Denying Destiny

Stranded

"So, this will be your desk and company laptop, naprogram na din yan ng IT so it already has your company email. You are assigned these cases. Iba-iba gagawin mo for it according to what the associates need. If you have any other questions, my office is just down the hall." Mica, the paralegal assigned to take care of the firm's internship program showed me to my area after touring me and introducing me to the lawyers (associates) na nandon na but most of them are out like Killian, people from other departments, and the other 4 law interns I'm with.

I took the folder from her with my assignments as she walked away, and I scanned my area and sat down sa usual office swivel chair we all had. My desk was relatively decent-sized and it was near the other interns. Parang naka kumpol kami sa isang cubicle. Medyo busy sila so wala pa kong makausap. I still haven't seen Killian around. Well, I really don't expect him to be around. Baka nasa school sya grading our finals or something.

"Hi, again, I'm Lawrence Hidalgo." My seatmate offered his hand and introduced himself again. "Stacy Valdez." I smiled and shook his hand not entertaining the cringe I usually get from touching other people I don't know. I should get used to shaking people's hands kung gusto kong maging abogado diba?

"Tahimik ba talaga dito?" I asked him. "Ngayon lang kasi nakabakasyon yung ibang mga associates or nagtuturo ng Bar Review." He explained. "So, sinong prof mo sa kanila?" He continued our small talk. "Atty. Killian Roxas." I answered plainly. Di din ako ngumiti. Masyadong guilty.

"Ah talaga? He was also the one who brought me in. Prof ko sya sa Ateneo, and brod din sa frat." I raised my eyebrow. May frat si Killian? He never mentioned it. But then again baka bragger lang din tong Lawrence.

"Midterms incentive?" He continued asking me not even attempting to hide his smirk. Di ko alam kung nagyayabang sya or ano. "Yup." I nodded. I can feel that he was trying to size me up. Kung mas matalino bako sakanya or ano. I can feel na nagpipigil syang itanong what grade I got in the exams.

He looked like the typical lawschool entitled frat boy over-achiever. Pero gwapo sya, I couldn't deny that.

I looked over dun sa 3 pang interns. "Talagang 5 lang tayo?" I asked again. "Oh yeah. Kaya by tomorrow, lunod ka na din sa trabaho." He gave me a smile again. One of the interns na babae stopped typing and joined our conversation. "Hi, Maita Palermo. Sorry ang busy ko kanina when you were introduced. Atty. Legaspi said he needed the pleading he assigned me yesterday so todo cram ako." Maita seemed nice. Sana sya nalang yung katabi ko. Tatlo kaming babae.

"Omg, my dad was only kidding. He's probably out playing golf or something. Pinagtitripan ka lang non." One of the girl interns rolled her eyes at no one in particular. I guess tatay nya yung isang lawyer sa firm. "Hi, Kyla Legaspi." She waved at me. "Ano ba, ikaw yung anak nya hindi ako. Mamaya tanggalin ako non dito." Maita frowned at Kyla who shooed what she was saying.

Not long after, sumali na din yung isang intern. "Dean Ilustre. By day. Nadine Lustre by night." He introduced himself and napangiti ako. Ohmygod I'm so glad may bakla sa kanila. So much fun at least alam kong di magiging boring dito. Parang nandito si Max.

Nagstart na kaming magdaldalan dahil mukhang tapos na sila sa mga ginagawa nila. "Hay nako wag kang makinig dyan kay Lo. Di ka malulunod masyado sa trabaho dito. Mostly research and digesting ng cases, drafting ng pleadings and contracts lang. Or minsan, pag swerte, sinasama nila tayo sa court appearances and sa client meetings. Fun yon." Dean started gabbing away.

"Yeah, si Lawrence lang naman yung kuha ng kuha ng assignments dito." Natawa din si Kyla. Lawrence smiled. "Ako lang masipag, sabihin mo." Inirapan sya ni Kyla. "Ang sabihin mo, ikaw lang yung suck-up. Charot. Or not." Dean said for Kyla na natawa on the obvious.

"Whatever pre." Lawrence said. "Wag mo kong tawaging pre, halikan kita dyan." Dean puckered his lips at Lawrence na natawa lang sa kanya. So hindi naman pala sya masyadong mayabang. Mukhang kaya naman nyang makisakay sa mga hiritan.

They continued telling me about the lawyers na nandito sa firm and how they work and kung ano yung mga gusto at ayaw nila sa interns. Most are young except for Kyla's dad na apparently may anak din dito na lawyer and he was the one who started the firm. "Yung tatay ko, chill lang. Yung kuya ko yung power trip. Pero okay lang kasi babae ka. Kay Lo and Dean lang naman sya nagsusungit. Mahilig yon sa pretty girls so you'll be safe." Kyla said. "Bakit, pretty kaya ako." Dean pretended to flip his imaginary long hair.

At least alam kong di ako mahihirapang pakisamahan yung mga co-interns ko kasi parang cool naman silang lahat.

"Pero OMG ang favorite ko si Atty. Roxas! Super gwapo!" Kinikilig na sabi ni Dean. "Kaso he's rarely here since he teaches. Pero sana now mapadalas na kasi sem break naman." He looked like he's day-dreaming about Killian. Na usual effect naman nya talaga sa mga babae at bakla. "Oh yeah, super hot non." Maita agreed. "Aba Maits, may fiance ka na." Kyla poked Maita sa gilid nya. "Crush lang naman!" Maita defended.

"Well, hopeless tayo dun. Bukod sa palaging wala dito, suplado. Baka may asawa na or girlfriend kasi di talaga namamansin ng babae." Maita continued. "Walang asawa yun. May nakita ka bang singsing? Masungit lang talaga sya." Kyla said. I raised an eyebrow. Kung alam lang nila na talagang di mahilig mamansin si Killian. Pero I guess ganon si Killian sa mga hindi nakaka kilala sa kanya. "Masungit ba sya sa klase nyo?" Maita asked me and Lawrence.

"Strikto lang. Palaging parang disappointed sa sagot ng mga kaklase ko." Lawrence answered. "So sinasabi mong sayo hindi??" Kyla challenged him. "Hindi naman. Tama lang naman lahat ng mga sagot ko sa kanya. Top of the class, baby." Lawrence said playfully pointing to himself, pero mukhang tama nga sya. Over-achiever nga.

Maita looked at me for my answer. "Chill naman sya samin except pag recit. Malupit sya sa recit and mahirap magpa exams. Once, Isa't kalahating oras akong nakatayo for recitation." I answered naalala ko nanaman yung recit ko kay Killian na halos nagtatalo na kami. Di ko na sinabi na all 3 of my recitations in his class lasted more than an hour. "Okay nga yun e. Ibig sabihin tama mga sinasagot mo." Lawrence smiled encouragingly at me. Ang puti naman ng mga ngipin nito.

"I'm sure nag aaral naman si Stacy noh. Kaya nga sya nandito. She topped an Atty. Roxas exam. Kuya can't stop bragging about his exams apparently he also checks them pag bored sya. He always says na pag nag turo sya, ganon sya magpapaexam." Kyla poined out. I wonder if si Killian nagcheck ng exams ko or yung kuya ni Kyla.

"Mr. Hidalgo, you have the contract I asked you to draw up?" Nagulat kaming lahat as we found Killian standing casually sa wall ng cubicle namin, arms crossed at his chest.

Syempre mukha nanaman syang model sa pose nya. I didn't know he was coming in. Hindi naman sa kailangan pa nyang mag sabi saakin.

He was wearing his usual black slacks, shiny black shoes and pink longsleeve dress shirt pulled up sa siko nya and tucked in his pants. His hair was gelled pero it looked casually and effortlessly done. And yung amoy nya, omg. I wondered if his scent was as intoxicating to my other co-interns as it was for me.

"Umm yes attorney, I already emailed it to you 30 minutes ago." Lawrence answered na mukhang nagulat din na nandon na si Killian. Maita looked guilty baka narinig nya yung pinaguusapan namin kanina kung gaano sya ka hot at kasungit.

"Good morning, attorney." Dean greeted Killian sweetly for all of us. Natatawa nalang ako sa lakas ng loob ni Dean. Tumungo lang si Killian. "Morning." Then stalked off towards his office. Ang sungit.

We dispersed from our chika session and I powered on my laptop and opened my folder of assignments. Si Lawrence naglalaro nalang ng stress ball nya. Yung tipo nya yung nag uuwi ng assignment para wala na syang gagawin kinabukasan or para makahingi ng extra work for additional credits. Bibo kid in other words.

I looked at my list. Pleading review for Atty. Juarez, Contract revision and review for Atty. Legaspi Sr., Case research for Atty. Gatchalian and Atty. Roxas. So may assignment na agad ako kay Killian. "Random ba yung bigayan ng assignments?" I asked Lawrence.

"Oo. Usually kay Ms. Mica dumadaan lahat ng kailangan nila. Pero pag nasanay na yung associates sayo, usually deretcho na sila saatin." He answered. "Anong nakuha mo?" He asked. I just showed him my folder para di ko na kailangan magsalita. "Kaya mo yan." He smiled at me. "Alam mo Lo, wag mo na guluhin si Stace para maumpisahan na nya kesa nagpapacute ka pa dyan." Hirit ni Kyla without looking at Lawrence.

Atty. Roxas: Good morning. :)

Tumaas kilay ko.

Me: Pagtapos mong magsungit dito? Good morning.

Atty. Roxas: Hahaha. Para matakot sila sakin.

Me: FYI, walang takot sayo. Lahat sila crush ka. Pati si Lawrence.

Atty. Roxas: Sus. E ikaw?

Me: I'm busy. May assignment pa ko sayo.

Atty. Roxas: Unahin mo yung akin ha.

Me: Di kita favorite so maghintay ka.

Atty. Roxas: Hahahaha. Punta ka sakin mamaya.

Me: Landi mo sir.

Atty. Roxas: HAHAHAHAHA. Assuming mo naman, maam. May ibibigay lang ako sayong kaso.

Me: Ay power trip agad?

Atty. Roxas: ;)

"Sinong ka-text mo Stacy? May boyfriend ka?" Di ko napansin na nakangiti akong nagtatype sa phone ko and nakatingin si Lawrence sakin. "Wala. Kabarkada ko lang." I answered and nagsimula na kong magtrabaho.

I wasn't expecting it to be sort of easy. Siguro dahil first day ko pa lang so they gave me an easy assignment. I was done a little bit after lunch. I already emailed all my assignments sa mga lawyers who needed them.

Killian showed up again sa cubicle namin. "Ms. Valdez, a word please." Kumunot yung noo ko. I guess he wasn't kidding when he told me na I needed to go to him. Sinundan ko sya sa office nya and he ushered me in then closed the door behind him. "Upo ka, Stace. Kung saan mo gusto." He casually said as he walked towards his chair. I sat down sa isa sa dalawang silya sa tapat ng desk nya. Di naman ako pwedeng umupo sa kanya. Ay.

I looked around his office. Lawbooks were obviously placed all over his large bookshelf. Para syang may law lib. His large dark wooden desk was filled with stacks of folders and thick papers and his familiar laptop opened in front of him. May sofa sya near the door and a coffee table in front of the sofa. And may maliit din syang ref with an expensive and complicated-looking coffee maker sa ibabaw. No wonder he never had to leave his office. Di ko sya nakitang lumabas kanina for lunch.

"Kamusta first day?" He smiled at me. "Masaya naman. Tapos na ko sa mga kailangan gawin." I answered him. "Pakitang gilas agad?" Biro nya. Umirap ako. "Ohmygod hindi ako si Lawrence." Tumawa sya ng malakas which means kilala nga nya si Lawrence.

He placed a folder in front of me. "Pag aralan mo yan. Sasama ka bukas sakin." Syempre nakakunot yung noo ko when I took the folder. It was for a settlement of estate (hatian ng mana). "Wait, sasama ako? Where?" I frowned at him. Bossy nya kahit di ko na sya prof. Well technically, "boss" ko na sya ngayon. Which was way worse, if I think about it now. Tangina bakit ko nga to ginagawa ulit sa sarili ko?

Kasi gusto mo syang makita kahit sem break.

"Diba gusto mong matuto? You're not going to get it researching cases dito sa opisina. I'm doing you a favor Stace. And besides, road trip to." Kinidatan nya ko. Oh yeah, nandito din pala ako para matuto thanks for reminding me. Di mo naman agad sinabi e. Sasama naman talaga ako kahit sa Timbuktu pa yan. "Saan ulit?" I asked him again. "Batangas." His amused look plastered on his face. "Okay, attorney." I bit my lower lip. Batangas it is.

"Kita tayo bukas sa parking ng 9am. Sagot ko na kape mo." He looked at me while touching his lips with his fingers.

"So ano nga ulit yung sinasabi mo kanina na malandi ako?" Namula ako. I made a face. "Ah so hindi ka malandi ngayon?" Finally, nagka lakas nako ng loob na hiritan sya ng ganito to his face.

He looked at me wanting to read my thoughts. "Is it working?" He gave me a challenging smile. Gago bakit ba ko humirit???

"Don't flatter yourself too much." I tried saying it ng pataray. I have no idea if I succeeded. Ganon pa rin yung titig nya sakin. Oo puta hulog na hulog na nga ako diba??? Isisigaw ko ba?

"Damn. I guess I need to try harder." He said. Puta di pa ba sya nagtatry sa lagay na yan?? "Well don't give yourself aneurysm by trying too hard." I smiled at him sarcastically and stood up clutching the folder he gave me and walked out of his office. Narinig ko yung tawa nya as I closed his office door.

I may be waiting for him, pero ayoko namang magmukhang patay na patay sa kanya.

"Anong kailangan ni Atty. Roxas?" Dean excitedly asked when I came back sa area namin. I showed him the folder. "My first client meeting tomorrow." I said.

Napakunot yung noo ni Lawrence obviously expecting na sya yung dadalhin ni Killian doon sa meeting. "Wag mong pansinin yang si Lo, inggit lang yan kasi palaging sa korte lang nadadala." Kyla joked.

God I should have asked Killian yesterday what I should wear. Kanina pakong 7am na nakatingin sa cabinet ko on panic mode. At isang oras na yung nakalipas. Umuwi si Lian sa kanila for sembreak so wala akong wardrobe consultant. I should just text Killian to ask kesa magmukha akong tanga sa meeting.

Me: What should I wear?

Atty. Roxas: Kahit ano. Maganda ka sa kahit ano.

Me: Seryoso ano ba!

Atty. Roxas: Smart casual? I'm wearing jeans lang and polo shirt. The client is a friend of mine so wag ka na magbihis masyado. Mainlove pa yon sayo. Sisingilin ko yun ng doble.

Me: Fine. Thanks.

I decided to ignore his flattery kasi magtatagal pa ko pag kinilig ako ng sobra. Sobrang distraction na sya without all the paglalandi. Pero ngayon? Iba. Iba ka Killian. He's on full pa-fall mode. At alam kong sinasadya nya. Wait my ass. Wait hanggang inlove na inlove na ko sa kanya ganon ba yon?

I snapped out of my reverie. I decided to wear my black off-shoulder mid-sleeve body hugging top na hindi ko pa ulit nasusuot for a very long time and I tucked it in my dark denim skinny jeans and wore my black flats. I applied the only simple make up Lian was able to teach me at yung kinaya ng skills ko. I decided to wear my hair on a ponytail para medyo professional pa din and borrowed Lian's red Michael Kors bag para may kulay naman yung suot ko. I stuffed all my things there and decided to just carry the folder he gave me that I studied all night together with my iPad for note-taking.

Ilang beses kong tinitigan yung sarili ko sa salamin to figure out if okay yung suot ko. In a way gusto kong gumanti sa mga paglalandi nya by making myself pretty. I took a picture sa salamin and sent it to Lian.

Me: Too much?

Lian: Oh god no! Hot mo saan ka punta??

Me: Batangas with Killian. Client meeting. Casual daw e.

Lian: OMG. Hahaha. You're trying to make him fall ano? Don't worry, sa itsura mo, he won't stand a chance.

Me: Thanks. Love you! Miss you already!

Lian: Love you FT later!

I went down sa parking as soon as I got his text. As usual, naghihintay na sya sakin while probably reading his emails sa phone nya. He was sipping on his iced coffee. Nung nakita nya ko, napabuga sya ng kape. "Fuck." He stammered and pinunasan nya yung polo shirt nya ng tissue na buti nalang black, so yung konting splatter didn't stain.

"Anong nangyari sayo??" I asked him. "God Stace, I told you wag kang magpaganda. Chickboy yung kaibigan ko na yun. Itatago nalang kita sa kotse." He said as he studied me from head to toe. Well my outfit definitely worked.

"What happened to all your 'hindi ka matututo kung nasa office ka lang?', tapos sa kotse mo lang ako iiwan?" I retorted. "Masyado kang maganda for your own good." Pinagbuksan nya ko ng pinto ng kotse. "Don't worry, di to para sayo." I smirked and he gave me a scowl.

"Allan Flores, this is Stacy Valdez. Stacy, Allan." He reluctantly introduced me to his friend as soon as we arrived at the posh hotel resort his friend owns. Talk about loaded. Nasa bandang Laiya na kami so the drive was kinda long. "Hi Stacy, nice to meet you." As we shook hands. I can feel Killian's body tense beside me sa haba ng handshake na binigay ng kaibigan nya sakin.

"Pre, di mo naman sinabing ganito na kagaganda mga abogado sainyo, e di sana pinapunta ko buong firm nyo dito." He shook Killian's hand. "Oh, she's not with the firm. She's my girlfriend." I can feel Killian's hand wind on my waist. It was my time to freeze. Ano daw?? "Pero future lawyer na din sya. Kaya ko sinama. Specialty nya ang Succession. Diba love?" He pulled me closer to him and beamed at me. I gave a smile at Allan. I tried digging my elbow kay Killian. His friend nodded as if impressed kay Killian. What the hell is happening?

Allan led us to the hotel restaurant and while he walked ahead, I whispered "What the f**k Killian??". "Basta, trust me and just play along." He whispered back. Oh god.

It was a working late lunch. I tried hard to just focus on the meeting. Also asking my questions from time to time para at least naman intern pa rin yung role ko dito. Pero nakaka distract yung pasimpleng pag aakbay na ginagawa ni Killian sa balikat ko and yung pag laro ng buhok ko behind my back. Tangina kulang nalang halikan na nya ko sa harap ng kaibigan nya para lang ipakita na girlfriend nya talaga ako.

His friend excused himself to answer a phone call.

"Care to explain, love??" I gave him a deadly glare as soon as nakalayo yung kaibigan nya. "I told you, chickboy yang si Allan..." He was in the middle of explaining and I cut him off.

"So? Do you think I'll fall prey to him porket intern mo lang ako?? God Killian di naman ako ganon ka inosente. Pag pinormahan nya ko, do you think I can't say no??" I ranted while still glaring at him. "Of course alam kong kaya mong humindi. Hindi ko lang kayang makita na mag attempt sya, ok?" Medyo natigilan ako sa sinabi nya.

So nagseselos sya? Guys are so weird.

Allan returned to his seat. "Pre, papunta na yung mga kapatid ko. Mga 10 minutes." He told Killian. We went back to discussing the details of the settlement.

Then the rest of Allan's siblings arrived at pinakilala pa rin ako ni Killian na girlfriend nya and a soon-to-be lawyer. Humaba na yung diskusyon nung madami na sila. We were going through every property their parents owned and kung sino yung may gusto at kung paano yung hatian. I decided to take notes sa iPad ko para hindi magulo while Killian took notes on his documents.

I was so engrossed with everything, di ko na napansin na ang lakas na pala ng ulan sa labas ng restaurant. The working lunch turned into a working dinner at hindi pa din tumitigil yung ulan.

As soon as everything was settled, it was already past 9pm.

"Attorney, sobrang thank you for this. Kelan namin ieexpect yung kontrata?" Allan asked as they all stood up. It was actually surprising na konti lang yung naging pagtatalo. Usually pag mayayaman, madaming awayan sa mga mana. "We'll work on it this week, so by next week, ready na." Killian shook hands with all of them na ginawa din nila saakin.

"Allan, offer them a room. I don't think this rain is going to stop anytime soon. Delikado to travel to Manila with this weather." Allan's eldest sibling told him. "Oo nga pre, dito na kayo mag stay ni attorney Stacy, bukas na kayo umuwi. Tama si ate, delikado." Before I can protest, he was already off para mag utos sa reception.

"Love, delikado." Killian smiled at me repeating his friend's words. "Yes love, delikado talaga. Para sayo." Siningkitan ko sya ng mata to send a message na di pa rin ako natuwa sa ginawa nya.

Bakit? Kasi instead of them taking me more seriously as a law firm apprentice, naging girlfriend ako na hatak-hatak sa lakad. Na mukha pang clingy kaya di maiwan yung boyfriend nya. Kaya I kept on asking them questions during the discussion para di naman ako magmukhang flower vase.

"Yan, pre. Honeymoon suite namin yan. Sagot ko na to para sainyo. Sa pasensya nyo sa pamilya namin and for taking the time sa pag punta dito. Stay as long as you want. Papahatid ko na kayo sa bellboy. Wait." Allan looked proud as he handed Killian the key card and was off again para mag utos.

"Teka love kukuha lang ako ng damit sa kotse." Killian smiled at me. Natigilan nanaman ako. "Ay, prepared ka love??? Di ko alam na bakasyon to." I said sarcastically. Kinindatan nya lang ako so inirapan ko sya as he left for his car.

We entered the room and naglapag ng duffel bag si Killian sa mesa na sabi nya spare clothes lang nya at hindi naman nya to plinano. In fairness sa kwarto, it was massive. It has a separate living room and kitchen area. At may jacuzzi din sa veranda. The bed was huge and kinabahan ako nung nakita ko yun when Killian flourishedly opened the double doors leading to the bedroom.

Natawa sya sa itsura ko. I made a face. "What love, not the honeymoon you're expecting?" I asked him.

"Sus. Stace, pag honeymoon natin, sa ibang bansa kita dadalhin." He smiled his most heart-attack-inducing and seductive smile.