Chapter 27
"Cheers!" one my friends said.
We raised our glasses full of wine in the air.
I managed to finished Legal Management and made friends around all of those years. It was hell hard to survive but, I got them and most especially I got Dave.
"Sure ka bang iinom ka?" Dave asked.
I nodded.
"Pagbigyan mo na, Dave. Boyfriend ka ba, ha?" sabi naman ni Stacey, one of the people I made friendship with.
"Hindi ako ang boyfriend pero ako ang malalagot kay Ma-- I mean sa mga magulang nito." he said.
"No need to worry, I can handle myself." I assured them.
"Enjoy, Jenim! We just survived hell!" Kate this time, the number one lasinggera at pumapasok kahit may hangover. Pangalawa lang si Stacey.
"Hayaan mo na sila, Pre, 'dito naman tayo." Yaell said.
We are at Stacey's house. There are only five of us in the group. Stacey, Kate, Yaell, Dave, and I. I don't know how it all started but we were at the same classes at two of our major subjects when we were just first year. Nagkataong magkasabay kaming nag-aral sa library and from that point, we got close even before we know.
"Next week na tayo magsimulang mag-aral para sa PHILSAT, kakatamad pa." sabi naman ni Kate.
"We'll just have our individual studying during the first few weeks and let's study together a month before we're going to take the test." Stacey this time.
"I agree. Uuwi kasi ako sa amin around this week." I said.
Everyone agreed and we enjoyed the night.
"This is it, guys! We're going to bomb this one!" sabi ni Kate bago kami pumasok sa building kung saan gaganapin ang test.
All of us studied hard for this. Sana'y sabay-sabay naming maabot ang mga pangarap namin even though we will take different paths. Yaell and Stacey wants to become a corporate lawyer, Kate wants to become a family lawyer, and Dave and I wants to become a criminal lawyer.
Our names are found on different rooms. Walang magkasama sa grupo namin na nasa iisang room. We gave each other best of luck and entered the respective room each of us are in.
After minutes of waiting, a proctor showed up and the exam started. I took a deep breath before making a contact with my pen. You can do this, Jenim!
"We did it!" sigaw ni Stacey pagkatapos naming sabay tingnan ang mga resulta.
I released a deep breath.
As usual, si Dave na naman ang may pinakamalaking score sa'min. Serves right for someone who graduated as Magna Cumlaude. Nakaharap kami ngayon sa computer ni Yaell, sa bahay niya napagdesisyunan naming tingnan ang mga resulta after we knew it was released.
It was tough for Yaell, it was his name that we last spotted.
"That's means, we're gonna have a celebration!" Kate this time.
"Sagot mo, diba?" Stacey asked.
"Ambagan tayo! Ako lang ba ang nakapasa?"
We all laughed because of Kate.
"Ganito nalang, ang pinakamataas 'yong score ang siyang pinakamaliit ang ambag at 'yong pinakamababa naman ay ang pinakamalaki." Kate suggested.
I agree with this one. I'm next to Dave, eh.
Dave ranks first, then me, Stacey, Kate, and then Yaell.
Everyone agreed. Wala namang problema sa lahat. Seven in the evening sharp at Kate's house. She said she'll host tonight's celebration.
Nagsiuwian na kami dahil ala una pa lamang ng hapon. Sabay pauwi si Kate at Stacey at magkasabay naman kami ni Dave. He's got a car, gift sa kanya ni Tito. He couldn't reject it no more because it was already parked outside their house.
No'ng nakapasok na ako sa sasakyan ni Dave, kinuha ko ang phone ko mula sa bag at tinext sina Mama at Papa.
To: Mama
Ma, nakapasa ako!
To: Papa
Nakapasa po ako.
"May dadaanan muna tayo." sabi ni Dave.
"Sa'n naman?" I asked.
"Basta, nautusan lang." he said.
Hindi ko na siya kinuwestiyon pa dahil nakisakay lang naman ako. He drove and I remained still in my seat.
After couple of minutes, we arrived at a flower shop. Agad siyang bumaba at pinaghintay ako sa kotse niya. I can see him through the window. He just grabbed a bouquet of tulips and then left the shop. I didn't even saw him hand a penny.
"For you." he said after he got back.
Tinanggap ko ito at inamoy. It reminds me of something... erase!
"Sa'yo galing 'to? Taray, ah!" sabi ko.
"Basta." he said.
Tiningnan ko ito at paulit-ulit na inamoy. This smell is addictive.
"Smile. I'll take you a picture." he said as he positioned himself ready to take a picture of me.
"Alam ko namang maganda ako pero ilang litrato na ang--"
I got cut off by his phone's flash.
"Ano 'yon? Hoy! Ulitin mo!" sabi ko at pilit na kunin ang phone niya.
"Too late." he placed it in his pocket and drove. I can't disturb him that way.
"Para sa'n ba kasi 'yon?" tanong ko.
"Wala lang." he answered.
"Lahat ba ng mga ginagawa mo sa'kin ay dapat may documentation?"
He's been taking pictures of me lately. Everytime nililibre niya ako, may binibigay siya, at nagta-travel kami, lagi niya lang akong kinukunan ng litrato. Wala namang problema sa'kin, ang akin lang, pino-post niya ang mga litrato na kay pangit ko.
"Oo."
"Wow ha? Kailangan mong mag-report?"
"Parang gano'n na nga." he answered.
Wait...
"Anong ibig mong sabihin?" tanong ko.
"I was just kidding. Natutuwa lang ako sa mukha mo tuwing nagmamakaawa kang i-delete ko ang mga litrato mo."
"Gago! Tangina ka!"
We kept on teasing each other and our childish arguments up until he dropped me off at my unit.
"This is it guys! Apat na taon at magiging attorney na tayo!" the usual loud Kate said.
"Can't believe that we are taking our first step towards our dream." Stacey this time.
We are standing infront of this law school. All of us decided to study law at the same school. Law school is said to be hard to survive so it's essential to have someone. Naitawid namin 'yong college ng sabay, kaya din namin 'to ng sabay-sabay.
My journey towards the dream that I have, begins here.
^_^
