The Case of Falling For You

Chapter 36.

The second semester in our first year in law school flew by so fast that I barely noticed it... aside from the moments na naiiyak na lang ako tuwing Friday dahil magkakasunod yung Oblicon, Crim Law II, at Ethics sa isang araw. Parang gusto talaga akong sunugin ng buong curriculum. It almost felt like the Santiago College of Law wanted to extinguish our whole section! Or baka ako lang? Kasi si Kaye, kalmado pa rin kahit binabasa niya ang Ethics book habang naglalakad.

"Let’s just deactivate Messenger," Andrè said habang may ginagawa siyang illegal sa leeg ko — kisses na nakakawala ng focus. Ako naman, nakatitig pa rin sa screen ng laptop ko dahil may nagsabi na baka ngayon daw lalabas ang complete grades. Ganyan din sabi nila last week. This Messenger group chat was giving me emotional indigestion!

"No," I said.

"You’re just stressing yourself out."

I sighed. "I really think I screwed up the final exam in Crim so badly," I turned to him. "Pag mababa final grade ko, 'di na tayo classmates."

There were three star sections in first year. Magiging dalawa sa second year. Isa na lang pagdating ng third and fourth. Survival of the smartest. Or the least sleep-deprived.

Law school had a higher mortality rate than zombies sa The Walking Dead. Getting in was easy; getting out was another existential nightmare.

And for sure, Andrè would stay in the star section. Sobrang galing niya mag-recite. Minsan nga, feeling ko hindi na siya tao. Parang AI na may dimples.

Kumunot noo niya. "What? Pwede bang mag-request?"

Umiling ako. "Alam ko, hindi eh. But we’ll still be neighbors, right?"

Bigla niyang inabot laptop ko. Parang ngayon lang niya na-process na there's a chance hindi na kami magiging magka-section. Nakita ko sa mukha niya yung panic ng isang lalakeng nagkamali ng bili sa Jollibee drive-thru.

He opened Excel and made a spreadsheet like the nerdy boyfriend he truly is. Nilagay niya lahat ng subjects namin.

"Grade in Statcon, baby?" seryoso tanong niya habang nakakunot ang noo na parang nagso-solve ng calculus.

Sinabi ko lahat ng grades ko, then I forced him to put his, too. Tangina, 6 points ang pagitan. Parang gusto ko na lang magtago sa ilalim ng kama at hindi na bumalik sa law school.

"Ano ba'ng sikreto mo?" I asked habang pinipigil ang inis.

Pero hindi siya sumagot. Busy pa rin siya sa calculator.

"You need at least 83 sa Crim para classmates pa rin tayo," sabi niya, parang siya yung may thesis defense bukas.

"75 lang midterm ko! 85 yung finals recit! Tapos alam ko talaga sablay yung exam ko! Estafa inaral ko, tapos lumabas s****l assault! May pa-piracy pa?!"

Andrè was now drumming his fingers on the table like a stressed-out judge sa talent portion.

"This is stressing me out," he mumbled.

"Sorry..."

He looked at me with those cursed, worried eyes. "Maybe I’ll just ask the Dean kung puwede ako mag-transfer ng section."

"'Di rin naman tayo tabi sa room, 'di ba? So parang ganon na rin if nasa ibang section ako."

Si Kaye talaga seatmate ko, tapos sila ni Andrè ang magkatabi. Works for me. Si Andrè kasi maingay. Minsan para siyang podcast ng ligawan at legal doctrine sa isang katawan.

"Nah. It’s not the same. ‘Di tayo tabi pero nakikita pa rin kita," he said, his voice so soft na parang sinasampal ako ng feelings.

"Aww... ganyan ka ka-attached sa ‘kin?" I wrapped my arms around his neck.

He encircled my waist. Nagtagpo ang mga mata namin. Tangina, parang romcom na legal thriller.

"I know you love me, but you easily develop crushes on good-looking guys."

"Grabe ka naman!"

"You still have a crush on Sancho."

"Harmless crush lang! Ikaw nga gandang-ganda sa ex ni Jax!"

At doon na kami nagsimula ng walang kwentang away tungkol sa kung sino sa amin ang may mas maraming celebrity crush. Umabot pa sa point na gumawa kami ng listahan. Ako: Jason Momoa, Chris Pine, Henry Cavill, Hugh Jackman, at Chris Hemsworth. Siya: Scarlett Johansson, Margot Robbie, Emma Watson, Blake Lively, at Alexandra Daddario.

We ended up making out right after. Like, right after. Grabe. Hindi talaga kami mature.

Pero naputol lahat ng yun nang marinig namin 'yung tunog ng Messenger.

SHIT.

"Ikaw tumingin," I said, eyes closed, hands on my chest na parang nagdadasal sa Sta. Rita ng desperate students.

Andrè scooted toward the laptop. I waited. My heart was pounding like may Crim Law na oral exam ako ulit.

"Wala pa ba?" I asked. 20 seconds na, WALA PA RIN SIYANG SINASABI. Tangina. May bad news ba?!

I peeked.

He was staring at me.

"We’ll still see each other—"

"You're stuck with me, Maricon. We're still gonna be classmates," he said. "You got f*****g 83."

PUTANGINA?!

I looked at the screen. Tama nga. 83. How?? Pano?! Saan galing?! Miracle?!

"I told you—you just need to trust yourself more," he said, kissing my forehead.

Tears fell. Like, literal. Hindi metaphorical. Law school made me so soft.

"I'm officially done with first year..."

He wiped my tears, laughing. "Yes, baby. Three more years before we take the BAR."

At least classmates pa rin kami. At least hindi ako nawala sa section. At least, kahit puro breakdown, puro pagod, at puro kabado, I made it.

And I had Andrè beside me.

And Kaye.

And even Jax. (Na kahit hindi nagre-reply, present pa rin in spirit.)

Bring it on, second year.

We may be stupid, but we’re stupid together.

Mas lalong lumakas iyong iyak ko. "Akala ko talaga babagsak ako tapos mauuna ka. Okay lang naman sa 'kin kasi alam ko naman na mas matalino ka talaga sa 'kin."

He pinched my cheeks. "Stop with that thinking. Just dress up. I'm taking you on a date."

I blinked. "Now?"

He nodded. "Now."

"Why?"

"Because."

"Just because?"

He nodded and kissed my lips. "Because my girlfriend passed all her subjects and she deserves to eat good food tonight," he said as he stood up and pulled me up with him. He cupped my face and kissed me again. I closed my eyes as he kissed me. "I love you, baby. I'm so proud of you."