what you wanted..."
"You'll never regret this, mom..."