I See You

Olivia

"Ano? Uuwi ka?" Dean asked me while looking at me pack my things.

"Are you stupid? What do you think I am doing?"

"Packing?" He laughed.

"Idiot."

"Want me to come with you?"

"Nah."

"Are you sure?"

"Yup!"

"Magkikita na kayo sa wakas." He said and I can't help but to close my eyes. Here we go again.

"Di kami magkikita." I said with finality.

He smirked. "Weh? She's your family lawyer. Tell me hindi kayo magkikita." Sinamahan pa niya ito ng maikling tawa.

"How did you know?" I asked. All I know is that she is my mom's lawyer in this Will but not my whole fam's darn lawyer.

"Ofcourse I have my effin ways."

"f**k you." I said and show him my middle finger.

"Oh no, no. f**k you. Good luck my boy. Balitaan mo ko ha. I heard she's now very hot and damn intelli-," Hindi ko siya pinatapos. I have to make his mouth shut. He is too loud for darn sake.

"Don't you dare. Ayokong marinig ang pangalan niya."

I lied.

Gustong-gusto kong marinig ang pangalan niya. It's just that I don't wanna remember the past. The past which keeps on haunting me.

The memories.

The happy memories.

"Whatever. Burn, Theo."

Umalis na rin siya sa wakas. Naiwan na lang akong nakasalampak sa sahig. Damn. I can't believe that I am going back home.

Home.

Ngumiti ako ng mapait.

Home isn't a home for me back then. Christine was my home. But damn that woman. He used me. He just took me for granted and I was too fool to be blinded and believed all her lies.

"May I request everyone to please stay seated and wait for the fasten seat belt sign to switch off before you stand and get your bags. Thank you."

The cabin crew instructed as the aircraft slowly moved towards NAIA. It was a hot Sunday morning. Kitang-kita mula sa bintana ng eroplano kung gaano katirik ang araw - isang senyales na nasa Pilipinas na talaga siya. Theo finally stood up and grabbed his duffel bag and patiently wait for the other passengers to get off the plane.

Nasa arrival na siya ng biglang tumunog ang Viber niya. It was a call from his Mom. "Yes Mom?" He wanted to sound excited because after almost four years ay magkikita na sila ng mommy niya. But he was not. He felt something - weird. He tried to shrugged the feeling and forced himself to listen to his mom over the phone.

"We're here, son. I am so excited to hug you." His mom was literally shrieking. He laughed.

"I know Mom. I'll just wait for my luggage. See you."

Kitang-kita ni Theo ang ngisi ng ina niya as soon as he stepped out the arrival halls. He missed his Mom of course. His Mom has always been there to support him even how stubborn he was.

"Oh God I miss you so much anak." He heard his Mom silently cried and gently caressed his mother's face and wiped her face.

"You know Mom, I am beginning to wonder kung bakit ngayon ka lang umiyak kung kelan dumating ako. Three years ago, ni hindi ka man lang nalungkot nung umalis ako." He joked.

"Theodore! Ikaw na bata ka."

He laughed. "What? It's true! You just scolded me over the phone."

"You know you deserved that."

"Alright Mom, let's go home. Baka pagalitan niyo pa ako dito sa airport."

"Alright. Home then so you can rest." His mom gave him a long, tight hug before they proceed to the parking where their driver was waiting.

"So how's your travel spree?" His mom inquired.

"Mom, I was not travelling." He nodded.

"Oh come on, Theo. I know what you did for the past years. You followed that woman." Biglang nag-iba ang mood ng mama niya. She clearly didn't like the idea of her son leaving the country just to follow that woman specially when the woman was Christine. His Mom knew everything that had happened between him and Christine before Theo went abroad. She saw her son slowly ruining his life because of that girl.

"Mom, I am tired. I don't wanna talk about her, please." He begged.

His head was aching and the last thing that he would want was to talk about her.

"Sure. But one of these days, we'll talk about that crazy stunt you pulled off, Theo. You know I was not happy about what you did."

Hindi na lang siya nagsalita. He chose not to think about things that would remind him of her. She was his nightmare - a nightmare he chose to sleep with.

Dumeretso na siya sa kanyang kwarto. Wala naman masyadong nagbago sa mansyon nila. It was the same mansion he left years ago - grand and it screams wealth.

Wealth.

Ito ang bagay na pilit niyang tinakasan noon. He did not want the idea of him running their family's empire because he was too busy loving Christine that he did not think that she was using and cheating on him already.

He lay on his bed and closed his eyes until he fell asleep.

Theo was awaken by loud knocks coming from outside his door. Sinabayan pa ito ng boses na kanina pa ayaw tumigil.

"Theo! Wake up. Anong oras na anak. Are you still asleep?" That was his mom. Ganito ito noon. She used to bang his door para lang maggising siya dahil ayaw na ayaw ng ina niya na nagpapalipas siya ng gutom.

He was about to get annoyed when he realized one thing. He's in the Philippines and his mom was waiting for him outside.

"Goddamn." He cursed. How he hates people waking him up. But ofcourse him Mom was an exception.

"Theo!"

"Yes Mom, I'm awake. I'll be there."

"It's almost 12 noon, son. Get up and get your meal already. Hindi na to Amerika so go get your ass out of that bed or else papasukin kita at pipingutin. You're so stubborn." He knew his Mom's already annoyed.

Kaya dali-dali siyang nagsuot ng pang-itaas and hurriedly went to the door. His Mom was about to say another word when he opened the door and he kissed his mom.

"Pasalamat ka at na-miss kita." His Mom said.

"And I thank God everyday for giving me the best Mom in the whole world."

"I miss you anak. You just don't know how much I dreamed for this day to come." He felt the sadness in his Mom's face.

He was too stupid not to think about his Mother before he went abroad. Mas inuna pa niya ang pagsunod sa babaeng nanakit sa kanya and ignored his Mom's pleas. It was just one of the many stupid things he did. And he realized he has been a bad son to his Mother.

"I am really sorry Mom. I swear I regret it. I should have stayed here and take care of you but I chose it the hard way." He was guilty. Who wouldnt?

"That is why I am very happy you are finally here, Theo. You still have time to talk to your Father."

"I will try."

It was a beautiful day indeed. Theo and his Mom bonded after almost four years over breakfast. Wala ang daddy niya dahil hindi pa ito nakakauwi from his business travel in Russia.

"Congratulations, Atty. OMG I am so happy Ma'am. At last dismissed na rin ang kaso." Olivia was all smiles while thanking her staffs. They've been working for a r**e case that was filed against a farmer. She's working very hard on the case so she could finally help the accused and his family which she knows that he is innocent.

"Thank you so much, Joy. I can't do this alone and you know that. Maraming salamat sa tulong niyo, for always keeping up with me and my demands. Finally justice has been served." Halos maluha pa siya habang nagsasalita.

When she passed the bar exam, she was the happiest person on Earth. She has been dreaming for that day to come - to finally see her name on the list of passers. Noon pa lang gusto niya na talagang makatulong sa mga taong nakukulong na walang kasalanan. That's why she forced her parents to let her enrol in Law School when time comes.

"Ma'am, alam naman po nating lahat na ginagawa lang po namin kung ano ang instructions niyo. Kayo po talaga ang nagpanalo ng kaso."

"Thank you very much guys. Kaya naman, we deserve a celebration." She announced. Kita naman sa mukha ng tatlo ang saya. Olivia has three loyal staffs. Joy, her secretary, Marie, the assistant and Dermy, an intern.

Kumakain at nagki-KTV sila kasama ng staffs niya ng makatanggap siya ng tawag mula kay Mrs. Martins kaya dali-dali siyang sumenyas sa mga kasama na hinaan muna ang music.

"Hello po?" Magalang na sagot niya.

"Hello Iha. Are you free tomorrow night?" Bakas sa boses ng Ginang ang tuwa.

"I am not sure po Ma'am, bak--"

"I told you to call me Tita, Iha. Sige ka magtatampo ako niyan." She teased on the other line.

"Sorry po, Tita. Hmm, anyway, bakit niyo po natanong?"

"Just want to ask you for dinner tomorrow night."

"I am not sure po eh. Let me ask my secretary po ah. Just a sec." Paalam niya na agad naman sinang-ayunan ng Ginang.

"Uhm, yes po I am free. Is there something wrong?"

"Oh no, wala iha. Just wanna have dinner with you. May importante kasi akong sasabihin tomorrow."

"Are you sure Tita?" She asked again. She felt something's up.

"Yes I am very sure, iha. So see you tomorrow night? I'll text you the place and time."

"Yes po. Thank you."

"Alright. Bye."

"Bye po."

Ilang segundo ng nawala sa kabilang linya ang Ginang pero hindi pa rin siya kumukurap. She felt something. She felt weird.

"You okay Ma'am?" Demy asked.

"Ah yeah, I am. Sorry, nagspaced out ako."

"Baka po kailangan na po ninyong magpahinga. We can go home na po Ma'am, tutal patapos na naman po kaming kumain."

"No. Let's enjoy first. I am okay." She smiled. Her staffs nodded in response. Pero iba pa rin ang nararamdaman niya. She felt something's about to happen and she cannot understand what it is.

"Olivia!" Mula sa parking ay rinig niya ang masayang bati ni Mrs. Martins. "How are you darling? Thank you for coming kahit very short notice lang ang ginawa ko." She smiled and hugged her.

"No problem Ma'am." She smiled back.

"It's Tita, Olivia." Pagtatama nito.

"Sorry. Hindi lang po sanay. Thank you po sa pag-invite"

"I've been telling you to stop calling me and my husband as Ma'am and Sir pero di ka nakikinig. You're stubborn...just like my son." She joked. Pero hindi siya nasiyahan dito. Not that she was offended by the word stubborn but because she just mentioned her son. Her first love.

She faked a smile. "Sorry po talaga Tita."

"That's better darling. Now come dahil naghihintay na ang Tito mo." Mrs. Martins then led her to the dining.

"Uhm, did you ask me to come over because you want us to talk about the Will?" She inquired. The old lady tugged her arm and slowly touched her elbow as if she's guiding her.

"And a lot more darling but kain muna tayo. I cooked your favorite."

"Thank you." She uttered. Hindi na siya iba sa pamilyang ito. As soon as she passed the bar ay kinuha na nila ang serbisyo niya which she is very thankful. The mere fact that the Martins have hired her, a young, inexperienced lawyer makes her heart flutter.

"Sit darling. May hinihintay lang tayo. Pababa na siya." She smiled.