Control The Game (COMPLETED)

Chapter 40

#CTG40 Chapter 40

"Cha, patulong naman 'dun sa Benitez case, if okay lang."

I nodded and proceeded to look for the Benitez case under the pile of cases on the table. I could feel the ache on my back, but it was okay. This work felt rewarding. I felt like I was doing a good thing and I was good with that.

Nang makita ko iyong folder ay agad kong binasa iyon. I'd been 'helping' here for a week now. Nang matapos iyong contract ko ay nagpaalam na ako agad. I didn't even think twice when they offered me more money because I just... didn't care much about that at that time. All I knew was that I needed to find a purpose. I felt so tired and exhausted and I needed to find a reason on why I should keep on pursuing this field.

And then I found this place.

Granted that they could only give me allowance and I was overworked most of the time, it's okay. I felt like we're doing a really good thing and it's very fulfilling.

Hindi ko na rin masyadong nakikita pa si Iñigo. After the talk that we had, it's been silently decided that it's better if we didn't see each other for a while. I just couldn't give him what he wanted... I couldn't be with him because we see things so differently. He wanted different things in life and I just couldn't force myself any longer to get on board with that.

I realized that I couldn't force him to see things my way.

Maybe my way was wrong.

Maybe his was the right one.

Either way, it's only him who could decide for himself.

* * *

I normally didn't like to drink because it's just a way to give myself a headache the following morning... but after reading the Benitez case and after the interview, I couldn't help but want to drown myself in alcohol.

"Cha!" Napa-tingin ako sa tumawag sa akin. My forehead creased upon seeing Lui. He was holding a glass of what looked like whiskey. "Thought I was so drunk for a second there," sabi niya at saka naupo sa bakanteng pwesto sa tabi ko. "What brings you here?" he asked.

I shrugged and played with the glass I was holding. Kanina ko pa hawak ito pero wala pa rin akong naiinom... Paulit-ulit kong naaalala iyong pinag-usapan namin kanina.

"Trouble in paradise?" he asked.

"Why are you here?" I asked back.

"Relax lang. Nakaka-pagod, e," he said, smiling. "Bakit ka nga nandito? Never ka namang sumama sa amin kapag inaaya ka."

Bakit naman kasi ako sasama sa kanila? They'd ask to drink in the middle of the fucking week. It's really a wonder kung paano naka-graduate si Lui nang may hangover most of the time. It's a talent, really.

"I'm just tired, too."

"Sure," he said, and then took a sip. "But humor me... hypothetically, what's the reason for your being here?"

I felt my shoulders sag as I stared at the glass in front of me. I really wanted to drink... but at the same time, I knew that there's work tomorrow and a lot of people were counting on me.

Tumingin ako kay Lui. He looked drunk. Baka 'di niya na maalala 'tong sasabihin ko.

"Hypothetically," I began. He looked really interested. I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Bakit ba puro chismoso ang mga lalaki sa paligid ko? "If the person you is fundamentally different from you... what's the next step?"

Lui cocked his head to the side as if he's thinking deeply about the question I just posed. It reminded me of how he usually recited in class. He'd usually take a few seconds bago magsalita—like he's seriously thinking but I bet nahihilo lang siya dahil lasing siya.