In Love With The Game (COMPLETED)

Chapter 00

#ILWTG00 Chapter 00

"What?" he asked.

I shook my head. "Nothing," I replied. I tried to be nonchalant as possible, but it seemed like the mere sight of my face was enough to make his jaw clench. Un-fucking-believable.

He was the one who left. 

He was the one who ended it. 

I was the one who begged him to stay. 

It seemed like he had something to say, but chose not to. He picked up his briefcase, and then began to walk away. Why was I even surprised? Dito naman siya magaling.

Umalis.

Mang-iwan.

"Yago," I called his name. I saw him halt, but he didn't even do me the courtesy of turning around.

I guess things really did change.

Because before, he was my biggest cheerleader.

He used to be my rock.

My anchor.

Now? It's all gone. Just like that.

Funny how relationships work. One day, you're everything... the next day, you're nothing.

"You knew..." I trailed. My chest began to tighten. My hands began to tremble. But I couldn't lose myself. Not now. Not in front of him.

But I needed not to continue myself because Yago did it for me.

"You knew how important this is for me," I said.

Dahan-dahan akong naglakad. I needed to see his face. I needed to look at him as I listen to his explanation. Kung paano niya nagawa sa 'kin 'to.

Because if he really did love me, he wouldn't do this to me.

Not this.

I pulled his arm, and made him face me.

"It's just work, Rory," he said like it shouldn't mean anything to me.

"You're so full of shit, Yago."

"And you're still so emotional, Rory," he replied as he peeled off my hand from his arm.

Gusto kong matawa. Iyong tao na dating pumo-protekta sa akin, siya na mismo iyong nananakit sa akin. Iyong tao na dating palaging nagpapa-ngiti sa akin, siya na mismo iyong dahilan ng pagpatak ng luha ko.

"When will you learn how to argue without getting emotional?" tanong niya habang naka-tingin sa mga mata ko. I stared at his eyes... maybe hoping that something's still there. Pero bakit ko ba sinasaktan ang sarili ko?

He was the one who left.

He was the one who broke me.

Pero bakit ako pa rin 'yung umaasa?

My shoulders began to shake.

My eyes began to water.

Wala na akong pakielam sa sasabihin niya. Gusto ko lang malaman kung bakit ginagawa niya 'to sa 'kin. Kasi alam niya. Alam niya kung gaano ka-importante 'to sa akin...

Mabilis na tumulo ang luha ko.

Pinabayaan ko.

Ano ba naman kung makita niya akong masaktan ng isang beses pa?

"Why?"

Ni hindi ko marinig iyong boses ko.

Pero gusto kong marinig iyong sagot niya.

Kung... paano niya nakakayang gawin sa 'kin 'to.

Yago stared at me. His eyes weren't the same as before. They weren't as warm as they used to; they didn't make me feel warm anymore.

Now, his stares made me feel cold.

And alone.

"It's just a job, Rory," he replied like it was just a task he needed to complete. "Don't put too much color in it.

"This is more than a job to me, and you know it," sabi ko habang mataman na naka-tingin sa mga mata niya.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit parang tanga akong naghahanap ng kung ano sa mga mata niya.

Baka naman tanga nga ako.

Na naghahanap ng bagay na matagal nang wala.

"Well, this is just a job to me, and you should know it," he replied like he didn't just break my heart again.

"Yago—"

"It's Atty. Ysmael Gomez de Liaño for you, Atty. Floresca," he replied. Nagsimula siyang maglakad pero para akong tanga na sumunod sa kanya. Wala akong pakielam kung maraming naka-tingin sa amin.

Kailangan kong malaman kung ano 'yung nangyari.

Kung bakit naging ganito. Kasi sabi niya sa 'kin dati, ako na raw. Na kami na raw.

Tapos biglang wala.

Iniwan niya ako sa ere.

Para niya akong sinaksak. Ng paulit-ulit. Ng walang dahilan.

"Bakit, Yago?" tanong ko sa kanya. Pilit ko siyang sinasabayan sa paglalakad niya. Pilit niya akong sinusubukan na iwan.

Then he stopped.

"Why do I need to explain myself to you?" he asked, looking me straight in the eye. "Ano ba kita?"

Three words.

Who knew three words were enough to break a person's heart?