Romancing The Ice Prince

Chapter 41.

A/N: Unedited.

Chapter 41.

                  

Dancing

"You sure you wanna do this?" she asked habang nakatingin na para bang alam niya ang lahat sa akin. I looked away, uncomfortable with that kind of stare, at the same time, para tibayan ang loob ko. I will do this. Period.

"Of course" wika ko. I could only hope it sounded convincing

I heard her sigh. Napalingon ako nang dahil doon. Nakasandal na siya sa kanyang swivel chair at nakahalukipkip.

As I take in her appearance, narealize kong maganda siya, she looked more like a beauty queen than a lawyer. Siguro'y kung aalisin lang nito ang pagka-bun ng buhok ay kamukha nito si Ximena Navarette. However, she has this certain hardness in her aura na nakapag-intimidate sa akin ng una ko siyang makita and gave her a sense of authority. She's obviously a woman who've been through a lot and seen a lot in her life.

God, how I wish to be like her. I wanted to be that strong. To carry that aura one day. I just wanted to... survive.

Marahil dahil doon ay kaya siya ang pinili ko. I've read about her past sa internet. Kaya alam kong maiintindihan niya ako.

"You know, Mrs. Tan, I've been a divorce lawyer for more than 6 years now and I've seen a lot of bad... cases, met a lot of husbands and wives.. And I think you're the most stupid yet"

I tried not to cringe at her words. Hindi ko naman talaga ineexpect na magiging madali ang pagkukumbinsi sa kanya lalo pa't pili pa lamang ang naikukuwento ko sa kanya. After all, she's one of the best lawyers here in Denver. Hindi agad siya basta basta tatanggap ng kaso.

Miguel and I married in a mall islet called Sveti Stefan in Montenegro, Budva at hindi sa Pilipinas kaya naman pupwede akong magfile ng divorce. I wonder kung sign ba iyon na mangyayari ang lahat ng 'to.

Umayos siya ng upo and leaned closer to me. She gave me a tight smile. "I'm sorry but it's true. I've never actually believe in happy endings, given the type of job that I have. But to tell you the truth, I'd like to see one. And honey, I think you totally deserve one."

She clasped her hands together sabay tango sa akin. "So my advice for you, go back to that country of yours because I'm not taking you're case. Besides, the divorce would not be recognized in your country since you are still covered by the prohibition against divorce. It'll be a tough fight. So again, don't be selfish and go back to your man. I'd hate to see you regret it" wika niya. Tumayo siya sa kanyang kinuupuan at inilahad ang kanyang kamay para makipagkamay. She gave me an amused smile. "You're running away from your fairytale instead of chasing it. You're a first"

Ilang saglit na tinitigan ko lamang ang nakalahad niyang kamay. Suddenly, naramdaman ko ang pagod ng katawan ko. For the past few days, napapansin ko na madali akong napapagod at medyo nahihirapan na akong kumilos dahil mapapagod na lang ako bigla. Sometimes, I'd just lay in my bed, exhausted kahit na wala naman akong masyadong ginawa.

As if when I lost Miguel---or pushed him away, rather,  I lost any strength I might have had.

So if I don't do this now, baka hindi ko na siya magawa sa mga susunod na araw. Or the next day or the next and the next...

"I'm not finished with my story yet, Atty. Stevens" I said in a weak voice. Dahan-dahan akong tumingala sa kanya. "I had yet to tell you my reason"

She must have seen the struggle in my eyes because concern and curiosity flared in hers. Unti-unti niyang binawi ang kanyang kamay at umupo siyang muli sa kanyang swivel chair.