Sensuous Gamble

Love is a dangerous game to play.

Win or lose, bet everything you have;
But not your heart.
Roll the dice and count the dots.
If you hit the spot, I'm yours.
Toss the coin, flip it once.
Head or tail--which side is yours?
Deceive me as I lie and cheat.
And, baby, watch and see;
Who's soul will be corrupted,
And who's heart will bleed.
Just know the rule:
Take a gamble,
And play it like a boss.
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This story or any portion thereof may not be reproduced in any written, electronic,
recording, or photocopying or used in any manner whatsoever without the express
written permission of the author.
All of the characters in this story have no existence whatsoever outside the
imagination of the author, and have no relation to anyone having the same name or
names. All the incidents are merely invention.
Copyright © 2015 by Ayamiℒu
All rights reserved.

♥ Prologue ♥

AQUAMARINE

"KEENAN, paki-explain nga kung bakit nandito si Blue?"

Tinawanan ko si Denzel. He was eyeing me closely ever since I got here.
"Denz, kahit hindi ako magna cum laude graduate katulad niyang si Keen, alam ko
kung bakit nandito si Blue," ani Kiefer.
Hinayaan ko na lang silang mag-usap-usap. Birthday ngayon ng kapatid ni Denzel and
Cynthia invited me on her own, kahit alam niyang ayaw akong papuntahin ng kuya
niya. It's not that Denz doesn't trust me. Umiiwas lang talaga siya sa gulo.
Because more likely, Cy will throw a show-and she does that every time I'm present.

It's her nature. She grew up a brat. And unfortunately, the brat's obsessed with
me. And who am I to break a good girl's heart?
I chuckled. "Come on, guys. Relax. Party ito ni Cynthia and she hates someone
ruining her special day."
"That's why I don't trust you here," Denzel muttered.
"Your sister will hate you if you kick me out tonight. She's expecting me."
Tiningnan niya ako ng masama at tinawanan ko siya. "Hey, I know she's your sister.
She's off limits."
Isa pa, I don't get involve with someone I know. I have my rules and I never break
them.
I wish Serena's here. Kahit parang aso't pusa kami no'n, she keep me entertained. I
am known to be a ladies man. But I don't do the chasing. I never did. And at times
like this, where I am expected to behave, I stir away from girls and from trouble.
Kaya kailangan ko ngayon ang kapatid ko. Her very presence is enough to scare women
away.
"Shit! I have to run!" Narinig kong bulong ni Kiefer sa tabi ko.
I knew what he meant. Pero huli na. Denzel's mom was looking straight at us wearing
that big feline grin.
"Gentlemen!"
"Hi po tita." SInalubong namin siya ng yakap at halik sa pisngi.
"Ano ba ang ginagawa ninyo at dito lang kayo nagtatago?"
"Just enjoying the wine, Tita." Keenan tipped his glass.
"Pababa na ang mga dalaga. You should take turns in dancing." She winked at me.
"Kaya na ni-"
"Dance with Cynthia," putol niya sa sasabihin ko. Napangisi na lang ako.
Damn! Denzel will have my balls!
Nag-iba ang tunog ng banda. They were playing something that makes Zeke curse. That
magical sound thing. Geez... why do girls like that stuff so much?
"Boys, come upfront! Denzel, samahan mo nga sila rito."
Tinapunan ako ni Denzel ng masamang tingin nang dumaan siya sa harap ko.
"I swear it was your mom's idea, not mine."
"Nagtago ka sana."
"And everyone will think I'm crazy." Nice.
The lights dimmed and the crowd fell silent. Mas lalong pumangibabaw ang tunog ng
violin. They're playing Taylor Swift's song. I think. I'm not sure...
Pumunta si Denzel sa harap, sumunod si Keenan, but Kiefer stayed behind me. Pero
mabilis ding nagbago ang isip niya. He thought Cynthia will come out last. But I
guess she probably will.
All the while, I was praying that Cynthia will come out first. But I just know her.
She just loved the spotlight. She likes royal entrance and dramatic set ups like
this. Come on! Masquerade party pero iyong celebrant lang daw ang magsusuot ng
masks? Logic failed me.
I sighed depressingly. Denzel will really have my balls slaughtered after tonight
if I let Cynthia come near me.
Someone wearing a white mask and a white dress was starting to step down and I
could feel the dread. Tiningnan ko ang relo ko. Shit, man! How long this party will
last anyway?
I looked up and saw Denzel taking the girl's hand. She's smiling shyly as she
looked at Denz.
That's Angel. That's for sure. Kahit na natatakpan ang mukha niya dahil sa mascara
niya, alam kong si Angel iyon. Siya lang naman ang nagkakagusto sa masungit na kuya
ni Cynthia among her friends. And she looked great with that dress. Bagay sa kanya.

But I still don't get why they need to do this. I mean, si Cynthia lang naman ang
may birthday ngayon, and it was not like she's a debutant anymore. Matagal ng tapos
ang debut niya.
I tapped a finger on Keenan's shoulder. I'm curious and Keenan might know the
answer. He always does.
"Ano?" tanong niya sa'kin nang hindi lumilingon. He was looking straight at the
girl who was gracefully stepping down the long stairs.
"May iba bang okasyon besides Cynthia's birthday celebration?"
"One of her friend just came back from Greece. I think she's throwing her this
party as well."
See? He knows.
"Bakit mo alam iyon?" I whispered but the girl in another white dress was already
in front of him.
That's Olivia. She's wearing a purple mask. I know it's her because she's the only
friend of Cynthia that would look at me like that-na para bang may ginagawa akong
kalokohan minu-minuto. That girl needs to let her hair down for once in a while.
But wait, did Keen said friend? Sina Liv at Angel lang ang kilala kong laging
kasama ni Cynthia. Who's the other girl? From Greece? Now that's something.
A figure appeared at the top of the stairs and this time, she's wearing a black
heavy dress and a red mask.
Biglang nag-panic si Kiefer sa tabi ko. He looked back at me and I grinned.
"She's all yours," I said.
From the stairs, kitang kita ko ang pagnguso ni Cynthia nang makita niyang si
Kiefer ang makakapartner niya at hindi ako.
Tinapik ko ang balikat ni Kiefer. "Destiny, Kiefer. Naniniwala ka na?"
"Just shut up, Blue."
Pdabog na bumaba si Cynthia at tumayo sa harap namin ni Kiefer. "Ma! You said
Blue's third in line?"
Lumapit sa amin si Tita at pinahinahon ang anak. "Cy, don't make a fuss. You can
dance with Beau later, but now..." tumingin ito kay Kiefer at sinenyasan itong
ilayo na ang anak bago ma-traffic ang flow ng party.
I'm not an uptight person, at madalas hindi ko makasundo ang mga ganoong klaseng
tao. But in this case, I'm grateful for tita's strong and perfect organizational
skills.
I watched satisfied as Kiefer took Cynthia away. And I was the one left there.
Mabuti na lang pala at nakipagpalit si Kiefer kanina. Or else... I shuddered at the
thought of Denzel holding a scalpel. He's a freaking surgeon and he could have my
balls!
I waited there at the bottom of the stairs. Pero walang nangyari. Si Tita ang
lumabas at hawak na niya ang mic. She's having a speech but I wasn't keen on
listening. Narinig ko lang na hindi raw makakarating ang kaibigan ni Cynthia kaya
umalis na lang ako doon.
I grabbed a glass of martini from the passing waiter and stayed in one corner,
where Cynthia couldn't see me. Hindi ko na alam ang ginagawa nila, I just
entertained myself from looking outside the building and I asked myself again kung
hanggang kailan ako magtatagal doon, until I noticed a girl's reflection in the
glass.
Nobody seemed to notice at first, that she was there at the top of the stairs, just
standing, looking over the crowd. She had that another white dress code and I could
see from where I was standing that she's wearing a black mask.
I don't know, but she held my attention for a long damn time-just by standing
there. She's so mesmerizing, kahit na nakatayo ako ilang metro mula sa kanya.
She started to walk down, dragging her dress behind her like an empress. And I
thought time slowed down.
Shit! I think I'm having a flu right now.
I brought my glass on my lips and drank nothing. Ni hindi ko na napansing naubos ko
na ang iniinom ko kanina pa. But I never forget details!
I watched her. I couldn't seem to help it. Nakita kong lumapit sa kanya si tita at
itinuro ako.I gulped when she turned at me.
Damn! Why do I suddenly feel so fidgety? And excited?
But she's damn hot!
Siya ba? Iyong kaibigan ni Cynthia na galing sa Greece? I think it's her. But why
didn't I know about her?
The crowd parted when she walked towards me. She's starting to catch everyone's
attention. And I suddenly want to hide her.
The heck?!
I tried to stay still as I waited for her to come near me. Her eyes were cast down
and I could see the color of her hair now that's she's so close to me. They're
dirty blonde. I wondered if they're natural or not.
She's slender, a bit taller, and she smelled like strawberry. My eyes naturally
drifted down to her red lips that made her skin look fairer and paler. She had a
nice cupid's arch on her top lip and a full lower lip.
And then her eyes snapped up at mine and her rare aquamarine eyes made me feel
breathless all at once.