Game Over

Chapter 36

Chapter 36

I've got my iced coffee with me, so how bad can my first day be... right? But gosh, it was so hectic! Pagtapak ko pa lang sa office, inendorse na sa akin lahat ng pending cases na kailangan kong basahin kasi ako ang magrerecommend either may probable cause or for dismissal siya. So, that was my whole morning. Tapos mamaya, may schedule na ako na tatlong inquest. I was so excited but also, kinakabahan ako. Kasi ganito ba talaga sa prosecution? Wala man lang welcome—as in tinapon ako agad sa gitna ng labanan.

"What's up?" sabi ko nung makita ko na tumatawag siya. Normally, I wouldn't answer his call kasi personal call 'yon... but it's lunch break. Pagod na pagod ako. Gusto ko lang naman marinig iyong boses ng boyfriend ko.

"Have you eaten lunch?" he asked.

Natigilan ako. I was so busy that I forgot na hindi pa pala ako kumakain kung hindi pa tumawag sa akin si Lui nung lunch break.

"Thought so," he said nung hindi agad ako naka-sagot. "I'm ordering food for you."

"Wait, ngayon na?"

"Yes."

"Wag na," sabi ko sa kanya. "Aalis na rin ako in a while. May inquest proceeding ako. Bibili na lang ako ng sandwich on the way."

Ito iyong panahon na iniisip ko na sana ay naka-FaceTime kami kasi gusto kong makita iyong expression sa mukha ni Lui. Like naka-kunot ba iyong noo niya kasi pasaway ako? Nagwoworry ba siya kasi hindi pa kumakain iyong girlfriend niya? Gusto kong makita iyong mukha niya, but I knew that that could be a slippery slope. Kasi after ko makita iyong mukha niya, gugustuhin ko na makita siya in person.

"Pero... pano mo nalaman na 'di pa ako kumakain?" I asked to fill in the silence kahit sandali pa lang naman 'yon.

"Because I know you," he replied.

Napa-arko iyong kilay ko. "Really?" I asked because I wasn't buying his response. Hindi pa naman kami naging magka-trabaho ni Lui. For all he knows, tamad pala ako at bare minimum lang ang ginagawa ko sa trabaho.

"Yes," he said. "Back in legal clinic, sometimes, when you get so engrossed in the case that you'll forget to eat because you're too busy reading on the pertinent laws."

I pursed my lips and scrunched up my nose. "Ikaw, ha... pinapanood mo ako dati?" tukso ko sa kanya.

"Always," he replied and ang gwapo ng boses niya sa isip ko. Grabe lang talaga. "Told you—I always had my eyes on you."

"Alam mo ikaw..."

"What?"

I clicked on my tongue. "Wala, wala," sabi ko sa kanya. "Thanks for checking up on me, pero aalis na talaga ako in a while. Ang dami kong ginagawa saka tambak iyong kaso dito," dugtong ko habang naka-tingin sa mga bookshelf na punung-puno ng folders and envelopes. Grabe... ang daming pending. I made a mental note na ayusin agad iyon as fast as humanly possible. Kawawa naman kasi iyong mga naka-kulong dahil lang 'di umuusad iyong kaso nila.

"Alright," he replied. "Dinner later?"

Napa-tingin ulit ako sa may bundok na pendings. I really wanted to fix that mess, but I knew I couldn't get that done in a day. Deserve ko naman makipagdate siguro, but promise after nitong dinner with Lui to commemorate my first day in the prosecution, babasahin ko na iyong pending cases.

"Alright. Bye na talaga. See you later," I said at saka binabaan ko agad siya ng tawag dahil baka tumagal na naman iyong usapan namin.

On my way to the precinct for the inquest proceedings, naka-receive ako ng message from Lui reminding me to buy my sandwich. Independent girl naman ako, but iba pa rin kapag may ibang nag-aalaga sa 'yo. Lui really makes me happy, so I really hope that I make him happy, too.