Hate The Game (COMPLETED)

Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Bahagyang naka-kunot iyong noo niya na para bang nagulat siya sa pagtawag ko sa kanya. Magkakilala kaming dalawa, pero hindi kami close. Sure, we'd say hi, hello kapag nagkakasalubong kami, but it probably threw him off a little nang kausapin ko siya bigla. Kahit man ako ay nagulat at naguluhan sa sarili ko.

"I mean... yes, sure," sabi niya. "Is this work-related or hindi naman?" tanong niya sa akin habang hawak niya pa rin iyong mug niya. Kitang-kita ko iyong usok na nanggagaling doon.

"Work," sagot ko pagkatapos kong huminga nang malalim. It felt good. I felt like I needed that.

Bahagya siyang tumango. "I see," he replied. "I have a meeting in 20 minutes. Are you available to meet tomorrow?"

Tumango ako. "Yes."

"Okay. What time?"

"Lunch?"

"Lunch," he repeated what I said. "Is this about..." Huminto siya at tinignan akong mabuti. "Is this about a case?"

Tumango ako. "I think you know what we're talking about."

Bahagya ulit siyang tumango. "I see," muling sabi niya. "Probably lunch outside isn't the best idea."

"Agreed," sabi ko. "So, saan tayo magkikita?"

"Dito na lang, if it's alright with you?"

Tumango ako. "I'll see you tomorrow," sabi ko bago bahagyang ngumiti sa kanya at tumalikod. It was only when I was certain that I was already out of his eyeline that I felt my knees buckling. Agad akong napa-hawak sa may pader malapit sa elevator. "What the fuck was I thinking?" bulong ko sa sarili ko habang pilit na humihinga nang maayos.

Shit.

I just arranged to meet with Samuel's lawyer—I was pretty sure at this point na siya nga iyong abogado ni Samuel. Iñigo wouldn't lie to me. After nung nanyari sa kanila ni Kitty, I knew that he promised to himself na hindi na siya gagawa ng 'ganon.' He never actually defined what 'ganon' was but for some reason, we all understood what he meant. I knew that when he said those things, he really was looking out for me.

Okay.

Kaya ko 'to.

Dumiretso ako pabalik sa opisina. I finished my other works first. I kept on reminding myself that I shouldn't let myself get too sucked in the drama. This was just work—yes, this was their life, but for me, it's just my work. Pagkatapos nito ay babalik din ako sa dati kong buhay. I really needed to draw the line and respect the line.

"Hi, sorry for calling you so late," sabi ko nung sumagot si Shanelle sa tawag ko. It was already 11PM. Nandito pa rin ako sa opisina. Kaka-tapos ko lang sa ibang mga deliverables ko kaya naman ngayon ko pa lang inaayos iyong sa kanya.

"It's fine," sagot niya. "Why?"

"You said that you just want people out of your business, right?"

"Yes."

"You don't mind kung ma-grant iyong annulment?"

Hindi siya naka-sagot agad.

"You're doing it," she said, instead.

"I am."

"Did they agree?"

"Hindi pa, but I already set a meeting with Samuel's lawyer."

"Oh, so you've met with Yago."

"So, alam mo na siya iyong lawyer all along?"

"No. Just a hunch."