#CTG43 Chapter 43

The interview went well. I was asked about what my expectations were and then subsequently, they told me what they'd be expecting from me. I'd be reviewing complaints and they'd be technical. It was better. At least I wouldn't be dealing with people. Maybe soon in my career, but for now, I just wanted to practice law.

But with the salary I'd be getting plus the signing bonus, I knew that I needed to bring my A-game.

Nang maka-labas ako ay agad akong dumiretso sa café and Iñigo was still there, looking like he's in deep thoughts.

"Hey," he said with a smile on his face when he saw me. "How was the interview?"

I took a seat and faced him.

"What's the plan, Iñigo?" I asked him.

"What do you mean?"

"About your job—what's the plan?"

I knew that things between us were complicated at best, but I'd never abandon him. If he's dead set on doing whatever he's planning on doing, I'd make sure that I'd be with him every step of the way. Hindi ko siya papabayaan. Hindi ko siya kayang pabayaan.

"Can we have lunch first?" he asked.

"No," I said, staring at him. "You tell me your plan and then we have lunch."

Iñigo withdrew a deep breath and then clasped his hand. He was silent for a few seconds and I took that opportunity to stare at him—at that face... He should really be thankful that I like him beyond reasons.

"I already rendered my resignation," he said.

"What about the penalty?"

"I'll negotiate a payment plan—baka bayaran ko na iyong kalahati tapos iyong isang kalahati, kapag nagta-trabaho na ako."

"Okay," I said, nodding. "Don't you want to consider just actually finishing your contract?" I asked. I knew that the penalty he'd have to pay would cost millions—it's a big company and they wouldn't let Iñigo go without scathing him, at least. They took care of him for years... I knew that they wouldn't let him leave just like that. Not when he's already familiar with all the company policies and everything.

"I want to top the BAR," he said... diretso niyang sabi habang naka-tingin sa mga mata ko. "If I stay there and top the BAR, I'd have to extend the contract... Alam kong hindi ako makaka-alis. Hindi nila ako papayagang umalis."

I chewed on my lower lip.

This... is precisely the reason why people should read contracts first before signing their lives away. There's always a price for violating the provisions.

"Okay," I said. "But you're aware that they won't give you a shining recommendation and you'll probably earn a reputation by doing this?"

He nodded.

"And you're still willing to resign?"

He nodded again.

He looked directly at me.

"Never been surer," he firmly said.

"For the record, I still think this is bonkers."

He smiled a little. "Have a little faith, Atty. Viste," he said and I couldn't help but shake my head at his stubbornness. We're just both stubborn individuals. No wonder hindi kami nawawalan ng problema.

We walked but we couldn't find a resto that we both wanted to eat at. Iñigo looked at me and asked if I wanted to swing by at school first dahil kukunin niya na raw iyong ticket.

"Aattend ka ba?" he asked.

"If you want," I replied.

"Cha..."

"Hmm?"

"Gusto mo pa ba ako?"

"Yes."

"Pero ayaw mo pa rin akong maging boyfriend?"

Hindi ako sumagot.

I really didn't know what I wanted at this point anymore. All I knew was that I needed to make sure that Iñigo would be fine after all these. I already passed the BAR. I'd have a good job.

He's about to throw everything away.

I needed to make sure that he'd be fine.

That's the only clear thing right now.

"You should be top 1," I told him. "I think the firm won't care as much sa biglaang pagreresign mo kung top 1 ka."

"Parang ang hirap nung pang-una," natawang sabi niya.

"I'll help."

"Naks... Porke top 8 ka," he teased.

I rolled my eyes. "I'm serious, Iñigo. I have a bad feeling about your resignation... I feel like they're vindictive people and sisiraan ka nila kaya mahihirapan kang kumuha ng trabaho..."

He shrugged. "Then I'll work for the government."

"Mas mababa iyong sweldo."

"Okay lang naman sa 'yo kahit wala akong masyadong pera, 'di ba?" tanong niya habang ramdam kong naka-tingin siya sa akin. I remained silent. I heard him laugh. "Maybe I'll be a public defender... or a prosecutor... Bahala na."

I still let the silence envelope us.

"Cha..." pagtawag niya. "Basta 'wag mo kong iiwanan, ha? Konting tiwala lang, please... Magiging okay din ulit ako. I promise I'll rise up... but this time, the right way."

I stopped and faced him and cupped his face.

"Of course, you dumb-ass," I said, caressing his cheeks.

God, he's so stubborn but I really, really like him.

He snatched my hand and kissed my knuckle.

"Thank you, Cha..." he softly said. "D'yan ka lang... Magiging deserving din ako sa 'yo."

I nodded.

My life had always been planned—mula pagkabata ko hanggang pagpasok ko sa law school at pagta-top sa BAR... Everything had gone according to plan.

Iñigo's a wildcard.

Since he came into my life, I felt like I lost control.

But I guessed I'd just have to gamble and see where things would go with him...

Kagaya ng palagi niyang sinasabi...

Bahala na.

* * *

"Okay na siguro 'to, Cha," Iñigo said as we were looking for an apartment. Nahihiya na siyang tumira sa bahay nila Gracey dahil madalas wala naman doon si Gracey dahil nasa ospital tapos ang weird naman daw na nandun siya.

I shook my head. I didn't want him living here. Pagpasok mo pa lang, iyon na 'yun. How the hell would he be able to review here?

"Too cramped up."

"Tutulog lang naman," he said.

"Let's keep looking," I replied.

We spent the entire morning looking for apartment. Next week pa iyong simula ng trabaho ko. I wanted Iñigo settled down bago ako magsimula sa trabaho dahil alam kong magiging busy ako. May graduation pa si Iñigo and I still needed to attend the oath taking.

"Kunin ko na lang 'yung pangalawang nakita natin, Cha," he said while we're waiting for our food. We're in a karinderia. Wala na siyang pera dahil nagbayad siya sa penalty. Wala pa akong pera dahil hindi ko pa nakukuha iyong signing bonus. But it's okay. Masarap naman 'yung pares.

"The place looks sketchy," I told him. I didn't want him staying in that place. Naalala ko iyong kwento niya na nangyari kay Gracey dati... What if Gracey, being the stubborn person that she was, decided to visit him? Delikado.

"Yun lang pasok sa budget ko," he honestly said. "Nagbayad pa ko sa review center. Maghahanap pa lang ako ng trabaho."

I nodded my head a few times while thinking of a solution.

"I'm thinking of getting an apartment and moving out of the condo," I said. "You can pay the bills. Ako na iyong bahala sa rent."

Hindi siya sumagot.

"Please don't let pride get the better of you," I continued. "You want me in your life, right? Then, let me help. Between the two of us, I'm more financially stable right now... pero kapag may trabaho ka na, pwede mo akong bayaran kung gusto mo... But for now, let me take care of the rent, okay?"

He was still just looking at me.

"Iñigo—"

"You want us to live together?"

"Sa dami ng sinabi ko, 'yan lang ang naisip mo?"

He nodded like an excited kid. For someone who literally threw a very promising career, he sure had his priorities straight.

"Like housemates," I said.

"Housemates," he said in a mocking tone. "Tabi ba tayong matutulog?"

"Be serious."

"I'm serious," he replied. "Kailangan kong malaman kung tabi tayong matutulog."

Saglit kong ipinikit ang mga mata ko at huminga nang malalim. Iñigo and his priorities, really...

"We'll see," I said.

He grinned. "As long as you're keeping an open mind..." he said, wiggling his eyebrow.

After we ate, we continued to look for an apartment. Patapos na rin naman talaga iyong contract ko sa condo and I was really planning on moving... It's just that Iñigo's situation came into the equation.

Wala pa kaming nakitang maayos na apartment. I wanted a nice apartment in a gated place. Safety is important. Pero nagsimula na rin iyong trabaho ko kaya si Iñigo muna ang naghanap dahil hindi pa naman nagsisimula iyong review niya.

"May nakita akong maganda kanina. Punta tayo sa Sunday?" Iñigo asked while he was cooking dinner. He's staying in my condo for a while habang hindi pa kami nakaka-hanap ng apartment. Sa umaga at gabi ko lang siya nakikita. He's staying on the couch—although on the first night, he wore me down and I let him sleep beside me and cuddle.

He's so persistent when he wanted to.

"Okay," I automatically replied while my eyes didn't leave the laptop screen. I knew I shouldn't be bringing work to home, but I felt so pressured. They gave me a huge signing bonus, so I needed to show them that they made the right decision.

Habang nagbabasa ako ay tahimik lang si Iñigo. He's always quiet when I was working.

When I felt thirsty, doon ko lang napansin na naka-ready na pala iyong lamesa. Nandun na iyong kanin at ulam pati mga plato. Napa-tingin ako sa sofa at nakita ko na nandun si Iñigo at naghahanap ng job vacancies sa isang online group.

"Iñigo," I called.

His head automatically snapped my way like he's trained to do so.

"Kain na tayo?" he asked.

"Di mo ko tinawag."

He smiled as he stood up. "Busy ka, e."

Nagsimula na kaming kumain. Iñigo's cooking got better. Siya rin naglilinis ng condo. Mukha na siyang housewife. Tuwing uuwi ako galing trabaho, may suot siyang apron kapag binubuksan iyong pinto. And then he'd greet me with a big smile.

"Iñigo," I said. He looked at me, his mouth full of food. He's really cute. "Nakuha ko na 'yung signing bonus ko. Bayaran na natin 'yung kalahati ng penalty mo. Ang laki nung interest."

The legal interest was only 6% pero napilitan si Iñigo dun sa stipulated dahil gusto niya na lang maka-alis sa company. With the rate things were going, next year pa siya makakahanap ng maayos na trabaho... And that's assuming na matatanggap agad siya sa government. Kaya dapat bayaran na iyong balance para hindi na lumaki pa.

Iñigo looked like he's rushing to swallow his food, so I took that opportunity to continue what I was saying.

"Wala naman akong paggagamitan nun... You can just pay me in the future—or we can make a promissory note," I offered. I just wanted him to be completely free. Alam ko naman na kahit wala siyang sinasabi sa akin, iniisip niya 'yun.

He reached for the glass of water.

"Ang dami ko ng utang sa 'yo," he said.

"Hindi naman ako nagbibilang," I replied.

He remained silent for a few seconds.

"Sigurado ka na d'yan?"

I nodded.

"Sigurado ka na sa 'kin?"

I eyed him.

He laughed.

"Okay," he said. "Naka-usap ko si Atty. Osena. Sabi niya kung gusto kong maging prosecutor, magsimula daw muna ako sa PAO para ma-practice ako sa litigation. Mag-aapply ako bukas."

I nodded. "Okay. Do you need anything?"

Umiling siya. "No," he said, smiling. "I feel like I already have everything I need."