#TD10

"Ms. Lopez?"

I looked at my prof on the table when he called my name. I was the first one to be called in our recitation and it made my knees weak. I came prepared. Last week, I wasn't called so it's my time to make up. I studied overnight for today's recit. I stood up and fixed my skirt.

"Yes Sir?"

He arranged the index cards in his hands then threw me the first question.

"Dorotea leased portions of her 2,000 sq. m. lot to Monet, Kathy, Celia, and Ruth forfive years. Two years before the expiration of the lease contract, Dorotea soldthe property to PM Realty and Development Corporation. The following month,Dorotea and PM Realty stopped accepting rental payments from all the lesseesbecause they wanted to terminate the lease contracts.Due to the refusal of Dorotea to accept rental payments, the lessees , Ruth, et al.,filed a complaint for consignation of the rentals before the Regional Trial Court (RTC)of Manila without notifying Dorotea," he said. "Is the consignation valid?"

I took a deep breath before answering. "No, the consignation is not valid. For consignation of the thing or sum due to beproper, there must be prior notice to the creditor that the debtor is going to consignthe payment in court. This notice is intended to give the creditor the opportunity toaccept payment and thus avoid liability for costs in case it is found that the act ofconsignation was properly made. Even on the assumption that Dorotea was no longerthe creditor as she had already sold the property to DM Realty, the facts do not statethat the realty corporation was also given notice before filing the case for consignation."

My breath hitched. I remained standing while waiting for his response, thinking he might ask me another question. The room was filled with silence. My heart was beating wildly inside my chest. My classmates looked like statues. They avoid eye contact to our prof so they won't get called. I went back to my answer to check if I missed something.

"Very well. You may sit down Ms. Lopez."

Para akong nabunutan ng malaking tinik sa dibdib ko pagkarining no'n. "Thank you Sir," I said and went back to sit. My heart calmed down. My prof began to shuffle the index cards and after a moment, he called another student. He gave him a question and the latter was able to answer on point.

Everything happened smoothly and we almost didn't notice that the time was over. Everyone was engrossed with the discussion and activity. The students fixed their things, stood up, and went outside of the classroom. Some were relieved they weren't called, some were proud, while the others who failed to recit looked frustrated and dispirited.

"Ms. Lopez?"

I stopped when I heard my prof called me. I turned around to face him. "Yes Sir?"

"Come here."

Just like what he said, I walked towards him who's behind the desk. He was checking our papers from yesterday's activity. 

"Yes po?"

"Is this yours?" he asked then pulled out one of the papers and showed it to me. I held it to check. He hasn't checked it yet. "Yes Sir. This is mine."

"You forgot to write your name Ms. Lopez."

My lips parted. I looked at my paper again and he's right! How stupid of me to forget to write my name. I checked my pockets for my pen but then he slid one on the table. I used it and quickly wrote my name on the paper. I gave it to him and he put it back on the pile of papers beside him.

"Sorry po Sir," I awkwardly said

"Minus points ka na."

"Hala Sir!" I blurted. "I mean, hindi ko po napansin. I guess I was in a rush to answer it."

The corner of his lips tilted. His attention was on checking the papers. "Very well. Nakabawi ka naman sa recit."

I nodded.

He lifted his eyes on me. "By the way, are you affiliated with Atty. Benedict Lopez? Both of you are Lopez."

My heart momentarily stopped when he mentioned my father. I gulped. "Uh, yes po Sir. He's my dad. Bakit niyo po natanong?"

His brows raised. "Oh, so you're his daughter. Your father is a well-known lawyer. One of the best in our department."

"Paano niyo po siya nakilala?"

"We were in the same law firm. Colleagues. My deepest condolence to you and your family," he sincerely said

I smiled weakly. "I'm sorry pero hindi ko po kayo nakilala. Pumunta po ba kayo noong lamay niya?"

If he did then I probably would recognize him or maybe my memory was vague since I was just a kid back then. I barely remember the visitors. 

"I didn't but the day after, I visited him." There's a hint of sadness in his voice

"Ahh.."

He folded his hands on top of the table. "I knew he has a daughter but I didn't know that it's one of my students. Masyado kasing common ang apelyido mo kaya hindi ko naisip na ikaw ang anak niya."

"I understand," I said. "If I may ask po, since parehas po kayong lawyers at parehas ng firm, are you two close?" I couldn't help but to ask because I want to gain information about my father's death or atleast find people who were close with him. I knew none. This man in front of me might help me.

"I'd say we're good friends and colleagues," he replied but then his phone rang. He took his coat then stood up. "I'm sorry Ms. Lopez but I still have a class to attend to. We can talk again some other time. Mag-lunch ka na rin."

I blinked a couple of times. He gave me a nod. I was about to speak but he already walked passed me and went out of the classroom. I sighed. Maybe I shouldn't have asked him that. 

***

"Hey Kate."

"Oh, hi Ate Trisha," she smiled upon seeing me. "Thanks for picking me up by the way." She then put her seatbelt

"No problem. May tinatapos pa kasi si Keith sa school. I'm not that busy at the moment." I began to drive

"Oh, I can go home by myself naman. Lagi pa akong hatid sundo ni Kuya."

"By the way, binubully ka pa rin ba sila o tumigil na?" I asked worriedly

"Ahh," she smiled shyly. "Don't worry ate. They stopped na. Nag-sorry na rin sila sa'kin. Kinausap kasi ulit sila ng principal. She wants us to make amends."

My brows raised. "Really? All of a sudden? That's good. Dapat lang tumigil na sila kung hindi, ako naman ang pupunta sa office at kakausap sa principal and the students who bullied you."

"Well, surprisingly, the other students defended me that's why I felt like I wasn't alone. The majority was on my side."

I looked at her and she seemed better than yesterday. She's finally free from those bullies. She can go to school and study in peace without getting anxious.

"And Keith, have you guys talked?" I asked

She nodded. "We talked about it. He wasn't really mad, well, I thought he was mad at me but he told me he was angry at the bullies. I told him the truth. I honestly can't keep a secret from him. He knows when I'm lying. Nakakatakot din siya minsan," she pouted

I chuckled. "He's just worried about you. Ilang taon din kayong nagkahiwalay. He's very protective, I must say."

"But not controlling," she added

"You two are comfortable with each other."

"Yup. We're really close when we're still little but when we got separated, it was a bit hard to communicate with him. Everytime tita catches me talking to the phone with him, she'd confiscate my phone that's why we only talk rarely."

I looked at her. "Really? Ginagawa niya iyon? What did your dad do?"

"Yeah. Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit. It's like she doesn't want me to talk with Kuya. I was too scared to tell dad because I feel like he'd take her side. I just obeyed. Ayoko na mag-away pa sila. I hate seeing them fight. It only reminds me of how my parents used to fight."

I held her hand to calm her down.

"Does your parents fight, ate?"

"Hmm, not really. My mom was working abroad. Nakakauwi lang siya once or maybe twice a year. My parents are too busy to fight.."

She slowly nodded. "Oo nga pala.."

"Did you tell this to your Kuya?"

"Yes, I already told him. I'm glad that he understands. I was just scared at first since I felt guilty for everything. He must have thought that I didn't want to talk to him anymore or I decided to cut ties with him. It's not true. Dahil lang talaga sa babae ni papa..." she bit her lip, holding back her tears

"Did she physically abuse you?"

She shook her head. "Hindi naman niya ako sinaktan. Madalas lang niya akong pagalitan. She was nice to me at first but then after a few months, she began treating me differently. Maybe if I stayed with her, things would have gotten worse," she sighed. "But I don't think she wants to take me anymore after she found out about dad's case. She left us. Thank God."

"You're safe with us now Kate. Don't worry."

There's a faint smile on her lips but still couldn't conceal the sadness in her eyes. "I feel so much better now that I'm with Kuya again. We got closer. I can tell him everything," she adverted her gaze to me. "Thank you din ate. I really missed you two."

"We missed you too.."

***

"Trisha. Single ka ba? Pwedeng manligaw?" a schoolmate of mine asked out of the blue. He was on the lower batch so I wasn't familiar with him

I blinked a couple of times, not knowing what to say. He looked shy and awkward. The collar of his uniform was crooked. He was tall and a bit chubby.

"Ah, uhm, I am single but I don't have time to entertain anyone at the moment. I'm sorry."

He gulped nervously. "Oh, okay lang. Sorry," he stuttered. "I shouldn't have...I mean, Jericho nga pala," he introduced himself

"Nice to meet you." I smiled at him to reduce the awkward tension between us. "Anong year mo na? And yung program mo?"

"Ahh, archi student ako sophomore. Madalas kasi kita makita sa campus. Di ba archi ka rin dati?"

"Ahh, yes but I shift to legal management."

He nodded. "Gaya nga ng sabi ng kaibigan ko."

"Anyway, I have to go now. May tatapusin pa kasi akong activities."

He was about to speak but then someone called him. I looked at the student behind him. He walked towards us. I was surprised to see Mark.

"Ate Trisha. Hello!" he greeted with a warm smile

I waved my hand. "Hi.."

"Anong ginagawa mo dito Mark?" whispered Jericho to him. "Hindi mo ba nakikita na-"

"Ooh! Si ate Trisha ba yung tinutukoy mo?" Mark asked, a bit shocked

My forehead creased. "Na alin?"

Mark put his arms over Jericho's shoulder. "May crush sa'yo yung kaibigan ko Ate," he said boldly

"Ahh," I chuckled softly and looked at Jericho's reaction. His face turned red in embarrassment. He couldn't look at us.

"Reject nga," he murmured in dismay

"Sorry," I mouthed that neither of them noticed

"You didn't tell me it was her. E 'di binalaan na kita," said Mark

Jericho looked at him. "Saan?"

Mark looked at me with a smug smile plastered on his face. My brow shot up. He's acting really weird.

"Tsk. Tara na nga," he said then tapped the man's shoulder as if consoling him. "Mauna na kami ate Trisha. See you around the campus!"

"Uh, sige.." I gave them a small smile

Then they turned their backs against me and began to walk away. I remained on my spot and heard what Mark said.

"Ano na ka ba pre? May Keith na yun. H'wag ka na kay Ate Trisha. Sa iba nalang."

"Ha? Sinong Keith?" Jericho asked, confused

"My older brother," Mark said proudly

"Ginagago mo ba ako? Wala ka kayang kapatid."

And their voices slowly faltered as they walk away until they disappeared in my sight. I shook my head and couldn't help but to smile.

Speaking of Keith, I wonder where he is? Classes are about to start but he's not yet here. He's always an early bird. He wouldn't want to miss another recit. Our schedules would sometimes overlap even if we're in a different class. I took my phone out to text him.

Ako:

Kai. Where are you? Classes are about to start.

I began to walk to my classroom while I wait for his reply. I stopped when I arrived in front of my classroom. After a minute, he finally replied.

Keith:

I woke up early to study at the cafe. I'm on my way. I won't be late.

The cafe was just near our campus, maybe a five minute drive. After reading his text, I put my phone back inside my bag then went inside my classroom.

***

"Nakasagot ka sa recit?" I asked Keith. We're inside his car right now on our way home.

"Mm-hmm," he answered with his lips pressed. He placed his arm on the window and brushed his hair. "And you?"

"Wala kaming recit ngayon. Nag-discuss lang si Sir," I replied. "What was the question?"

"Just about taxation law.."

I looked at him suspiciously. He tends to chew his lips when he's lying. He looked at me innocently. "What?"

"Keith."

He sighed. "Fine. I was late at class...by only five minutes," he defended. "As a consequence of, my prof grilled me with hard questions. One after another. I wasn't even finish answering the first one when he threw me in the second. Naghalo na sa utak ko yung mga sagot. I feel like I didn't do well. Mababa siguro yung score ko."

I tapped his leg. "Bawi nalang next time. That's how it goes," I said. "But why were you late? Hindi ba't malapit lang naman yung cafe dito? Hindi naman traffic."

"I, uh, I bumped into someone."

"Who?"

"Just an old friend."

"Kilala ko?"

"Yeah."

I looked away and thought for a second. "I have no idea."

"It's Felicity."

My ears rang upon hearing her name. I shifted my gaze back to him. He looked calm while driving.

"Oh, yeah I know her." I cleared my throat and fixed my posture. "You guys talked?"

"Not much. I just helped her because she was swarmed with tons of reporters for some reason. She was struggling to get out so I helped her. I dropped her off in front of her school."

"Hmm, bakit kaya? Oh, right. Her father is a governor. Her life is very public. She's popular back then in school."

The memory of us arguing in the field of the school flashed inside my mind again. I badly want to burry it in my memory but sometimes, I'd remember it and couldn't help but to hate myself. That was stupid.

"Not that I'm really interested in her," Keith looked at the cars outside as he tap his fingers on the wheel

"Kaya ka pala na-late.." I smiled awkwardly. I was a bit uncomfortable, I don't know why.

"I'm craving for donuts. Do you want to drop first at Krispy Kreme?" he asked all of a sudden

My lips parted. "Donuts?"

"I know you can't reject food," he teased

I pouted. "I'm not even hungry."

"Would you change your mind if I buy you a box of Krispy Kreme glazed donuts?"

My eyes widened in surprise. He laughed at my reaction. I rolled my eyes at him. I sometimes find it annoying when he teases me with food but then can't help but to drool at the donuts.

"Donuts it is!" he exclaimed then speed away. He was in the good mood despite being late and got grilled during his recitation. He didn't dwell on it too much and he knows he can crush the next recit if ever

"Kapag ako talaga tumaba kakapakain mo sa'kin ng donuts," I said after we bought three boxes of donuts

"It's alright. You'd look like your middle school self," he teased again

"Oh, God, I don't even want to remember her," I sighed

He chuckled. "You looked really cute back then. I'd like to meet the middle school Trisha again."

"Well then I'd like to meet the middle school Kai too."

He smiled upon reminiscing. "The good old days. I want to go back."

"Isn't that Keith Sanchez?"

"You're right. He looks familiar."

"He's a law student in UP. I heard rumors about him. One of my friends told me that his father committed a serious crime and now, he's suffering in prison.

"Really? I feel bad for him. Sayang may itsura pa naman. What if parehas lang pala sila ng papa niya? Nakakatakot mainvolve sa kanya."

We stopped when we heard some of the students chattering on the table. They looked at us but then immediately looked away when we caught us listening to them. My grip on the box of donuts tightened. My blood boiled by the sound of their laughter.

"How dare-" I was about to step in front of them but then I felt Keith's hand on my arm

"Let's go Trisha. Don't mind them," he calmly said and gently pulled me until we got outside

We went back to the car and he drove in silence. I, on the other hand, was cursing all those people who insulted him in my head. I was pissed! Keith noticed my sudden change of mood.

"I'm fine Tris. Don't worry. Hindi naman ako naapektuhan sa sinasabi nila. Just ignore them," he said

"You're just saying that so I won't get worried but I know you got hurt too."

He looked at me. "I'm really fine. I'm still enduring it. I'll prove to them that my dad is innocent."

"For how long are you going to endure it?"

"Until justice prevails."

"When's the last time you visited him?" I asked carefully. There was a short pause before he gave me an answer

"Before I shift to law."

It's been that long huh..

"Baka sa korte na ang sunod naming pagkikita.."

I inhaled deeply. "Would you really go back Keith?"

"Hmm?" he glanced at me

"I mean, would you really want to go back to the past and go through all that pain again?"

When your dad left you. When he took your sister. When your mom died. When you were just a little innocent boy but happened to have to endure those moments. Now he has to pay for sins of his family.

"I'm still stuck in my past Trisha. No one can get me out of this hell loop but me."

That applies the same to me too..

Dear Diary,

I ponder on a lot of things. I absorb everything whether it is negative or positive. Eventhough it's agonizing to know the truth, I'd rather grieve than choose to be ignorant. 

So far, I'm proud of where we at right now.

But then it was hard for us to move forward because turns out, we're still stuck in our past. We just got older and wiser but the place remained the same. There's no ticket or shortcut to freedom. The key is us.