Play the game

"Here we are again walking down the street under the full moon, Cassandra, how is the work?" I heard Nicky asking, I faced my way and she is, I felt the cold wind touches my body and it shakes me. "It's okay, Both happy and unhappy," I said.
"Lately, I noticed that you'd been so quiet, What's wrong?"
"Huh? nothing, it's just...Uncertain feeling."
"But you are pretty much good at talking so loud, Then suddenly you will act like that, tell me, is there is something wrong?"
She asked. I bite my lower lips and tighten my hands that handle the laces of my bag. It's already 4:23 in the morning and the moon shines on its whole. Looking so beautiful and captivating but something, there is something in that, that makes me feel cold and bitter. The darkness of the streets that re not supported by the lights from the lampost looking frightening but there is something more frightening than it, the lost, left hanging on, Without any words, without hesitation, leaving through the darkness and there is the one you love, making himself free from your love without asking for your opinions and decision.
"Hey, I am near to my apartment, how are you? Can you go home by yourself?" I heard her voice asking. The twigs of the bamboo trees standing so high in the sides of the road dancing on their own and making sounds when the cold wind blows so hard the yellow dim lights, and shadow of me standing in awe, still hanging can only be seen in this area, no one is here and only me, and Nicky...who is now unlocking her apartment's door, "psst! Are you okay? It's okay if you want to sleep here for a while and Go back to your home before going to school, you want?" She stated standing right to her wooden door waiting for my response. I look around and noticed that there is no one still in the streets, "no, Thanks for offering, but...I think I can go home safely, you know it's my daily routine right?" I asked. Still, my hands are tightly holding the laces of my pack bag because of the coldness brought by the winds. "Are you sure?" She asked. I nodded, there is no words wanted my tongue to spill out, "is your jacket keeping you warm?" Once again, I heard her asking. I look down at my worsened jacket and nodded. Even it's not enough to warm me, "okay, if that's the case, I will go now, bye! See you hereafter to school." She said and went inside, I watch her slowly push the door and lock it inside when its doorknob move aside, I know that it has been locked by her. Gently looking down facing my way, I am still wearing heels, And I heard its sound when I walk. I gave out a heavy sigh, wolf moon is amazing, on its enormous round shining brightly knowing that it will go down early when the sun started to give life for another day. I'm freezing, it's freaking cold. Step, walk, and almost run just to come home early, I hope there is no danger waiting for me while walking."Shit, this cold weather," I uttered. I remember what Nicky said to me lately when we are in school, about the child who got raped and killed by a man, here in their place, but I hope there is still a CCTV camera here to become my evidence whenever I go missing. This overthinker mind is a freak. but, that man I've seen that night when I am walking through the home, that shadow and that person which is kneeling the man, their shadow, and that man who kissed me in my neck, and that tomorrow morning that they found out, there is someone played down the street and got killed. What happened to him? And who is that gunman who killed him? Slowly walking when I saw my gates from a distance, I never noticed that I almost reached my house with that thing on my mind, Slowly approaching the gate, I look down side by side of the road, there is a suspicious thing, I noticed one of the vases on my wall, being missed. My hearts pump so fast, is there anyone who entered my house? But...who? I took my keys inside my bag quickly as I can, I almost jump and forgot what key I usually used to unlock the metal locker. Quickly, I remove it and opened the gate, broken vases are on the ground, but how? if anyone entered my house, why my gate is not opened or even the lock is not broken?
Beating my heart so fast and almost shaking, plus the way the winds hit me and my whole body began to shake off, I don't know what to do, I am speechless. Entering my door and almost sneaking into the whole room, there is no one here and everything is alright, I opened all the switches of the lights in all the rooms, and I sighed in relief when there is no one here. I think it's just because of the hard winds that break the vases and I am just paranoid. Maybe it is just because of Nicky's story. I placed my bag on the sofa and slowly removed my shoes, step through the kitchen and have some bread to eat, I am tired, and exhausted, almost gasping for air to breathe. But the worst thing is, I can not get out of the work I have because of Sana, my sister, and my mother, how can I support them If I will quit? *phone ringing*
I almost run towards my bag when I heard my phone ringing, Quickly took off it and open it, "eomma" is the person who is now calling me. "Eomma, yoboseyo?" I said."hello, ttal, ottoshimnikka?" (Daughter, how are you?") I laughed in my soft voice. "You are too formal, eomma, by the way, I'm okay, how about you?" I asked through the phone. "Hmm," I heard her sigh. "Wae?" I asked. Only silence followed and no one dared to talk. "Why eomma? Is there's something wrong?" I broke the silence. I heard her sigh on the other line and her little noise of sobering. "Ma, spill the tea,"
"Your...yeodongsae," (younger sister,)
"What?? Where is Sana? Ma tells me where's Sana!?" My voice almost echoed in the room when I yelled, my smile fading away. "She is... She's in the hospital,"
My World stops spinning and my heart beats too.
"W-what happened, e-momma?"
"Lately," she tried to manage her sobering. "...she kept on saying that her head is hurting, and I said, would she like to g-go to the hospital, b-but she kept on saying that she can handle the pain." She stated in the other line. I felt the heavy feeling inside my heart and my eyes starts to heat up. Slowly, I felt my tears streaming down to my cheeks, "And? W-what happened n-next?" I kept my words sounding strong, but I'm in my tears. "She falls down the floor, and we, with our neighbors, immediately brought her to the hospital," she explained.
"What did the doctor say? Is she now awake?" I asked her,
"It says...she needs to have an operation, her brain tumor becomes bigger than it was,"
"What?! H-how much does it cost?"
I asked readying my ears to the price. "Lately, she always denied that she experienced a lot of pain this past few days, and it always says that she's okay now. But here we are, in the hospital, need to have surgery immediately, as soon as possible,"
"Is she awake ma?" I asked, wiping the tears from my cheeks. "An hour ago, she told me not to tell you about this,"
"But why?"
"She doesn't want you to be stressed," I bite my lower lips while my tears are falling, "but I need to know about your situation there, you two," I uttered. Holding tightly to the soft pieces of satin covering the sofa, "I know, total, that's why I tell you this," she Response
"How much do we need for her operation?" I asked her once again. "Dr. Miranda said that it could reach 1 million won and higher," my eyes got widened after I hear the price. I just earned ten thousand won lately, my salary for the whole month, so it is too small and not enough for her, from where can I get that money? "Total, are you still there?"
From whom can I borrow money? Nicky has a family to support too, "M-Ma, until when do Sana needs to be operated?" I asked out of nowhere, this is a big problem for me, I am just an ordinary bartender and I have tuition fees to pay next month, what should I do? "Until this Friday,"
"Hajiman, comma I don't know have enough money for that, I only have here fifteen thousand won," I said worrying, "I don't know that, I have no idea how to solve this problem too If I am strong I will help you to find the solutions but..." I hear her sigh, "but it's not your fault mom, I...I will find another job,"
I said, maybe this would be the answer to our problems, stood up and walked through the Comfort room and entered, holding my phone and sitting down to the side of the bathtub, even not switching on the light I now memorized every detail of the bathroom.
"How about your study? Are you going to drop it?" I heard eomma asking, Placing my phone to the soap Center where it couldn't reach by the water, and let it open, closing the white curtains as my shield but not the main door of it, I just have here myself, so I am comfortable with it. " I think I should, eomma, or else, I...."
"But how are your dreams?"
"Eomma, in this case, we need to be practical, " I uttered, I slowly untied the ribbons in my hair and unbutton my fitted blouse, "I don't know ma, but I need to let go something to help Sana." I said and I dropped down my blouse, unhooking my bra, gently and removing my pants, "but, Sorry, Total,"
"It's okay ma, I understand don't
Worry, I will do everything for you and Sana," I said and My phone got blackout, low battery. Stepping out of the bathroom and put all my garments in the laundry, naked and bold. Revealing all on me. I entered my room and charged my phone, I sat down on the mattress and feel its comfortable silky smooth blanket on my thighs, a large mirror in front of me showing me my whole naked self, it is cold outside but this room is kinda perfect with its glass tilted windows, white and gold plated curtains, walls that are painted in white colors and its soft mattresses kept me warm. "What should I do? I need to sacrifice
...how about...giving me?" I uttered. There are a lot of men in the bar that is interested in me, far I know to have sex with me. Do I have to do that thing? To support Sana in her operation, what if I accept their offers? even Only for a week just to have a million but, I can't imagine that things made by me, but my questions are... Can I do that thing? how about my virginity? but for you my yeodongsae, I promised that I...I can do everything for you, S-Sana,
I heard the winds strolling outside when it hits harder, my heart is cold, I can't cry anymore, I need to choose, I need to stop schooling and apply for another job opportunity? But my dreams would be faded too, or play with destiny? I will give my whole to earn money? What should I do?
********
I'm in the middle of drying my hair in my room when I heard my phone ring, I did with bathing myself,
Stepping through the side of my bed with a bathrobe on my body,
"I got your number to one of your co-workers, if you need money, then just come to me later at night, when you are in your working area, see you there." Reading out the message makes my heart beat fast, is this the opportunity? But the bar, I am sure that this one is men and I also know that he will go to ask me for my body to exchange with money.
"Who are you?" I texted.
Minutes have passed
Still waiting for his response but I received nothing. I immediately put the keypad phone down and lay down on my bed,
Is he playing with me?
But, playing or not, I need to give him whatever he wants, I will make it to help you, Sana and I wish I could save one million won until Saturday afternoon,
*phone rings*
Quickly got up and Held the phone.
"It's not important for this time, Just meet me tonight and I will introduce myself to you." I give a heavy sigh, this one is acting mysterious,
"Okay, I will not make a promise that I will accept it, Just saying." I texted. It is pretty much better to be straightforward to save myself from him if it is illegal, and is the leader of the gang. But I wish it isn't.
Still standing right next to the phone. I untied the ribbon of my bathrobe, feeling the fresh air touches my whole, and take it off, Am I sure? Still questioning because I...I'm not ready,
Wearing nothing I hang out the partly wet bathrobes on the wall, I used a hanger and place it on the door, I am scared, this is not what I'm planning,
*phone rings the third time.*
"Then I will pull out your sister here,"