Love Me Too

Chapter 39

Parang binuhusan ng mainit na tubig si Clarisse. Nagising ang buong kamalayan niya sa narinig. The pounding of her heart caused by excitement having Lance beside her is now being replaced by tremendous nervousness and embarassment.

"L-Lance how did you find out?"

Ngumiti ng tipid ang lalaki. He looked outside the car and sighed.

"Pierce told me everything," he uttered in a low voice.

Lalong nadagdagan ang pagkabigla ni Clarisse. Anong pumasok sa isip ni Pierce para ibunyag ang pinakaiingat-ingatan nilang lihim?

"He's not completely a bad person after all," Lance added. "I guess he cares more about your happiness too than the advantages he can get from your contract."

Nahihiyang umiwas ng tingin si Clarisse sa kausap. "I'm sorry for lying..." nakatungong wika niya.

Her confidence to look him in the eyes were dismantled into pieces."A-Aren't you disappointed? The lawyer you used to admire is in fact a dirty lawyer. Nagawa kong pumeke ng marriage certificate kapalit ng materyal na bagay."

Muling humugot ng malalim na buntong-hininga si Lance. "I'm disappointed," diretsong sagot nito.

"Lance..."

"I'm disappointed...not with you but the idea of it...Actually to put it in the right words I'm more worried than disappointed. I'm hoping this decision of yours won't turn into trouble in the future. Natatakot ako na baka lahat ng pinaghirapan mo ay mauuwi lang sa wala...But whatever happens, I will always be on your side....Naiintindihan ko kung bakit mo ito nagawa. You had so much grudges in your heart back then kaya hindi kita masisisi if you saw things differently."

Lance lifted her chin and let her look at him. "Keep your head up," he said smiling.

"I-I feel very ashamed to you. S-Sorry if I'm not who you think I am," she said with very embarassed face.

Tumawa ng mahina ang binata habang pinagmamasdan ang maamong mukha ng kausap. "Hindi magbabago ang tingin o respeto ko sayo ng dahil dito. You're maybe an excellent lawyer but you're a human being too. You're still entitled to commit mistakes and wrong decisions. Ang importante ay kung papaano mo itatama ang maling desisyong nagawa mo... In that point, I admire Pierce for what he did."

"Salamat sa pang-unawa. ..W-What's gonna happen now?" hiyang-hiya at napapalunok na salita ni Clarisse.

"There's no more suppression of feelings... I will love you and you will love me too. I'll wait until you settle things with Pierce. You're free to decide kung gusto mong putulin ng mas maaga o tapusin hanggang dulo ang kasunduan niyong dalawa."

"I-I'll think about it..."

"Pag-isipan mong mabuti ang magiging desisyon mo. You can't afford to be careless because it's your reputation being risked here. As much as I want you to be mine, I also want to protect your good name. Don't worry about me... I'll patiently wait."