Game Over

Chapter 49

Chapter 49

Kinailangan kong tanggalin lahat ng papel na naka-dikit sa pader ng condo ko dahil baka isipin nila Achilles at Lui na nasiraan na ako ng bait. We agreed to meet today to talk about what would happen. I suggested that we meet elsewhere, but Lui told us that we'll meet in my unit. He said it in such a way that there was nothing that I could do but to agree.

I was fidgeting while waiting for them. Nalinis ko na iyong condo. Then I was reminded na walang pagkain dito bukod sa kape dahil kape na lang ata ang dumadaloy sa mga ugat ko. I debated on ordering food, pero naisip ko na baka matagal pa iyong dumating. There was a pizza place nearby. Doon na lang ako bibili.

I wore a black bike shorts, white shirt, and black baseball cap. Napaawang iyong labi ko nang makita ko si Lui na nasa loob ng elevator nung bumukas 'yon. He was wearing a dark blue denim jeans, white polo shirt, at saka iyong kunot sa noo niya na parang permanente ng parte ng mukha niya.

"Bibili lang ako ng pagkain," I told him kahit wala naman siyang sinabi. The scowl on his face was enough for me to explain.

I got inside the elevator. Tumingin ako sa kanya dahil imbes na lumabas ay pinindot niya ground floor button. I guess he's coming with me.

Tahimik lang kaming naglalakad, pero napansin ko na patingin-tingin siya sa paligid. I guess he's as paranoid as me.

"Do you think they'll gun us down in the middle of broad daylight?" I asked.

"Did you think they'd gun down a van full of people in broad daylight?" he asked back.

Hindi ako naka-sagot sa sinabi niya. Hanggang ngayon, may parte pa rin sa utak ko na hindi maka-paniwala na may mga tao na kayang gumawa ng ganong bagay. I knew they'd do anything to protect Arthur's name... but to that extent?

Akala ko may limit lahat ng bagay—apparently, the limit doesn't apply to everyone.

Hindi na ako nagsalita hanggang sa makarating kami sa pizza place. I ordered two boxes at nung babayaran ko na, napa-tingin ako kay Lui nung biglang iabot niya iyong credit card niya. Bahagyang naka-kunot ang noo ko, pero naka-tingin lang siya sa akin na para bang wala lang iyong ginawa niya.

Naglakad si Lui papunta sa isang gilid at naupo doon sa two-seater na pwesto. Naglakad din ako papunta roon at naupo sa may harapan niya. I looked at him. I was reluctant if I'd say anything because he didn't look like he's in the mood to talk about anything—let alone argue with me dahil lagi namang doon nauuwi ang usapan namin.

"Do you think they know na kinolekta mo lahat ng files na 'yon?" I asked to fill in the silence.

"No," he replied. I still just looked at him. I didn't know how to ask when he already gave me more than I could ask for. "I've had those files in a while."

"For what?" I asked, unable to hold back.

"Blackmail," he replied like it was just normal for him to do.

"Again, for what?"

He leaned back and crossed his arms as he looked directly into my eyes. "To blackmail them," he replied. "I'm sure they have something similar against me, too."

"Like what?" I asked.

He shrugged. "Who knows? And who cares?"

"Really? You don't care about anything enough para ma-blackmail ka nila?"

"My family can handle themselves."

I gave him a short nod. "Right... Your family," sabi ko nang maalala ko na naman iyong mga nabasa ko sa file na binigay niya sa 'kin. "Is that the reason why you went to law school instead of med school?"