CHAPTER 38: A Devil’s game

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I ALREADY expected her in the first place, but she was a bit earlier than my assumption.

“Hello, who’s on the line, please?” I even pretended I didn’t recognize her, even though I already knew who was on the other line. I know something happens and she might need my help in the future.

“I-I’m the one who robs your money,” replied the other line. I smiled when I heard her voice again. I didn’t think her voice was good over the phone. She has a pleasant voice, indeed.

“Oh, there you go.”

The call I was waiting for was just right. She needs my help, and I needed her help too. I think she has no choice either. My offer was good — an offer I knew she couldn’t refuse. She’s on the edge and she can use me as her ladder.

“C-Can we meet?”

“Sure, where are you? I’ll pick you up.”

I hang up the phone after she gave me the address. Just right and I’ve finished my agenda here. The address she gave me was not far away and I could go there quickly.

When I got in the car, I went straight there. A bit of traffic, because of the traffic lights, but I arrived forty minutes earlier than what I am expecting.

From here in my car, I saw her standing not far away. Wearing a black jacket and navy blue pants, I didn’t know if it was jogging pants or pajamas. While she was still wearing her favorite cap, she looked like a man.

I think she’s just using the excuse of being boyish to get money from her indecent job of robbery.

I horned the car and she noticed it right away. A few steps she hurriedly walked towards next to my seat. I opened the lock and let her in next to me.

“Put on the seatbelt,” I said, and she did what I had told her.

I’m not sure if it’s safe to talk in the car while on the road, so I’d better just take her to the rest house where I’m temporarily staying away from people I think are toxic to me.

In the nearly few minutes of our drive, none of us wanted to break the silence until I turned the car around in the village.

“W-Wait…” she almost screamed, saying to me when she noticed that the car was about to enter the village and we had already passed the guard who’s in the posting.

I never stopped driving. I just let her speak without breaking what I am doing.

I stopped the car in front of the gate and open the gate myself. The caretaker is not there now to open the gate. She said she will return to her family in the province and it will take her there for four days.

“This is my rest house,” I said when I got back in the car and was maneuvering the car to get inside.

I turned off the engine, and she got out of the car. I close the gate after and went back to her.

“We’d better talk here,” I said again when I face her near than before. “Come inside. There is no one else here, only the two of us. I don’t have a dog here either.”

She was still skeptical. Maybe she thinks I’m a bad person. She was worse than me. Imagine, she declared a hold-up robbery to take my money. While I could not steal from anyone then or until now.

I asked her to sit on the sofa when we entered the delightful house. I just let her sit and I went straight to the kitchen first to check what I could serve for her.

A croissant I removed from the wrapper and mango juice I laid out on the center table.

“Take it. Don’t worry, I have no intention of poisoning you,” I said as she exchanged glances at the food and me.” I sat across from her to gaze at her. “I’m Celes Alcazar.”

She glances at me. “I-I’m Karina Tumbaga.” Even if she doesn’t introduce herself, I already know what her name is. There is no need for formal greetings, by the way. But since she doesn’t know me yet, then I will give her the liberty.

“Before you called, I checked all your information. I guess you are the exact person who could help me. I am grateful and you are the one who robbed me,” I said in a casual conversation.

I’m sure she can’t refuse what I will give to her. She might accept it or waste the money up to her.

SHE WAS staring at me because of what I said. “I robbed you and you’re still grateful?” she even told me that the casualty was coming out a bit too much while her eyes widened in amusement.

“Yes, because you might help me for sure. And I know you can’t deny me. I know this might be absurd, but you’ll be my savior.”

She just looked at me as if measuring me with every touch of her gaze on my whole being. I knew she was wondering why I would ask someone like her for help.

“I know you’re wondering why I choose you because I can ask anybody for help.” I lifted the juice and handed it to her. She’s not touching it since the minute I give it to her. I lifted the saucer that the croissant was there. “I am a person with a heart. But there are only people who are really willing to take advantage of and they will do anything to take away your weakness or they can do the things they want from you.”

She accepted the juice and drank it, then she put it down with the plate she also took, but she did not touch the bread.

“Life is hard,” she began. “That’s why I have a thick face to see you and ask for your help. I need a large amount. My mother is in the hospital and I can’t get her out of there because I need a lot of money to save her.” I saw her eyes start to water.

I approached and sat down next to her. I held her by the shoulder to ease her feelings. “Let’s help each other, Karina. Your mother will recover and she can get out of the hospital if you promise to help me, too.” I let her go. “Robbing people or being theft is not the solution. There are many ways we can heal your mother.”

She shook her head and wiped away the trailing tears. “In the hardships of life, I don’t know if there is a solution. Sometimes, I even want to sell my body to earn more money. But I don’t know if my siblings or my mother will still accept me when I do that. Most likely, they will just hate me.” She glanced at me and I could see in her eyes that she’s desperately needed help from me.

I am lucky, and somehow my family is capable. My mom tried to give me a good life but was not happy. Unlike other poor people, they are happy even with what life is. They can do what they want with no limits and no taboos. They are happy and content with the world they have.

“Because of this life I have lived, I could not be able to finish school. I just finished high school. I have two more siblings who I don’t want to be like me and I want them to graduate and finish their studies. Our family is poor when we earn enough for food. I dreamed of nothing but my family. Many things have happened in my life that I almost cursed until I just thought of doing something bad. Robs or snatching. I sell fish at the market in the morning, but just enough for our daily meal. So when night comes, this is my strategy for our other family expenses.”

It’s like I want to wipe away the tears she has. I sympathize with what she said. And I was even more determined to help her. But the help I ask for might be granted.

“What if you have to hold on to the knife, too?” She gave me a deep look, then glanced ahead.

“Maybe… if that’s the only way left. I will do it. After all, my life is going to be wasted. If you had imprisoned me, I might have tried to commit suicide in jail. I’m happy and you didn’t report me to the cops.”

I nodded at what she said. If I read her, she doesn’t look like a liar. I did a background check on her. So I’m sure what she says is all true.

“I will pay for your service. I will give you a job,” I said. She turned to me and our eyes met. “All you have to do is follow everything I say and ask. I will give you a decent life. House and lot for your family. Education for your siblings and medicine for your mom. I can even pay you a prosperous amount if you wanted.” I just hope he accepts the job. In this way, I am telling. “You’re not going to kill anyone. We’re not going to get on that,” I added. I don’t want her to think it’s bad what we’re going to do.

“What’s in return?” she asked quickly. She looks impatient, but she balances the moment and she also reads the gestures and I will say.

I don’t know if she is a trustworthy person, but this time we both need to trust each other and hold on to the knife of life.

“Sell yourself to the devil, Karina.”