Play The Game (COMPLETED)

Chapter 28

#PTG28 Chapter 28

My chest was heaving as he stared at me, waiting for me to tell him about what happened that night. Sinubukan kong ibuka ang bibig ko, pero walang salita ang gustong lumabas. Hindi ko alam kung paano sasabihin... Ayokong sabihin. Ayokong marinig niya kung ano ang nangyari sa akin.

I didn't want him to know how miserable I was.

I didn't want to do this to know.

I didn't know if he still loves me... but if he did... even if he still had the faintest feelings for me... I didn't want to risk hurting him again.

"What happened?" he repeated.

Muling ipinikit ko ang mga mata ko. I knew he wouldn't let this go. And I didn't want to tell him what happened.

"I don't think you'd want to hear this."

Jax pulled the chair and sat down. Parang gusto niya akong tunawin sa paraan ng pagtingin niya. Parang gusto niya akong saktan sa lamig ng bawat titig.

"I'm here as your lawyer, Mrs. Ramirez," he said, plunging a knife deep within my heart again. Agad na nakaramdam ako ng sakit nang tawagin niya akong ganoon. Paulit-ulit. "I'm not here as your ex... not even as your friend. Let's be professional."

Pilit akong ngumiti. "Right. I'm sorry."

"I'll ask you again. Please narrate what happened that night. Do not skip details. We need to get everything to strengthen your defense."

Hindi ko mabilang kung ilang segundo ang lumipas bago ko nagawang simulan ang kwento. Hindi ko mabilang kung ilang beses kong sinabihan ang sarili ko na kaya ko. Na okay lang sabihin sa kanya. Pero sa ilang beses na iyon, ilang beses din akong naduwag.

"Hindi... hindi ko alam kung saan magsisimula."

Jax pursed his lips. His hands were resting on the table. His eyes bored a hole in my being. I couldn't recognize him anymore. He's so... cold. Gone was the gentleness that I loved about him. He now looked menacing.

"Let's start from the beginning."

Huminga ako nang malalim. "Simula... simula nung nagkakilala kami ni Kier? O simula nung gabing iyon?"

Pinapanood ko ang bawat galaw niya. May takot sa puso ko na baka ito na 'yung huling pagkikita namin. Baka talikuran niya akong muli pagkatapos kong sabihin lahat. Hindi ko alam. Pero baka. Gusto ko lang sulitin bawat segundo na nandito siya. Baka huli na 'to.

"Simula nung nagkakilala kayo," simple niyang sabi. Ni wala akong mabakas na emosyon sa boses niya. Baka nga tama siya. Isa lang akong kliyente para sa kanya. I was but another soul waiting to be saved by him. I was just but another story he'd hear.

I was not special anymore.

"I first met him when we—" sabi ko pero bigla akong natigilan. I didn't want to reminisce my memories with him. Baka mapalitan ng lungkot. Baka kung ano ang sabihin niya. I safely tucked those inside a small part of my mind. I wanted to keep them safe. They were the ones that kept me sane through these years.

"I first met him when I went to Laoag for a party," I rephrased. His eyes remained the same. I was just another story. He didn't care. "I attended the party because my parents wanted me to meet Arlo—iyong dapat papakasalan ko. Kier... he was there. I talked to him first there."

I could see how his chest rise and fell. But his face remained neutral. I wanted to beg just to see a glimpse of emotions cross his eyes.

"I didn't see him after."

"When did you see him again?"

My lips quivered. I didn't know how I'd tell him this. I didn't know how I'd tell him that he's the reason why I met him again.