Chapter 2: The Final Announcement

After 10 minutes of light massage, another servant gave me a glass of orange juice and took a rest on my bed.

The time has come for me to wear my single-breasted tuxedo suit with the help of my servant. Another whole body viewing of myself together with the servant; I was satisfied with my outfit when Mike entered, embraced me tightly, and said, "Good luck Marco Fernando, you're the best!" While holding his shoulders I said, "Thank you...I love you, brother!"

Mike escorted me from my room going to the huge veranda overlooking the gigantic receiving area for our guests. The scene was so panoramic, grandeur, and elegant. Even I couldn't decipher my true feeling about my status as a billionaire.

I looked down at the guests who stared and applauded when I raised my right hand to them waving. I am not an actor in the movie; especially in the opera house, but I had the charisma to tumble them down through my antics. I used this before and it's needed now.

Two beautifully sculptured stair railings are built for this purpose which made my entrance a dramatic one.

Cameras and videos of different brands started to blind my vision. It hurts. I knew it. I continued my everlasting smile to them descending the stairs together with Mike and the guards. I don't like it this way, it's like I'm a prisoner!

I remembered those times when Ayah Isabel and I were walking from West Avenue, Quezon City up to Luneta Park to discover something beautiful about Manila. Those were the days...those struggling moments of our lives...those stairways to my life...alone.

I couldn't believe that Danielle contributed so much to my life ever since I was a struggling student; a nobody from the province of Negros Occidental, a trying hard person with lots of dreams, a dreamer, but now, I wanted Danielle to kill the dreamer....to erase those dreams as a payout.

I slowly went up the stage escorted by Mike Luna and the guards. I sat on the chair while Mike delivered his speech at the opening ceremony. While sitting, I observed my guests sitting at their respective tables; buzzing and talking which made the area like an astrodome. Media people were moving from one place to the other to get close-up footage of me and the activities.

At a table near the stage, I noticed Danielle and Roger were having their time chatting with each other or discussing their strategy for the job? I don't know, but all I knew was Danielle wanted the job so much, to pin me down. I saw it in her eyes when I focused my sight on her.

I liked what I saw in her eyes; her motivation to play this game.

At last, I stood behind the rostrum where I received a standing ovation from my guests. I waved my right hand, they stopped buzzing and I spoke my first words.

"Good morning people....thank you for coming and I am really glad your presence here today," I suddenly shouted, "Game FX!!" Everybody stood up and shouted; "Game FX" too, clapping their hands to the highest level. I raised my right hand again to silence them. It added to my ego to know that I can command them this way.

"Today, it's the starting point of the Game FX, truthfully, a large sum of money at stake and the danger that comes with it. But this is my decision... it's final. The agreement was approved by the two hitmen. Truly, I think you know them too. Enjoy your food and drinks...All the guests will receive an envelope courtesy of my kindness to mankind. Mike will be in charge of this gift."

"Right now, I'm ready to answer your queries," I said with conviction in my voice, the power of being a Billionaire!

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

"Sir Marco, I'm from FNN International; my question is....Why you decided this dangerous game that could result to 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 about 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 me 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 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 was 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 than 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 my life...

XXX