#RTG10 Chapter 10

Never in my life had I thought that I'd get married this early... I mean, sure, when I was younger and didn't know better, I thought by the age of 23, kasal na ako... Think about that now, it sounded ridiculous. Ano bang ginagawa ko nung 23 ako? Lumalandi, pumaparty, at nag-aaral. San 'dun ang kasal? Sobrang dami ko pang gustong gawin that marriage became the last thing in my life's agenda. Akala ko around my 30s pa ako mag-aasawa. 'Di naman kasi siya big deal sa buhay ko.

But Sean was right...

When you know, you know.

It was hard to find someone who has the same energy as you—someone who wouldn't make you feel guilty for chasing after your career... kasi ganoon din ang gusto niya. I was so thankful na naiintindihan niya kung gaano ako ka-busy. Things would certainly be different kung hindi niya naiintindihan 'yun.

"Anak," pagtawag ni Papa sa 'kin. I looked at him and smiled. Sa Manila kasi gaganapin iyong kasal. Originally, sa Vizcaya dapat kaya lang logistically speaking, mas mahirap... Kaya naman nauwi kami sa Manila, pero we would provide transportation para sa mga kamag-anak namin na luluwas sa Manila para umattend sa wedding.

Naupo si Papa sa tabi ko. I looked at him, waiting kung ano ba ang sasabihin niya sa 'kin. Close kami ni Papa... pero hindi kami masyadong nag-uusap tungkol sa mga masyadong personal na bagay. Ewan ko. 'Di ko naman masabi na dahil lalaki siya at babae ako kasi kahit kay Mama naman 'di ako nakakapagkwento.

"Sigurado ka na ba dito?" he asked.

"Bakit, Pa?" I asked back.

"Wala lang... Para kasing mabilis."

"Di ba binigay niyo naman blessing niyo?"

Tumango siya. "Oo nga... 'di ko lang inakala na papayag ka agad," he said, giving me a small smile. I saw him sighing. "Kasal ito, Isobel. Panghabang buhay. 'Di ako naniniwala sa mga annulment na kalokohan na 'yan."

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. My father, as much as I love him, is a little too traditional... Mas gusto niya yatang magbugbugan na lang iyong mag-asawa kaysa magpa-annul. Magpatayan na lang kayo basta kasal pa rin kayo. Ridiculous. Life is so fucking short—why stay with someone who's destroying you?

"Di kalokohan 'yung annulment, Pa," sagot ko.

"Wag magpakasal kung hindi sigurado," he replied. "Lalo na kapag na-aprubahan 'yang divorce na 'yan... Lalong magiging 'di seryoso ang mga tao sa kasal. Ang daling takasan."

I closed my eyes and heaved a deep breath.

"Ano'ng point ng pag-uusap na 'to, Pa?" I respectfully asked dahil may gagawin pa ako mamaya at wala akong energy makipagdebate sa tatay ko tungkol sa stand ko sa annulment at divorce.

"Ang point, anak, ay kung siguradung-sigurado ka na ba kay Sean?"

I directly looked into his eyes, so that he'd believe me. "Pa... Sigurado po ako kay Sean. 'Di naman 'yan sa patagalan ng pagkaka-kilala. Kami ni Sean, naiintindihan namin 'yung isa't-isa. He's a doctor and I'm a lawyer. Pareho kaming busy sa trabado namin kaya compatible kami."

"Compatible... Mahal mo ba?"

I laughed. "Syempre naman, Pa! Papakasalan ko ba kung hindi?"

"Baka kako nadaan ka lang sa mukha."

I laughed again. "Syempre, isang factor 'yun, Pa," I said, anchoring my arm with his and sumandal ako sa braso niya. "Mangyayari 'tong kasal na 'to, Pa... And don't worry about me... I know what I'm getting myself into," I assured him... Kasi totoo naman... Alam ko kung ano 'tong pinapasok ko.

* * *

"Oh, no..."

"What?" Sean asked, looking panicked. I showed him the email I just got from the firm. His eyes widened. "Congrats, baby!" he said, grinning and seemingly so proud dahil natanggap ako sa firm. Akala ko hindi kasi naglakad yata ako nung interview! Tapos hindi naman ako topnotcher! Ano kayang nangyari?! Kulang ba sila sa lawyer?

"What?" he asked nang hindi ako maka-sagot.

"Look at the date," I said, pointing at the date na naka-indicate sa e-mail kasi pinagsisimula na ako after kong pumirma ng contract. "It'll coincide with the wedding..."

Sean looked at the e-mail. I wanted to tell him na kung pwede ay bilisan namin iyong preparation ng kasal, pero alam ko naman na hindi pwede kasi marami pang kailangang gawin... I mean, iyong gown ko nga ay hindi pa tapos. Alam ko naman na kapag nagsimula na ako sa trabaho, hindi ko na maasikaso iyong kasal.

But... but I really didn't want to ask him to postpone, either. Ang laki na nga nang nasayang niya nung hindi natuloy iyong Paris trip namin. Tapos ngayon na naman? Dahil sa parehong trabaho?

I didn't have the heart to ask him that again.

"What do you want to do?" he asked.

"I don't know," I replied.

He remained silent. I knew what I wanted... I just didn't have the guts to actually ask for it... But I also knew that I would never tell him that I'd turn down the job to have the wedding. That was my dream job. That was the dream simula nung nasa 1st year law school pa lang ako.

"Our wedding's gonna be on a Sunday," Sean began.

"Yeah, I know, but I won't be of any help once I start working," I told him. Sigurado ako na sa akin babagsak lahat ng trabaho dahil ganoon kapag nagsisimula ka pa lang. I heard stories—karamihan sa mga bagong nagta-trabaho, halos sa opisina na naka-tira dahil sa dami ng ginagawa.

"That's why we have the wedding planner," Sean replied.

I looked at him. This felt unfair for him. I wanted to do more for him, pero alam ko rin na pangarap ko ang trabaho na 'to... And I worked so hard for this that I wouldn't just give it up.

Sean held my hand. "Look," he began. "You accept the job... and then marry me..." he said like it's the easiest thing in the world... And maybe he was right because with him, it's always been easy.

I chewed on my lower lip. "You're not mad?"

"What? Why will I be mad?"

"Because I'm always choosing work?"

"And that's a reason to be mad?"

"I mean... I think?" sagot ko dahil hindi ko rin alam. Kahit nung nagde-date pa lang kami ni Sean, never akong nagalit sa kanya kapag sinasabi niya sa akin na hindi niya ako mapupuntahan dahil may duty siya or what. Maraming beses din na bigla siyang nagcancel sa akin. Hindi naman ako ganoon ka-petty na tao. That's his career. I have mine. I perfectly understand that in our line of work, those things happen.

"I'll never get mad at you for your work. Your passion is admirable. That's one of the things that I love about you," he said, staring right into my eyes.

I bit my lip as I fought a smile. "Thank you..." I said.

Kinabig niya ako at inakbayan. I felt him kissing the side of my head. "Now, answer the e-mail because we have to discuss with the organizer," sabi niya dahil kailangan ko na raw sabihin sa organizer lahat ng gusto ko para iyon na ang mag-aayos.

God.

I really did get lucky with Sean.

* * *

Sobrang daming tanong nung organizer simula nung malaman niya na hindi na ako makakapagcoordinate masyado dahil magsisimula na iyong trabaho ko. I complied with everything she asked from me dahil ayoko naman na magkaroon pa ng problema.

"Told you you don't have to drive me to work," I told Sean because he insisted on driving me to work kahit busy siya sa pagrereview.

"You'll be busy, so I'm taking all the time I could get," he said after kissing me nang maka-pasok ako sa sasakyan niya. Nakita ko na nandun na sa cup holder iyong coffee ko. Ganoon din kasi siya nung review days ko pa. Laging may coffee o kung ano'ng snacks sa sasakyan niya kapag nagkikita kami.

Habang nasa sasakyan kami, nagtanong lang ako sa kanya tungkol sa pagrereview niya. Kailangan ko talagang ayusin iyong work ko dahil gusto ko na kapag weekend ay si Sean naman ang aasikasuhin ko. Ayoko naman na parang tanggap lang ako nang tanggap sa kanya.

"I'll pick you up later," he said nang huminto siya sa harap ng building. I looked at the building, admiring its beauty... Grabe. Dito talaga ako magta-trabaho! Akala ko hindi talaga ako makaka-pasok, but life has its way!

I looked at Sean, smiling. Napa-ngiti rin siya.

"Happy?" he asked.

I nodded like a little kid. "Very," I replied. "Thanks for being so supportive..." I sincerely told him. Alam ko naman na hindi ako mapupunta rito kung hindi na rin dahil sa support niya. Alam ko na nag-aral naman talaga ako nang maayos, but I couldn't discount the fact that Sean supported me all throughout—it's his victory, too.

He pinched my cheek. "Work well, Atty. Laurel. Show them."

I grinned. "You bet," I said. "Don't pick me up later na. I'll just grab a ride. I'll visit you at your work then let's have dinner?"

"You sure?"

"Yup," sagot ko. "You don't have to drive me to work. I know you're tired. Let's just promise to have dinner every night?"

We're both into our works. Ayoko na napapagod siya kaka-hatid or sundo sa akin lalo na at alam ko kung gaano ka-physically demanding iyong trabaho niya. Ikut kaya nang ikot 'yan sa hospital! It's so hard to track him down.

"Okay," he said with a soft smile. "Can't wait to marry you."

I leaned in and kissed him. "Can't wait, too."

Huminga ako nang malalim bago ako pumasok sa building. Mula sa labas pa lang ay kitang-kita ko na iyong mga pumapasok. They all looked like they mean business—and they're probably right dahil sikat ang Gulmatico & Zobel sa pagtatanggal ng abogado nila lalo na kung hindi productive—and that means small margin of losing cases... or else tanggal ka.

God, I really needed to bring my A-game!

Kahit na kabang-kaba ako, I carried myself with faux confidence. I shouldn't show them kung gaano ako ka-kinakabahan o ka-intimidated sa mga ka-trabaho ko. Lahat sila ay kung hindi BAR topnotcher, expert sa fields nila... Gusto kong isipin na naligaw lang ako rito, but I wanted to believe that they saw something in me kaya nandito ako. I'd show them na hindi sila nagka-mali sa pagtanggap sa akin dito.

Pagdating ko sa office, I was immediately briefed by the HR head. Sinabi sa akin na under ako sa team ni Atty. Yuchengco and isa ako sa mga junior associate niya. I knew him—he's the top 2 sa previous BAR exam.

Grabe talaga. Dito yata sa firm na 'to pumapasok mga topnotcher.

"Good morning, Atty. Yuchengco," bati ko sa kanya nang pumasok ako sa conference room. May dalawa pang lawyer na nandun. They looked serious... baka kinakabahan din sila kagaya ko? I mean, siguro naman kahit topnotcher ka, kinkabahan ka pa rin? After all, ibang-iba iyong actual practice kaysa sa pinag-aaralan namin sa school noon.

"Atty. Laurel, right?" he asked.

I nodded. "Yes, Atty. I was told that I'm assigned to your team."

"Right..." he replied. "Atty. Constantino and Atty. Valerio will be discussing the latest cases we're handling and I need you to get up to speed. Then, I need you to study 2 weeks' worth of deposition and then give me a report," he said like he meant business.

And to think na last year, kaka-pasa niya lang ng BAR!

Mabilis na nagsimulang magdiscuss nung progress report. I brought out my laptop—mabuti na lang pinaalala ni Sean dahil patay ako kung 'di ko nadala! Ang hirap naman kung isusulat ko lahat!

Sobrang bilis ng turn over nung mga kaso. May time table din na sinusunod. Sobrang choleric ni Atty. Yuchengco.

Nang matapos iyong reporting, mabilis na lumabas na iyong dalawang attorney. Ni hindi ko alam kung ano ang pangalan nilang dalawa dahil sa bilis ng pangyayari.

"Atty," pagtawag ko sa kanya dahil kami na lang iyong naiwan sa conference room. Mukhang dito siya magse-stay dahil hindi yata kasya sa office niya iyong dami ng pile ng folder na naiwan. Tapos nagdala rin ng sandwich and coffee iyong isang employee para sa kanya yata.

"Hmm?" sagot niya habang may binabasa.

"About the depositions I need to review..." sabi ko sa kanya.

"Ask Paige about the Legarda case," sabi niya.

"Is that all?"

He looked at his watch. "Report to me by 3pm."

Oh, shit.

Paglabas ko ay agad kong hinanap iyong sinasabi niyang Paige na apparently ay isa pala sa mga paralegals. She was nice and welcoming.

"Swerte mo kay Atty. Yuchengco ka assigned," sabi niya.

"Talaga ba?" natawang sabi ko kasi first day ko, sobrang pressured na agad ako!

"Oo, mabait 'yun," she said.

"Mukha naman," sagot ko habang chine-check iyong babasahin ko. Mukhang 'di ako makakapaglunch, ah!

"Marami lang papagawa sa 'yo 'yun kasi marami ring ginagawa 'yun, e. Masasanay ka rin."

I laughed. "Ganito talaga rito?"

She leaned in, whispering. "Oo, ganito talaga rito... Sobrang daming ginagawa... Kaya marami ring 'di tumatagal dahil overworked..."

I just smiled. Sigurado akong tatagal ako rito. I dreamed of this job for so long—if I needed to spend day in and day out in this building, so be it.

Ni hindi ko pa naayos iyong cubicle na assigned sa akin. Nagsimula na akong magbasa. Nakisuyo din ako at nagaya ako sa pagsa-sandwich ni Atty. Yuchengco dahil iyon lang ang kaya kong kainin habang nagbabasa.

By 3pm, I was ready to report.

Agad akong pumunta sa conference room at nagsimulang magreport sa kanya. He was just looking at me habang nagrereport ako. He wasn't asking anything kaya kinakabahan ako kung may nalimutan ba ako o kung mali na ba iyong sinasabi ko.

"Can you prepare the defense or do you need assistance?" he asked.

I blinked. "I... can do that," sagot ko.

"Okay," sagot niya habang sinarado iyong pinass ko na report. "Please double check if an arraignment has already been scheduled and follow up on the discoveries," he continued. "And if you need help, just tell me."

"When's the deadline?" I asked.

"Yesterday," sagot niya bago kumagat sa sandwich niya.

I blinked again. "Okay... Thanks, Sir," sabi ko bago mabilis na lumabas.

My heart was beating wildly. Nagawa ko naman na 'to nung nagLegal Aid kami sa Brent, pero may kasama naman kami lagi noon na lawyer na kaya may guidance kami all throughout! Tapos ito, ako na bahala sa lahat?! Paano kung ewan iyong nagawa kong defense?! Makukulong ba iyong client namin?

Good Lord!

Hanggang sa matapos iyong office hours, nagulat ako dahil marami pa ring tao sa office... Nag-alarm na iyong phone ko dahil ayokong malimutan iyong sa date namin ni Sean... Kaya lang parang nakaka-guilty naman na umalis agad ako! To think na first day ko ngayon!

Discreetly, pumunta ako sa CR.

"Sean..." I said.

"Are you on the way? I'm still not done," he replied.

"Not yet..." sabi ko tapos pinaliwanag ko sa kanya iyong dilemma ko tungkol sa pag-alis nang maaga! Kasi legit ang dami pang tao sa office! Nakaka-stress!

"Okay, baby," sabi niya. "Let's just do late dinner? You think you'll be finished by 10?"

"Yeah, I think," sabi ko. 'Di naman siguro umaabot hanggang madaling araw mga tao rito! Ang wild naman kung sakali!

"I'll text you when I'm there," sabi niya.

"Okay. Thanks and sorry..."

He chuckled. "Stop thanking me. That's your job," he said like it didn't matter... but it really did...

"I love you, Sean. Don't ever get tired of me, okay?"

"Never—that's why I'm marrying you," he said... and just like that, parang nawala iyong pagod ko sa buong araw.