Denying Destiny

Too Guilty

"Ms. Coronel, last question. What is the prescriptive period of an action to impugn legitimation?" Killian moved flawlessly throught the aisle towards his desk.

"Uhhh, five years from the time of death of either parents of the child from whom the child is the compulsory or intestate heir." Lian answered and exhaled.

Finally, natawag na din sya for recitation and malapit na matapos yung round, so kailangan ko nanaman mag aral dito. Killian sat down on his desk and motioned for Lian to sit down while he graded her.

"Class, your midterms will be on Wednesday next next week, coverage is up to Extinguishment of Usufruct. For the midterms, I'll give you a deal." I sat up straight. Interested kung anong sasabihin nya. Sobrang konti lang yung mga prof na nagbibigay ng incentive sa mga exams.

"Whoever tops my midterm exam with at least a grade of 90 can choose from two options. Option 1, you'll earn yourself plus 10 points in the final exam. Or option 2, you take a spot as an intern in my firm." Killian smiled at the class and nagsimulang magbulungan yung mga kaklase namin.

May firm pala sya? Well malamang. Like almost all the teachers here.

"Mars! Yan na yung hinihintay mong apprenticeship!" Lian excitedly whispered to me. Not a bad deal, Killian.

"Yeah, kailangan ko muna mag top sa exam diba? And 90 is a hard grade to get. Saka if may deal syang ganyan, you know na mahirap yung exam. It would be almost impossible to get that 90 lalu na if plus 10 points sa finals. Everyone would want that. And it only means one thing, mas mahirap yung finals nya kesa sa midterms." I whispered to her. Tinaasan ko ng kilay si Killian. Challenge accepted.

Some of my classmates raised their hands. "Yes?" Killian pointed to one of my classmates. "Sir, what if 2 people ties for the top spot?" My classmate asked.

He crossed his arms on his chest and looked amused. As if. Yun yung gusto nyang sabihin sa classmate ko pero syempre, di nya sasabihin. This exam would be HARD.

"If that happens, then they compromise between them on who gets the additional grade and who gets the internship." He simply answered but stressed on the word IF. "Don't ask anymore what if there's going to be 3 or 4 of you who'll get the top spot. The deal is clue enough." Yeah clue enough na walang makakakuha non at mamamatay kami sa hirap ng exam nya. Shet Stace, even you can't do this.

"Recit will resume on Adoption next meeting. Class dismissed." Killian stood up and headed for the door and umingay yung classroom because of the deal.

"So kung ikaw yung mag top, anong pipiliin mo?" Lian asked me when we left the classroom. "Di ko alam. Depende kung anong mas kailangan ko. So depende sa mga recit grade ko." I shrugged.

"Ako, yung apprenticeship." She answered. "Hello meron ka na non e." I rolled my eyes at her. "Pag kinuha ko yung internship, makakasama ko sya buong araw." Kilig na sagot ni Lian.

"Paano mo sya makakasama buong araw don kung nagtuturo sya dito?" Tinaasan ko sya ng kilay at natawa ako ng konti. "May point ka don. Parang pinag isipan mo yon ah." She smiled at me and I made a face.

We got to the condo. "So, magaaral ba tayo sa Starbucks?" Lian hopefully asked me. Parang alam na nya na tatanggi ako. "Yeah sige fine. I just want to eat first." I just shrugged and nagbukas ako ng kwarto to drop my things sa desk ko.

"OMG I'm so happy! Kapeeee. So anong gusto mong kainin? Delivery? Or ramen?" Lian asked. "Kahit ano." I answered her and I smiled at myself kasi naalala ko yung pag kain namin ng ramen nung Saturday.

"Sino pala kasama mo mag ramen?" She asked me pag labas ko sa kwarto. She's clearly curious. Again, this is a f*****g bait. Di ko kasi pinansin yung comment nya sa IG story ko nung Sabado.

"Di ako nag ramen. It was an old picture. I reposted it kasi I was craving dahil umuulan." I tried to look disappointed. "Yeah ramen sounds nice." And I just smiled at her. I felt bad about lying, but I wasn't ready yet.

I'm not even sure what I'm going to say to her. I mean Killian and I had one day. Di ko nga alam kung ano yun e. Bonding? Pakilig na bonding?

When we got down, we immediately went to our spot. Buti nalang konti lang tao. "Ang aga ni Attorney ah." Lian looked over to the small table on the corner kung saan din kami nakapwesto ni Killian nung Sabado and he was on his laptop again.

He looked over to us and smiled. I smiled back and Lian gave him a wave. I rolled my eyes at her nung umupo kami. "What? Ang gwapo nya e." Lian giggled. Umirap ulit ako and nag ayos ng gamit.

"Anong order mo? Usual?" I asked Lian and tumayo ako. "Yes. Paextra shot ng espresso please. Thanks." I got her money then pumila ako sa counter.

"Hi Stacy. Late ata kayo ni Lian?" One of the usual baristas there greeted me when it was my turn to order. "Hi Paul. Yeah, late yung KFC delivery e kaya late na din kami naka baba. One venti iced caramel macchiato, extra shot of espresso and one venti iced white chocolate mocha with extra shot of espresso din." I ordered from the him.

"Yeah, about that. Meron ka na dito nung usual order mo, I'll just make it kasi sabi nya gawin ko nalang daw kapag nag order ka. It's already paid for. So yung iced caramel macchiato nalang." Paul smiled as he punched Lian's order. Kumunot yung noo ko. Nya?

"Huh?" I asked. "May nagorder na para sayo kanina nung usual mo. That will be 220." He repeated and smiled. "Sino?" Nagtataka kong tinanong sa kanya while I handed Lian's money.

"Killian? Yung kasama mo dito nung isang araw?" He said and handed me the change. "Secret admirer mo ata." Biro nya while flashing a smile. "Paano magiging secret kung sinabi mo na kung sino." Tinawanan ko sya awkwardly.

Confusion was still plastered on my face nung naglakad ako papunta sa claiming area and pag tingin ko kay Killian he was still typing seriously sa laptop nya. Wtf he bought me coffee????

Paul, who also made our drinks handed me both cups and napansin ko na may extrang nakasulat dun sa baso nung drink ko.

I believe I still owe you coffee. :) -K

Bumilis at lumakas yung t***k ng puso ko na feeling ko I could almost hear it ringing in my ears.

I handed Lian her drink and I just stared into the written note on mine. It was written in his handwriting I suppose kasi iba yung handwriting nung sa pangalan ko. Effort paaaa??? Or feelingera lang ako?

This guy is unbelievable. Ang galing magpakilig. I decided to just text him kasi I can't really walk up to him and say thank you.

Me: Thanks for the coffee. :)

Atty. Roxas: No prob. I owe you one.

Me: No, you only owe me half.

Atty. Roxas: Diba sabi ko sayo, pag abogado na, mas madami ng pera?

Me: Yabang.

"Sinong katext mo bakit ka nakangiti?" Lian looked up from her book at tinaasan ako ng kilay.

"My mom. Di na daw nya ko nakikita. Tinanong nya lang kung buhay pa ko. Sabi ko naka libing na ko sa mga libro at nalulunod sa kape." I quickly said and Lian just got back to her book.

No Stace, you quickly lied. I feel so guilty about it. But I really don't want her making a big deal out of this. I know Killian is just being nice. But if magkekwento man ako, I'll tell her everything. IF.

The lies keep piling up. Di ako sanay na may tinatago ako kay Lian at Max. They knew everything about me.

Pero ano bang kailangan kong sabihin sa mga kaibigan ko? I can't like him. Hindi talaga pwede. So, friends na ba kami ni Killian? Friends kami pero kinikilig ako sa kanya? Can I say that sa dalawa kong best friends?

Atty. Roxas: Stop being distracted. Matatawag ka sa Tax, so mag aral ka.

Me: Don't jinx me!!!

Atty. Roxas: Hahahaha. Enjoy your coffee. And Tax.

Me: I hate you.

Napansin kong natawa din sya sa reply ko.

Atty. Roxas: Sure ka na dyan?

Me: Yup.

Atty. Roxas: Nice socks.

Me: Shut up.

Natawa nanaman sya. I was wearing my elephant socks naman. Pero hindi ko na tinago kasi I think sanay na din sya sa itsura ko.

Tinitigan ko nanaman yung coffee cup ko, iniisip kung paano ko iaakyat yon sa apartment. Pero syempre makikita ni Lian tapos magtataka sya. So I have to settle in just taking a picture of it.

While I was reading my book, I was planning in my head how to take a picture of the cup. I stole a glimpse of Lian, nakakunot yung noo at gulong gulo na sa binabasa nya. Mukha naman syang busy sa ginagawa nya.

Saka bakit ka ba kailangan maging sneaky Stace? Ang dami mo ngang mga post sa stories mo ng kape. Wala naman akong pinopost kung hindi libro, yosi, or kape or all three at the same time.

I looked at Killian. Mukhang busy din naman sya sa ginagawa nya. I took my cup drinking from it and I curled up on my seat. I shifted a little para medyo naka talikod naman ako sa kanya. Nagmukha lang akong nagbago ng posisyon.

I quickly angled my phone para mukhang pinipicturan ko both my book and my drink but made sure na kitang kita yung note, and clicked. To my horror, tumunog yung shutter ng camera ng phone ko! Tanginaaaaa!

Lian looked up and nagtataka sya kung anong ginagawa ko. "Instagram." I just said. I was too horrified para lumingon pa kay Killian. Di ko alam kung narinig nya or what. Uminom nalang ako ng drink ko.

Nung nangawit na ko sa posisyon ko, I had no choice but to shift. I stole a glance kay Killian habang naguunat ako. He was smiling habang umiinom ng kape pero di naman nakatingin sakin.

Omg, di naman nya siguro nakita yung kanina no? I mean nakatalikod naman ako sa kanya halos. Saka tumunog lang hindi naman nagflash. Okay, paranoid lang ako. I just continued studying.

I was thankful kasi maagang nagyaya si Lian para umakyat na. And may kape pa ko! So may excuse akong dalhin yung cup ko. Yeah, para akong bata na kinikilig sa crush nya. The cup, pagtapos kong hugasan, took its place sa bedside table ko. Jusko ka Stacy.

The following day, natawag nga ako sa Tax like what Killian said. Tangina. But I silently thanked him habang nagrerecite ako kasi yung inexplain nya sakin nung Sabado yung saktong tinanong sakin nung prof. Nakanganga si Lian, she couldn't believe na for once may tama akong sinabi sa Tax.

"Girl, mag yosi ka muna may hahanapin lang ako sa lib." Lian said to me when we walked out from our last class. "Okay, puntahan nalang kita don pag tapos ko." I called at her when she turned around.

I went down papunta sa yosi area. Hindi na ko nagulat kasi nandun nanaman si Atty. Lopez at si Killian. Parang yosi buddies sila palagi.

"Hi Stace." Binati ako ni Atty. Lopez and nginitian din ako ni Killian. I smiled at the both of them. "Hello sir. Kamusta?" Kumuha ako ng yosi sa kaha ko pero sumimangot ako kasi wala yung lighter ko don "Okay lang, binibigyan ko ng pointers tong si Killian para sa midterms nyo." Niloko nya si Killian. "Hoy sir tapos ko na gawin yung exam ng mga yan." Killian smiled. Pero naghahalungkat na ko sa bag ko so I kind of missed their exchange.

May binunot si Killian sa bulsa nya at inabot nya sakin. Yung lighter ko. Inirapan ko sya. Nagsindi ako tapos binulsa ko yung lighter ko.

"Hoy Stacy, wag kang magnakaw ng lighter ng iba!" Tinuro ni Atty. Lopez yung bulsa ko habang tumatawa sya. "Bakit ko naman nanakawin yung akin?" Inirapan ko din sya. Sanay naman yung prof ko sa mga reaction ko. Siguro silang dalawa na nga yung pinaka sanay, bilang aliw na aliw si Killian magbasa ng mga mukha ng mga tao, and si Atty. Lopez yung pinaka close ko na prof.

"So ikaw pala Killian yung magnanakaw. Abogado ka na, nagnanakaw ka pa ng lighter. Wala ka bang pambili?" Biniro naman nya si Killian and I chuckled with our old professor.

"Pinahiram nya yan sakin." Killian said defensively. "Ay may hiraman na nangyayari." Biniro kami ni Atty. Lopez. Mahilig sya sa mga ganito. Sa chismis.

"Alam mo sir, wag kang intrigero ha. Bored ka nanaman sa buhay mo." I made a face at him and natawa sya. "Turuan mo kasi yang si Killian bumili ng sarili nyang lighter." I retorted.

Ooopppsss. I just called him by his first name. Tinaasan ako ng kilay ni Killian pero naaaliw syang nakangiti saakin. Siguro sa reaction ko kasi medyo nagulat ako sa dumulas sa bibig ko. Atty. Lopez looked at me teasingly pero di na sya humirit pa. Thank god.

"Ano natawag ka sa Tax?" Killian asked me. "Oo, bwiset ka e. Jininx mo ko." Sinimangutan ko sya at binigyan nanaman nya ko nung trademark amused smile nya.

"Sabi sayo e. Nakasagot ka?" Tanong nya. "Oo. For once, tama yung mga sagot ko." I answered him.

"Kasi tama yung mga tinuro ko sayo." He smirked. Ugggh. Yeah. Thanks, perfect guy. Napansin ko nalang na si Atty. Lopez parang aliw na aliw na pinapanood yung sagutan na nangyayari saamin ni Killian.

"Ay, may turuan din na nangyayari?" Biro ni Atty. Lopez. Nanaman. I made a face at him. "May tinanong lang ako!" I said defensively. He never let go of the pangaasar na itsura sa mukha nya.

Kala ko tapos na sya sa mga hirit nya. "Di ko naman alam na si Stacy pala hinihintay mo dito, Killian. Sana di mo nalang ako sinama dito sa smoking area. Kunyari ka pa. Alis na ba ko? Sabihin nyo lang." I hated the teasing tone of his voice. Kasi ang guilty ko.

Sana lamunin ako ng lupa kasi namumula nanaman yung mga pisngi ko. Or kahit sya nalang lamunin. Kahit ano dun, i'll be okay with it.

"Kung okay lang, Attorney? Kasi medyo istorbo ka." Pabirong sabi ni Killian sa kanya. Naubo ako sa yosi ko. When I recovered, I gave Killian a sour face na aliw na aliw sa sarili nya. At ang lakas ng tawa ni Atty. Lopez. I groaned.

"Ako na aalis. Di ko nanaman kayo kinakaya. Paalala nyo nga sakin na mag quiquit na ko sa pagyoyosi." I took the last drag sa yosi ko at inirapan ko silang dalawa tapos naglakad na paalis.

Tumatawa silang dalawa. What the hell. Bakit napaka dali lang sa kanya na magbiro ng ganon? Sa harap pa ng ibang prof!