"Welcome back, Clara!" bungad sa akin ni Belle nang makabalik ako sa hotel.

"Are you sure you're okay?" she asked after examining my face and making me turn around to do the same with my body.

Ngumiti ako at niyakap siya, "Actually, I'm not, but I'll feel better soon. I feel like that tournament consumed half of my life."

Nabaling ang aking tingin kay Rick na may dalang cake at champagne, "Congrats for winning the tournament, Clara!"

Inilapag niya ang kanyang dala sa malapit na lamesa bago ako biruin, "Grabe siguro talaga 'yong pinagdaanan mo doon 'no? Para kang tumanda ng sampung taon-ahh!"

I pinched his left ear, "Rick, ano ulit 'yong sinabi mo? Pakiulit nga kasi parang nabingi ako."

"A-ang ibig kong sabihin... tumanda ka ng sampung taon pero b-bumata ka rin ulit ng dalawampung taon," he clarified then release himself from me.

Belle hit his arm afterwards to stop him, "He's just joking, Clara. Don't mind him."

I simply let out a long breath as Belle led the way to the sofa and let me to take a seat. She gave me one of the two glasses after pouring the Laurent-Perrier champagne into them. However, despite the fact that I'm already here, Rick was busy preparing the space for my welcome return party.

"So... do you mind telling me what happened last night at the banquet hall?" usisa niya.

Sumimsim ako ng alak bago alalahanin ang buong pangyayari kagabi, "Well, we had better get ready for what is coming."

(Flashback)

I'm not sure how long I've been sleeping on that leather couch where I've been hiding. I crept out after making sure no one was inside and checking to see if anyone was around.

"Hindi naman siguro ako nahuli, 'di ba?" bulong ko sa aking sarili.

Marahil ay kakaalis lang ng mga tao na narito kanina sapagkat naaamoy ko pa rin ang matapang na amoy ng sigarilyo. Niyakap ko ang aking sarili nang makaramdam ng lamig at doon ko napagtantong nakasuot lamang ako ng white oversized shirt at underwear.

Although the bullet wound on my right arm has stopped bleeding, I can still feel the anguish. But compared to before, it's bearable.

"Fuck! What time is it?" pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang paligid ngunit walang kahit isang orasan.

After I raised the curtain, I was forced to look out the window. Even though the sky is now pitch black, the vibrant lights below are magnificent. It appears that they are having a birthday party because I can see many individuals outside dressed opulently in designer labels.

Nang pagmasdan ko ang kasalukuyan kong suot ay awtomatikong bumaba ang aking balikat. I made the decision to enter the bedroom of this unit and found myself searching the closet for some suitable clothing.

"Why am I looking for a dress when I'm now Callum?" wika ko at kinuha ang isang italian suit na sa tingin ko'y malaki kumpara sa akin.

I put on the Italian suit and looked blankly in the mirror after selecting pants that would fit me. I still appear feminine despite having short hair, for goodness' sake! My small pointed nose, my amber-colored round eyes, or even my pale red lips could be to blame.

When I left the comfy room, I merely wore a pair of bedroom slippers because I didn't have any shoes to wear. Marahil ay nasa ibaba ang lahat ng mga tao dahil tahimik ang paligid. Nakayuko akong pumasok sa elevator at pinindot ang ground floor kung nasaan ang banquet hall.

The elevator opens and the first thing I notice is classical music coming from the corridor. Mayroon akong nakasalubong na mga waiters na may dalang mga wines para sa mga bisita. Sinundan ko na lamang sila at hindi nga ako nagkamali nung pumasok ang mga ito sa aking destinasyon.

Ang bawat bisita ay hindi pinahihintulutang pumasok sa banquet hall nang hindi nagsusuot ng maskara. I was forced to conceal myself when a man who I assume to be a bodyguard offered me a black masquerade mask with a feather on it.

Napakamot ako sa aking ulo nang masilayan ang napakaraming bisita sa loob ng banquet hall na may mga suot ring maskara. Hindi ko man sila namumukhaan ngunit may kutob akong nanggaling sa mayayamang angkan ang mga naririto.

I thought to myself, "How could I find that old hag mafia named Roscoe?" and then I heard a woman laugh behind me.

Nang mapalingon ako sa kanya ay bigla akong napaatras. It's her! She is the wealthy lady who, after I assisted her with her bulky luggage, handed me the $4.8 million scarf. Since she wasn't hiding behind a mask, I could identify her. She has shoulder-length hair, emerald eyes, arched nose, and thin lips, and I can't deny that she's still very attractive especially now that she's wearing an elegant maxi dress.

What the hell is she doing here?

"You're funny," tumawa ito at sumimsim sa hawak niyang red wine.

Before I spoke, I cleared my throat and asked, "W-why? Are you making fun of my outfit?"

She grinned, "Not really, I think you look cool, especially after hearing you badmouth the Great Roscoe."

"I don't think he's great though," bulalas ko at muli siyang tumawa.

"By the way, I'm Roxanne. Would you mind sharing your name? I think we could be friends," she said as she extended her hand.

Hindi ko alam kung dapat ko bang hawakan ang kanyang kamay sa dami ng mga taong nakatingin sa amin. I could sense that most of them are men who are probably interested to her. I bit my lower lip before reaching her hand and shake it.

"I'm C-Callum Brontë."

She gasped upon hearing me, "Oh, you are Callum? It's my pleasure to meet such a wonderful player of this year's tournament. He's wearing a pair of Biruni suit and Greek Venetian mask."

"Pardon?" I asked.

She chuckled, "I'm talking about the old hag mafia named Roscoe as you've said."

Tumango ako bago sinimulang maglakad palayo para hanapin ang susi sa aking huling misyon. Dahil lahat ng kalalakihan ay nakasuot ng suit ay nahirapan akong mahanap siya. O dapat ko sabihing kanina ko pa siya nakita pero patuloy ko siyang iniiwasan.

He is relaxedly sitting with one leg crossed in the VIP seat, where the audience was previously gazing at him. Many attractive girls approach him and ask to sit on the empty seat in front of him, but he always declines without even looking at them.

Nang lumapit sa kanya ang isang bodyguard at may binulong ito ay gumuhit ang ngiti sa kanyang labi. Inayos niya ang pagkakasuot ng kanyang damit habang ang kanyang tingin ay wari mong may hinahanap sa paligid. When our eyes met, I felt my body tensed for a while.

Taas noo akong lumakad palapit sa kanya nang hindi pinapansin ang mga taong nakatingin sa akin. I hadn't even gotten close to his table when he got up, walked over to the empty chair, and pulled it out for me.

"You look... amazing with your suit, Mr. Brontë," he leaned over and whispered it in my left ear.

Yumuko ako bago magsalita, "I appreciate the compliment, but I will be more than happy if you'd let me join your empire."

"That's a difficult decision for me because I just watched a clip that you said I'm an old hag, have an ugly face, a soggy physique, and my cock can't get hard without taking a Viagra," Roscoe said, and my lips parted.

Tumawa ako nang pilit, "A-about that. I am actually drunk that's why-"

"And my most favorite line of yours is when you said that I can only give three thrusts and I will cum right away," he cut me off.

I shouldn't have come here if I had known that this is where our conversation would take place!

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-Terrolicious