#CTG16 Chapter 16
For some reason, Dad still hadn't learned about what happened to my Torts class... It seemed like he'd been really busy with the business. Normally kasi, just days after the release of grades, alam niya na kung ano ang grades ko... Probably the reason why I never lied to him about my grades? Kasi ano ang silbi? Malalaman niya rin naman. Kaya sa pag-aaral ko na lang binubuhos ang effort ko.
"Sino prof mo sa Torts?" Rory asked. We're still classmates. Mula first year hanggang senior year, magkakasama kami nila Rory, Yago, at Jax. We worked for it, though. Hindi biro iyong pagod namin para manatili sa honors section.
"Same," I said.
"Bakit? Sa iba ka na!" Rory protested. "Okay daw si Atty. Laras sa Torts. Medyo 'di pumapasok kasi busy pero sure pass daw basta complete requirements mo... Napag-aralan mo naman na 'yan. Baka ma-double flunk ka."
I merely smiled. Alam ko naman 'yun. Kaya lang itong section lang talaga iyong pasok sa schedule ko. Puro review na kami ngayong fourth year. I'd really rather hindi ko na ulitin 'tong Torts para focused na ako sa review. But I didn't have a choice. Last year naman na 'to. Next year, hopefully, I'd be a lawyer...
That's the plan.
Hopefully I'd be a part of the top so that I'd get good offers. Mas mataas ang sweldo, mas mabilis akong makakaalis sa bahay. Ayoko rin naman kasi na umalis doon ng walang plano. Kung aalis man ako, gusto ko na hindi maiisip ni Dad na nagkamali ako ng desisyon.
The Crimrev officially started. I thought I was already used to studying hard, but at some point of the class, biglang wala na akong maintindihan. Pakiramdam ko ay iyong ilang linggo naming dinidiscuss nung first year ako e na-cover namin sa loob ng ilang oras lang.
They really weren't kidding when they said that everything is fast here in review class.
I tried to follow, though. I just discretely recorded the lecture para papakinggan ko na lang ulit mamaya. Wala na kasi talaga akong maintindihan.
"Grabe..." Rory said when we were dismissed. She looked so tired—ako rin naman. Mas magaling lang siguro akong magpanggap na hindi. "First class pa lang 'yun?"
We all went to our next class. Hilung-hilo na talaga ako nang matapos iyong araw ko. Sumasakit na iyong ulo ko sa dami ng information na kailangan kong alalahanin. Thankfully, alam ko na iyong iba sa kanila. Tinandaan ko kasi iyong sinabi sa amin nung orientation... That your review for the BAR exam starts on the first day of class. So everyday, I study seriously. Kasi ayoko na lahat aaralin ko pa lang kapag review na. Kasi nga dapat review na lang 'yun.
That paid off... kind of.
The next day, I went to school with raging headache. Hinabol ko kasi iyong nirecord ko na lecture kahapon. Ayoko ng backlogs dahil sa bilis ng nangyayari, sigurado ako na 'di ko na mahahabol 'yun if dumami.
This was one of the times that I am really grateful for having a brother who's a doctor.
Pagdating ko sa school, nag-aral muna ako sandali. I attended another review class before ako pumunta sa Torts. I arrived early because I wanted to sit in front. That way, no choice ako kung hindi makinig. Naniniwala kasi ako sa prevention is better than cure. Maraming distraction sa likod.
"Cha?"
Napa-lingon ako nang may narinig akong pamilyar na boses. Kaklase ko siya? Seriously?
Kumunot ang noo niya. I saw him close his eyes a couple of time as if checking if I was real or just a work of his imagination... And when that didn't work because obviously nandito din ako, he got his phone and went outside to look at the room number.
"Nasa tamang room ka ba?" he asked nang pumasok ulit siya. "Di ba usually nasa kabilang building mga fourth year?"
I nodded. Dapat siguro sinabi ko na sa kanya nung huling nagkita kami na bagsak ako. Hindi naman ako nahihiya na bumagsak ako. As long as I know I did my best, I'm good with that. Mas mahihiya ako kung bumagsak ako while knowing that I could've done better.
"May torts ka?" he asked.
"Obviously."
Natawa siya. "Sungit," he said, putting his bag on a chair on the other side of the room. Naupo siya sa desk nun habang naka-harap sa akin. "Classmates tayo?"
"Obviously," I repeated. "Bumagsak ako," sabi ko. I just wanted the awkwardness to dissipate. I knew he was wondering kung bakit ako nandito—it's just either I dropped this or I failed. I failed. End of story.
Iñigo just nodded. "Mahirap ba 'tong Torts? Paturo ako."
"Bumagsak nga ako, 'di ba?"
He shrugged. "Kapag ba bumagsak, ibig sabihin wala ng alam? Minsan kasi 'di ba wrong timing lang? Marami namang factor kaya bumabagsak. 'Di naman ibig sabihin nung hindi mo alam. Minsan... malas lang talaga."
I returned my eyes on the book I was reading. "I failed. Don't make excuses for me. 'Di ko naman dinadamdam."
I heard his laughter before the door swung open. Nagsimula ng dumating iyong mga tao. A few minutes later, dumating na rin iyong professor namin. I silently listened to his introduction—it was just a rehash of last year's. And because I already attended this same professor's subject, alam ko na na may recitation agad sa first day.
"Viste," called our professor. I stood up. It seemed like he recognized me. Siguro. I clearly remembered last year, blood flowed from my nose right in the middle of the recitation. That's something that would be remembered.
"Suppose a pregnant woman passenger of a bus were to suffer an abortion following a vehicular accident due to the gross negligence of the bus driver, may she and her husband claim damages from the bus company for the death of their unborn child?" he asked.
I drew deep breath before I began answering. "Yes, they can recover damages from the bus company, however, only damages arising from the injuries suffered by the wife for the loss of her fetus being part of her internal organ due the accident there being gross negligent on the part of the bus driver and for moral damages being accounted for her mental anguish that attended the loss of her unborn child. But only such damages may be awarded by the court, no actual damages may be allowed because an unborn child, according to the law, is not yet considered a person, and the law only allows indemnity only to loss of life of a person."
I hated to admit it, but that quick stint at the airline company did really help... Hanggang ngayon alam na alam ko pa rin iyong mga kaso kapag transportation related.
"That will do," he said before I sat down and another class card was drawn. Nang maka-upo ako, I discreetly opened my notebook for another class. May PolRev pa ako mamaya. Sana maaga magdismiss. 'Di pa ako kuntento sa nabasa ko.
By the time the class ended, I quickly fixed my things. It was kind of weird dahil kaklase ko rin pala si Katherine... I really felt bad for what happened to Jax and her... But it needed to be done.
"Ganda ng recit mo," Iñigo said. "Talino talaga."
"Thanks," I simply replied.
"Paturo," he said, grinning.
"I think you can manage," I said. "You're part of the Dean's list."
I saw him during the awarding. Hindi ko lang pinansin dahil kasama niya si Katherine. Jax was ignoring them, but it was still very awkward kaya nagpanggap na lang din akong walang nakikita. Even Rory and Yago na usually hindi nahihiya, biglang na-weirduhan sa mga nangyari.
Jax was very weird about it.
"Seventh lang," he said. "Fourth ka kaya."
I shrugged. "Thank you. But can I go now? Magrereview pa ako."
His lips parted. I didn't know if I offended him... pero kailangan ko na talagang magreview dahil marami iyong coverage ng Poli ngayon. And mahigpit iyong prof kasi naging examiner siya ng BAR.
"Oh. Okay. Sorry," he said.
"No, it's fine," I replied. "Una na ko."
He nodded. "Sige. Good luck, Cha."
Tumango din ako sa kanya bago ako dumiretso sa library. I quietly ate the sandwich I got from home habang nagbabasa. When the time for class came, pumunta lang ako sa room. Hindi naman kao natawag sa recit, but I still felt very tired.
As I was waiting for the car, my phone vibrated. I thought it was just a text from the driver... but when I saw my Dad's name, my heart began to pound wildly against my chest.
'Go home immediately.'
Three words.
Three words were enough to send shivers down my spine. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang panlalamig ng buo kong katawan. Suddenly, I could hardly breathe. I held my chest and reminded myself to calm down.
Alam ko kung paano siya magalit kapag may bagsak... but I'd never been on the receiving end... I didn't know how I'd take it if he'd do the thing he'd done to my brother...
And I was afraid of how I'd react.
Quickly, I cancelled the ride and walked on the other direction. I needed to think. I needed to breathe. I couldn't go home feeling like this dahil alam ko na posibleng hindi maganda ang kalabasan. I needed to know exactly how I'd react kapag sinabi niya na sa akin kung gaano ako kalaking disappointment...
I needed to brace myself.
I ended up outside the church of our school. Tahmik akong naka-upo sa isa sa mga benches doon. Pilit kong kinakalma ang sarili ko.
"Hey..."
I looked up and saw Iñigo standing in front of me. He offered a gentle smile. For some reason, tears began to swell in my eyes. Mabilis kong pinunasan 'yun. Bakit ba ako naiiyak kapag nandyan siya?
"Oh," sabi niya sabay abot sa akin ng panyo niya. "Gusto mo ng kausap?" he asked.
Hindi ako naka-sagot. Inabot ko iyong panyo niya at pinunasan iyong luha na parang tangang tumutulo. Why was I crying? Alam ko naman na na bagsak ako... Alam ko naman na papagalitan ako... Why was this reaction too late?
"Gusto mo ng pares?"
"Ayokong umuwi."
"San mo gustong pumunta?"
"Tagaytay."
Kumunot ang noo niya. "Tagaytay?"
I nodded. Ilang beses kong narinig na madalas pumupunta doon sila Yago at Rory... Pati si Jax nagpupunta din sila minsan doon ni Katherine dati... I'd always wanted to go there but I never told them that I wanted to come with them.
"Pero wala akong sasakyan..." he said. "Okay lang sa 'yo magcommute?"
I nodded again. I felt my phone vibrating again. I looked at it and saw Dad's name. Iñigo saw that, too. I offered a sad smile.
"Turuan mo na lang ako kung pano pumunta dun," I said. I really didn't want to go home tonight. I was already so tired... I knew I failed... I just didn't want to hear it from my Dad. I didn't want to listen to him telling me that I didn't do enough because God knows I'm doing my best to fulfill his unrealistic expectation.
I just wanted a break.
Iñigo offered his hand. "Tara habang maaga pa."
I looked up at him. "Sasama ka?"
"Oo... 'Di kaya ng konsensya ko papuntahin ka sa Tagaytay mag-isa," he said, smiling.
"Wala ka bang subject bukas?" I asked as I stood up.
"Meron... May subject ka rin naman bukas for sure. E 'di dun na lang tayo magreview."
"Sigurado ka?"
He nodded. "Yeah. Tara na?"
I looked him in the eye and nodded. "Okay."
* * *
Iñigo surely knew his way around Manila. He was the one who lead the way hanggang sa maka-sakay kami sa bus. We were quiet during the ride. I felt weird because he was sitting so close to me. I could smell his cologne. It was weird because I could feel his biceps. Nag-e-exercise siguro siya.
"San tayo pupunta?" he asked in the middle of the ride.
"Bulalo," I replied. I remembered that's what Rory and Yago always had when they go to Tagaytay. "Tapos blueberry tarts. Tapos 'yung magandang coffee shop."
Iñigo laughed. "Baka kulang pa 'yang request mo."
"I-google ko na lang kung ayaw mo akong samahan."
"Nandito na nga ako sa bus, oh? Dapat pauwi na ko tapos biglang papunta na kong Tagaytay? Grabe naman, Charisse Faith."
'Di ko na siya pinansin at pinanood ko na lang iyong mga katabi naming sasakyan. The trip was shorter than expected.
"Tago mo muna relo mo," he said when we got off of the bus. "Okay lang ba sa 'yo magjeep?"
I nodded. "As long as it's safe."
He nodded back. "Okay," he said. "Ako na magdadala ng bag mo muna."
"Bakit?"
"Baka may snatcher... Better safe than sorry."
"Kaya ko namang hawakan."
"Pano nga kapag may snatcher? Makikipaghatakan ka?"
"Sinasabi mo ba na mas kaya mong makipaghatakan?"
He sighed. "Fine. Basta kapag na-snatch 'yang bag mo, 'wag kang iiyak sa 'kin."
I rolled my eyes. "Noted."
A few minutes later, may humintong jeep. Pinauna ako ni Iñigo na sumakay. I sat down on the free space. I was about get my wallet, but Iñigo said, "Ako na. 'Wag ka na makipagtalo. Mamaya na."
I rolled my eyes again. I watched as he got coins from his coin purse. Natawa ako nang mahina. Who would've thought? May coin purse si Iñigo.
"Para 'to sa pagcommute, okay?" he said as if defending himself. "Mas madaling magbayad kapag barya."
"Wala naman akong sinasabi."
"Bakit ka tumatawa?"
"Kasi—" I said, but my words were cut midway when I felt someone's hand on my butt. Agad akong napa-tingin sa katabi ko. He was playing innocent but I could really feel his hand caressing and even had the audacity to squeeze my butt!
I felt my chest heaving. I quickly handed Iñigo my bag and grabbed the hand of this fucking pervert and twisted it.
"Yung kamay ko!" he shouted as I twisted it even more. The audacity of this guy! Porke naka-skirt ako, babastusin niya ako?!
"Cha, ano'ng ginagawa mo?!" Iñigo asked, clearly confused as to why I was suddenly physically hurting this middle-aged man beside me.
"He touched my butt! And squeezed it!"
"Sinungaling!" sigaw nung lalaki. "Wala ka namang ebidensya!"
"Manong, para!" sigaw ni Iñigo. Agad na huminto iyong jeep. I felt everyone's eyes on us, but that didn't stop me from holding this pervert's arm.
Iñigo got out of the jeep and talked to the police who was stationed on the side of the road. Hawak-hawak ko pa rin iyong bastos.
"Miss, bitawan mo na nga ako!"
I ignored him. I was so pissed at the world and the last thing I needed was someone harrassing me.
"Shut up," I told him. "I'm bringing you to the police."
It was as if panic ran through his system when he heard the word police and when he saw Iñigo talking to the police.
"Wala naman akong ginagawa!" he claimed.
"Tell that to the police," I said.
A few minutes later, lumapit sa amin iyong police. Pinababa kaming dalawa. Panay ang sabi nung lalaki na nagsisinungaling lang daw ako. Why would I even do that? As if being harrassed is something to be proud of.
"Miss, may ebidensya ka ba?"
I looked at the police. It was obvious that he'd just tell me to drop this case because I didn't have the evidence.
"I—"
"Hindi sinungaling 'tong kasama ko, Sir. Kung sinabi niyang hinipuan siya, hinipuan siya. End of discussion," Iñigo said, looking at the police. "Dalhin na lang natin 'to sa presinto para makapagfile na ng complaint."
My lips parted.
"Sigurado ba kayo d'yan?" the police asked. "Matagal 'to. Wala pa kayong ebidensya."
"Sigurado," Iñigo answered. "Magkita na lang tayo 'dun, Sir. Tawagan ko lang abogado namin," he continued before he looked at me.
"Sorry," I told him. "Dapat kakain lang tayo—"
"Di mo naman kasalanan. 'Wag kang magsorry kapag 'di mo kasalanan," he said, and then turned at the guy who harrassed me. "Ikaw, gago ka, tignan natin kung san ka dadalhin niyang kagaguhan mo," he continued before I saw him dial someone's number.