Chapter 29: The Game of Life

After the show, some guests were dancing on the dance floor where I spotted Danielle Gustilo and Ryan Mallari. I controlled my anger that Vivian noticed it and asked, "What's the matter, Marco?"

"Those people....they're bad...looks at them!"

"Ryan and the woman wearing apple green dress?"

"Yes."

"Ryan's our friend, isn't it?"

"Yes....before, but now, I have to do what I can do..."

"Glenda's around here too?"

"No, he's only using her.....I think."

I saw Ryan go to the comfort room where I stood instantly, and followed him while Vivian was behind me. When he was inside the comfort room, I entered, punched him continuously and he hit me back. We fought each other hand-to-hand when suddenly the two CIDs wearing casual clothing halted us. We were brought to the patrol car and detained at Murraqabat Police Station. We're inside the prison cell with the other four detainees without saying a word to each other.

The next morning around ten in the morning, Ronnie and Roger visited me at the Police Station.

"Marco, how are you...just arrived from Al Ain....what happened?" Roger said.

"Just... a misunderstanding with my friend Ryan," I answered.

"Sir Marco, Vivian called me about this matter and I reported to Mr. Gamal....he said, he'll come here to transact with the police," Ronnie said to me.

Danielle together with a local man appeared in the receiving area where she was seated in the chair one meter away from us. She looked at us and I looked at her straight in the eyes. She averted her gaze to me towards the police officer and the local guy talking to each other. After the transaction, they signed the papers, and Ryan Mallari was brought outside the cell. They left together while Ryan mimics me.

Roger and Ronnie saw them leave, said goodbye to me, and left too. After an hour, Mr. Gamal arrived with my passport and other documents. He talked to the police officer, signed the papers and we left heading to Sharjah to our main office.

"What happened to you, Mr. Fernando?"

"Sorry sir....it's just a misunderstanding."

"You know that you gave a bad image to our company!"

"Sir again, sorry."

"Okay, signed this paper as a warning for you."

"Okay sir I'll sign that, thank you."

I went home to my flat feeling tired and lonely. I called one of my staff to ask about the status of the store operation.

"How's the operation?"

"Smooth operation sir."

"I'll extend my day-off until today, kindly manage the operation. If you want something, I'm here in my room, okay?"

"Okay, I'll do that sir."

"Thank you."

I slept the whole day to refresh my mind about the latest happenings that I encountered in the past months. Those nightmares that I experienced kept my emotions to erupt anytime without warning. The troubled water deep down within me continued to flow like the river of everlasting agony. I had subdued some facets of my challenging entity here in this world but until when? ....For my life was dependent enough on my courage to survive and to challenge the deepest feelings that I could muster when times were roughed.

I woke up the next morning feeling refreshed to take my store duty; took an early bath, cooked breakfast while listening to my favorite music, and rearing to face the challenges ahead of me.

"Hi, sir Marco good morning!" Joel greeted me in the dining area.

"Hello Joel, you surprise me, when did you come here?"

"I was hired by the Golf Club Company and was here three weeks ago."

"Yes, Roger Ferrer was hired by our company and he's in the office right now in Sharjah."

"Did you meet Ryan Mallari?'

"Yes, and it's a bad experience for him."

"Are you related to him?"

"No Marco, just a friend in Bacolod City...my ambitious friend."

"I see, give me your contact number, so that I can call you anytime."

"Joel, I can't stay for long here in the flat, I have a duty...come with me to the store, it's walking distance."

"Okay then, let's go!"

Joel Arevalo and I walked a block away going to the store I immediately checked the stocks, staff, and the whole store as a whole. Joel sat in the dining area section where I offered him a breakfast of hamburgers, fries, and brewed coffee.

"So, how's your new job?" I asked.

"It's good and really exciting to be with my co-workers."

"Great to know that Joel...."

"Eat your breakfast first...."

When Danielle Gustilo appeared suddenly at the front door and went to where I stood beside Joel. "What you want?" I asked angrily.

"I want to talk to you, Marco."

"What about?"

"My son, my boy that you got from me!"

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yes, I'm sure because the authorities discovered your whereabouts when you took him!"

"And, what about my boy, I'm sure too, that you took it.....where is he!" I shouted.

"Can we talk this outside Marco.....please?"

"And why you hired my friends to make my life miserable, huh!!" I held her left arm tightly and her facial expression got showed up in pain.

"Marco, please, can we talk outside...please?"

"I'm on duty and I need money for my family back home....don't disturb me here, okay!!"

"Marco....please....please...not here, I need to talk to you personally."

"Okay.....where?" I asked, but I don't know why.

"In my rest house, along the Jumeirah beach near Spinney's Supermarket....please Marco..."

"Okay, when?"

"Are you available this evening?"

"Why evening?"

"You're on duty here morning and I thought this evening will do?"

"Okay."

"What time?"

"Seven in the evening."

"You know this man Danielle...Joel Arevalo?" I asked sarcastically.

"Yes Marco, I knew him in Bacolod City."

"Then, tonight, have all my questions be answered by you...you feel me?"

"Yes, Marc I will."

"Okay go...go...!"

"Thank you, Marc, for waiting for you in my rest house." Danielle went outside the store, walked toward her car, and drove off.

"Joel, sorry for that...." I said.

"Okay, no problem...she's the one who masterminds Marco and hoping for the best this evening friend." Another visitor that surprised me at that moment's Arnold Castillano.

"Good morning Marco!" He said wondering why.

"Yes good morning to my friend.... how are you today?"

"I'm fine and glad that the hotel issued my visa....it's under processing right now."

"Great of you!"

"Who is he?" Arnold asked.

"Ahh, sorry, Arnold Castillano this is Joel Arevalo from Bacolod City too. You're from Negros Occidental isn't it?"

"Yes, Joel, nice to meet you."

"Nice Arnold, pleased to meet you too."

"Arnold have a seat, join Joel for his breakfast. What do you like, burger, fried chicken or pasta?"

"On the house Marco my friend?"

"Yes!"

"Wait here I'll order your meal."

My staff served Arnold a meal while I stood at the counter thinking about Ayah Isabel and my lost son. Arnold and Joel happily ate their food, said goodbye to me, and left together.

XXX

The darkness of the night along the Jumeirah Beach area condoned my feelings to be resentful with my emotions to behave sporadically. It was not a matter of choice, but a weakness deep inside of me that cannot be changed while I encouraged myself to fight for it. Even the angels in heaven cannot understand why this was happening to me.

The self-resilient character that I can muster conformed to my inner feelings to explode once it was moved by my own conviction to fall. Nevertheless, I had to play the games in my own way and not for anybody else, even Danielle.

I disembarked in a taxi cab and looked around for Danielle but nowhere to be found. I stood in front of Spinney's Supermarket waiting for her to appear. The cold and windy weather touched my being as it etched into my skin.

I spotted her at the other side of the road waving her hands to me, which I hastily closed to her. She touched her warm palm into mine while looking at me, adjusting her notion of whether I am in or not. I released my hand, followed her inside the bungalow house, and seated her on a sofa. The magic of her wand controlled me while she prepared for drinks.

"It's cold outside, isn't it Marc?" She began her poisonous line. "I think you need a drink or food maybe?"

I didn't answer, only looking at her. I composed my strength to be with the tide, for which I didn't know where to stop.

"I need a strong wine or something, do you have Absolut vodka?"

"Yes I have, a moment please Marc."

She gave me a bottle of vodka, different fruit juices, a bucket of ice cubes, and a transparent glass on the table in front of me.

"Marc, that's enough or you want something else?"

"This is fine and thank you. Help yourself if you want."

"I have my own.....just a minute, I'll get it in the bar." She came back with a bottle of Jose Cuervo Tequila, sliced lemon, salt, and a frozen glass. "Here's mine," while she arranged it on the table.

I looked into her eyes with a feeling of contentment when I am with her. I felt secure financially and emotionally when she was around me. I can sense her aura that bewitched me a long time ago; it rose to the highest mountain and deep into the ocean. It awakened my desire to explore her again, deeply, into the core of her being.

"I came here for our deal this morning, not for anything else, understood?" I said with a sarcastic tone.

She dropped her eyes to the glass she was holding, sipped a little, and said, "Okay Marc, I understood, then, you can start your question....but before that, I want to know...if you're cool enough not to make a noise because the authorities are patrolling outside."

"Okay, I will." I drank another mix of vodka, then refilled with a new one. The spirit of alcohol added to my vague disposition on how to deal with this strong woman. I had to do what was to be done on my own terms. "I have to repeat this, I'm sure that you took my boy, and why?" I started with a question. "And, please, I need truth and nothing else, period. Answer me truthfully, that's all I need."

"Marco because... I love you ever since and until now."

"And why you wanted Ayah Isabel to be miserable....and taking our baby?"

"She agreed with our conditions....that I had to pay all her damages...I mean financial matters."

"Why you wanted the baby?"

"Because it's your baby...I wanted a baby coming from you, Marco?"

"Are you married now?"

"No, Marco, I'm still single because of you."

"Why me?"

"Because I love you so much."

"Nobody touched you since I left you"

"No.....nobody, because this body of mine is for you alone."

"So, you wanted me so much....even I'm away.....even with my wife....even you're alone in the night?"

"Yes....yes Marco!"

"Why you hired these people to put me down?"

"Because.... you married Ayah Isabel, instead of me."

"Why, my heart can't choose whom to love?"

"Marco, I trusted you that you love me, and I hold on to that notion because that's what I felt for you."

"In Bacolod City, somebody wanted to kill Edward....and myself at his restaurant....who's behind those shootings?"

"I don't know about that matter?"

"The truth!"

"That's the truth, Marco."

"Where's my boy right now?" Staring at her through her eyes.

"And, where's my boy that you kidnapped?"

"Answer me!!" I shouted.

"In the Philippines....he's fine and healthy."

"And, where's my boy Marco?"

"I'll tell you if you're telling the truth, if not..."

"Marco, please..."

"No!"

"I have a proposition for you....or I should say an agreement if you want."

"What is it?"

"Say what you want; money, business, property or anything you like as long as you share yourself to me...to have children with you....anything...everything...even my life.....I'll give it to you, Marco," while tears slowly falling down her cheeks. I sized her up of the truthfulness of what she said, then, drank another shot. If I cannot get my son with this kind of agreement, I thought, that it's better to change my tactics with Danielle. This way I could use her totally from A to Z again. "Can you serve double shot of tequila for me...," as I wiped her tears with my right hand which she held at once.

"Yes, sure Marc."

"Great!"

"In the Sheraton Hotel, I said you're alone to meet me, why you're not following our deal?"

"I thought you're with somebody...I don't trust you that much."

"You trust me now?"

"Yes, I do."

"Okay, just give me a month to decide, can you wait for me without saying anything to anybody, on your side, on my side, this is just between the two of us....but don't engage with anybody. If you fail to follow my instructions, our deal will not materialize."

"Yes Marc, I'll do it."

"Listen very carefully, you have to stay here in Dubai, even you have businesses in the Philippines. You have to stay in the manpower office in Al Maktoum Street. Removed Ryan Mallari, fired him....while I'm working with my job in Al Fahidi Street. For a start, provide me with the latest mobile phones and one hundred thousand dirhams on my bank account, that's it....for now. Can you do that Danielle?"

"Yes Marco, I'll do it tomorrow."

"I'll track you in your cell phone, so, keep it handy always."

"Yes Marc, I'll do everything you said, because I love you."

"Good...."

I kissed her lips with fire and said, "Will you love me until death Danielle?"

"Yes, I do."

"We have time for this...not now, work it out tomorrow, I have to leave now. Thank you."

"Marc, you kidnapped our son..."

"What do you mean?"

"The boy that you kidnapped in Greenhills was your son. When you left me in Bacolod City, I'm pregnant with you Marco, but I kept it's a secret from your side. Just now, that I have the courage to say this matter to you."

"Ohhh, come on, are you serious?" I was surprised by what I heard.

XXX