Chapter 32
“I’ll play.”
I turned around and was surprised to see Ismael in front of me. My face’s smile quickly vanished, and anger took its place. “What are you doing here?” I said it firmly while looking at him. I tried to compose myself, but his presence made me remember what I had learned about his dating issues. Even I, I also saw him going home from the university with the girl linked to him. It was confirmed. He’s dating someone else, and it shattered my heart into pieces. So I’m also here in this place to be distracted.
“I told you, I’ll play,” he answered before placing a briefcase on the table. I hid my wide eyes when he opened it and revealed to me a lot of money that he was going to exchange for chips.
I rolled my eyes and glanced at him. “You’re not supposed to be in here. You’re a professor,” I stated to him in a way that he understood that I didn’t want to see him. I already told him that I didn’t want to talk to him or see him. I no longer respond to his calls and texts because I despise him and these feelings within me. I don’t want to attract attention or make the situation worse. I know he won’t catch me after all.
Even in his classes, I don’t show up. Now, he’s here?
“It is you who are not supposed to be in here, Jothea.”
I was speechless when he called my name. He’s really good with women; he knows how to manipulate a woman. Even when I’m firm, he is able to soften me and make my world spin around him.
“I am working, so get out of here and leave me alone,” I uttered, clenching my teeth in anger.
“You don’t have to work in this disgusting place, Jothea. I can give you all the money you need.” That’s right. He knew that my parents would no longer support me because he was there at the dinner and heard everything.
“In exchange for what? Sex?” I yelled at him in annoyance. I couldn’t stop my mouth because of my nerves. His presence irritates the hell out of me now. How noble of a person is he to call this place a disgusting place that gives me money? “You’re being so kind because you want to fuck me again, right? You’re willing to give me your money because you’re taking advantage of me. I’m even better than a prostitute.”
“What?” He stood up, and I could see in his eyes that he couldn’t believe what he heard from me. He walked closer while I froze where I stood. “What are you talking about? Do you hear what you are saying, Jothea?”
“Stop calling me by my name! It’s disgusting!” My lips trembled as I screamed at him. “And I don’t need your money! You’re not my husband to give me what you have! You’re not even a friend! You’re just my professor!”
He gasped. He even stuck out his tongue out of frustration towards me. He was still looking elsewhere as if he were looking for patience for me. “Don’t talk to me that way, Miss Alvandra, if you don’t want me to rip your mouth off,” he warned.
“Why? Are you hurt? Are you disappointed? This is who I am. I am not a good woman, so if you don’t want to hear bullshit, get lost.”
He stared at me for a long time, as if checking to see why I was doing this. Doesn’t he know yet? There are many reasons why he shouldn’t like me, and I’m showing him all of them. I don’t understand why he’s only after me because I don’t have good manners.
“Is there a problem here?” We both looked at the speaker. It was a guard who helped me earlier. He interrupts our excessively loud arguments that are now disturbing other guests. I just noticed that people have been staring at us for a while now.
That’s another thing, because I’m scandalous, one of the reasons men are turned off. I bet Professor Sybill didn’t really love me before. He despises me. He just chases after the happiness I bring him in bed.
“I just want to play with her,” Ismael answered, the annoyance in his voice still not gone. “Those are my cash,” he said, pointing to his briefcase on the table. “She just couldn’t believe the amount of money I was carrying.”
The guard looked at me, waiting for me to confirm what this professor said. I just sighed before I nodded. I was so distracted that I barely noticed that I was supposed to leave.Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.
The guard left us when he saw that each of us was calm. Calm outside, chaos inside. It’s annoying that even when I’m silent, he’s here, taking away the peace from me. How can I forget if he always comes to me? Despite my efforts to suppress my developing feelings for him, he appears as if fully aware of the situation and intends to disrupt our relationship.
“Place your bet,” I said flatly.
“Hundred thousand.”
I closed my eyes, not because of the amount of his initial bet but because he didn’t know which of the chips he was going to place on top. Again and again, I sighed and felt pain because of him.
“You don’t even know how to place your chips; how can you play this game?” I whispered just enough for him to hear. I gave him cards one by one. Five of hearts and queen of clubs while I have the hidden card and the king of clubs.
“I can’t. I don’t know how to play this game. I just want to play with you,” he replied calmly. Fuck. What is he starting again? He was really good at seducing someone like me with his playful words. I am even more annoyed with him because he knows very well how to beat me. A calm answer, as if he were saying that he was ready to surrender and that I was the winner of the two of us.
“Maybe you were in the wrong game. This is not a game to play with someone’s feelings,” I hissed. There is no smile coming out of my lips compared to the previous players who were playing. I can give them a fake smile, but with Ismael, I can’t pretend. I don’t want to pretend.
“I don’t know how to play with someone’s feelings either,” he uttered in his breathy, deep voice, which he thought I could believe. Tsk.
He remained calm despite the hurtful words he heard from my filthy mouth earlier and how I act towards him now.
“Do you wanna hit?” I asked.
“Hit you? No. I don’t hit.” God, please bring me some patience over here. He doesn’t even know what a hit means. His innocence is even worse than it was the first time Raviel taught me this.
“I mean, do you wanna get another card?”
He shook his head. I showed him my hidden card, and it is an ace of hearts. A blackjack. I took his bet.
“Place your bet,” I ordered again because I was sure he wanted to play more.
“A hundred thousand,” he said as if he didn’t care about losing a hundred thousand just now. He bet a hundred thousand again, even though he knew he would only lose against me.
“Alright.”
I draw two cards again for each one of us. Our game just continued in that state. He is losing all of his money, and it seems like it doesn’t bug him, while I regret the wasted money. Despite his lack of knowledge regarding the game, the manner in which he wagered his funds was as if it were a mere peso. Is he making me see how poor I am?
“Are you sure you still wanna play?” I inquired, not leaving him a hint of concern. “You can stop now.”
“So you can play with other guys?” he asked back, annoyed. He frowned as he looked at me seriously. “No, thank you. I am willing to lose all of my money rather than see you playing with other men.”
I breathed deeply. “I will not play anymore. I am just waiting for you to finish. My duty has already finished an hour ago.” I didn’t realize it was five in the morning, and we had been playing for four hours. I don’t know; I didn’t notice either.
“What? Why didn’t you tell me?” He seemed worried, looking at me. I looked away and sighed. “Why would I?”
“How much did I lose?” he asked as if he didn’t hear my auspicious answer to him.
“Almost two million,” I replied. “Let’s stop now. You have lost a lot. It will affect your business if you become addicted to playing this.” Now, I can no longer hide my concern from him. I have seen many players who lost their money here because of their eagerness to get back the money they lost in gambling. There are also bets on one’s own land, business, car, and jewelry.
“Let’s play one last time.”
“But why?” I asked in disbelief. It’s not that I’m sleepy while playing with him.
“I’ll try to get my two million back.” I almost laughed at what he said. I knew it. But how can he do that? He didn’t even win once against me. How can he get back what he lost?
“You’ll probably gonna lose another two million, sir.”
“Well, I’ll try my luck on you.”