Hate The Game (COMPLETED)

Chapter 40

Chapter 40

"What?" tanong ko kay Shanelle nang ilang segundo na ay nakatingin pa rin siya sa akin. I knew I should've stayed outside at hinintay ko na lang sila na matapos mag-usap. I knew that that was the logical and rational thing to do. I was here for work; I was here as a professional. But I also knew that it was just prolonging what was meant to happen—I would meet Samuel's mother eventually. She would hate me in front of my face eventually. I just made the easier decision. At least dito, si Shanelle lang ang makakakita ng reaksyon ko.

It's fucked up—we're not even friends pero parang siya iyong nakakaalam ng lahat ng mga bagay na kung pwede lang, isasarili ko na lang.

"Nothing," sagot niya habang bahagyang umiling.

I forced a nod, too. We both knew that it was not nothing, but neither of us wanted to discuss it—at least not right now.

"Why are you here again?" she asked.

"Right," sabi ko nang maalala ko iyong dahilan kung bakit nandito ako. I wanted to tell her that usually, kliyente ang pumupunta sa abogado para magtanong ng progress ng kaso. But I digress—iba nga pala itong sitwasyon namin ni Shanelle. We're in some fucked up situation na akala ko noon ay sa telenobela ko lang mapapanood. Sino ba namang gago ang papayag na maging abogado ng asawa ng ex mo sa annulment case? Ako na yata iyong pinaka-gagang lawyer.

"May trial date na," dugtong ko.

Tumango siya. "Is everything prepared?"

"Kailangan nating ipasa iyong affidavit five days before the trial," sabi ko sa kanya. "Basahin mo ulit bago ko ipasa."

"Do I really have to?" she asked.

Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ko. "Of course, you have to," I told her because we've gone this far para magkamali pa kami. We already began dragging Samuel's reputation through the mud—worse, permanently destroy his relationship with his family. And if I knew anything about Samuel, mahalaga sa kanya iyong pamilya niya. That's why it fucking haunts me na gamitin iyong grounds na iyon knowing that it would reopen wounds that have probably never healed yet.

Hindi agad nakapagsalita si Shanelle.

"What are you thinking?" tanong ko sa kanya. She looked at me, but a minute passed and I heard nothing. "For fuck's sake," medyo naiinis na sabi ko sa kanya, "I know you're paying me, Shanelle, but help me here. Abogado mo ako—hindi ako magician. Hindi ko mabibigay sa 'yo 'yung gusto mo kung lagi kang nagwiwithhold mula sa akin."

"I'm sorry," she said. Ngayon ko lang yata narinig ang mga salita na 'yan mula sa kanya.

"Nag-iba na ba ang isip mo?" I asked.

Kung magbago man ang isip niya, hindi ito iyong unang beses na nakita kong nangyari 'yan. The annulment proceeding is a long and tedious process—tumatagal ng taon. And a lot can happen in a year. Pwedeng maubusan ng pera, maubusan ng pasensya, o magkabalikan.

"No," sabi niya na bahagyang umiling.

"Then what?"

"Samuel's mom... And my dad..." sabi niya at huminga nang malalim. "I just wish I could give no fucks."

Hindi ako nagsalita. Sabi nila, kung wala kang magandang sasabihin, 'wag ka na lang magsalita. Wala akong magandang sasabihin.

"Too late now para magsisi," I told her. "I'll send you the draft bago ko ipasa. I'll also discuss with Yago iyong tungkol sa psych evaluation para klaro lahat," dugtong ko. "And next time, magreply ka sa email ko," I added dahil ayoko nang bumalik pa dito sa opisina niya dahil kung sinu-sino ang nakakasalubong ko.