The Ruthless (Quantum Meruit Series #1)

24. Tomorrow

24.
Tomorrow

━━━━━━━

After the Bar exams, I became busy hunting for jobs. I wasn't particular with what work I was looking for. I just wanted to be busy before the announcement of the results. Luckily, I was hired by a law firm and not by a corporation I hoped for. Iyon ang ipinagkaabalahan ko nang sumunod na mga buwan.

Tumigil ako sa paglalakad at tiningala ang istrukturang nasa harapan ko. It was the courts of justice. I was told by my boss to bring him some documents so I was here.

Would it be funny if I say I was always scared being here? The building was intimidating as well as its people. I couldn't imagine always being here all day.

Hindi talaga ako magli-litigation lawyering.

"Thank you, Willow." Ngumiti si Atty. Cruz pagkakuha sa akin ng mga dokumento. "Tamang-tama ang dating mo. Magpe-present palang kami ng mga ebidensya."

I smiled back. "Walang anuman po 'yon, Attorney."

He forgot some documents so he asked me to bring them here. Mabuti nga at naabutan ko siya rito dahil kung hindi ay titirisin talaga siya ni Judge Borre.

"May lakad ka ba mamaya?" He adjusted his glasses. "Gusto mo bang sumama sa'kin? Merong kainan akong nadiskubre malapit dito. We should try it. You'll love it, I'm sure."

"Ah . . ." I awkwardly laughed. "May lakad po kasi ako, e."

Kumunot ang noo niya at umaayos siya sa pagkakatayo. "Mukhang palagi kang may lakad 'pag ini-invite kita, a."

"Pasensya na talaga, Attorney," I apologetically said and tried to reflect my disappointment on my face. "Siguro sa susunod na lang po. Nakapangako na po kasi ako sa boyfriend ko."

I saw how he didn't expect what I said. Kimi akong ngumiti sa kanya.

I got no choice anymore.

Atty. Cruz was a man, probably the same age with Sigfred. Isa siya sa mga boss ko sa law firm. He had been hitting on me since I was hired. Hindi ko naman masyadong pinapansin dahil maliban sa may boyfriend ako, mabait naman siya. But recently, he had been aggressive in asking me out on dates. He was getting annoying so I had to avoid him as much as I could. Pero may mga pagkakataon pa ring ganito na nako-corner niya ako.

Tama lang din siguro na sinabi kong may boyfriend na ako para tumigil na rin siya.

Hopefully.

My revelation must have tamed his intentions to me. Hindi na siya nagpumilit pa at nautal pa nang sabihing puwede na akong umalis.

Mabuti naman.

As it was an hour before the courts would close, I grabbed the privilege to stroll around. Hindi na ako babalik sa law firm ngayon. May ganap ang mga abogado roon at ayokong makisawsaw, although they invited me to be with them. They were to celebrate a big case that they won recently. I was sure Atty. Cruz would be with them after his business here. At iyong isa pang nagpapalipad-hangin din sa akin. I didn't want to see them so I told them I had something to do.

Hanapin ko na rin kaya si Sigfred dito? Sa pagkakaalam ko ay may hearing siya rito ngayong araw.

Makalipas ang ilang minutong pagtitingin-tingin, natagpuan ko rin siya.

Kino-cross examine niya iyong witness ng defense. Seryosong-seryoso ang mukha niya at paminsan-minsang tumataas ang isang sulok ng bibig para pailalim na mangutya.

I smiled and leaned on the door.

"Objection, Your Honor. The prosecution asks questions that are completely irrelevant to the issues at hand," the defense counsel protested.