Chapter 02

As I was having a race with my breaths, I was still trying my best to run back to where I met that stranger a while ago. Just thank Lady Luck after Miss Acosta spared me until midnight to pay for my bills! 

I need to meet that guy once again in order to reconsider my refusal. I stopped right in front of a Pharmacy since this was the place where that person talked to me. His face could not be seen anymore. 

I wandered my eyes all over the place until a familiar voice greeted me from behind. Even my shoulders jumped in surprise. 

"You came back here, what a surprise!" he reacted with a single clap. It's obvious that he expected. I walked near him who was chilling on the black car he's leaning at. 

"I'm too glad you're still here!" I stated with a relief. He shrugged arrogantly. "You know, I won't just leave here as long as I have a reason to stay longer." 

I knitted my brows on him. That just implied that he's still here because this guy's expecting for me to come back. 

I pursed my lips. "Anyway, about the wager you're talking about back then? You're offering me, am I right?" 

He snapped his finger on my face. "Oh, so you came back to take your words of refusal?" 

Eh? As if that's not his reason to stay here. I just cleared my throat and nodded. "Y-Yeah. But do not misunderstand. I'm not the type of person who seeks for money through betting or gambling." 

I stared at his plain jetblack eyes seriously. "I just have no choice than to accept this offer you suggested. Bills have been pressuring me and my allowance won't be enough." 

His thin lips shaped na 'o' and nodded. "Oh, that sounded really exhausting. By the way, those bills were added to your depression, right?" 

I looked away and nodded. "S-Sort of. So mind considering that I accepted this wager you said. If ever this isn't a scam!" 

Right! What if this is just a huge fraudulent trip to target the likes of me?! Then my problems will become heavier! 

"Oh, no, no!" The guy confidently shook his head with his index finger risen up. "I'm not the type to play tricks on someone who looks problematic like you, Miss. So mind if I hear you out why you wanted to deal with this wager collaboration with me?" 

He even leaned down just to level his face into me. I shyly looked away. "I have a lot of payments to fulfill and my necessities in living need to be solved as well. And this betting stuff you offered was the most convenient way for me to look for money." 

He then stood up firmly as he motioned his hand to me. "Hm, your reason is somwhat considerable to take this risk of gambling." 

"Let me introduce myself by the way." I gazed at him when he said that. "I'm Mezakiel Art Soren. Your reliable conspirator in this Wager Collaboration Contract." 

All the things went slow again when I gently threw him a glance of surprise and curiosity. He's serious about this?! A collaboration contract for the bet?!

I accepted his hand, my lips just played a curve by itself. "I'm Karin Ruiz. Willing to conspire with you for this game of betting." 

"Well then! Things have been dealt so all we have to do is to win it!" he announced as if he's being flown by happiness. I tilted my head on him. "Then, where are we going to hold the game for winning? You seemed to be sure that we'll win as well." 

This guy named Mezakiel was proud of himself for winning. Betting was a kind of gamble or game where players side each of the two choices and whoever wins will receive a reward that has been given by the opponent. 

Mezakiel only scratched his head. "Where, what?" 

Eh? I faked a smile on him. He's not playing a joke, wasn't he? 

"What do you mean, 'where what'? This is a bet so we're going to play it somewhere. We'll win the money!" I explained to him but Mezakiel just crossed his arms and closed his eyes. "That's right. That's how we'll play it but you won't just win the reward today or tomorrow!" 

"Whaaat?!" I reacted that even some passersby looked at our direction. "What do you mean we won't receive the reward if we win today?! I need it now!" 

Mezakiel didn't bother to answer me yet he calmy walked, heading towards my place. "Tell something, Mezakiel! Just be sure that none of your words were scam!" 

He waved his hands on me which made me glare at his back. "Nah, I swear it to you. For now, let me pay your bills in exchange of your continuation to our collaboration." 

"What? What's your point of doing that? My reason to participate was to solve my bill-problems and you're going to answer it for me?" I asked and my voice sounded really curious and confused. Mezakiel bowed his head while walking. 

"Listen! This wager we dealt about is a long-term play. You wouldn't just start and end it within an hour. So, if you will let me pay your personal bill today, you will be spared by your problems." My shoulders jumped when he pointed me. "In exchange, we'll continue the collaboration." 

All I did was to silence myself while thinking. Thinking whether I will take my words of conspiring again, or I won't let him pay my rent for the apartment and the rest needs. Aside from reassuring if this Mezakiel tells no lie, come to think that if I will decline his offer, I will be found sleeping on the street later. 

I let out a heavy sigh and glared at nowhere. I should just have borrowed money from my classmates or any acquaintances I know. 

Whatever.

"I'll just adopt money from you, then," I whispered to him but I know, Mezakiel heard it.

"Hm?" he exclaimed. You heard it! Don't pretend!

"You know. You're still a stranger so it's not easy to lend a money to someone you just met a while ago. Let's just say I will borrow money from you," I added for the sake of clarifying. While strolling, Mezakiel Art snapped his fingers, still giving deadly glares at nowhere.

"What made you clarify that? Of course the case is you, borrowing money to me for now. And then you'll be able to pay me back once we win the money on the wager!" He's really determined to play on this kind of stake we got involved into. Just how catchy was the reward for someone like him?

"I could pay you in another way! Not on the gambling way!" I informed him but Mezakiel confidently showed his palm to me. 

"Na-ah. Then if that's your way. I won't let you borrow my money!" He's really tricky. Mezakiel Art Soren, he's the type of guy who could make the negotiation run under his control. 

And right at this moment, I have no choice than to agree. Miss Acosta's waiting for me to come back with my payment. If he will solve my payments, I will just cooperate with this long-term kind of stake and the problem won't be a deal any longer. 

I guess I had no other way. 

I borrowed a huge amount of money from Mezakiel meaning I won't be sleeping outside. Yet, our deal was our deal. 

Just how did Mezakiel carry such a cash with him right now? As if he did bring a lot of money for an important purpose. He's suspicious!

I already thanked him and we're both eating on a fastfood chain. Of course, it should be this guy's treat yet he didn't whine. Look who's giving sudden proper treatment! 

I took a sip on my juice as I planted a stare on Mezakiel. "So, would you mind explaing how this gamble works and why does it have to be played in a longer period of time?" 

He coughed like how a formal businessman coughs when starting a conversation. My first impression to him was like a type of guy who would never talk to anyone. As if Mezakiel's the person who wouldn't bother himself on talking to unnecesarry people. His deadly gazes were killing people's thoughts off as well! 

"We're now participating a kind of stake where the both of us were the gamblers who conspired to win." He raised his index finger. "But we won't just be gamblers by name, we need to take risk and efforts to succeed." 

I creased my eyebrows on him. "I know that, but what kind of risks and efforts?" 

Mezakiel gently rested his head on his hand over the table and smirked at me. Like something took his excitement, his interest! 

"In order to win, you just need to become Mr. Aspen Medina's official girlfriend."