Control The Game (COMPLETED)

Chapter 12

#CTG12 Chapter 12

"Si Katherine?" I asked upon arriving at the place where Katherine's parents' wake was held. Agad akong dumiretso dito nang marinig ko iyong nangyari. It took a couple of days before the wake was held because they still tried to search for the remains...

"Pinilit umuwi ni Jax kasi hindi pa natutulog," Rory replied.

We all seated in silence—no one wanted to say a word. Hindi ko rin alam ang gagawin ko... I knew I wanted to offer words of comfort, but I didn't know where to start. My mom died when I was young—I didn't even have any memory of her. I really didn't know the feeling of losing someone I love.

A little while later, Jax returned with Katherine. Her eyes were swollen from all the crying and Jax patiently stayed by her side. He was the one who talked to those who paid their respect. Tahimik lang akong naka-masid sa kanila, hindi alam ang gagawin. But even then, I knew that my presence was enough... Sometimes, words were not needed. It's enough that they know you're there.

"How's your summer?" Rory asked when we went out to get some air. It felt like it's been decided that we'd stay here for the entire night. It was the start of the school year, but that didn't matter. This was far more pressing.

"Okay naman," sagot ko.

"Yun lang? San ka buong summer?" she prodded even more.

I mere shrugged. I just spent the whole summer learning as much as I could from Atty. Cabo. He's really brilliant and though he asked too much from me, it's okay because I really learned a lot.

"Hey," Rory said when we saw Jax. There were bags under his eyes. He looked really tired. "Si Kitty?"

"Kausap ni Iñigo," he replied. He was holding a bottled water. Pinapanood ko lang iyong bawat paggalaw niya. I hadn't been able to talk to him, but he knew I'd been here... That he's my friend and if he needed anything, he could count on me.

Rory began to ask Jax and I was thankful. I couldn't do what she was doing. Tahimik lang ako na naka-tayo doon nang makita ko si Katherine at Iñigo sa isang gilid. My eyes watched every little movement. I knew there's nothing behind it—he was just being a friend... but I just didn't understand. Buong summer, ilang beses kong nakita na sinundo si Iñigo nung Gracey... But looking at this, it seemed like Iñigo still had feelings for Katherine.

Maybe I really did make the right decision.

I didn't need that kind of complication.

"San ka pupunta?" Rory asked.

"I'll just get coffee," I replied. "We're just here, okay?" I told Jax and tapped his shoulder before I walked past him. I was pretty sure I saw a coffee shop on my way here. I needed caffeine because I wanted to stay awake all night... May sine-serve naman na coffee sa wake pero hindi ako kumportable na kumain o uminom ng kahit ano galing doon. It just felt... weird.

Naglalakad ako papunta sa coffee shop nang makita ko si Iñigo na naka-tayo sa isang gilid. May hawak siyang sigarilyo. I stood there for a few seconds, not knowing what to do. Ngayon ko lang siya nakita na naninigarilyo.

"Hey," he said with a gentle smile when he saw me. "Alis ka na?"

Umiling ako. "Bibili lang ng kape."

"Mag-isa ka lang?"

Tumango ako. "D'yan lang naman."

He took another drag before he threw the cigarette in the bin. "Samahan na kita."

I shrugged. We're still friends. Halos dalawang buwan din kaming magkasama sa office. Although medyo madalas na wala siya dahil kung saan-saan siya sinasama, pero sa tuwing aalis siya, inuuwian niya ako palagi ng key chain kung saan man siya nanggaling. So far, binigyan niya ako ng Alaminos, Nueva Vizcaya, Cagayan Valley, Bataan, and Bulacan. Pakiramdam ko buong summer, nag-Luzon tour lang si Iñigo.