Chapter 36: Chapter 36

They applauded as a sign in thanking me. Media people at the front started to ask me.

"Sir Marco, I'm from FNN International; my question is...Why did you decide on this dangerous game that could result in your death? Thank you."

"I liked excitement....and I have all the material things that I ever wanted in my life. So, this excitement doubled when I knew that my ex-lover will do it."

"Sir Marco Fernando, do you still love your ex-lover Danielle?"

"Actually, I have two children from her which she kept away from me...I missed them...She's married now to Roger Ferrer, also, the accomplice for this Game FX."

"And why you selected them to do this job, Sir?"

"As I said, it excites me...it gives total satisfaction...by the way I have to go...thank you."

I hurriedly left the stage, walked briskly towards the sanctuary room, open the locked door, and undressed naked. I hastily put on the camouflage, get dressed, and carried my backpack. I opened the secret passage where the vehicle was parked for this purpose. I switched it on, push the accelerator, and left through the back door.

From Santa Cruz, Cavite City I traveled to San Rafael 2 up to San Rafael 3 going to San Sebastian, Kawit. I stopped the car at the roadside to urinate but observed the place and the situation. I continued my unknown journey while I read the pamphlet about Cavite province.

Cavite, one of the provinces comprising the Southern Tagalog Region, lies immediately at the southwestern entrance of Manila Bay across the Bataan Peninsula. It extends eastward along its shoreline in the north up to the historical Zapote Bridge and the inland terrain in the south up to Carmona. It is bounded on the east by the provinces of Rizal and Laguna, on the south by the province of Batangas, on the west by the Philippine Sea, and on the north by Manila Bay and the City of Manila.

My mind's wandering where I can give Danielle and Roger the value for their effort to do this Game FX. I liked the mountainous terrain but the setting in the city can give more excitement to me. I decided to travelers heading to Redemptorist Church in Baclaran.

I entered, kneeled at the pew, and released the things inside my heart. I prayed for my children, the people who trusted me, and to all Filipinos who suffered poverty and discrimination. I washed my soul with tears that I could not control anymore.

I stood up, made a sign of the cross, and slowly walked to Dimasalang Street where my heart's crumpled over my family because of the fire that gutted my house. I can still smell the burned asses of my struggling neighbors who toiled day and night for a meager salary for a family of ten members. The same was true for Overseas Filipino Workers, who dreamed to have a better paycheck abroad, but their souls were being sold to the history of the Philippines.

I looked around to savor the emptiness that I felt where it's better those days when I have nothing, no money to depend upon, where I sacrificed myself to fulfill my dreams. Now that I reached those dreams, still, I'm empty deep inside....wanted to end life...

XXX

I continued walking until I saw an apartment with a signboard hanging at the steel gate; it's written, "Apartment for Rent." I thought the best way to have a shelter while gaining insights about the Game FX and I could devote my spare time hanging with my worries. I brought the ATM card that I used to withdraw money for the payment and for my daily undertaking.

I talked to the owner of the apartment, paid him, and was ready to organize the new place. I took off my camouflage, cleaned the apartment, and installed some decors and lightings. Whatever the result of all this game, I'm sure that it'll surely excite me all along.

I lived by myself for a month in that area, that I trusted some neighbors to do the maintenance of the place. It's Wednesday morning, Baclaran was full of vendors all over the place especially at the front of the Church. I was inside the church praying when I saw Danielle passed by my side. I slowly stood up rearing to go out when Mike called on my new phone imported from Finland which he gave me the updates of Danielle and Roger.

"Marco, it's been a month since you left the house, and more news is circulating that you're hiding somewhere in the north of Luzon. So, give me the update always, so that I could relay some hint to Danielle and Roger, to make this feasible, okay?"

"Okay, Mike...I'm in between Paranaque and Pasay...a place to worship..."

"I see...for them...they're near...in your place...They have a mobile phone too, all of us are connected to each other...They can hear our conversation...okay Marco? Beware of the authorities....do not entangle with them...they're moving too because of this Game FX."

"Thank you, Mike...bye!"

I switched off the mobile phone, put it in my pocket and carry my backpack, and heading towards the back gate going to the narrow street full of vendors. I can hear the beating of my heart; my eyes were focused to where I saw the lone shadow of a man wearing a black jogging suit. I knew it. It's him...Roger. He's following me that I hastily find my way up to Baclaran LRT station. I queued for my card where Roger was behind me. After handing my train card, I quickly entered the train while I searched him in the throng of passengers. I positioned myself standing in the aisle so that I could have time to run in case Roger appeared. But when I faced the other side, Roger whispered to me.

"Do not move Marco...you see this inside my jacket?" I looked at him squarely without saying a word. He whispered again, "We'll get off at the next station...Vito Cruz Station...do not make a scene...do as I told you."

We disembarked at the Vito Cruz Station, where Roger's behind me. He followed me up to the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. I saw a group of youngsters wearing basketball sports outfits, which I ran to the group, hide from Roger's view, and hurriedly ran fast as I can heading to Harrison Plaza Shopping Center.

Roger still following me running but my energy was helping me. I hid at the Department Store where he passed by through the other business establishment. I went outside and continued to run but he saw me, that Roger fired his pistol which chaos inside the mall ensued.

I continued running up to the front door going to another side of the road, the Central Bank of the Philippines side. I kept on running until the intersection of Roxas Boulevard and Vito Cruz, turned right heading to Luneta Park. My actions triggered some passersby that I changed my way near the seawall. I watched my back while jogging where I could view the position of Roger. He's nowhere to be found that I slowly searched him in the crowd. But I was wrong; he's following me all the way.

I felt my blood rushing all over my body that my energy rose to the highest degree. I resumed my pace that at last, I went across the road to enter the Luneta Park, still reeling to be chased for enjoyment.

I was heading towards the Luneta's Fountain when Danielle appeared from nowhere, while Roger still following me. I ran to the other side heading to Intramuros where the two of them are behind me now.

At the secluded area, Danielle fired his gun at me which hit my left arm. Blood oozing continuously that I tied with my handkerchief while running into the San Agustin Church. I entered the church and hid under the small altar. I saw a lady together with a man kneeling and praying. I managed to tie carefully the wound in my arm and observed them.

They entered the church searching for me that the man and the woman were disturbed with their prayers. Danielle and Roger passed by their side without noticing them. I grabbed the young woman to make her a shield, but the man started to jump at me, but I eluded him. I aimed the gun at him and hold the young woman tightly.

Danielle and Roger saw the incident but they're far from us. So, I hurriedly pushed the lady outside the church.

"You have a car!!" I shouted at her.

"Yes...over there..."

"Where's the key? Hurry!!"

"Here," as she gave it to me.

I hastily opened the door, "Get inside...hurry!!!"

I drove the car, speeding as fast as I can going back to Luneta Park at Roxas Boulevard, where I instantly thought to bring her to my apartment in Baclaran. She started to cry inside the car. I looked at her without any feeling at all. Sorry, I thought to myself.

When we arrived, I parked the car in front of the gate. I held the lady's arm pretending to be my lover. I opened the door, seated her at the sofa, and tied her wrists and mouth.

"Now, can you answer my question, please? Cooperate with me, do what I told you to do...then you're safe. Do not make any move that makes me angry, understood?" She nodded with fear in her eyes....full of tears.

It's evening time that I went into the bathroom to cool myself from the tiring chasing incidents. It gives me the liberty to release the tension from being chased by the two-hungry people. My wound was deep when I checked, that I hastily dried myself, went outside the house to buy medical items from the nearest pharmacy.

She's still there looking at me while I'm busy tending my wound, took off my mask, maybe she's amazed at my facial feature; different from what she thought to be.

I've got the bullet inside my flesh, applied for medicines, and wrapped it with a bandage. I prepared our food, gave her a plate which she eluded at first, but I insisted that she had to ate the food. I helped her when my mobile phone rang, "Marco, it's me, Mike Luna. You heard the news about the chaos that you made?"

"Not yet, Mike, I'm not reading the newspaper."

"Be careful with the police and other government authorities...they're following you."

"Of course I will Mike."

"Marco...Roger's dead and Danielle left for this job."

"Ohhh I see....what happened to him?"

"He was shot by the police yesterday in San Agustin Church in Intramuros. And, I heard that you captured a lady with you?"

"Yes Mike, I'm feeding her now."

"So, where's Danielle now?"

"She already knew your apartment and the girl..."

"The girl why?"

"She's together with a man, right?"

"Yes."

"Danielle knows the identity of that man...that she wanted to help him."

"Well...tell her to find me...and beat me...and kill me!"

"Where's your next destination, so that I can give a hint to Danielle?"

"Where I studied...my college years...."

"Okay, Marco...don't worry at all...I'm here for you...bye!"

"Okay."

I kept wondering why Mike Luna said that, but I observed the girl, she's beautiful like Danielle's beauty. I sat beside her carrying my canned beer because my intention was to asks her identity. And, I'm curious about her; that I had to know so that I could talk to her when I needed something.

"What's your name?"

"Aira..."

"How old are you?"

"Seventeen going to eighteen..."

"Not a girl anymore but a lady....a woman.....right?"

"Yes sir...."

Still looking at her I remember my daughter but I persuaded myself for other things to talk about.

"When you need something or going to the bathroom, kindly tell me okay?"

She nodded and looked at me. I checked the house and the surrounding for our security. Any moment Danielle will shower us with bullets from her machine gun.

I switched on the TV; Saan Ka Man Naroroon was aired at that time. I watched the drama episode for twenty minutes which Aira's watching too.

"You want to clean yourself first before sleeping? Tomorrow...I'll buy you some of your personal items...I mean personal hygiene stuff..."

"Sir...not now...tomorrow after you buy me..."

"Buy me what?"

"I mean sir....personal...things...tomorrow..."

"Okay...go to sleep now...tomorrow we'll travel."

I handed in one of the throw pillows to her which she accepted and hugged instantly. She has the charisma that pulled my being into her, to know her fully and why. I kept my distance from her, I swore to myself before sleeping near her.

I dreamed of something's scary that I suddenly woke up, looked at the wall clock and it's two in the early morning. I tried to decipher my dream but in vain. The stillness gave me the feeling of remoteness inside my heart. I observed Aira on the other side; she's sleeping tightly. I sat down to clear my mind for a minute, went to the kitchen, and drank a bottle of orange juice.

I heard a faint sound coming from the front door which I quickly went to the door and observed. I am sure somebody's outside near the car where parked. I peeped in the curtain that I saw a shadow near the car and another one at the far end of the road. I squatted for a while, went to Aira in a crouching position, and woke her up.

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