Game Over

Chapter 60

Chapter 60

Instead of going back to the condo, mas inuna kong pumunta kina Achilles. I did call him to tell him na papunta na ako doon. He asked me kung tungkol saan ang pag-uusapan namin. I told him that it's probably better kung hindi maririnig ni Mauro iyong usapan namin.

So, here we are, in a fucking playground. Kaming dalawa lang ang tao dito dahil madaling araw na. It was cold. Wala akong dalang jacket. Achilles gave me the jacket he was wearing. I thanked him.

"Achilles," I called. Naka-tingin siya sa 'kin. "I'm pregnant."

"How should I respond?" he asked.

"You can congratulate me," I told him.

He gave me a small nod. "Congrats," sabi niya.

"Thank you," I replied with a small smile.

I want this baby. I really do. But I also know that I want to keep this baby's father safe. I didn't want to raise this baby alone. Hindi ko kaya. Hindi ko gusto. Kung may mangyaring masama kay Lui, I knew deep down in my soul that I would—

No, let's not even go there, Tali.

Hindi makukulong si Lui.

"I'm here because I need your help," I told him. "I know I'm asking for a lot already."

"It's fine," he replied. "Ano'ng kailangan mo sa 'kin?"

I drew a deep breath before I told him about the conversation I had with Iñigo earlier. Tahimik na nakikinig lang sa akin si Achilles. I knew that I made the right decision by going here. Achilles and I, we're both in the same boat. Alam ko na gagawin niya lahat para kay Mauro. Kung may makaka-intindi man sa gagawin ko, siya 'yon.

"He's lost his mind, don't you agree?" sabi ko nang matapos ako sa pagku-kwento.

Bahagya siyang umiling. "Not at all," sabi niya. "I think this is the first admirable thing he did in his life."

Bahagyang napaawang iyong labi ko. Wow... they really do not like each other.

"I understand why he wants to do that. I also understand where you're coming from."

Humigpit iyong hawak ko sa hawakan ng swing. "Ni hindi mo pa nga alam iyong gagawin ko."

"Something illegal," he said.

Napa-tingin ako sa gawi niya. "What?"

"I've considered that," sabi niya. "I've considered doing a lot of things because of this case. Iyong mga bagay na kapag narinig ni Mauro, iisipin niya na nagbago na ako. I've always been a stickler for rules—just do as the law says and abide by it. But how can we win if the people we're going against do not have any rules they follow?"

I let out the breath that I'd been holding in.

"I don't want to do this," I said.

"End justifies the means."

I let out a worried chuckle. "Shouldn't it be the end doesn't justify the means?"

"Not when you're dealing with the Villamontes, no," he said. "It's like... doing bad things for good reasons."

"I don't know you very well, pero parang sasabihin ko rin iyong sinabi ni Mauro na nagbago ka na."

"Hindi ba ikaw din?" balik-tanong niya. "Would the old you consider doing anything that's not by the books?"

Hindi agad ako naka-sagot.

"Is it more ethical to let them go free? To let them hurt more people?" Achilles asked to my silence that's been engulfing us.