Game Over

Chapter 56

Chapter 56

I didn't know why I was holding my breath as I watched Iñigo walk and then stop in front of Lui. It was merely a few steps, yet it felt like forever. Every step he took felt like dagger that was being plunged into my chest.

Lui and I talked about this... we prepared for this...

But it's Iñigo.

I knew about what happened before with his friend. He managed to get her thrown in jail. If not for the last minute evidence, sigurado ako na nasa kulungan pa rin ngayon iyong kaibigan niya. The in denial part inside my head told me na professional lang talaga siya. Na kaya niyang ihiwalay iyong trabaho sa personal na nararamdaman niya. But I wasn't born yesterday. The Ramirez family was involved. And like the Villamontes family, they play dirty...

Kaya ano ang pinagkaiba ngayon?

"Mr. Valladares," panimula niya. I hated that I was holding my breath as I was waiting for his next words. Naka-tingin ako kay Lui. His face was... devoid of any emotion. That was good... right? He shouldn't be emotional. Mas maganda kung kalmado lang siya. He needed to be in control para hindi siya malito ni Iñigo sa mga tanong niya.

"Where did you attend school for your undergraduate studies?"

"St. Claire's," sagot ni Lui.

"And after that, you went to medical school, correct?"

"Yes."

"But you didn't finish, did you?"

"No, I did not."

"In fact, you come from a family of doctors, isn't that right?"

"Yes, that's correct."

"Yet you chose to leave medical school and pursue law instead. Why is that?"

Huminga ako nang malalim. "Objection, Your Honor. Relevance?" I asked although I already knew where Iñigo was heading with the line of questioning that he was doing.

I warned Lui that this would happen...

He assured me that he'll be fine.

But now that it's in the open? How could he be fine? Kung ako nga na mahal siya, nagawa siyang husgahan noon... paano pa iyong ibang mga tao na hindi naman siya kilala?

I just... wanted to shield him from everyone's judgment. But I would be a big hypocrite. Because wasn't I the very reason why he's here, basically admitting to all his crimes?

"Your Honor, I'm establishing the witness's background and potential motivations," kalmadong sagot ni Iñigo.

"I'll allow it. The witness may answer."

Lui threw me a quick look—as if he was trying to assure me that everything's fine, that everything's still under control... kahit na siya iyong nasa witness stand sa aming dalawa.

"I decided that law was a better fit for my personal interests and goals," sagot niya.

"During your time in law school, you became friends with some of the members of the Villamontes family, didn't you?"

"Yes, we were acquainted," maingat na sagot ni Lui.

But Iñigo wasn't done. "More than acquainted, Mr. Valladares. You were close friends, weren't you?"

Naka-tingin lang si Lui. Kalmado pa rin. Iniisip ang bawat salita na sasabihin niya. "We were friends, yes."

Dahan-dahang tumango si Iñigo. Wala siyang hawak na kung anumang papel. Kabisado lahat ng sasabihin at itatanong niya.