Game Over

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

I had already drafted my resignation letter.

Fuck Lance.

Kung pamilya ko nga, hindi ako kino-kontrol sa kung anuman ang gusto kong gawin, what right did he think he has to think that he could just make me do his bidding? Did he really think that I'll just do as he says?

Fuck him and fuck my taste because obviously, I have shit taste in men! Kung hindi ako gino-ghost, controlling naman. At this rate, magta-trabaho lang siguro ako.

But I knew that I have to be smart about this. May ilang buwan pa ako sa trabaho. If I just ask him to leave me the fuck alone right now, I knew that Lance would make my work life a living hell. I just knew that he would. He didn't look like the type who'd back off peacefully. He'd leave claw marks on everything he thought he owns. Hindi na rin ako magugulat kung isusumbat niya sa akin na nagtop 1 ako sa BAR dahil sa kanya.

God, isaksak ko sa baga niya 'yong top 1, e. Masaya na ako na pumasa ako. I am thankful for being top 1, but unlike him, I don't make it my whole personality.

Tsk.

Buti na lang din talaga pumunta siya sa condo ko nung gabing 'yon. It was like for the longest time, I'd been trying to justify him in my head. Kasi may naitulong din naman talaga siya sa akin. But when he basically threatened me?

I saw him for who he is—a manipulative asshole.

Nakaka-walang pag-asa iyong mga lalaki sa paligid ko.

So, I'd just suck it up hanggang sa matapos iyong contract ko dito. Ilang buwan na lang din naman. The moment my contract's done, I'm out the door. Wala naman silang masasabi sa akin dito dahil maayos naman akong magtrabaho. Lagi akong ahead sa deliverables ko. Hindi ako nagrereklamo kahit ang dami-daming ginagawa. Kung sisiraan man ako ni Lance after tapos maniniwala sila sa kanya, then that's on them.

I'd just mind my own business until then.

"I'll just go to the toilet," I told Lance.

We're in an event. Shocking. Sinabi ko na sa kanya na ayokong pumunta kasi unang court appearance ko sa Monday, but he told me that if I wanted to be a criminal lawyer, may mga ipapakilala siya sa akin na mga RTC and MTC justices. I really tried to tell him no, but the guy wouldn't take no for an answer.

Lance gave me a small nod, but the look on his face told me na kapag hindi agad ako bumalik, susundan niya ako sa CR at hahatakin dito pabalik.

God, why did I ever think that he's a nice guy?

Imbes na sa CR ako dumiretso, naghanap ako ng lugar kung saan makakalanghap ako ng hangin. I just needed to breathe. And think. And calm myself down.

"Great," I mumbled to myself nang makita ko si Lui na naka-tayo sa isang gilid at naninigarilyo. Napa-tingin siya sa gawi ko nung marinig niya ako.

Normally—really, Tali, normally? As if things were ever really normal between the two of you.

But I knew that had I not told him off before, he'd start a small talk between us. Because that's who he's always been. He's friendly—ako lang talaga 'tong naka-misinterpret sa 'friendliness' niya.

"May smoking area din don," sabi niya sabay tanggal nung sigarilyo sa bibig niya at ginamit iyong kamay na 'yon para ipangturo doon sa kabilang dulo.

"If you don't mind, I'll just stand here for a while."

Ibinalik niya iyong sigarilyo sa bibig niya. Naka-tingin lang siya sa akin at hindi nagsalita. Inalis niya iyong tingin niya sa akin at naka-tingin lang siya sa harapan namin.