#PTG24 Chapter 24

To say that my relationship with my parents has been more strained would be the understatement of the century. I thought I already made myself clear the last time that we talked... but they were really pushing it. They really wanted me to marry that guy whom I barely knew! I didn't want a re-run of their marriage! Hindi ako magpapakasal sa taong 'di ko gusto!

"Magpapalit na siguro ako ng number," I said out of the blue. Nasa school kami ni Jax. It was his enrollment. Sinamahan ko siya. I could feel the next semester coming nearer and nearer, but I thought it would be a nice distraction from everything that was happening. At least kapag nagsimula na iyong school, magiging busy na ako. It was tiring thinking about my parents. Ayoko talaga ng ganito na may galit sa dibdib ko. Ang bigat. Nakaka-pagod.

Jax turned to look at me. "Still not talking to them?"

I shook my head. "Nope. Not until they promise me they'd drop that idea."

Hindi na nagsalita pa si Jax pagkatapos nun. I was actually glad that I told him about that idea of marrying me off to some guy. At least ngayon, may nakaka-usap na ako tungkol dito. Ayoko rin kasi na baka dumating iyong araw na pag-awayan pa namin ni Jax iyon. I didn't like fighting with him—iyong seryosong away? Ayoko nun. Ayoko na galit siya sa 'kin. It bothers me a lot.

I remained silent, too, during the entire enrollment process. Nang matapos kami, akala ko sa bahay na ulit kami didiretso. Tinutukso na nga ni Yaya si Jax na baka daw gusto niya na rin magdala ng mga damit niya dahil halos sa bahay na siya naka-tira—joke's on Yaya dahil may mga gamit na talaga si Jax sa kwarto ko. Akala lang talaga nila maaga pumupunta si Jax, pero madalas na sa kwarto ko siya natutulog... o baka naman alam nila, hindi na lang nila sinasabi?

"San tayo pupunta?" I asked when we're not taking the usual route.

"Mall."

"May bibilhin ka?"

"Wala."

"Bakit tayo pupunta dun?"

"To distract you," he said. I raised a brow. "You've been sad for a while now. I need to see you smile again."

I wrinkled my nose, but I couldn't fight the smile that was threatening to appear. Tumagilid ako para makita ko iyong mukha niya. I was tempted to trace the contour of his face, but I knew that that would distract him from driving. Damn his face. I could literally stare at it for days and not get bored.

"Ano'ng gagawin natin?"

He shrugged. "Anything. Up to you."

"Talaga? Kahit ano'ng gusto ko?"

He nodded, and then reached for my hand and kissed my knuckle. "Yes. You're the boss," sabi niya. Hindi ako naka-tiis kaya lumapit ako hanggang sa mahalikan ko iyong pisngi niya.

"You're the best!" I said, repeatedly kissing his cheek until his laughter reverberated.

* * *

Pagdating namin sa mall, naglakad-lakad lang kami. I really had no idea kung ano ang gagawin namin. To be honest, ngayon na lang yata talaga ako naka-balik sa mall. Buong taon, school, bahay, or coffee shop lang talaga ang mga pinupuntahan ko.

Shit. I didn't have a life.

"May problema?" Jax asked when my eyes widened upon the realization na sa law school na lang pala talaga umiikot ang buhay ko. I couldn't even remember the last time I talked to my friends! I missed all their birthdays! Epal kasi 'yung mga class ko! Laging sumasabay sa birthdays nila.

"Wala naman... I just realize that I'm missing a lot of things ever since I started law school..." I said. "Ngayon lang pala ulit ako naka-punta sa mall. I miss hanging with my friends. I miss a lot of things."

Sabay kaming naglalakad ni Jax. He was holding my hand. He used to hate holding my hand in public, but after some time, siya na mismo iyong kumukuha sa kamay ko. Pakipot lang talaga, pero gustung-gusto niya naman.

"Law school is delayed gratification. It's hard now, but it will be worth it in the future," he said.

I nodded, and smiled. "I know. Parang ikaw. Four years kong hinintay, pero sobrang saya ko naman ngayon."

Nakita ko na biglang nahiya na naman si Juan Alexandro. Hiyang-hiya talaga siya kapag sinasabi ko kung gaano niya ako katagal pinaghintay. Tinutukso ko lang siya palagi, but I really wouldn't have it any other way. I love how everything happened. It's perfect now. I'd do everything to keep it this way.

"Sa tingin mo bibili na rin ako ng libro?" I asked. Nasa bookstore kami ngayon. Since Jax just finished enrolling, naisipan ko na sabay na rin namin iyong pagbili ng school supplies niya.

"Hintayin mo muna 'yung section mo," sabi niya.

"Hmm... Sana okay 'yung bagong section ko."

He tousled my hair. "Maging mabait ka kasi sa classmates mo."

I pouted. "Mabait kaya ako! 'Di lang talaga ako feel nung mga babae."

He laughed. "Oo na. Sila na 'yung problema," sabi niya kaya inirapan ko siya.

We spent quite some time going around the bookstore. Bumili kami ni Jax ng mga notebook na gagamitin namin para sa subjects namin. Nag-restock din kami ng supplies namin like yellow pads, bond papers, iyong mahiwaga niyang Pilot V5 na ginaya ko kasi comfortable pala talagang ipangsulat iyong may grip lalo na sobrang daming digests na sinusulat, iyong 5-colors na highlighter set niya, iyong multi-colored index cards, sticky notes, page markers, at kung anu-ano pang ginagamit namin sa school. Naka-puno kami ng dalawang basket! Grabe din pala talaga!

"Gusto mo ng tulong?" I asked dahil iyong bond paper reams pa lang alam kong sobrang bigat na, e! Ayoko kasi ng nagbabasa ng cases sa screen kasi nahihilo ako. Kailangan ko na printed lahat.

"No, it's fine. May gusto ka pa bang puntahan?" he asked while holding two big bags of school supplies. Although he looked really hot with the veins in his arms popping, ayoko ng nahihirapan siya.

"Iwan muna natin sa counter 'yan, or if wala, balik tayo sa sasakyan," sabi ko sa kanya.

Dahil wala kaming makita na pwedeng pag-iwanan ng binili namin, bumalik muna kami sa parking lot para iwanan iyong mga gamit sa sasakyan. After that, nag-ikot ulit kami sa mall. Naka-kapit ako sa braso ni Jax habang naglalakad kami. Medyo naka-sandal din iyong ulo ko sa braso niya.

"Graduating ka na next year," sabi ko.

"Hmm."

"San mo balak magtrabaho?"

I could definitely see him defending the poor and the oppressed. That's just who he is. But it was getting me worried... Paano kapag may nangyari sa kanya? Feeling ko talaga ikaka-baliw ko 'yun. Pero hindi ko rin naman siya pwedeng pigilan. It's still his life. It's his choice. I could only support him.

"Di ko pa alam," sabi niya.

"Di ka na tutuloy sa criminal law?"

Umiling siya. "Baka hindi muna. Baka magcorporate law ako. Hindi ko pa alam," sagot niya.

"Akala ko sabi mo boring 'yung corpo?"

He shrugged. "Baka hindi na siya boring kapag nagta-trabaho na ako," he said, but I didn't push it through anymore. Ganoon din kasi iyong trabaho ni Tita. Alam ko nga sobrang laki ng sweldo ni Tita kasi in-house counsel siya sa multi-national company.

"Excited na akong maging lawyer ka," I said, beaming. Iniisip ko pa lang na lawyer iyong boyfriend ko, sobrang kinikilig and proud na proud ako. Lalo na na nakita ko kung paano niya pinaghirapan lahat. Sobrang deserving ni Jax. He deserved the world. Seriously, if I could give him the world, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

"Layo pa," sabi niya.

"Sure naman na papasa ka. Iba-barops kita. Just tell me everything you need; I gotchu," sabi ko and I heard him laughing. I was serious, though! Lahat talaga ng kailangan niya kapag BAR niya na, ibibigay ko sa kanya. Baka nga ibigay ko pa sa kanya si Yaya para lang ensured na well-taken cared of 'tong si Jax!

Jax and I ate in some restaurant. We didn't like the food, but we'd just charge it to experience. Pagkatapos nun, nag-ikot pa kami hanggang sa mapagod na kaming dalawa.

The next day, it was my enrollment. Maaga akong naghanda dahil ayoko rin na pumila nang matagal. I'd rather come there early and finish early kaya naka-pila ako.

"Tumawag Mama mo," sabi ni Yaya.

"Bayaan mo sila, Ya," sagot ko.

"Birthday ng Papa mo. 'Di mo man lang ba kakausapin?"

I felt a jolt of guilt crawl through my system. Of course I wanted to greet my father—he's still my father after everything... but I still needed them to understand where I was coming from. Hindi naman ako bata na pwede nilang sabihan kung ano ang pwede at hindi ko pwedeng gawin—more so telling me who I could date!

"I'll... I'll call him later," I just said, not wanting to prolong the conversation even more. I could feel Yaya's disappointed look, so I opted to wait for Jax outside. Nagtataka siya nang makita niya akong naka-upo sa pavement. Lumabas siya sa sasakyan, at saka naupo sa tabi ko. He looked worried. Tama nga siya. I'd been so sad ever since that debacle in Ilocos. Nag-aaway kami lagi ng mga magulang ko... but never like this. It was making me really sad.

"It's Papa's birthday..." I said.

"Gusto mong pumunta?"

Umiling ako. "He's in Singapore—may inaayos sila ni Mama."

"We can go to Singapore," he offered.

Napa-tingin ako sa kanya. "Seriously? Gagawin mo 'yun for me?"

He nodded. "You underestimate the things I'd do for you," he said, messing with my hair. "Gusto mo ngang pumunta? We can go after your enrollment."

I bit my lower lip. Seryoso ba si Jax? Sobrang worried niya na siguro talaga sa akin para mag-offer siya na pumunta kami sa Singapore out of the blue! Ganoon na siguro talaga ako kalala.

After deciding, I shook my head. "No... Hassle. I'll just call him."

He nodded. "Just tell me if you change your mind."

I wrinkled my nose. "Mahal kaya last minute flights."

"Pagkatapos mo akong bilhan ng Rolex, namamahalan ka sa last minute flights?" natatawang tanong niya habang sumasakay kami sa sasakyan.

I clicked my tongue. "Nagsalita 'yung Range Rover ang sasakyan. 'Wag nga ako, Jax."

Nagtalo lang kaming dalawa kung sino ang bibili ng ticket hanggang sa makarating kami sa school. Mabuti na lang at maaga pa kaya wala pa halos tao. But I immediately saw Jax frowning nang makita namin si Iñigo sa pila.

"Ms. Arellano!" he greeted. Tinanguan niya lang si Jax na tumango naman in return. 'Tong dalawang 'to talaga.

"May tao na ba sa loob?" I asked.

Iñigo shook his head. "Mamaya pa raw. Pero sulat ka sa list. Nandun kay Parker," he said. Lumapit ako kay Parker at saka nilista ko iyong pangalan ko. I said hi to him. Hindi kami close, e. Masyado siyang tahimik. Medyo weird din na 'di siya pumasok for two months... but he surprisingly passed all our classes! Ang galing talaga.

I sat beside Iñigo while we were waiting for the enrollment to begin. Nasa tabi ko rin si Jax na tahimik lang. Mukha namang 'di na siya nagseselos kay Iñigo kasi ang weird lang talaga. Iñigo's more like a brother to me? Iyong parang turing ko kina Simon. It would be creepy to think otherwise.

While in the middle of waiting, I fiddled with my phone. I accidentally saw the last thread of messages I had with Papa...

"I'll just call Papa," sabi ko kay Jax.

"Okay," he said with a small smile. "Bili muna kitang breakfast."

Naglakad-lakad ako sa hallway habang hinihintay na sumagot si Papa sa tawag. He wasn't answering the call, so I decided to call his assistant. Minsan kasi sobrang busy nila kaya 'di rin nila naaasikaso iyong personal calls.

"Hi... Is Dad there?" I asked.

"Hi, Ms. Katherine. Your parents aren't here as of the moment."

"What? I thought they're in Singapore? Are you in Singapore?" I asked. Lagi kasi nilang kasama iyong assistant nila kapag trabaho.

"Yes, Ma'am. But they went to the airport earlier."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Ah... okay..." I said, quite disappointed. Gusto ko pa namang mabati si Papa ng happy birthday. Pero kung malayo iyong pupuntahan nila, baka bukas ko pa sila maka-usap. Magsosorry na lang siguro ako. Ayoko na ng magkaaway kami. Hindi na nga kami nagkikita madalas, nag-aaway pa kami.

"Ma'am... Uhm... Please don't tell them I told you, but they're heading to the Philippines to surprise you. Sir wants to spend his birthday with you."

Napaawang iyong labi ko. What? Seryoso ba?! I thought he's gonna spend it with his new family. Okay lang naman sa 'kin. I just want to greet him, that's all.

"Oh... Uhm... Thank you."

When the call ended, bumalik na ako. Jax still wasn't around. Naupo ulit ako sa tabi ni Iñigo. Mukhang nagstart na iyong enrollment dahil wala na si Parker at Maven—sila kasi iyong una sa pila. Medyo nasa pang 10 pa ako.

"Ayos ka lang?" Iñigo asked.

I nodded. "Yeah..."

"Sure? You look pale."

I smiled. "No, okay lang ako," I said. I waited for Jax, but ang tagal niyang bumalik. "Nag-aaway ba kayo ng parents mo?" tanong ko kay Iñigo.

"Hindi. Patay na pareho, e. Ang labo kung aawayin ko pa sila."

Biglang bumigat iyong nararamdaman ko lalo. Hindi ko alam iyong sasabihin ko. Bigla akong na-guilty dahil sa huling sinabi ko sa kanila...

My parents were still alive... I was lucky... pero inaaway ko sila...

"Nag-away ba kayo?" tanong ni Iñigo. "Payong kaibigan lang, pero discretion mo pa rin naman... It's better to lose in an argument than to lose the person," he said, tapping my shoulder. "Oops. Nandyan na si boyfriend," sabi niya bago umusog nang kaunti.

Jax looked worried as he looked at me.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

I looked at him. "Not really," I said, feeling all the burden in my chest getting heavier each second.

My feet were itching to leave already. Kanina pa raw nakaalis sila Mama... Ibig sabihin, anytime ay nandito na sila sa Pilipinas. And if she's telling the truth, sa bahay didiretso sila Mama.

"Can we pass by any cake shop?" I asked Jax when I finally got enrolled.

He nodded. "Okay," he said without any follow up question. Tahimik lang ako na bumili ng cake. I already called earlier kina Yaya para sabihin na magluto ng favorite food ni Papa. I already practiced my apology in my head. I would apologize for how I acted. Masyado akong tinamaan sa sinabi ni Iñigo kanina... Ayoko na dumating iyong araw na pagsisihan ko iyong mga sinabi ko. Aanhin ko ang pride? Mas importante iyong parents ko.

Pagdating namin sa bahay, dala-dala ko iyong cake. I was trying to remember the brand of the wine Mama liked. Pagpasok ko sa bahay, agad akong napa-tigil dahil naka-tingin sa akin sila Yaya.

"Ano'ng meron?" I asked, looking at them while they have this horrified look on their faces. I asked again, but my question was met with stony silence. "You're all making me nervous... Ano bang nangyayari?" I repeated my question.

Yaya took a step forward, and held my hand. The look on her face was making my heart drum rapidly inside my chest. I could feel my hands getting colder as each seconds passed by.

"Anak... Iyong mga magulang mo... Nagcrash daw iyong eroplanong sinasakyan nila kanina... Wala daw naka-ligtas..." she said as I felt the world drop on me.