#CTG04 Chapter 04

A professor was once told us that it's best to make friends in school—especially law school. The world of law is impossibly small. There were approximately 105 million people in the country and only around 40 thousand lawyers. That's 1 lawyer for every 2625 people. Hindi rin lahat ng magiging abogado ay magpa-practice—some will go into business, others into politics, others... they just wanted the title. And if that happens, who would they recommend to the people they know? Iyon bang kaibigan nila o naging kaaway nung nasa law school pa sila?

So, as much as I wanted to tell Yago to shut up because I needed to read my book in Insurance, I kept it all to myself. Pinabayaan ko siya na magkwento ng kung anu-ano kay Rory. Hindi ko alam kung naglolokohan na lang ba silang dalawa kasi minsan, walang kwenta na talaga iyong mga sinasabi ni Yago, but Rory listens to him like he's telling the most interesting story ever told.

I wished that I'd never have to play her part.

"Cha, galit ba kayo nila Ruth?" Rory asked. Napa-tingin ako sa gilid niya at napansin na lumipat si Yago sa tabi ni Jax. Kaya pala biglang tumahimik.

"Ha? Hindi," I replied. Kakasabi ko lang ng ayoko ng kaaway sa school.

"Bakit 'di kayo nagpapansinan?"

"Totoo?" I asked, confused.

"Oo kaya. Kanina pa sila nag-uusap tapos titingin sa 'yo. May nangyari ba?" Rory asked. I didn't know if she's genuinely concerned or she's just plain curious.

I began to rack my brain for a reason why they'd be mad at me. My lips parted when I realized that it was because of what happened last time in the café. Galit pala sila sa akin dahil doon? Sila naman iyong pumilit na lapitan namin si Jax kahit obvious na may kasama siya.

They liked Jax—I mean, everyone in our room likes him. He's just so nice and there's nothing not to like. Ang kaibigan ko lang sa mga babae na 'yun, I know when to stop. May girlfriend na iyong tao. Besides, busy ako sa pag-aaral. But since they knew na close ako kay Jax, lagi nila akong pinipilit na lumapit sa kanya para mag group study daw kami.

I warned them.

I told them that just because he's silent, doesn't necessarily mean he's always nice. Jax knows when to snap. Nagulat tuloy sila nung nasungitan kami. Sabi ko naman sa kanila na 'wag na kaming lumapit, e... Tapos sila pa galit sa akin?

"Bayaan mo na lang," I told her.

I resumed studying, but because Rory mentioned that they were staring at me, parang bigla kong naramdaman ang bawat pagtitig nila sa akin. Mabilis kong kinuha iyong libro ko at saka lumabas. I frowned when I saw Jax standing outside, too. Mamaya mas awayin pa ako kapag dito ako nag-aral.

"Pa-text ako kapag nandito na si Sir," I quickly told Jax before I walked towards the end of the hall. Kay Yago ko sana sasabihin kaso baka makalimutan. 'Di naman ako si Rory para saluhin nun.

Pagdating ko sa dulo, thankfully, walang nag-aaral doon. I really couldn't concentrate on studying with noisy people around me. Uupo na sana ako nang makita ko bigla si Iñigo na nandun.

Ang malas.

I quickly turned on my heel. Hindi ko naman siya madalas talaga makita dati, pero simula nung 'ipakilala' kaming dalawa, pakiramdam ko ay sa bawat sulok ng school ay nagkikita na kaming bigla!

"Shit," I heard him mutter.

No, Charisse. Continue walking. Mind your own business.

"Shit!" he cursed louder.

Agad akong napa-tingin sa paligid. This guy! Paano kung may dumaan na prof namin tapos narinig siyang nagmumura?! Minsan, hindi ko talaga siya maintindihan. Dahil ba member siya ng frat kaya ang lakas ng loob niya sa ganito?

"Ah, fuck!" he continued.

Ilang mura ba ang sasabihin niya?

"Puta—"

"Shut up!" I hissed dahil nakita ko si Atty. Gabria na papa-akyat sa hagdan. Mamaya marinig pa niya si Iñigo, e!

Agad na napa-tingin sa akin si Iñigo. Agad na kumunot din ang noo ko nang mapansin ko kung gaano kapula ang mga mata niya. I couldn't decide if it's due to lack of sleep... or did he cry?

Was he even capable of crying?

Wasn't he Iñigo... the playboy extraordinaire? Iyong maraming babae sa med?

"Hey," he said, crumpling his eyes and brushing his hair with his fingers. "Sorry you had to hear that."

Hindi ko agad siya napansin dahil nakita ko si Atty. Gabria kaya nginitian ko siya. Medyo masungit pa naman iyon tapos ang daming tanong kapag recit. Mabuti na lang hindi ko siya prof ngayong sem. Sana hindi na ulit.

"Hi, Sir," nagulat ako na bati ni Iñigo. Bakit sila magkakilala? Alam ko walang tinuturo na first year—Ah. Frat.

I saw Atty. Gabria nod at him. Biglang nag-init ng konti iyong ulo ko dahil naaalala ko iyong dalawang classmate ko last year na pumasa sa subject niya dahil lang brods sila. Buti sana kung deserve e puro absent naman iyong dalawa na 'yun. Bahala sila. May karma din sila.

"Mag-aaral ka rin ba?" Iñigo asked and gathered his things. "Tahimik lang ako dito," he continued. He looked different than usual. But I was pissed. Kagaya rin kaya siya ng mga classmates ko dati? Baka naman hindi. I overheard Katherine once say that Iñigo's one of the bests in their class...

I looked at him and then looked at the hall and saw Yago annoying Jax. I sighed as I placed my things on the table.

True to what he said, tahimik lang si Iñigo habang nag-aaral kami. I glanced at what he was studying—Oblicon pala. Sobrang daming highlight ng codal niya and he was using Jurado book plus memory aid.

Hindi nga siguro siya kagaya nung mga walang kwenta kong classmate.

"Fuck." Napa-kunot ang noo ko. Napa-tingin siya sa akin at alangang ngumiti. "Sorry," he said. "Frustrated lang."

I nodded. "Mahirap talaga 'yan."

"Alam ko," sagot niya. "Lumabas grades namin—" he said, but halted. "Sorry. Tahimik nga pala ako."

I rolled my eyes. Kinu-konsensya ba niya ako? Talaga namang maingay siya. Okay lang naman na magsalita, pero sana ilugar. Hindi iyong daldal nang daldal kahit may nag-aaral sa tabi.

"Midterms pa lang naman," I said. "Kaya pang bawiin sa finals recit and finals."

Although I'd rather have a good midterm standing, having a bad one wasn't the end of the world. I remembered back on my first sem in law school, I really thought I aced my midterms exam in Criminal Law, but when I saw my grades, I felt like heaven and earth decided to play a little game on me... Akala ko talaga ay hindi na ako papasa dahil sa taas ng grades na kailangan ko sa finals...

But I pulled through.

Nothing's impossible if you work hard for it.

"Thanks," he said, but it felt like he didn't feel better with what I just said. My mind told me to just drop it off and continue studying—mind my own business because that's what I wanted... But he really looked conflicted and like a lost and sad puppy right in front of me. I could see his jaw ticking and him playing with his pen.

I rolled my eyes and sighed before I asked him the question that I knew I'd regret.

"What's your problem?" I asked.

Napa-tingin siya sa akin na nagulat. "Concerned ka?" he asked—or more like teased. "Is it because of the kiss—"

"Forget I asked," I said, rolling my eyes again. I knew I'd regret asking him! Malaki naman na siya. Kung anuman ang problema niya, kaya niya na 'yun. Bakit ba kasi ako nagtanong pa?

"Kalimutan mong nangyari 'yun," I said because that was what I was doing. There's no way in hell that I'd consider that as my first kiss! No way!

That's just... a glitch in the system.

"Paano kung ayoko? Kakasuhan mo ako?" he asked, challenging me.

"Unjust vexation," I replied.

An amused expression appeared on his face. "Unjust vexation?"

I nodded. "Yes. If you're asking if I can file a case, I can file a case of unjust vexation against you. So, I highly suggest you erase that... scene from your head."

Iñigo laughed. "Sungit naman talaga," he said.

"Hindi ako masungit. Makulit ka lang. That's the difference."

He grinned. "Di naman ako makulit... Ayoko lang ng tahimik. It's like there's this nagging voice inside my head to fill the silence. Alam mo 'yun?" he asked, but I shook my head. Why would I dare break the silence? That's all I ever wanted.

"Anyway, hindi na muna kita guguluhin," sabi niya at saka sandali akong nginitian bago ibinalik ang atensyon niya sa binabasa niya. I heaved a deep breath before I resumed studying. Sumilip muli ako sa hallway at nakita ko na nandun na rin si Rory kasama sina Jax at Yago. Nasaan na kaya si Sir? Nag-aral pa naman ako tapos absent siya.

"Do you want to talk about your problem?" I finally asked when I heard him draw a really heavy breath. Na para bang pasan niya ang buong daigdig.

Iñigo nodded and rested his back against the seat. Isinandal niya rin iyong ulo niya at saka tumingin sa dingding. "Problema ko lang kasi 'yung scholarship. Matatanggal ako kapag bumagsak ako."

"Papasa ka nga."

"Wow naman. Ang positive ni Ms. Viste. Hindi ako sanay."

I closed my eyes and pursed my lips. "Kinakausap ka nang maayos, ha."

He laughed. "Sorry," he said. "Iniisip ko lang kasi kapag bumagsak ako... One-year akong delayed. Sayang oras. Sayang panahon. Sayang effort. Sayang pera."

"E 'di lumipat ka na lang," I offered.

"Grabe," he said, laughing. "Ganyan mo ba ako ka-ayaw makita?"

"I'm just giving you solution to your problem. Kung ayaw mong ma-delay, lumipat ka ng school."

"But this is SCA—best of the best."

"As long as you pass the BAR, it won't matter where you came from," I replied. Pare-pareho lang naman kaming lahat ng binabasang libro, ng pinag-aaralan na kaso. It all depends on the student on how good a lawyer he'd be.

He smiled at me. "Nice."

"So, shut up and study. I'm sure you'd pass."

"Thanks, Ms. Viste."

"Stop calling me Ms. Viste. Pakiramdam ko nagrerecit ako."

"What will I call you then?" he asked.

I pursed my lips. I didn't want him calling me Cha because that would sound too friendly... And I hadn't decided yet if we're friends...

Make friends in law school... Friends, not enemies.

I stared at Iñigo. He was giving me that boyish smile again. But I knew better than to be fooled by that smile... He's a part of a fraternity. I was pretty sure that he's hiding skeletons in his closet... I should be wary of him kahit na ganito ang pinapakita niya sa akin.

I needed to remind myself that a bottle was smashed against his head.

I needed to remind myself that he kissed me without my consent.

Hindi siya mapagkaka-tiwalaan.

"Charisse," I said, but reminded myself to always watch my back whenever I was with him.

He smiled. "Okay... Charisse."

I shrugged and returned to studying. He continued reading his book while I quietly tried to memorize the provisions in Criminal Procedure. Sobrang hassle, but you'd get higher grades in the recitation if you could recite the provisions verbatim and flawlessly.

I was in the middle of mouthing the provisions when my phone vibrated. I checked it and frowned when I read the message from the class beadle informing us that Sir wouldn't be able to come to class dahil stuck siya sa isang meeting.

"Nandyan na prof mo?" Iñigo asked when he saw me fixing my things.

Umiling ako. "No. Free cut."

"Ah... Uuwi ka na?"

Umiling ulit ako. 10pm ako palaging umuuwi sa bahay para sigurado ako na tulog na sila Papa... Sapat na sa akin na nakikita ko sila sa breakfast at doon nila ako tinatanong kung kamusta ang grades ko. I didn't need the extra pressure at night.

"San ka pupunta? Kakain?" he asked... And only then did I remember na hindi pa pala ako kumakain simula nung breakfast. Nagpanic kasi ako kanina nung sinabi na hanggang Rule 124 na iyong coverage. Hindi naman ako kagaya nila Jax na mabilis magmemorize. I needed time to memorize things. I needed to exert extra effort.

"Kakain muna..." I answered, thinking about what food I should eat. Sarado na iyong canteen. Ang pinaka-malapit na kainan ay fastfood. I didn't like fastfood... but I didn't have any choice.

Nagsimula na akong maglakad. Pababa na ako ng hagdan—medyo nagmamadali dahil baka hatakin na naman ako nila Rory kung saan-saan. Kailangan ko pang mag-aral kasi may quiz yata kami sa ATP. Tapos kailangan ko pang magsulat ng digest para sa Admin. Sumasakit na agad iyong ulo ko.

"Charisse!" I groaned internally. "Sabay ako?"

"Wala ka bang class?"

"Wala rin prof."

Umangat ang kilay ko. "Ano 'yun? Coincidence na sabay tayong nawalan ng prof?"

He shrugged. "Baka magic," he said, grinning. "San tayo kakain?"

I pursed my lips. "Mabilis lang ako kakain. Mag-aaral agad ako."

He nodded. "Ako rin naman."

"Fine... Pero ayoko ng makulit."

He laughed. "Don't you think I know that by now?" he asked. "I promise... Tahimik lang ako. Mag-aaral lang tayo."

I thought he'd annoy me and make me roll my eyes endlessly, but true to what he said, we ate quickly and studied for the rest of the night. Sometimes, he'd ask me questions about Oblicon and I'd answer him to the best of my knowledge. Namamangha din siya kapag may mga terms ako na ginagamit. Parang tanga. Mapapag-aralan niya rin naman iyon kapag second year na siya. He kept on telling me how smart I am. I fought so hard to roll my eyes at him.

Iñigo... He wasn't so bad.