Hate The Game (COMPLETED)

Chapter 31

Chapter 31

"I had enough of this cat and mouse game you're playing unilaterally, Shanelle," diretsong sabi ko sa kanya nang dumating siya sa opisina ko. I sent her an email demanding her presence here. I didn't have the nerve to ask Samuel tungkol sa kaso—kung na-file na ba 'yon, kung sino ang abogado niya, kung ano na ba iyong status. But I didn't want to come unprepared. Ngayon pa lang ay gusto ko nang simulan. Pero kung hindi siya tutulong, ano bang choice ang meron ako? I'd rather work triple time para sa ibang kaso kaysa dito na para akong tanga na hindi alam ang gagawin.

"Can I?" she asked as she showered me a box of cigarette. So, she smokes... Who would've thought?

Umiling ako. "My office is a non-smoking area," I told her. Ayokong pumunta sa korte na amoy usok ng sigarilyo iyong mga dokumento ko.

"Too bad," sabi niya na bahagyang natawa. "I can really use a stick right now."

"Bakit? Stressed ka?"

"Very."

"Well, imagine my stress, Shanelle. You hired my service yet hindi ko alam kung ano ang gusto mong mangyari. Gusto mo bang magmukha tayong tangang dalawa dahil hindi ko alam kung ano ang nilalaban natin?"

"I thought I'd been clear."

"You want the annulment dismissed," sagot ko sa kanya.

"Yes."

"But you two are legally separated."

Bahagya siyang natawa. "I keep on forgetting that Samuel told you about that..." sabi niya habang naka-tingin sa mga mata ko. "My assistant said that you went to my office the other day?"

Umayos ako ng upo. "Yes."

Bakit ba ako nagulat? Halos parang mga bata kaming naghahabulan doon. Parang tanga. Bakit kasi ako hinahabol. Kung kailan ako tumatakbo, at saka ako hinabol. Kahit na taon naman na nanatili lang ako sa kinatatayuan ko.

"Naka-usap mo si Samuel?" she asked. I remained silent and instead, just stared at her. "Oh, come on. Tell me. Ikaw na rin ang may sabi na legally separated na kami."

"Care to tell me why?"

She shrugged as she crossed her legs. "Just one day, he came to me and said that he wanted out."

"Really?" I asked because that didn't sound like Samuel. Kasi kahit nung kami iyong naghiwalay, he's been very fucking clear why—painfully fucking honest, even. I just couldn't believe that he'd just want out without giving so much as an explanation.

But maybe I should stop comparing notes—iba iyong relasyon namin noon sa kasal nila.

"Yes, why? Is that unbelievable?"

"No, not really," I told her. "But you're still hiding things from me."

Bahagyang natawa siya. "I really need to smoke, Atty. If you're going to ask such questions, I need to finish maybe a pack."

Napailing na lang ako habang tumatayo. Sinundan niya ako hanggang makarating kami sa dulo ng hallway. Mayroon doong fire exit. Binuksan ko iyong pinto at doon kami naka-tayong dalawa. She was taller than me. She was built like a model. I'd admit that she's a very attractive person... minus all the lying and being secretive.

"Can I?" tanong niya habang hawak iyong isang pack ng sigarilyo niya.

Tumango ako. "Kaya mong ubusin 'yan?"

She shrugged as she lit up a stick. "I'm trying to cut back... but Samuel's making it impossible," she said as she smiled and then began smoking. "Ask me," she continued. "I'll try my hardest to be as honest as possible."