#PTG12 Chapter 12
Jax and I continued with our set-up. Sinusundo niya pa rin ako sa bahay para sabay kaming magbreakfast tapos doon kami nag-aaral sa coffee shop. We'd have lunch somewhere near sa school tapos sa library naman kami mag-aaral. Then, we'd go to class. Depende kung kaninong class ang mauunang matatapos kung sino ang maghihintay.
God, this was the life I wanted to live four years ago pa!
"When's your schedule for midterms?" Atty. Mercado asked. Next week na iyong exams. Ngayon pa lang, ramdam na ramdam ko na iyong takot at kaba. I mean, iyong recitations pa nga lang parang gusto ko ng maiyak sa kaba, sa exam pa kaya?! Baka literal talaga na maiyak ako in the middle of the exam.
"First day, Sir," Faith, the class beadle for Crim, replied.
Atty. Mercado nodded. "Coverage is from the beginning to application of penalties," he said. I mentally groaned. Ang hirap nung sa penalties! Malay ko bang pati sa law school may computation?!
I could feel the heavy energy inside the classroom. Kaka-announce lang kasi kahapon ni Atty. Cruz ng 300 cases to be digested. Iyong first half na 150, to be passed before magsimula iyong exam sa subject niya. Ngayon pa lang, hilung-hilo na talaga ako. Nagkaka-migraine na ako sa dami ng ginagawa at pinapagawa. To think na 2 months pa lang ako dito!
"I'll send to the class beadle the list of cases to be digested. Make sure to write clearly the facts, issues, and ruling. I'll be reading those. Don't even try to write digests from the Internet. You're already law students; don't plagiarize."
'Sana po less than 20 cases lang,' I kept on repeating inside my head. I already fixed my schedule para matapos ko iyong digests sa Consti before the exam. By this rate, kailangan kong makagawa ng at least 25 cases a day. Kung hindi, lagot na talaga ako.
We were dismissed right after. Sobrang lalim ng buntung-hininga ko habang nag-aayos ako ng gamit ko. I was looking forward to tomorrow kasi Sunday. Magde-date dapat kami ni Jax... but with how things were going, mukhang sa bahay lang ako buong weekend hanggang sa matapos iyong midterms.
"Hi..." malungkot na sabi ko nang makita ko si Jax na naghihintay sa labas ng classroom ko. Kunot iyong noo niya. His eyes were looking at mine, questioning what was wrong. "Pwede pass muna ako sa dinner?"
"Why?" he asked habang naglalakad kami pababa ng hagdan. Kinuha niya mula sa akin iyong CrimLaw book ko kasi mabigat talaga 'yun, and hindi siya kasya sa dala kong bag. Minsan talaga sinasadya ko na liitan iyong dalang bag kasi gusto ko na si Jax iyong nagbibitbit ng dala ko. Wala lang. Para mas obvious na nililigawan niya ako.
"200 cases 'yung ida-digest ko before midterms. Ang sakit ng ulo ko agad," I ranted.
"What subjects?"
"Crim and Consti."
"You want help?"
Umiling ako. "Busy ka rin. Kaya ko 'to," I said, smiling at him. As much as I love pestering Jax kapag may mga hindi ako maintindihan na concepts lalo na sa Crim, ayoko naman na abalahin siya. Nakikita ko kasi siya kapag nag-aaral, and sobrang hirap ng mga binabasa niya. I didn't want to burden him. Sapat na iyong inspiration na binibigay niya sa 'kin.
Habang nasa sasakyan ako ni Jax, biglang nagchat si Iñigo.
Iñigo: hati tayo sa case? Dami iddownload
Katherine: ilan daw? Binigay na case sa crim? Papass naman
Iñigo: ito. 50 cases.
Katherine: ang dami :(
Katherine: sige hati tayo pero di pa ko tapos sa consti. Pwede send ko bukas?
Iñigo: okay. Tapos ka na magdownload sa consti? Send ko yung akin?
Katherine: di pa hehehe thanks!!!!!!
I was smiling dahil ang laking bawas nung pagsesend ni Iñigo nung cases sa Consti. Truth be told, ang hirap magdownload ng case! Hassle pa minsan kasi namamali ako ng download. Like before, iba pala iyong General Register number nung na-download ko—same lang sila ng name. Mukhang tanga tuloy ako nung nagrerecite.
'Di ko napansin na nasa bahay na pala kami. I unbuckled my seatbelt, and looked at Jax.
"Wag mo tayo umalis bukas," I said.
"Why?" he asked quickly. Akala ko papayag agad siya kasi syempre midterms. Busy din siya. And alam ko naman na medyo hassle pa sa kanya na sunduin ako dito tapos ako laging nasusunod kung saan kami kakain. Prinsesa talaga ako dito, e.
"Magda-digest ako. Tapos gagawa akong reviewer," I said, frowning. "After midterms na lang ulit?"
Jax didn't answer. Naggoodbye lang ako bago ako mabilis na pumasok sa bahay. Yaya said na dumaan si Papa, but I didn't mind it anymore. Dumadaan lang naman sila dito kapag may time sila. Ewan ko ba sa parents ko. They're separated, but not legally. Ayaw nilang magfile ng annulment. Issue nila iyong hatian sa properties and assets lalo na sa logistics business namin. Ayaw may magpalamang. Kaya sanay na ako sa setup na kung sino na lang talaga nakikita ko sa bahay kung sino ang may trip na magpakita sa akin.
After taking a quick shower, I prepared my laptop, yellow paper, and pens. I also tied my hair into a bun bago ako bumaba sa salas. I didn't want to study inside my room kasi sure ako na makaka-tulog lang ako kapag nakikita ko iyong kama ko. This was going to be a long night.
I was in the middle of downloading the first ten cases nang may biglang paper bag sa harapan ko. I looked up only to see Jax standing in front of me. He wasn't wearing the same clothes. He's now wearing a plain white shirt, brown cargo shorts, and his black slider sandals.
"Ano 'to?"
"Dinner," he said.
I frowned. "Bumili ka pa?" I asked. Sabi niya kanina may rehash pa siya sa Sales. Ang hassle nun. Fill in the blanks na recitation about articles tapos kapag 'di ka naka-sagot within 3 seconds, 60 agad 'yung grade mo.
Instead of answering, naupo siya sa sofa sa likod ko. Sinilip niya iyong binabasa ko sa laptop.
"Can I study here?" he asked.
Lumingon ako. "Dito?"
He nodded. "Pwede?" tanong niya na parang bata. I bit my lower lip to stop myself from smiling, but I wasn't successful fighting it. Hindi ko talaga akalain na ganito si Jax. All this time, akala ko talaga sobrang neutral niyang tao. But in reality? He's a softie.
"Dala mo gamit mo?"
He nodded. "In the car."
I wrinkled my nose. "May magagawa pa ba ako?" sagot ko sa kanya. He smiled a little, then like a cute kid that he was, lumabas na siya para kuhanin iyong mga gamit niya. I took the time to bring the food to the kitchen.
"Kayo na ba?" Yaya asked habang nilalagay ko sa plate iyong Chinese food na dala ni Jax. I was in the mood for some xiao long bao! 'Di ko alam paano niya nalalaman iyong cravings ko before I could even realize them myself! Talent talaga, e.
I shook my head. "Di pa, Ya."
"Akala ko'y kayo na. Ayaw niyo maghiwalay, ah."
I beamed. "Ganon talaga, Ya. Tagal kong hinintay 'to, e," I said. Pingaralan pa ako ni Yaya na sabihin ko raw sa parents ko, and I wanted to, but paano ko naman sasabihin kung ni ako nga 'di ko sila nakikita? Ang labo talaga.
Pagbalik ko sa salas, nandun na ulit si Jax. He was placed sa right side nung table. Naka-labas na iyong things niya for Transpo and Sales since iyon 'yung unang exams niya. Ang cute din kasi dala niya pati iyong bookstand niya and yung pen capsule niya. Lagi niyang dala iyon. Parang part na ng pagkatao niya.
"Let's eat muna," I said.
"Ikaw na lang," sabi niya.
"Kumain ka na ba?" I asked.
He nodded. "Yeah. Umuwi si Papa. Sabay kaming kumain," sabi niya. I shrugged, and plopped down beside him. I was busy eating. I was humming pa dahil gumaan na kahit papaano iyong mood ko. Siguro naman kaya ko 'to. People before have survived law school naman. Kaya ko 'to. Kung kaya nila, kaya ko rin. It's a matter of the right mind set.
I was in the middle of finishing my pansit when the iMessenger notified. I scooted para tignan kung sino iyong nagtext.
Iñigo: first 20 pa lang sa Consti ko. Send ko na?
I was about to answer when I heard Jax clearing his throat. Napa-tingin tuloy ako sa kanya while the chopsticks were literally in my mouth pa. May pa-ubo pa si Kuya, e.
"What?" I asked.
He looked at me—iyong tingin niya na may gusto siyang sabihin pero hindi niya magawang sabihin dahil nahihiya siya.
"San list ng case mo?" he asked.
I clicked on the file. "Ito, bakit?"
Nagulat ako nang maupo siya sa harap ng laptop ko. Pinausod niya pa ako.
"Bagalan mo kumain," sabi niya pa habang naka-kunot ang noo ko habang nagla-login siya sa account niya sa CDAsia. I didn't understand what was going on—not until he started downloading the cases assigned.
"Uy..." sabi ko sa kanya. Binaba ko iyong chopsticks ko. "Mag-aral ka na. I'll do that."
"Just eat," he stubbornly replied.
Umiling ako. "No. I appreciate the thought, but I really don't like the idea na nababawasan 'yung time mo mag-aral dahil sa 'kin," I said. Jax's school record has always been stellar. I wanted nothing but the best for him. Hindi ako papayag na ganito na inuuna niya iyong cases ko kahit na sobrang dami niya ring dapat gawin.
Jax was still typing furiously, his eyes never leaving the screen.
"I don't like the idea of some other guy doing this for you."
Mabilis na umawang ang labi ko.
Mabilis din na bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko.
Hindi ko alam kung gaano katagal na ganoon ang reaksyon ko. I suddenly began to panic. Did I make him feel threatened? Bakit siya nagseselos kay Iñigo? He's just my classmate. Dalawa na nga lang sila ni Deanne na friends ko sa room, e...
Did I do anything inappropriate? Niloloko ko lang naman siya before about Iñigo... Wala naman talaga akong ginagawa na masama. Kinakausap ko nga lang 'yun about school, e.
"Huy..." I said, poking his arm. He wasn't turning. He was still typing and saving files for me to read. Kainis naman 'to! Kahit ganito na nagsusuplado, he's still making an effort for me!
I scooted until there's no space between us. Patuloy ko na sinundot iyong braso niya hanggang sa mairita siya sa akin.
"Ano?" sabi niya habang naka-kunot ang noo.
I smiled sweetly. "Galit ka?"
"No."
"Sure?" He rolled his eyes. "Ay, ang suplado."
Bumalik na naman siya sa pagta-type niya.
"Sorry na kasi. Na-download niya na kasi kaya naki-share lang ako. Ayaw mo ba nun?" I asked, but he didn't reply. "Silence means yes. Sige, 'di na ako hihingi kahit kailan kay Iñigo ng cases. Kahit mamatay na lang ako kaka-download, 'di pa rin ako hihingi sa kanya," sabi ko tapos kinalabit ko ulit siya, pero suplado pa rin! Grabe, may menstruation ba 'to ngayon? Ang taray!
Kinuha ko ulit iyong chopsticks ko tapos kinain ko na lang 'yung xiao long bao.
"Ikaw, ha. Pasalamat ka malakas ka sa 'kin kaya papalagpasin ko 'yang pag-a-attitude mo," I said as I was munching on the food he bought for me. "Pero to set the record straight, friends lang kami niyang si Iñigo. Kahit basahin mo pa 'yung thread ng—"
"Thread?" he cut me off.
"Oo, thread. Sa message. 'Di mo ba alam 'yun?" pamimilosopo ko sa kanya kasi ang suplado niya masyado!
He squinted. Oh, now he's looking at me! Pagkatapos niya akong 'di pansinin kanina! Supladong anemic na 'to! Ang lakas ng loob magsuot ng color white!
"Bakit may thread? Marami ba kayong pinag-uusapan?"
Umusod ako, tapos kinuha ko iyong laptop, and showed it to him. I scrolled through my messages. I was confident kasi wala naman talaga! Ewan ko ba dito kay Jax at may love-hate relationship talaga kay Iñigo!
"Tignan mo," I said as I showed him the messages. "Puro tungkol lang 'yan sa school. Gusto mo pati messenger pakita ko para 'di ka na suplado d'yan?"
He looked at me. I thought magsusuplado na naman siya.
"It's fine," he said in a much calmer tone. "I'm sorry. I was out of line."
I bit my tongue. I felt guilty na sinungitan ko siya. Madalas naman logical si Jax... but of course minsan may moment na ganitong nababaliw siya. Alam mo 'yung parang trigger word niya iyong salitang Iñigo?
"Tsk. Bati na ulit tayo."
He nodded. "But sorry."
I smiled. "It's fine. Time of the month mo lang siguro."
He glared at me. I laughed at his face. Just like that, we're good again. This was what I loved about us. We're quick to apologize and to forgive. Because we both know that we're works in progress and that we're just both trying to make each other happy. Kung may nagagawa man kami na makakasakit sa bawat isa, we both know that we did not do that intentionally.
We'll never intentionally hurt each other.
"Ask me," he said.
"About what?"
"About anything."
"Ayoko. Busy ka."
Bumalik na ulit ako sa kinakain ko. Ang sarap. San ba 'to binili ni Jax?
"I made you wait for four years. Let me spare a few hours to prioritize you," he said... that made me drop my last piece of xiao long bao.