Kabanata 13
1198 Words
Kreige
"Remind me why I'm suing you again?" Zaven, tito Jigo's adopted son asked while we're in the elevator of Solis-Ortega Law Firm.
I leaned on the elevator wall and buried my hands in my pockets. "Because I stole your horse."
He groaned. "I gave him to you as a gift when we were seventeen, man."
"I took him a week before you officially gave him to me." I lifted a finger. "That's stealing. Robbery or whatever term lawyers use in court."
Nayayamot niya akong tiningnan. "Still, it was a gift."
"He," pagtatama ko.
"Fine. He. Technically, he's back in our ranch so I see no point in suing you about a case that took place years ago."
"Well, justice needs to be served." Tinapik ko siya sa balikat. "You deserve it. I'm just being a better friend here."
Tiniklop niya ang kanyang mga braso sa tapat ng dibdib. "And why will you sue Keios?"
"Because he hasn't given Bully back."
Naihilamos na niya ang kanyang palad sa kanyang mukha. "Kreige, you asked Keios to babysit Bully before you went abroad for your match. Baka magsapakan lang kayo ni Keios kung matanggap niya ang demanda mo."
"Don't care."
He sighed. "Magsabi ka nga ng totoo? Are you doing this so you can spend more time with your lawyer?"
I looked away. "Hindi. I just really enjoy the vibes inside the trial room," rason ko pero halatang wala rin naman siyang balak maniwala.
Honestly, I don't really know what the hell is going on with me. Sinabi ko na sa sarili kong ayaw ko kay Bea dahil baka masaktan lang ako oras na bumalik ang tatay ni Khalid. But the thought of that little boy and Bea spending time with someone else scares the s**t out of me. Kung bakit ay hindi ko rin alam. Nililito ng mag-inang iyon ang isip ko kaya kung ano-ano nang kalokohan ang naiisip ko ngayon.
Lumabas kami ng elevator at dumiretso sa sinabing opisina ni Bea. Nang buksan ko ang pinto ay ganoon na lamang ang pagkayamot ko nang makita ko si Gerby sa loob.
Nakaupo sa visitor's chair ang nanaksak sa akin ng lapis noong elementary. May flowers pa sa desk ni Bea.
My jaw clenched and I stared at Bea's surprised eyes. Nang mapansin niya ang reaksyon ko ay bumuntonghininga siya.
"What are you doing here, Mr. Ducani?"
Mr. Ducani? What happened to first name basis? Dapat ba pormal kapag nasa law firm?
I cleared my throat. "Baby—I mean, where's your baby?"
"At home. Why are you here? I'm working."
I pointed Gerby. "Working? Why is he here then? At bakit may flowers, hmm? Ang panget ng flowers."
Zaven scoffed behind me. Nang samaan ko ng tingin ay kaagad na nanahimik bago nilapitan ang tingin ko ay sekretaryang nakamasid sa amin.
"Jesus." Bea sighed. "He's my client, alright?"
"Oh. Should I bring my own flowers, too? I'm your client, too."
Naningkit ang mga mata niya sa akin dahil pinagtitinginan na kami ng ibang natatrabaho roon at mga kliyente nilang nasa waiting area. "Tapos na ang kaso mo, Kreige."
"Nope." I pointed Zaven. "He's suing me. I'm suing Keios, and now that Gerby's here, I'm suing him, too." I smirked. "I'm your client again."
Naipikit ni Bea ang kanyang mga mata na tila nangungunsumi sa akin. Mayamaya ay humugot siya ng malalim na hininga saka ako matalim na tinitigan.
"Fine. Ano na namang kaso ang isinampa sayo at anong kaso ang isasampa mo kina Keios at Gerby?" halatang nagtitimpi niyang tanong.
"Zaven is suing me for stealing his horse."
Nalukot nang husto ang noo ni Bea. "A horse? You stole a horse?" Nahilot niya ang kanyang sintido saka niya binuksan ang notes niya. "When did this happen?" she asked while writing in her notepad.
"Nine years ago, I think."
Bea paused from writing then looked at me as if I just said the worst thing she'd ever heard. "You're getting sued for a case that happened nine years ago?" Napasandal siya sa kanyang swivel chair. "Diyos ko."
Gerby laughed. Sinamaan ko kaagad ng tingin kaya tinikom ang bibig. Ngina nito? Tatawa-tawa pa, eh 'yong ikakaso ko sa kanya halos magdadalawang dekada ko nang kinikimkim?
"Hey, it's him who's suing me, alright?" depensa ko matapos irapan si Gerby.
Bumuntonghininga siya. "Fine. Why are you suing Keios?"
"Because he didn't give Bully back kahit alam niyang nasa Pilipinas na ako. Hindi rin siya sumasagot sa tawag ko. That's dognapping."
Muling bumuhanglit ng tawa si Gerby kaya naningkit ang aking mga mata.
"Close tayo? Gago ikaw na sunod," I hissed.
"Kreige," suway ni Bea.
Umirap na lamang ako kay Gerby. "Oo na." I sighed and focused on Bea's angry face. "Lastly, I wanna sue him for physical injury, bullying, ruining my reputation and for emotional damages done to a minor. That's four cases." Gerby scoffed. Naiiyak na katatawa. "Let me guess. You're talking about our elementary days."
"Mabuti naman at maayos pa ang memorya mo, hmm?"
He laughed. "Emotional damages done to a minor?" Humagalpak siya. "I was a minor, too when it happened."
"So? You're a grown up piece of s**t now. You can be held liable for your actions."
"Enough! Goodness!" Stressed na stressed na hinilot ni Bea ang kanyang sintido saka bumuntonghininga. "Can we just talk about your case some other time? I got a lunatic to rush to a mental hospital."
"Nope. Ipahatid mo na lang 'yang si Gerby sa mental. By the way, tamang desisyon 'yan nang hindi siya tawa nang tawa kahit walang nakakatawa," sagot ko na nakapagpasingkit lalo ng mga mata ni Bea sa akin.
Gerby scoffed before he stood up. "It's fine. I'll just come back tomorrow. I hope we can do it at the resto where we used to date."
Date? Naging sila?
Bea nodded, making me clench my jaw. What kind of standard does this woman have? Puta, kung Gerby level lang eh wala pala akong mapapala rito. Ang taas ko kumpara sa nananaksak ng lapis na 'yon.
Gerby left. Nang kami na lamang ni Bea ang naiwan sa loob ay nakalimutan kong hindi niya nga pala ako boyfriend. I folded my arms in front of my chest then lifted a brow, waiting for her to explain what just happened.
Bea sighed. "Will you stop embarrassing yourself?"
"Well, will you stop flirting with another guy when I'm right here? You're hurting my feelings."
Napatulala siya sa akin, halatang nagulat sa sinabi ko. "W— What did you just say?"
Para akong binuhusan ng malamig na tubig. Nalunok ko ang sarili kong laway at unti-unting uminit ang pisngi ko.
"I. . . I mean, you're hurting my feelings as your client."
She shook her head. "I can't do that. I'm not exclusively working for you."
"Then go exclusive." My jaw clenched. "Sa trabaho, sa private life, sa lahat ng aspeto. Go private with me."
Namula ang kanyang pisngi. "Are you. . . asking me to date you?"
My heart pounced, yet for the first time in my life, I felt certain about one thing despite my fear.
Humugot ako ng hininga. "Yes, Attorney Basha Ortega. I'd like to exclusively date you. . . "
- Writer
