Hate The Game (COMPLETED)

Chapter 44

Chapter 44

I drew quite a few deep breaths while my hands were holding the steering wheel. Nandito ako ngayon sa parking lot ng lugar kung saan gaganapin iyong lamay para sa tatay ni Shanelle. She didn't actually invite me, but I thought that I should go here to give respect. Ewan. Hindi ko rin talaga alam kung bakit ako nandito.

Kanina pa ako nakaupo sa loob ng sasakyan ko. Dito ako dumiretso pagkatapos ng trabaho. Halos isang oras na rin yata akong nandito.

"Condolence," I told her.

I didn't really know a lot of things about her. She's quite secretive. Kahit na abogado ako sa petition niya, halos wala pa rin akong masyadong alam tungkol sa kanya. I guess it's her way of protecting herself because she thought that who she really is... is somhow unlovable. Ang hirap.

"Thank you," she simply replied. "Sorry, I forgot to reply to your emails."

"It's fine," sabi ko sa kanya. "I already requested for re-schedule."

She simply gave me a small smile. Iniwan ko na siya at naupo ako sa isang gilid. She looked so tired and so worn out.

I watched Shanelle as she moved around. Halata na iniiwasan siya ng ibang kapamilya niya. Did they think na siya iyong dahilan kung bakit nawala iyong tatay niya? Such a cruel thought.

Gusto pa kaya niyang ituloy iyong petition? I knew that the only reason why she wanted to fight the annulment was to protect her dad from the truth. Ano na ngayon? Wala na iyong tatay niya. Nakakalungkot... kasi parang tama nga siya.

Nanatili lang ako na nakaupo roon nang makita ko na dumating si Samuel. He walked straight towards Shanelle and just enveloped her in his arms.

I felt like I was an audience in some movie.

Na silang dalawa iyong bida at nanonood lang ako.

I knew that Samuel was just comforting her and that he was just being a good person... but my mind just kept on betraying me. Ang nasa isip ko ay ganito pala silang dalawa. Kasi nung una ko silang makitang magkasama, annulment agad ang naging usapan. I never really saw them together na silang dalawa lang...

Ito siguro iyong sinasabi ni Samuel.

Na okay naman sila.

Na masaya naman.

Na kung hindi niya nalaman iyong tungkol kay Shanelle, they would've been together still.

And... and I hated how I could see it.

They looked good together.

They looked peaceful.

I watched as Samuel whispered something in her ears. They looked comfortable with each other. Kung sabagay, hindi naman sila aabot sa punto na magpapakasal na sila kung hindi sila kumportable sa isa't-isa.

It's just sad.

I was there before.

I was there when he was having a hard time.

I was there, ready to listen, pero sa sobrang sama ng loob niya sa akin, mas ginusto niyang maghanap ng iba.

Nanatili lang akong nakaupo roon hanggang sa mapatingin si Samuel sa gawi ko. May sinabi si Shanelle sa kanya kaya siya napatingin sa akin. I watched as his lips parted slowly when he saw me. Right. Ang pangit nga pala nung huling pagkikita namin.

"Hey," he said upon approaching me.

"Hey," I replied back.

"Can I?" he asked, pertaining to the empty spot next to me. Wala akong katabi. Wala naman kasi akong kakilala dito. O baka kilala nila ako? I mean, mukhang kumalat naman na sa pamilya ni Shanelle iyong tungkol sa annulment. Surely, they'd be curious. And if they're curious enough, they'd hear about my name.