Control The Game (COMPLETED)

Chapter 34

#CTG34 Chapter 34

Everyone around me was crying.

I hated this part.

"Attend tayo sa thanksgiving mass?" Jax asked.

I looked around and saw families hugging. I saw a lot of mothers crying as they held their child who just finished an excruciating month of BAR exam.

"Uwi na muna ako," I replied. I was happy for my batchmates because their families were here to welcome them as they finished the BAR... But I couldn't help but feel sad. Wala man lang sumalubong sa akin nang lumabas ako kanina. I mean, the school did, but family's still different.

I said goodbye to Jax's parents. Pinilit pa nila ako na magstay at magdinner daw kami sa labas, but that would feel like an intrusion. Pati nga si Rory biglang nawala. But she sent a text saying na uuwi muna siya sa Pangasinan para puntahan iyong tatay niya. She promised that she's okay... Kinabahan kasi talaga kami ni Jax after nung first Sunday. She was a wreck. She was crying so hard na akala namin 'di na siya tutuloy sa exam... Only after Yago told us na hindi na siya aattend ng second Sunday namin naconvince si Rory na magtake ng exam.

My forehead was creased when I saw Iñigo inside my unit, holding a bunch of silver and gold balloons, standing near the table that was full of food.

"Congrats, Atty. Viste," he said, smiling.

"Akala ko may inuman kayo mamaya?" I asked, putting my transparent backpack on the sofa. Sabi niya sa 'kin kaya 'di niya ako nasalubong kanina ay dahil marami siyang gagawin sa frat dahil may position yata siya 'dun. 'Di ko naman siya tinatanong dahil 'di ako interesado sa frat niya.

"Habol na lang ako mamaya," sagot niya. "Gutom ka na?"

I shrugged as I walked closer to see what he got. There was a platter of rice, a big bowl of pares, and a plate of crispy pata. I secretly smiled. Gutom na ako.

"Nasa fridge 'yung ice cream," he continued. "Kain na tayo, Cha?"

I nodded. Uupo na sana ako kaya lang sabi niya 'wag muna. Lumapit siya sa akin at mabilis akong niyakap. Hinalikan niya iyong tuktok ng ulo ko.

"Sobrang proud ako sa 'yo," bulong niya.

"Thank you," I said, meaning it because... it felt nice hearing someone say that to you. Bihira kong marinig 'yun. My Dad never told me that he's proud of me... He just told me that I always needed to be better. I never heard that I was actually enough.

I looked up to him and smiled.

"Ngayon lang yata kita nakitang naka-ngiti!" he said, his eyes widened. I rolled my eyes. "Wait lang, picture tayo! Remembrance!"

Iñigo forced me to have a selfie and to smile, but the moment was gone. Tinukso niya na ako na first time ko ngumiti kaya hindi ko na inulit. Tawa lang siya nang tawa at nagsosorry kasi nagulat daw talaga siya. Hindi nga siguro talaga ako madalas ngumiti. Pero ngumingiti naman ako kapag may dahilan... Tulad nito.

After we ate, we sat on the sofa and watched some random sitcom.

"Ano 'yan?" tanong ko nang may iabot siyang paperbag sa akin.

"Ref magnets," he said.

"Bakit?"

"Wala lang... Tuwing umaalis ako, binibilan kita," he continued. "Si Mama kasi dati palaging bumibili niyan."

I looked at the content. There must've been at least 15 magnets inside. Kung saan-saang sulok talaga ng Pilipinas yata dinadala siya ni Atty. Buenasher. No wonder 'di ko siya nakikita nitong November unless weekend dahil sa frat naman siya may ginagawa and dumadaan lang siya sa hotel room ko para magbigay ng pagkain at materials.