Lawful Hearts (Law School Series 1)

13

"You can lean on me," I whispered.

Inalalayan ko si Jamie na ngayon ay inaantok na. Pareho kaming nakaupo sa hospital chairs habang hinihintay na matapos na makapag-usap sa loob sina Janella at ang kaniyang parent.

Jamie slightly leaned on my lap from the opposite of the side of his face where the bandage is placed. As he slowly drifts off to sleep I can't help myself to pity this kid.

How can his parents allow this to happen to a kid? He's so young to experience the brutality of this abusive world. No one deserves this.

Now somehow, I feel like I am watching my little self sleeping.

My family isn't the type of family I would wish for if I have the choice. They gave me all my material needs, supported every expense that I had, and when I can provide it for myself, I got nothing from them any longer.

Karamihan siguro na makakita nang sitwasyon ko ay sasabihing mas mabuti na ang may kaya ang pamilya at hindi nag-uusap, kaysa naman sa pamilyang nabubusog sa pagmamahal pero namamtay na sa kahirapan.

I was selfish– or maybe I still am. Because if I am given the chance to choose a family, I might probably choose the family that is warm by love.

Naalintana ako nang may marinig akong ingay sa loob. Umupo na rin si Jamie dahil nagising din siya dito. Sinilip ko ang loob ngunit natatakpan ng kurtina si Janella.

"Anong pangalan mo?" mula sa maliit ng boses.

"Ako si Jon," aking nilambingan ang boses.

"Ako si Jamie," he smiles but as his lips widen, it pains him because he has cuts from his cheeks.

I already know his name but I acted like I didn't. Nanatili kaming nakaupo at hindi ko alam kung ano bang dapat kong gawin para pagaanin ang nararamdaman ng bata. Is there really a possible way to make him feel good when all of this has already happened to him? Maybe this abuse didn't happen once, maybe it happened more.

So I tried to think of ways that I could help with my own ability.

"Anong laruan ang pinakagusto mong nilalaro?" ito agad ang pumasok sa isip ko. I never talked to a child on purpose, not even in a situation like this. I think this is harder than actually talking to our law professors.

"Mm..." ilang segundo siyang ganito at para bang ang lalim nang kaniyang iniisip, "I like cars,"

"What do you like about them?"

"Gusto ko kasing makapunta sa ibang lugar, saka para mapuntahan ko lagi si Ate kapag wala siya dito sa probinsya," he said with excitement.

"Pero wala ka pang driver's licendse, so paano 'yan?" I tried to be humorous.