#CTG55 Chapter 55

"What is this?" Jax asked as I slid over a check. I invited them over—Jax, Yago, and Rory—for lunch. It's been a while since I last saw them—nung kasal pa ni Katherine. They're all married at ako na lang ang natitira dahil gusto ni Iñigo na matapos muna iyong bahay na pinapagawa namin bago kami magpakasal. It's something that's been suddenly decided after siyang kausapin ni Papa.

"Ano 'to, Cha?" Rory asked.

I drew a rather deep breath bago ako nagsimula. I thought about this a lot... And this was the best option.

"Let's start a firm," I said.

Their jaws dropped and their eyes widened.

"Not you, Rory," I continued because I knew that Rory actually loved her job and she's doing very well there... Si Jax naman ay alam ko na hindi pa sigurado sa bago niyang firm. Si Yago naman, ganoon din.

Rory glared at me. "FYI, magaling na ako sa civil cases."

"Yes, babe," Yago replied.

Parang tanga talaga 'tong dalawa.

"Wala akong sinabing hindi ka magaling sa civil," sabi ko.

"Then, bakit hindi ako kasama?"

"Gusto mo bang magresign sa trabaho mo?" I asked and she wasn't able to answer... I was right. And hindi ko naman siya pipilitin na magresign doon. And kung hindi pumayag sina Jax and Yago, I'd be okay with it, too. Siguro kami na lang ni Iñigo muna.

"What's going on, Cha?" Jax asked.

I reached for the glass of water in front of me and downed it before I found the courage to ask them again. I knew that I was asking for too much... but I needed to at least try.

I knew Iñigo wouldn't want me to tell them this, but I needed to. I really tried my best to get him his old job back, pero may naka-kuha na ng pwesto niya and it would still take a long time bago may ma-bakante dahil matagal pa iyong retirement nung mga prosecutors ngayon.

And it was killing me to see Iñigo go to his job everyday dahil kitang-kita ko na hindi siya masaya roon. Even when I went to his new job, I was so surprised because it wasn't the job I knew Iñigo deserved.

He's the fucking top notcher, for Christ's sake!

I was so mad at the Ramirez family.

I explained to them the situation. I told them what they only needed to know. I didn't want them to see Iñigo as someone who's pitiful because he wasn't. I just knew he deserved so much more than what he has right now.

"Okay," Jax replied.

"Game," Yago said. "Let's ask Kitty? 'Di ba 'di naman siya nagta-trabaho 'dun sa firm niya?"

And just like that, sila na iyong nagplano sa kung ano ang mangyayari.

* * *

We actually waited for almost a year before our plan started to materialize. Hinintay pa namang matapos iyong contract nila and there's a waiting period bago sila pwedeng magtrabaho. We agreed on Borromeo, Gomez de Liaño, and Yuchengco as the name of our firm. It's good, though. Maganda ang feedback sa apelido ni Jax at sigurado ako na marami agad kaming mahahatak na clients.

The only thing left is to actually tell Iñigo about the plan...

Nasa sala kami ng apartment. Iñigo was busy looking at the different shades of paint dahil iyon na lang ang kailangan sa bahay na pinapa-gawa namin and we're finally done. I talked to Katherine about selling the Hermès bag and she even helped me find a buyer. I was starting to think na binigay niya talaga sa 'kin 'yun para ibenta ko.

"Iñigo," I called.

"Hmm?" sagot niya habang kunot noo pa rin sa pamimili. Pareho lang naman silang puti sa paningin ko.

"Baba mo muna 'yan. Usap muna tayo," I said.

Iñigo placed the boards down and looked at me. Kahit na magkasama na kami, halata ko pa rin iyong pagod ni Iñigo dahil puyat siya talaga palagi sa trabaho niya. Palibasa alam nila na topnotcher si Iñigo and he's just a victim of bad publicity. They're really making him work for his salary. Sa kanya halos bagsak ng mga case na handle nila. Ngayon lang ako nainis sa bilis ni Iñigo magtrabaho. Ang dami kasing binibigay sa kanya dahil ang bilis niya ring maka-tapos.

"Tapos na next week 'yung contract mo, 'di ba?"

"Yeah..."

Deep breaths, Cha.

"Let's start a law firm."

Automatic na kumunot ang noo niya. "What?" agad na tanong niya.

"I'm serious," I said. "I know it's going to be hard, but we need to start somewhere..."

Personally, ayoko na magkasama kami ni Iñigo sa trabaho dahil alam ko na magiging conflict iyon. Nangyari na dati. Ayokong maulit. There were things that we do that are not nice... And I understand that it's just part of the job, pero hindi naman ako robot na walang pakiramdam.

But we needed manpower. Mahirap magsimula ng firm. Paulit-ulit na sinabi sa 'min 'to dati sa school—na hindi advisable ang magsimula ng firm kapag bagong abogado ka pa lang... pero hindi na iyon ang kaso ngayon. We all had work experience—lalo na si Jax at Iñigo. They're all pretty known in our field dahil laging malalaking kaso ang nahahawakan nila.

We just needed to start... no matter how scary it was.

"It'll probably be a slow start, but we just need to win a good case and word of mouth and I'm sure we'll be fine," sabi ko sa kanya. Iñigo remained silent. "What are you thinking?" I asked.

He looked at me.

"Ginagawa mo ba 'to dahil sa 'kin?" he asked.

"Yes," I honestly replied. "Because you deserve so much more than that crappy job."

I wanted us to be brutally honest because lies do no good. Hindi ko gusto iyong trabaho niya. Alam naming dalawa na hindi niya gusto 'yun. Wala lang siyang choice dahil sa mga Ramirez na 'yan.

"Cha..." iyon lang ang nasabi niya.

"I don't want you to think na naaawa ako sa 'yo, Iñigo. I just know how smart you are and you can do so much more. You deserve so much more."

Hindi pa rin siya nagsasalita.

"Jax and Yago already agreed," I continued. "They already resigned—"

"What?!" gulat na sagot niya. "Are you fucking serious?"

"Yes. Hindi ko sila pinilit."

Iñigo nervously ran his fingers through his hair. "Cha..." pagtawag niya na naman sa pangalan ko. It's almost like saying my name calms him down. Pansin ko na lagi niya iyong ginagawa.

"We already have few clients," I told him. "Mataas ang retainer fee ni Jax, so we'll surely survive for at least a year."

Malakas ang paniniwala ko na magiging okay kami... After all, even the biggest law firms also had to start somewhere else.

Iñigo drew a deep breath. "This is happening, right?"

I nodded. "It's happening."

He briefly closed his eyes and nodded. "Okay. Let's do this."

* * *

We rented a floor in a building in Makati. Katherine insisted on buying the office supplies, pero ayaw namin na umasa sa kanya, so we went to an auction and bought office supplies there mula sa isang firm na nagsarado.

"Sure ka na wala iyong last name mo?" Iñigo asked habang kinakabit iyong letters sa pintuan.

"Magiging Borromeo din naman ako," sagot ko.

His lips parted. "Seryoso?" hindi maka-paniwala niyang tanong. "Akala ko hindi ka magpapalit ng last name..." he said. Si Rory kasi, hindi nagpalit ng last name. Si Katherine naman, 'di pa sila kasal ni Jax pero Yuchengco na talaga siya sa isip niya.

I shrugged. "Charisse Borromeo sounds about right."

Iñigo bit his lower lip as he smiled. He kissed the side of my head. "Okay, future Mrs. Borromeo," he said before we heard clearing of the throat. Napa-tingin kami kay Yago.

"Love birds, mamaya na 'yan. Tumawag si Mr. Sales. Nasa presinto daw 'yung anak niya, kailangan i-bail," Yago said. Wala pa kasi kaming secretary dahil wala pang budget. Pero kapag dumami na iyong clients, we'd surely get one kasi hassle din... pero ang advantage, si Yago ang laging nakaka-sagot ng tawag, and God knows na sobrang bolero ni Yago... so that's probably a good thing.

Iñigo and I looked at each other.

"So... who's gonna go?" Yago asked.

"You wanna go?" I asked Iñigo since he's the one who specialized in Criminal Law... pero baka 'di pa siya ready bumalik sa presinto dahil baka may makita siyang dati niyang ka-trabaho nung prosecutor pa siya.

After a few seconds, Iñigo nodded.

"Yeah, let's do this," he said before he went to Yago and they talked about what would be done.

Nang maka-alis si Iñigo, naiwan kami ni Yago. He was looking at me. Kinunutan ko siya ng noo.

"Where's Rory?" I asked.

"Last day sa office," he said.

I nodded. Bukas na pala 'yung simula ng maternity leave niya. Si Katherine din buntis. Gusto ko na ulit mabuntis. Mukhang silang tatlo nila Jax lang ang matitira dito kapag nabuntis din ako.

"When are you two gonna get married?" Yago asked.

"Kapag stable na 'yung firm," I replied.

It almost seemed like may pinapatunayan si Iñigo kay Papa dahil na-delay iyong kasal dahil sa bahay at ngayon naman, sa firm. I kept on telling Iñigo that there's no reason for him to do that... but I just realized that Iñigo wanted Papa to like him because he's probably looking at him as a father figure...

Life's been so unfair to him...

And I swear I'm gonna fight to make it less unfair.

"We're already stable," Yago said.

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, right."

He laughed and got his notebook. "You wanna know where Jax is?" he asked. "He's in a meeting with the Villamontes..."

My eyes widened a little... I knew that family. They're always in the news sa kung anu-ano'ng problema.

Yago chuckled at my response. "So, that family alone will keep the firm alive," sabi niya. "Also, my family agreed to retain our services."

"Wala bang abogado ang pamilya mo?" I asked. He's a Gomez de Liaño, for heaven's sake. Kahit hindi kagalang-galang si Yago, galing siya sa maayos na pamilya.

"Tons, actually... but it won't hurt to have a back-up," he replied, grinning.

Umawang na lang ang labi ko.

"So, see? We're gonna be fine," he said. "Lalo na kapag may makuha tayong sikat na kaso—we'll be more than fine."

Yago leaned back, arching his brow at me.

"So, what's stopping you?" he asked... and then I realized, no one's stopping us anymore.

Agad akong tumayo at rinig ko iyong pagtawa ni Yago. He even shouted na 'wag na akong bumalik at magmaternity leave na raw agad ako. Hanggang ngayon, ang ingay pa rin niya.

Pagdating ko sa apartment, agad kong inayos iyong mga kailangan para sa permit namin. It actually took the whole day. Pagdating ni Iñigo sa apartment, he was all smiles kahit halatang pagod siya.

I missed seeing that... him actually being contented on what he's doing.

"Hi," he said, kissing my cheek. "Ano'ng ginagawa mo?"

"Requirements sa marriage license," I replied. Kumunot ang noo niya. "Let's get married next week."

"Next week?"

I nodded. "Do you want a church wedding?" I asked him.

"Not really... pero kung saan mo gusto..." sagot niya.

"Let's have a garden wedding," I said. "Tapos naman na 'yung garden sa bahay, 'di ba?"

He nodded. Since Iñigo learned that I developed a fondness for plants nung nasa Alaska ako, he made sure that our new house would have a garden for me. Kumuha pa nga siya ng landscape artist. Maraming salamat talaga sa bags ni Katherine.

"Let's just get catering for the food. Kasya naman tayo sa garden since konti lang naman ang invited," I continued. I already finished the guest list months ago. Konti lang talaga 'yun dahil gusto ko, iyong mga may ambag lang sa buhay namin ni Iñigo ang nasa kasal.

Iñigo still looked shaken up.

"Ayaw mo ba?" tanong ko.

"Ha? Hindi, gusto ko... pero sigurado ka ba na sa garden lang sa bahay natin?"

"Sigurado," sagot ko. "And hindi siya garden lang. That's the garden in our house."

Iñigo bit his lower lip and smiled.

"Okay," he said. "Next week?"

"Yes. Next Sunday. Bili ka na ng damit mo."

He laughed. "Yes, Atty," he replied. "And if pwedeng request, sana naka-tali iyong buhok mo sa kasal natin," he continued. I rolled my eyes. May fetish talaga siya sa leeg ko.

* * *

Iñigo was so busy with the firm dahil tama nga kami, maraming kasong dala iyong Villamontes family. Silang dalawa ni Jax iyong busy dahil forte nila iyong criminal law. Si Yago naman madalas iyong naiiwan sa office at kumakausap sa mga dumadating na clients. Madalas property conflict naman siya... And it was good for us dahil matagal bago ma-settle 'yun... Kawawa nga lang iyong clients... Ubusan talaga ng pera kapag lupa ang pinag-aawayan.

"Bakit kasi biglaan?" Katherine asked, frowning dahil ready-to-wear gown iyong isusuot ko sa kasal. Wala namang problema sa 'kin... siya 'tong may problema.

"Okay na 'to," I said as I wore a white satin dress that fell on my ankle. V-cut iyong sa may dibdib and spaghetti strap siya. I didn't want to wear a traditional wedding dress.

Rory gave me thumbs up. "Ganda."

Katherine frowned. "Sige na nga," she replied. "Ano'ng color ng dress namin?"

I shrugged. "Kung san kayo masaya," sabi ko. Wala naman sa akin kahit ano iyong isuot nila... At saka buntis silang pareho kaya ang hirap naman kung pipilitin ko sila sa isusuot nila. I just wanted them to be comfortable.

After shopping for clothes, dumiretso kami sa isang hotel to have a dinner aka bachelorette party. We couldn't do the traditional dahil buntis silang dalawa. We just ate and then went home. Sobrang bilis ng linggo dahil sa dami ng ginawa namin.

"Is this really necessary?" Iñigo asked while we're waiting for Chase to pick me up. Sa bahay muna ako matutulog kasi bukas na iyong kasal.

"Yeah," I replied. "Sigurado ka ba na wala kayong bachelor party?" I asked kasi wala talaga silang ginawa nila Jax. Buti pa kami nila Rory, at least nagpanggap kami.

He scoffed. "Matagal na akong 'di bachelor."

I rolled my eyes. "Bahala ka."

Naka-yakap lang si Iñigo sa akin hanggang sa makita namin iyong sasakyan ni Chase sa labas. Siya na lang kasi iyong kasama ni Papa sa bahay. He could already move out, but he chose to stay... Iba rin talaga siguro kapag bunso.

I kissed Iñigo first bago ako umalis. Nang magising ako kinabukasan, nagulat ako dahil nasa kwarto ko na sina Katherine, Rory, at Gracey.

"Why are you here?" I asked Gracey kasi nagdibs na si Iñigo na si Gracey iyong Best Woman niya kasi si Gracey talaga iyong best friend niya... Ako naman, si Jax iyong Best Man ko.

"Syempre kailangan kasama ako sa picture mo!" she said, pouting. "After magpicture, aalis na agad ako para dumiretso sa bahay niyo."

Sobrang ingay sa kwarto ko. Nagsama ba naman sina Rory, Katherine, at Gracey. It almost seemed like they were playing dahil sila iyong nagmakeup sa akin. Rory was the one who fixed my hair—my hair was in a loose pony and the ends were curled. Iyong makeup naman, sumunod si Katherine na sobrang light lang. Si Gracey iyong walang naitulong dahil naka-higa lang siya sa kama at kausap iyong pamangkin ko na sobrang daldal.

"So pretty..." Katherine said when they're done with me.

"Akala ko talaga 'di ka na makakasal kasi sobrang sungit mo," Rory said, tearing up as she looked at me.

"Picture na tayo! Hinahanap na ko ni Iñigo!" Gracey said.

Napa-iling na lang ako.

We called our househelp to take photos of us. Tapos sumama na rin si Papa na naiyak nung nakita ako. He told me that I really looked like Mom... which was nice because my Mom's the best person that I knew.

Nang matapos kami, sumakay na kami sa limousine na nirentahan ni Katherine—para kahit doon man lang daw, magmukhang pinaghandaan iyong kasal namin. She's really pressed about the 1-week preparation.

Pagdating namin, nauna na sila sa loob. Naiwan ako sa sasakyan kasama si Papa. I looked at him and his eyes were still tear-stained.

"Please don't cry," I said. Why was I surrounded by crying guys?

"I want to apologize for everything, Charisse..."

"It's okay, Papa... It's all in the past. Let's move forward from that," I told him. Alam ko naging sobrang higpit siya sa 'kin... but I wanted to believe that everything happened for a reason. Kung hindi siya sobrang naghigpit sa akin sa pag-aaral, hindi ako magiging ganito... Baka nga hindi ako pumasok sa law school para lang patunayan na matalino ako... I wouldn't know my friends... I wouldn't know Iñigo...

Everything happened for a reason.

He smiled and nodded. "You look so beautiful, Charisse."

I smiled back. "Thank you..."

Huminga ako nang malalim bago kami lumabas sa sasakyan. Habang papa-lapit kami, narinig ko na iyong tunog ng violin. Nagsimulang bumilis ang kabog ng dibdib ko. Humigpit ang hawak ko kay Papa.

"Don't be nervous," Papa said. "Iñigo, that boy..." sabi niya habang napapailing. "He really did prove me wrong."

Mahina akong natawa.

Nagsimulang magluha.

God, this was finally happening.

Nang bumukas iyong pinto papunta sa garden, kahit nasa malayo ako, agad kong nakita iyong pag-iyak ni Iñigo nang makita niya ako. Gracey was tapping his shoulder.

My eyes were just on him... ni hindi ko napansin iyong mga kaibigan namin na kasama namin ngayong kasal... All I knew was that this was really happening... Finally... After everything...

"Thank you, Tito..." Iñigo said when Papa gave my hand to him.

"Call me Dad," Papa said... at tuluyan ng naiyak si Iñigo.

I watched him as he wiped the tears from his eyes.

"Sorry, naiiyak talaga ako," he said.

"I understand," I replied.

"Ha?"

"I understand why you're moody and sensitive," I continued.

His forehead creased in confusion... and then his lips parted in understanding. His eyes blinked so fastly. "Are—are you saying..."

I nodded. Ganito rin iyong nangyari dati. Kaya pala iyakin siya dati. Siya talaga iyong nagkaka-morning sickness sa aming dalawa.

I looked at the officiator. "Let's start—"

"Thank you!" Iñigo shouted and then hugged me. Tumingin siya sa mga bisita namin. "She's pregnant!"

"Way to go, buddy!" Yago shouted.

"Congrats, Cha," Jax said, and then faced Yago. "Tatlo na lang tayo sa office. Kailangan na natin ng secretary... and maybe new lawyers."

Katherine and Rory looked so excited. Gracey was jumping. Dad was crying. Iñigo was crying.

"I love you so much, Cha," Iñigo said, and then he kneeled down and then planted a kiss on my stomach. "I love you, little one... Daddy's gonna protect you..."

And then he stood up.

"Let's get married," he said, smiling at me while wiping his tears.