Hate The Game (COMPLETED)

Chapter 42

Chapter 42

I hadn't heard anything from Samuel—not that I wanted to. Busy ako sa ibang kaso ko. Busy ako sa buhay ko. I mean, it's nothing new. I have a whole life without him. Took me quite a while to reach this point kasi aminado naman ako na nung kami pa sa law school, I made him a part of my life.

Kasi ganon naman talaga kapag first love, 'di ba? Akala mo kayo na talaga. Gusto mo kayo na talaga.

Tapos biglang papasok si reality.

Na sa relasyon, hindi pwede 'yung puro feelings.

Kasi kami ni Samuel? Wala naman akong duda na minahal talaga namin iyong isa't-isa. Pero hindi naman sapat na mahal lang namin iyong isa't-isa. Ang daming naging problema. Problema na hindi sinabi. Problema na pilit tinago.

Hanggang sa isang araw, biglang alam mo na.

Na ayaw mo na pala.

"What?" I asked nang kumatok si Tel sa pinto ko at buksan 'yon.

"May gusto po kayong makausap... pero wala kasi sa calendar niyo."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Sino daw?"

"Mrs. Fortalejo daw po."

"Si Shanelle?" I asked, a bit confused dahil hindi naman niya ginagamit iyong apelido ni Samuel. Besides, that one would barge in my office kahit wala siyang appointment.

"Hindi po... Matanda na, e."

I felt my heart dropping from my chest.

Shit.

Bakit siya nandito?

Gusto kong sabihin na lang kay Tal na paalisin iyong nanay ni Samuel, pero hindi ko magawa. She just suffered from a heart attack. I didn't want to do anything that will cause her stress.

"Okay," I said. "Tell her... tell her meron pa akong kausap but that I will see her in a minute."

I grabbed my phone and quickly dialed Samuel's number. He answered in the first ring na para bang inaabangan niya ang tawag ko.

"Dea—" he said and then stopped himself. "Atty. Manjarrez."

"Nandito iyong nanay mo," mabilis na sabi ko sa kanya.

"What?"

"She's here and she wants to talk to me," I told him. "Can you go here and get her?" I asked him.

I knew Samuel's mom from his stories from before. I knew she's a devout Catholic. I knew of her stance and of her beliefs. Kung dati pa siguro kami nagkita, kaya kong pigilin iyong sarili ko. But it's different now. It's my work now. Nakita ko kung paano naghihirap iyong mga tao na nakulong sa kasal nila. Na para bang preso iyon na hindi sila makalaya.

Marriage is not some life sentence.

And I knew na ganon ang tingin doon ng nanay ni Samuel. Kasi ganon ang sinabi niya kay Shanelle. Na kasal na silang dalawa kaya dapat magpasensya si Shanelle kay Samuel.

I wouldn't be able to stop myself if she tells me all of that nonsense.

"Okay," Samuel replied. "Just please—"

"I will try my best," I told him kahit hindi pa niya tapos ang sasabihin niya. I blame this on us being together for a long time. Na kahit hindi pa tapos ang sinasabi niya, para bang alam ko na kung ano iyon. It was a blessing then... but it much certainly felt like a curse now.

"Okay," he said in resignation.

When I ended the call, agad akong humugot ng malalim na hininga. I needed to be extra patient today. I mean, alam ko naman kung saan nanggagaling iyong nanay ni Samuel. She's religious, I understand that. But I feel like you being religious isn't a license to force your beliefs on someone else. Kasi 'di ba sila nga nagagalit kapag kinu-kwestyon iyong paniniwala nila? So, why not extend the same courtesy to others? Respect them kung gusto nila magpa-annul. Seriously, the world would be a much better place if we'll all stop imposing our beliefs on other people.