CASINO MANILA Pt 2

"What, what?, I'm only 18 years old at halatang matanda ka pa sa akin ng ilang taon, so dapat lang na kuya itawag ko sa'yo." Makatotohanang paliwanag ni Margaret kay Zion.

"Right.. I'm older than you.. So you must behave in there. Maraming mga malalaking tao ang pumupunta sa Casino Manila, local and foreign." Babala ng lalake...

'I know.." Bulong ni Margaret sa sarili.. Paanong hindi nya malalaman, when she was living with her own body palagi syang pumapasok sa Casino ng ibang bansa.. Not to play, but to talk to their boss and accept a mission.

"Okiedokie." Excited nyang sagot. Kung dati hindi sya naglalaro, this time... She will rob some money by winning the games. Kailangan nya ng pera for her mother. At higit sa lahat, kailangan nya ng pera for her revenge.

Before 1976, most of Manila had events of illegal gambling, and the operating of unlicensed casinos had begun in the country of the Philippines. Since 1976, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has regulated the rules around the grounds of gambling. After the regulations of all its rules, PAGCOR opened its first new casino named the Manila Bay Casino in the year 1977. After that, there has been a fast rise in the number of casinos in Manila. Most of these casinos are located near the Manila Bay. Today there are around twenty casinos in Metropolitan Manila. (This information is from Google, I copied it to share the history of casinos in Manila.)

Ang location ng Casino na pupuntahan nila ay sa Asean Avenue Parañaque, Metro Manila. Sa dami ng casino sa buong Manila ito ang napili nila dahil narin mas malapit sa lugar na pinang-galingan nila.

After 20 minutes na nakasakay sya sa helicopter they finally arrived.

"Remember what I told you? " paniniguro ni Zion na hindi sya gagawa ng hindi maganda sa loob.

"En. I remember.." Sagot nya dito. Naririndi na sya sa paulit-ulit nitong paalala sa kanya sa taas habang lumilipad ang helicopter.

Sinalubong sila ng mga staff ng casino.. Since ginamit nila ang helipad.

"Welcome to Manila Casino Sir, Ma'am" bati sa kanila ng leader ng mga staff.

"Thank you." Ani Zion.

Inakay sya ng lalake papasok sa loob. The place inside is huge.. There's also a lot of people playing. Cards and slot. And noise coming from the person singing to entertain guests.

"This way to casino tokens exchange, Sir." Muling nagsalita ang staff na umaalalay sa kanila.

Sumunod naman sila dito. Inside the casino you can't use real money to bet. Instead, use casino token. At kapag nanalo ka, you can exchange those tokens to real money inside the building too. That's how it work.

"You only need 1 million to bet?" Tanong sa kanya ni Zion.. Habang si Aron naman ay nakasunod lang sa kanila. Alam nya pagod ang dalawa dahil sa mission ng mga ito kanina. Pero dahil malamang sa tulong na ginawa nya kaya kasama nya parin ang mga ito.

"That's too much for me actually.. To win big prizes.. Little amount is enough for me." Walang halong pagmamayabang na sagot nya. She's telling the truth tho.. With the help of the eyes of the Phoenix.. It's easy for her to win.

"... Sigh..." It's Aron.. "Siguraduhin mo lang na mananalo ka nga" di na nakatiis na bwelta nito. "Malaking halaga din ang isang Milyon bata. Kahit sabihin ko pa na barya lang para kay boss.. It's still big." Dakdak pa nito.

Sa sinabi ni Aron napasulyap sya sa lalakeng katabi na busy na makipag palitang ng currency. So ibig sabihin.. Hindi lang ito gwapo? Pinanganak din itong may gintong kutsara sa bibig? Cool... Aniya sa isip.

Gumanti sya ng bulong kay Aron.

"Then, kung matatalo ako.. I will be his girlfriend." Pagbibiro nya dito.

"That's not possible!!!" Pasigaw nitong bulong..

"Why not?" Ganting bulong nya dito.

"Dahil he's-"

"Let's go.. I got the tokens." Biglang harap ni Zion sa kanilang dalawa na nagpatigil sa kanilang pag-uusap. Hindi na tuloy natapos ni Aron ang sasabihin. Hindi narin naman sya interesadong malaman.

"Yaaay!" Let's go, let's go." Excited na reaksyon nya.. Excited na syang manalo at magkapera.

"So yan ang una mong plano, magpayaman gamit ang kapangyarihan na binigay ko?" It's the Phoenix.

"Hehehe.. Yup!" Sagot nya dito using mind communication.

"Nice one.. You're not here to play and win. But to rob them" pang-aasar neto sa kanya.

"Yup-yup-yup" lumapad ang ngiting sagot nya dito.

"... Sigh.. Poor owner mabibiktima ng snake."

"Hehe.. "

"What do you want to play?" Tanong ni Zion sa kanya.

"Cards" mabilis naman nyang sagot.

"Alright.. Come here" inaya sya neto sa isang table..

Sa lamesa ay may mga nakaupo nang tatlong player. Umupo sya doon habang nasa likuran naman nya ang dalawa nyang scort. Muling bumulong sa kanya si Zion.

"Do you know how to play this game?

" yes.."

"Sigurado ka?" Bulong din ni Aron na walang tiwala sa kanya.

"If you don't trust me.. Just watch." Nakangising sagot nya dito.

"Hmp!" Nakangusong sagot ni Aron.

There's a rules in playing poker.

• The highest-ranking hand is a royal flush (the royal straight flush). This hand includes a 10, Jack, Queen, King, and Ace of the same suit, one kind (all clubs, diamonds, hearts or spades). It can only be tied but not beaten by the royal flush of another suit.

• A straight flush is made up of 5 consecutive cards of the same suit.

• 4 of a kind means you have 4 cards of the same rank (but different suits, of course) and a fifth card of any rank (such as 4 aces and a 9). If you have 4 aces, then no one can have any hand with an ace, so no royal flush is available.

• A full house contains 3 matching cards of 1 rank and 2 matching cards of another rank.

• A flush contains any 5 cards of the same suit. These skip around in rank or sequence, but are from the same suit.

• A straight contains 5 cards of consecutive rank but from more than one suit.

• 3 of a kind means you have 3 cards of the same rank, plus two unmatched cards.

• 2 pair is made up of two cards of one rank, plus two cards of another rank (different from the first pair), plus one unmatched card.

• Pair means you have 2 cards of the same rank, plus 3 other unmatched cards.

• High card is the lowest-ranking (called a "nothing") hand, when no two cards have the same rank, the five cards are not consecutive, and they are not all from the same suit.

Tip: Keep in mind that if two people face off with the same type of hand, the hand with the higher-ranking cards wins. If the hands have the exact same ranks of cards (suit does not matter), it is a tie and the prize, if any, is split evenly.

Margaret starts playing. Using the eyes of the Phoenix.. Nakikita nya ang mga numero sa ilalim ng mga baraha.. At mga numero ng mga baraha ng kalaban nya.

" All in.." Aniya na nag tuwid ng likod ng dalawang lalake sa likuran nya.

"Jenny... Don't rush." It's Zion..

"Uy Jenny! Totoong pera nakataya sa laro mo.. Paano kung matalo ka. Saan ka kukuha ng ibabayad mo?!" Gigil na bulong ni Aron.

Hindi nya pinansin ang dalawa.. Saka tinulak ang worth one Milyon na tokens na nasa harapan nya.

"This little girl is so wild. I like you baby girl." Ani ng isa sa mga kalaban nya. He's an old American. Her first victim.

"This is my first time playing.. I'm sorry." Inosente nyang sagot.

The man laugh while the two behind her grip their hands.

"Fold.." Ani ng isang kalaban nila.

" I fold also." Isa pa.

"Then, I also go all in for this little girl." Nakangising turan ng foreiner.

"Please show your cards.." The host speak.

Pigil ang hininga ng dalawang nasa likuran nya habang hinihintay ang pag show nila ng cards..

"Whoooaaah!!! Sigaw ni Aron.. " Royal Flush!" "Our little girl won!" Sigaw pa nito na pumukaw ng atensyon ng ibang nanonood lang.

The foreiner has straight cards.. Nakita nya kung paano nawala ang ngiti sa labi nito pero hindi ito nagsalita.

"Sorry.. I won. " inosente nyang sabi.

"Yeah.. It's newbie luck." Ngumiti narin ito. "Congratulations! "

"Thank you..! "

Nilingon nya si Zion.. Saka ito binulungan.

"You need to get ready.."

"For what?" Anito na bahagya ng yumuko.

"For collecting the incoming tokens.." Kindat nya dito.

Natigilan naman ang lalake at napa tikhim.

"Don't overestimated yourself little girl."

Napa pout naman si Margaret ng marinig ang sinabi nito.

'Hmp! Watch me win all the game then.' Bulong nya sa sarili.

Changing players to play cards with her. Dumami na rin ang mga taong nakapalibot sa kanila na nanonood. The guys became alert. This too much attention is dangerous. Ten times straight wins na si Margaret.. At wala pa syang planong tumigil.. Kulang pa. She needs more. Para sa future ng pamilya nya at future revenge plan nya.. Hindi masama ang maging greedy.

"Whoah! She won again!" Di makapaniwalang palatak ng isang nanonood.. "What kind of luck she has!" Dugtong pa neto.

Zion started to become uneasy.. Same with Aron.. They need to stop there.

"Jenny.. Let's go.. We need to go. It's too eye catching." It's Zion. Nag aalala na ang boses nito.

Napahinto naman si Margaret at lumingon sa paligid.. Indeed.. Marami na ngang tao. "Troublesome" bulong nya sa sarili.

"I'm tired.." Aniya.. "I think I have to stop here. I will be back again to play with you guys." My parents will scold me if I went home late." She starts acting again. Nagkunwari pa syang humikab para makitang antok na sya.

"Ahhh... One more game little girl.. Just one more." Pangungulit ng isa sa kalaban nya...

"I can't.. I'm really tired.. Let's meet again 2 days from now." Nakangiting sabi nya dito.

"Are you sure? We will wait for you then.." Nakangiting sabi naman ng isa.

"Yeah that's a promise." Aniya. 'I will rob you again next time'... Bulong na dugtong nya sa sarili. Saka sya tumayo. Inalalayan naman sya ng dalawa.. Habang ang isang staff na may kasamang limang bodyguards ay tumulong sa kanya para kolektahin ang mga tokens nya.

"Let's go.." Bulong ni Zion.. Saka nito nilingon si Aron. "Notify the pilot to start the helicopter.."

"Yes sir." Sagot nito.

Tinungo nila ang booth kung saan sila nag papalit kanina. Si Zion ang nag asikaso ng transactions.. Pati bank transfer ay ito rin nag asikaso. Hiningian lang sya nito ng ID's.

"57 Milyon deposited on your bank account.. Do you need cash?" Lingon nito sa kanya.

"Yeah.. Transfer 2M to your account.. And another 1M to Aron's account... And hand me 100,000 cash.." Sagot nya sa lalake.

"1M???!!! Holy! Little girl babalatuan mo talaga ako ng isang milyon?" Excited at shocked na bulyaw ni Aron.

"En. Ayaw mo?"

"Of course, gusto ko!.. Hahaha.! Thank you little girl." Ngiting sabi pa nito sabay akbay sa kanya.

"Tsk! Remove your arm." Palatak nya.

"Here's your cash.. And here's your bank books." It's Zion. Nakabalik na ito sa kanila after transactions.

"Did you get your money?" Tingin nya dito.. Busy ito sa pag ayos ng pouch nya.

"En. I did what you ordered... Now let's go." Seryoso ang tono ng boses nito. Nagmamadali din. Marahil dahil sa mga matang nakatutuk parin sa kanila.

"K." Tipid nyang tugon dito.

Binaybay nila ang daan tungo sa exit at diniritso ang nakalapag na helicopter na kasalukuyan ng umaandar.

"Watch your steps. " ani Zion na ilalayan sya sa pag akyat.. Nang makaupo ay bigla ito naka receive ng tawag sa mobile phone nito kaya bumaba muna ito sandali. Saglit lang din itong nakipag usap sa phone at bumalik narin.

"We will drop you at the hospital again. Hindi na kami bababa dahil I have important matters to do." Anito ng makabalik.

"Got it. Thanks!" Patango-tango nyang tugon.

"Hand me your phone." Inilatag nito ang palad sa harap nya.

Inabot naman nya ang phone dito.

"Here's my contact.. Call me if you need help in the future."

Sinulyapan nya ang numero na naka display sa screen ng kanyang phone.. Thinking..

'There's no need to call each other again..'

"Alright.." Tipid nyang sagot dito..

Inabot nito pabalik ang kanyang phone saka nito sinensayasan ang piloto para paliparin na ang helicopter.

Margaret remains silent until she arrived. They drop her sa rooftop ng hospital na kung saan doon din ang helipad.

"Don't forget to call me.. Got it?" Ulit ni Zion.. Nakatitig ito sa mata nya.

"Yeah. Got it." Sagot nya dito saka iniwasan ang tingin ng lalake.

"Little boss! " it's Aron.. "See you again next time! Thank you ulit!" Binago na nito ang tawag sa kanya.

Nginitian naman nya ito.

"En. See you two again.." Aniya saka humakbang paatras at kumaway sa mga ito. Ng umangat na ang helicopter tuluyan narin syang tumalikod at pumasok sa loob ng building..

"We will meet again if faith allows us to meet.... " she murmured.