Chapter 119 - The Game

As Allie was pondering on what was really happening, Mr. Dioko approached them with wide-stretched arms. She instantly fell into his embrace and cried.

"Sir, thank you for convincing him," she said while looking over her shoulder to cast Hayri a quick glance.

Mr. Dioko chuckled softly, his voice sounded like music in her ears. "I did not have to convince him. He had long forgotten about the revenge the moment he knew you though the news was, undeniably, shocking."

Allie smiled despite her struggles to stop crying. "I really did not expect."

"I understand," replied Mr. Dioko in his most tender tone.

Suddenly, Allie jolted out from his embrace as she remembered something. "Sir, what about your wound?" she asked, her eyes fell on his shoulders.

"It's just a minor wound," he smiled,

"and by the way, I hope to hear you addressing me as dad sooner."

Allie gasped as she was moved by the fact that she was warmly accepted into their family, however, her heart sank when the reality of her status immediately surfaced. She tiptoed and whispered something into Mr. Dioko's ears.

"Sir, does he know that I am married?"

"Was married," the answer came right through when Hayri answered from her back."

She turned to look at him in the eyes, wanting to know the answers of those many questions which instantly came arising in her mind.

"Zheena, how I wish I could ask you at this very moment to marry me but I know you need time. Time to consider accepting me and start all over again. Dad is holding me a thanksgiving party tonight and so we would like to use this chance to announce how much you mean to me," Hayri's words flowed out fluently without being cautious that his dad, together with the crowd, was listening.

"I don't deserve all this kindness, Hayri, " she exclaimed, as that overwhelming emotion flooded her eyes once more.

"Starting tonight, I don't want to hear that again. It doesn't matter who deserves and who do not. What's more important is that I honestly love you, Zheena."

Before Allie could recover from the surge of emotion which sailed her through and that sense of awkwardness at having an audience in that declaration of his love, General Alfonso walked in. With a big grin on his face, he held out his hand to congratulate her and before he started to talk further, he waved his hand in command and the scene on the screen immediately shifted back towards the scattered troop in the slope.

"Dino, gather up your men and bring them to the garden, few meters away from this cottage. I'm sorry that I involve you in playing this little game. I am so happy of this decision that Louise comes up with. Aside from the fact that he is the son of a dear friend, we should feel relieved that another burden is taken out from our shoulders."

A burst of laughter was heard in the background, perhaps amused of the action made by the troop, only to be told that it was just a little game.

"Shall we go now?" Mr. Dioko said as he wrapped an arm around his friend, guiding him back to the dining hall where their hundred guests were waiting.

Hayri wrapped his arm also around Allie as he began to walk forward but Allie stood still, her eyes were fixed on Joshua who stood in a corner, forgotten by the frenzy of the moment.

Having seen the two who glanced at his direction, he stepped towards them and Allie did not wait for him to come closer. She ran towards him and fell on his neck. No words came out from her mouth except for an instant and loud sob. Joshua easily got carried on, he was already brooding about this from the very moment that Allie asked him to present her to his boss. He cried hard as well, never expecting that his foreseen event that night would turn out differently. Never did he expect that his cousin would stand alive before him that night without a bloody fight.

When Allie finally loosened herself from him, Hayri stepped in. "I'm sorry for the painful surprise, Josh. If only I had known earlier, I would have told you a long time ago to stop the hunt. Who knew then that the woman I wanted so much to crush in revenge, is the same woman I am so in love with," said Hayri in a cracked voice.

Joshua stared at him unbelievingly, never expecting that he could be this emotional. Until this very moment, he couldn't still seem to believe that the tough and deadly boss he once knew could come so soft because of a woman. What if all of these were just a game to outwit them all for the evidence they were too eager to charge against him?

"Beginning tomorrow, I will be giving you another job. Trust me, it will be a decent and honorable job this time."

Joshua still did not move, too confused on where to place his trust. But then Hayri's voice broke into his train of thoughts once again.

"Keep her gun, Josh. A lady shoudn't possess things like that. Dispose all the weapons that we have, including mine. No one should hold any of those, except the guards."

Joshua was finally convinced and he nodded in respond to Hayri's request. He then follow after them as they walked towards the venue of the party.

____

After everyone heard General Alfonso's command through the screen, some dropped themselves to the ground and cussed, so disappointed to have placed themselves in a situation where their hearts almost jumped out in fear, only to be told later that everything was a joke. Others just giggled, infecting others with their laughters. So what if they went into action, they were rewarded anyway with a sumptous dinner buffet?

Few others who knew the real story, sympathized with Ajie, including Dino and Allie's parents. Their hearts were rent in two as they saw him slumped down in the dark, stiffling his urge to sob. He watched the video from the very beginning without blinking and saw Hayri's declaration of his love for his now ex-wife. He may had not heard Allie saying 'yes' to him, but he knew she would...soon. He gave up on her due to his anger and that couldn't be simply undone. All he could do at the moment was to break down and cry.

Remembering the presence of her parents-in-law, he went to talk to them despite his heavy heart. "Ma, Pa, go up with Dino. I'll be leaving ahead."

"No, son. We are going with you,"

said Allie's mother who instantly rubbed his back to comfort him. They may had not known the whole story yet but Ajie was a good son to them. They believed that he had a good reason to file for the annulment, Allie had left and was unheard for almost six years after all.

"I need to be alone, Ma, Pa. Please, go. Allie would be happier to see you there."

Allie's parents understood that he needed privacy so they no longer insisted.They looked at Dino who felt helpless, himself, on how to deal with the situation. He was happy for Allie but he was also hurting for Ajie. He may had not known the reason for their marriage annulment but he could feel his pain at the moment and his fear when he first came to ask for his help.

"Nay, Tay, I cannot allow Ajie to go home alone in his emotional state right now. Just please go up with the team while we will go down and head home."

Allie's parents finally agreed after some time of convincing. They took turns in hugging and assuring Ajie while sniffling in their tears before they left him in Dino's company.

The moment they disappeared, Ajie ran towards the foot of the slope despite the pitch darkness while Dino was following. He seemed to disregard the possibility that he could stumble upon a rock or fall into a pit. All he wanted at the moment was to unleash an energy in order to calm out his raging emotion. As soon as he felt safe from the video monitoring, he dropped himself to the ground and wailed.