Play The Game (COMPLETED)

Chapter 25

#PTG25 Chapter 25

"Katherine, please eat something."

Tahimik akong naka-tingin sa dalawang kabaong sa harap ko. Parehong walang laman iyon. Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin nakikita iyong mga katawan nila. Sabi sa akin, baka daw wala ng pag-asa na makita dahil sa gitna ng dagat bumagsak iyong eroplano. 'Wag na raw akong masyadong umasa. Baka wala na raw kasi talaga akong mailibing na katawan.

"At least drink water."

"I want to be alone," I told Jax.

"I'll leave you alone. But only after you eat something," he insisted.

Wala akong lakas para makipagtalo. Umiikot pa rin iyong ulo ko sa bilis ng mga pangyayari. Hanggang ngayon, hindi ko pa rin maintindihan. Hindi ko matanggap. Ayokong tanggapin.

This always happens.

We'd fight. We'd ignore each other. But then, we're family... so, we'd be okay again...

But not this.

Never like this.

"Please. Leave me," sabi ko sa kanya nang muli kong maramdaman iyong paninikip ng dibdib ko. Muli akong napa-yuko, hinayaan na isa-isang tumulo ang mga luha. I wanted to cry silently. I wanted to mourn silently.

I just wanted this to be a big nightmare.

"Katherine."

Agad akong napa-hugot ng malalim na hininga nang marinig ko na naman ang pangalan ko. Nang iangat ko ang tingin ko, agad kong nakita si Atty. Villegas.

"I know... I know that this is not the best time, but we have to discuss business," he said.

I nodded as I stood up. Pinunasan ko iyong mga mata kong halos mugto na sa pag-iyak. Hindi ako matigil sa pag-iyak. Hindi ko pa rin matanggap. Siguro hanggang hindi ko nakikita mismo gamit ang dalawang mata ko iyong katawan ng mga magulang ko, may isang parte pa rin sa akin na aasa...

"Okay," I said. I knew our business was important to my parents. This was important to them. It should be important to me, too. Hindi ko hahayaan na may masamang mangyari dito.

Atty. Villegas guided me until we reached a room. Agad nakita ng mga mata ko iyong pamilya nila Papa. I didn't like them—I never did. They stole my parents from me. I could count using my fingers all the time I spent with them. Ganoon sila kadamot. Kaya siguro sobrang mahal na mahal ko iyong mga kaibigan ko... kasi sila lang palagi iyong nasa tabi ko.

"So... we're all gathered here to discuss what will happen to the company," Atty. Villegas said. I sat there, barely able to understand a word that he was saying. I could hear, but I couldn't listen. I felt so tired. I felt so exhausted.

For the first time in my life, I wanted to be numb.

"What?!" sigaw ng kinakasama ni Papa. "Are you saying na wala kaming makukuha ng mga anak ko?!"

"No, that's not—"

"But that's what you just said! You said that Katherine will get the majority of the shares of the company! And all the properties! This is not fair!"

Agad akong napa-tingin nang marinig ko ang pangalan ko. Bakit sila ganito? My parents just died. Why were they talking about money? Hindi ba pwedeng maging malungkot muna kami? Kahit sandali lang. Kahit ngayon lang. Ibigay na nila sa 'kin 'to.

"Ms. Sy—"

"I'm Mrs. Arellano!"

"No, you're not legally married, Ms. Sy. As per law, since Mr. and Mrs. Arellano died without leaving last will and testament, we shall follow the intestate proceedings—"