#CTG09 Chapter 09

"When will your grades be released?"

"Two to three weeks before enrollment, Dad."

He simply nodded. "It's your vacation already, right?" he asked and I nodded. "Have you decided about working, Charisse?"

I felt Charlie's eyes on me. I knew he wanted me to say no to Dad's offer, but I just couldn't find it in me to say no... Even though every fiber of my being was begging me to turn down this ridiculous offer. Paano ako magta-trabaho? Sa third year ko sa law school? Juggling 8 subjects and working 8 hours a day? Hindi kaya iyon na ang tuluyang magtulak sa akin para masiraan ng bait?

"When will I start?" I asked, instead.

A small smile appeared on his face. And I felt a small triumph inside me. I guess... I guess I was still a sucker for his approval.

Dad discussed the work that I'd be doing in one of his friend's company. I'd just be helping with the drafting and doing some legal works. Iniisip ko pa lang, napapagod na agad ako. I just came from a brutal finals week and all I really wanted was to sleep without feeling like I was cheating on my studies. Gusto ko lang ng 8 hours of sleep... but I guess that could wait.

But I didn't want to dwell on the negative things. Mas lalo lang akong mahihirapan. I try to always look at the productive side of things... that way, hindi masama palagi ang loob ko.

And in this situation, I'd just think of this as a preview of what my whole life would be like. Siguro okay na rin 'to para ma-apply ko iyong mga pinag-aralan ko sa school. I mean, I do enjoy learning the concepts and jurisprudence, pero alam ko naman na iba pa rin ang application.

"Good luck," Charlie said nang umalis na si Dad. Kinausap niya si Chase sa study room. I felt bad for Chase. Siya kasi iyong pinaka-pressured sa amin. I didn't know why... probably because he's Dad's spitting image. Kaya sa kanya pinaka-mataas ang expectation.

"Thank you," I replied. "Will you go back to school?"

"Dad's pressuring me."

"If you don't want to go back yet, 'wag mong pilitin," I said.

"Ayaw mo nun? Sabay tayong 3rdyear."

I pursed my lips. We... never really discussed what Charlie almost did. I didn't know how to approach the topic. I was afraid that I'd say the wrong word and just push him further away.

But I do love him.

He's my brother.

I just wished that he wouldn't let Dad pressure him... Siguro mas okay na kami na lang ni Chase. We could handle it. I think.

"Charlie—"

"Say no to him and I'll tell him I can't go back to school yet. Deal?"

I sighed. "Fine."

He smiled. "Good."

"Pero... may balak ka bang bumalik?"

He shrugged. "Siguro... pero baka sa ibang school. Or maybe I'll just find work first."

"Ayaw mong magtrabaho ako pero iyon ang gagawin mo?"

"I just want to study using my own money. I don't want to feel the same pressure that I used to feel. Na sa tuwing mababa iyong grade ko, alam mo kung ano ang unang pumapasok sa isip ko? Lagot ako kay Papa. At least with my own money, I wouldn't feel as much pressure."

I pursed my lips. "Are you moving out?"

He looked me in the eye. "Yes."

I nodded. "Good."

"You're not mad?"

Umiling ako. "No," I said, smiling. "I love Dad... but this house never really felt like home. I wish you can move out sooner." I wish we could all move out. Kagaya ni Ahia. When he got his business stable, the first thing he did was to move out. I never got mad at him for that—instead, I made him my inspiration. Makakaalis din ako dito.

I wouldn't have to wake up again with the feeling of fear creeping up in my spine.

I wouldn't hate breakfast anymore.

"You and Chase?"

I shrugged. "We'll be fine."

* * *

Dad went to some business trip. But he told me to go visit the place where I'd work. Naisip ko na pumunta muna doon tutal wala naman akong gagawin ngayong bakasyon. I was planning on stopping by the bookstore to get something to read, anyway. Maybe I'd do that pagkatapos kong dumaang doon.

At hindi ko pa alam kung paano ko sasabihin sa kanya. I needed to outline that. Gusto ko na maging handa sa lahat ng sasabihin niya kagaya ng paghahanda ko nung sumali ako sa moot court competition—that for every argument, there's a rebuttal ready at our disposal. That's the only way to win.

Dad instructed our driver na ihatid ako. I really had no idea kung saan ako pupunta. I just wore my usual attire when I go to school—black slacks, white formal top, and whatever comfortable shoes I could find that would go with what I was wearing.

We stopped in front of a five-story building. It's the building of a well-known airline company. So... transpo cases? Buti na lang napag-aralan ko na 'to.

Dumiretso ako sa loob at hinanap iyong sinabi ni Papa na kailangan kong kausapin. I was in the middle of waiting nang kumunot ang noo ko nang may makita akong pamilyar na mukha.

Was that...

"Borromeo," tawag ng isang lalaki na naglalakad palapit sa cubicle niya. A tall stack of folder was placed on his already crowded folder. "Patapos iyong research dun sa binigay ko kaninang umaga. Ito rin patapos agad. Urgent."

Iñigo just smiled and nodded at the guy and then continued doing something in the computer. Ito ba iyong trabaho na sinasabi niya? Dito siya nagta-trabaho?

I looked around and saw how busy the people were. Ganito ba dito araw-araw? Tapos nag-aaral pa siya sa school? Paano niya nagagawa 'yun?

"Miss Viste?" called the secretary. "Mr. Tiu's still in a meeting. Do you want to wait or should I just schedule you for tomorrow?"

I looked at Iñigo. And then I looked at my watch. It's already almost lunch time.

"I'll wait," I said. Naupo ako sa couch malapit sa lobby. Kita ko muna sa inuupuan ko iyong pwesto ni Iñigo. Ilang segundo na akong naka-upo doon at hindi pa rin niya ako napapansin. He was reading a document. He looked so serious.

I looked at my watch. It's already 12:20pm. Wala ba siyang balak kumain?

A few minutes later, another person approached him and talked to him. Mukhang may inutos ulit sa kanya. I was starting to feel hungry. Siguro kakain na lang akong mag-isa. I wanted to ask him to have lunch but I didn't know how to approach him and he seemed really busy.

"Miss Viste," malakas na tawag ng secretary nang tumayo ako para lumabas. Her voice was so loud that it caught Iñigo's attention. He looked at me and his forehead creased for a second bago nanlaki iyong mga mata niya. "Mr. Tiu's meeting got extended. He told me to just reschedule you for tomorrow, if that's okay?"

I looked at Iñigo for split second before returning my attention to the secretary. Tumango na lang ako. I guess I'd just have to spend my day in a bookstore.

"Cha!" Iñigo said. Halos mapa-talon ako nang nasa gilid ko na siya agad. "Dinalaw mo ko?" he asked, grinning. It was so far from the scene a while ago. Kanina lang ay kunut na kunot ang noo niya at sobrang seryoso siya sa mga binabasa niya.

"Bakit kita dadalawin?"

He laughed. "Sabi ko nga... pero bakit ka nandito?"

"Summer job," I said. Hopefully, it'd be just a summer job. Ayoko talagang magtrabaho kapag nagsimula na iyong school year.

"Nice! Sa dinami-dami ng pwede mong pasukan, dito pa talaga, no? 'Di mo naisip baka destiny?"

My face remained stoic. I should never take Iñigo's banters seriously. I'd seen him with a lot of different girls from the College of Medicine. Alam kong marami siyang babae. Hindi dapat sineseryoso iyong mga ganitong sinasabi niya.

And I was pretty sure that he's got some feelings for Katherine. I'd seen him around her. There's... something. He's different around her. Kagaya ng pagtuturo niya kay Katherine kahit siya mismo nahihirapan sa Obli.

I just didn't want a potential problem for myself.

The smile on his face didn't falter. He's just so happy. Something's not adding up.

"Naglunch ka na?"

"Kakain pa lang," I said.

He nodded. "Samahan sana kita kaya lang may tinatapos pa ako, e."

"Wala ka bang lunch time?" I asked. "That's against the law."

He laughed. "Sobrang lawyer naman nito," he said. "May lunch time ako, syempre, kaso may pinapa-tapos lang sa 'kin."

"How will you function without eating?"

He laughed again. "Sa 'yo pa galing, ha? Ikaw nga 'di nagla-lunch sa school, e."

I arched my brow. "San mo nakuha 'yan?"

He shrugged. "Pansin ko lang. Minsan naabutan kita sa library, e. Tumatayo ka lang minsan para magCR pero 'di kita nakita na bumaba sa caf. Tubig lang din iniinom mo."

"Stalker."

He laughed. Again. Seriously.

"Di naman... Curious lang sa 'yo," he said, grinning. "Sige. May tatapusin pa ko, e. See you tomorrow? Kung dito ka talaga."

I merely nodded. Bumalik na siya sa ginagawa niya. Nasa labas na ako at hinihintay iyong sasakyan para sunduin ako. I planned on going to the mall and scour the bookstore for a good read... And I did exactly just that. I bought a trilogy that caught my attention. Iyong first book lang sana ang bibilhin ko, but the premise looked really interesting as it's about faeries at ayokong bumalik pa sa mall kung sakaling magustuhan ko iyong first book. That's a gamble I took kung sakaling hindi man maganda iyong libro.

I already got a paperbag of books.

Uuwi na dapat ako.

But I felt really bad for Iñigo. Simula nang sinabi niya sa akin na nagtatrabaho siya para ipambayad iyon sa apartment niya at para sa baon niya sa school, it's like I found a new level of respect for him.

So, I did something that surprised me. I ordered food online and had it delivered to him. Mahigpit kong nilagay sa notes na 'wag na 'wag sasabihin na sa akin galing iyong pagkain.

After a quick shower, I was already preparing to read the books nang biglang magvibrate iyong phone ko. It was a call from an unregistered number kaya naman agad kong pinatay. Why couldn't people introduce themselves first bago tumawag?

My phone vibrated again.

Unregistered Number:

Hi! Iñigo 'to.

Charisse:

Iñigo who?

Unregistered Number:

Iñigo mo?

Tumaas ang kilay ko. The audacity of this person.

I chose not to reply but that resulted to Iñigo calling. I declined it. Alam ko naman kung bakit siya tumatawag. That delivery guy probably betrayed me. At saan niya nakuha iyong number ko? I wanted to ask him that because I wanted to give an earful to whoever gave him my number without my permission. But I chose to ignore his calls.

Unregistered Number:

Sungit naman talaga. Pero thanks sa food, Cha! Sabi ko na nga ba worried ka sakin e :-)

Charisse:

Wrong number.

Unregistered Number:

Hahaha I don't think so. Ikaw lang may kapangyarihan na maging cold hanggang sa text. Nag-iisa ka talaga, Miss Viste. Walang katulad.

I ignored and didn't bother to reply again. I played a classical song to accompany me as I start to read the book... but my phone vibrated. Again. For someone so busy, ang dami niyang time magtext.

Unregistered Number:

See you tomorrow? See you! Looking forward to spending this summer with you, Queen Elsa.