IN THE CAGE

33. FAMILIAR FACE

...FAWN...

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Basically, to be honest, I was a country girl who didn't have many acquaintances in the city. When I was 14, my sickly mother received help from a kind of free medical program created by the Rashid family. That help was the first time I got to know about Miss Indira's family. I'm very grateful for their help, of course, but mother's illness doesn't mean it's gone. We were forced to move to the city to get treatment with better technology.

Rashid's family has never gone out of hand in providing us with help. They even gave me a free scholarship to join the academy. I was very grateful and very helped so I was determined to devote my services, my advantages that might not be much to this family. So, that was my first start training my martial skills before joining as Miss Indira's bodyguard.

I always try hard to train my abilities, to be superior to others, to be the sharpest weapon or at the very least, to be the strongest shield is my mission-my mission. That determination made me never think about socializing with others. I did not get acquainted with my peers and only thought of how to improvise my skills. It was only when I started working in the Rashid family that I started to get acquainted with some other bodyguards.

My limitations in socializing since the age of 15 made me not know many people. Because of that limitation, even though I was outside, I still found it difficult to find a familiar face. I don't know anybody.

"Well, it's very crowded here." Miss Margot who was following us behind voiced somewhat reluctantly as we stepped inside the Arcade. The loud sounds of laughter along with the music from the game machine mingled in the air. Fluorescent lights sparkled everywhere.

I who was walking beside Ace had given up looking for a familiar face that might help me.

I mean, look.we're at the arcade. The arcade was the last place I could find a familiar face. Most of my acquaintances are serious people and do not like to waste time in a boisterous place like this.

"When was the last time we went to the Arcade?" Jem stepped forward and stood beside me. I thought he was asking Ace, so I shut up.

"Last time, it's been a while" Ace said.

Wew, I don't know Ace used to play in the Arcade? The man looks like an office worker who only knows about accountants and bar charts.

"How about you, Fawn, when was the last time you were here?" Ace asked.

"Eitherway. Maybe three months ago." While working under Miss Indira, we often go to this place. Not because Miss Indira likes to play, but because she gives us free time to have fun. As long as we play, Miss Indira will sit back and relax while enjoying the large slurpee.

"Huh, you don't look like the kind of girl who likes to have fun in the mall."

"You don't know me at all."

"Don't fight, we're just here." Margot interjected the distance between me and Ace and grabbed us both shoulders. "What if we start playing?"

Well, that's a good idea. Besides, since I'm already here, I should make the best use of my time to let go of my boredom.

"Then, let's go there..." I pointed to the basketball venue and without waiting for Ace, I pulled the man towards the eight rows of cabinets that provided each room for one player. Ace followed me with a heavy step.

"I think we're going bowling" he lamented as soon as we got in front of the basket. A digital score in the ring indicates the highest score is 40.

I picked up one ball while training my hand to throw. Handcuffed with Ace made my movements obstructed and this was not at all pleasant. "Please cooperate, I want to beat his highest score before bowling."

Ace looked at me with ambiguous sparkling eyes. Maybe he's surprised I rule him as I please, but whatever.Today is my free day.

"Aces?" I looked back at him while jerking the handcuffs in my hands. "Pay ticket?"

"Tsk, okay!" Ace with an objection-voice following what I want. That feels funny. I held back my smile when I saw him inevitably standing next to me.

Feel, today I will make you suffer until you want to die!

Intentionally, I jerked my hand and his hand. I picked up the ball and started throwing it in the ring.

I played with ambition. No matter the obstruction of the weight of the Ace hand, I picked up every ball that rolled down and threw it into the ring. Until finally the timer listed above the digital score falls on zero. I stopped playing and saw my score only reach 34.

"Damn it, is the engine broken?" I complained of not believing. My feelings, I'm very good at this game. I've even reached score 43 before.

"Well, are you satisfied now?" Ace connect. "The machine's not broken, you're just lousy."

"Who you say sucks, repeat once again." I'm not gonna let this go.

"What?" Ace raised his eyebrows, eyes looking at me in disbelief.

"Do it one more time, I don't trust the machine." I won't stop until I beat his highest score.

"What about the other games?"

"Aces?"

If you take me out, at least don't be stingy. Let's swipe that card one more time, motherfucker!

"Alright, alright. Don't glare at me." Ace rolled his eyes and obeyed me. Round two the game starts again, and again, and again and again.

24, 30, 36, 27...

"What the fuck?" I didn't think at all. Why do I keep my scores low? Is my performance declining?

Seeing the veins appear on the man's temple, I swallowed my intention to repeat the game.

"Forget it, this game is not fun at all." I threw the ball in my hand into the basket. My eyes dodged Ace's sharp gaze and turned to my red wrist. Thanks to the jolts and pulls that occur during the game, blisters begin to appear there.

"I don't know you're the kind of person who's very ambitious at play." Ace was talking next to me as we headed for another game machine. I looked at him briefly before laughing.

"My friends say I'm not fun to play with because I don't want to lose."

"I can understand. You can make me fall poor just for playing here."

"Are you complaining about money now? I thought the Hunter family was a wealthy family in the North." I said it like I was mocking him.

"I'm just kidding" Ace chimed in with a witty tone. "I can buy you this place if I want to."

"Believe it, then" I challenged him.

"Are you willing to pay in exchange?"

Ace's words instantly made me take a step away from him. My eyes glanced at him with disgust. This perverted man, without saying anything in detail, I already understood what the black head contained. Totally ridiculous.

"Forget it, I'm not interested in this place. I don't expect anything from you either." Other than freedom, of course, I didn't expect anything from Ace.

"You're wrong this way is pretty adorable, isn't it? Don't you feel like we should have been through this process a long time ago? When are you gonna get used to me?" Ace again decided the distance between us and stood too close.

I glanced left and right uncomfortably. This place is the zone of children and teenagers, he shouldn't be acting like this! Why is this guy's brain so dirty?

"Ace.." I complained as I pushed him away. Damn, that man is fusing steel! "Do you know shame?"

"Why? What should make me feel ashamed?"

"You're disgusting" I avoided Ace's gaze and continued to throw my face away until I heard Ace's bluntness near my ear.

"Did you know your face turns so red when you're embarrassed?"

What is the importance of that information?

"I don't know. I don't look at it every time I'm embarrassed." I pushed Ace away from me, and this time, he backed off willingly. Putting aside our fingers that were still in chains, Ace then took me away to another game machine.

We danced, killed zombies, hit rats, measured strong punches, played basketball once again, then went to the bowling area.

Miss Margot and Jem were bowling when we came. Both of them waved their hands with a carefree smile.

I glanced at Ace and frowned, "Are they dating?" ask suddenly. My curiosity took over my sanity. Shit, why do I care?

"No, it couldn't have happened" said Ace, he headed to the sofa and pulled me to sit with him. We sat side by side while doing stretches. I was so tired after playing here.

Sweat drenched my face and to be honest, I was thirsty.

"Vera" Ace suddenly called out to Vera who was standing by the door. Vera wasn't the only bodyguard who accompanied us. If I count our numbers when we leave, there are about 15 bodyguards covering us from all directions. They mingled in the crowd until it was not detected at all.

"What's Ace's boss?" Vera came to say hello.

"Get us a cold drink." Ace said.

"Good boss." Vera responded and retreated from before us.

Seeing Vera, I became concerned. I followed Vera's departure and then...

Miss Indira?

My eyes caught a very familiar figure in the distance. He stepped up with elegance and an elegant smile.

Just then, like finding a rope of hope at the bottom of a dark well, I stood up spontaneously and...

"Miss Indira!!!" My screams come off loud.

I expected to be conveyed to her because the next second, I felt a powerful blow on my neck and my gaze turned dark.

...Miss Indira, save me!...

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