Game Over

Chapter 44

Chapter 44

Admittedly, when I first heard about Vito's case, I thought he was insane for what he did. Kasi sino ba naman ang nasa matinong isip ang gagawin ang ginawa niya? Ang akuin iyong kaso na para sa iba? I thought he has lost his mind... until I met Assia.

One conversation with her and I understood why he did what he did—at kung bakit pati sina Niko ay para bang gagawin ang lahat para protektahan siya.

"You don't have to do this," I told Lui nang ihatid niya ako sa condo ko. "I can handle this case alone."

"Mas mabilis kapag tinulungan kita."

"Can't wait to get rid of me," I commented. He gave me a look that told me that he agreed with me. It stung a little, but I really couldn't blame him. Nasabihan na rin ako ng ibang kakilala ko na masakit ako magsalita. In my defense, I practice restraint... kaya kapag nakapagsalita na ako ng masama, it means that I already reached my limits. Kasi tao lang din naman ako na napipikon.

Inilagay ko sa lamesa iyong mga files sa kaso ni Assia. Shanelle couldn't wait to hand them over to me. May mga notes din doon na sinulat sina Niko at Sancho. They're all really trying to help.

"Lui," I called his attention dahil seryoso siyang nagbabasa. Napa-tingin siya sa akin. "Can I take a shower first?"

Bahagyang kumunot ang noo niya. "Nasa akin ba 'yung shampoo?" pilosopong sagot niya.

I rolled my eyes before I walked away. Naninibago ako sa ugali niya. Nung nag-away kami dati, formal naman siya kapag biglang nagkkrus ang landas namin. Sure, we weren't friendly, but he was never this hostile. At most, he'd pretend not to know me... In my opinion, mas okay ata iyon kaysa sa ganito na ang reflex niya ata ay ubusin ang pasensya ko.

I took a quick shower. Mas mabilis ako maka-labas ay mas mabilis din siyang aalis. I reminded myself over and over again to keep things professional kaya naman instead na nighties kagaya ng usual na sinusuot ko ay naka-pajama at sweater ako.

"Do you want coffee?" I asked as I walked out of the bedroom.

"No," he replied.

I merely shrugged as I walked towards the kitchen para gumawa ng kape. Habang hinihintay ko na matapos iyon ay muling napa-tingin ako sa lamesa. Nakita ko kung paano bahagyang naka-kunot ang noo niya habang binabasa niya iyong information. He's probably thinking on how to get Vito out on a technicality—his forte.

"I have a question," I told him. Napa-tingin siya sa akin. "Who do you think will win kung ako pa rin iyong may hawak sa kaso ni Revilla?"

"Why do you insist on doing this?" he asked.

"Insist on what?"

"Walking down the memory lane."

Bahagyang napa-awang ang labi ko. Hindi ako maka-sagot. Kasi ano ba ang isasagot ko doon?

It was like the universe got a whiff of the embarrassment that I was feeling dahil biglang tumigil sa pagbuhos iyong kape ko. Mabilis kong itinuon pabalik doon ang atensyon ko at nagpanggap na hindi ako napa-hiya sa sinabi ni Lui.

Why... was I doing that exactly?

I was the one who ended things with him.

Tahimik akong naglakad papunta sa may lamesa kung nasaan iyong mga papel. I quietly took my seat and placed my coffee on the table. I drew a deep breath and reminded myself once again to be professional.

"I heard Julia's the prosecutor," I said.

Lui nodded without looking at me. It's either he's focused on the case o ayaw niya lang akong tignan—both choices were plausible.