So Close (Book 1)

Chapter 25

NAT'S POV

(1 week after)

I don't care what they diagnosed me of basta ang alam ko gusto ko na ma-divorce. 

I drove over sa office ni Kuya Kent. He's a lawyer and isa ako sa mga kliyente niya. I've trusted my cousin since the start of his career at nang biglang lumaki ang firm niya, he never let us go. Ako, si Noah at yung iba kong mga pinsan ang mga kliyente niya. 

I walked to Kuya Kent's office. 

"Natalie."

"Kuya, I need you to do me a favor."

He motioned for me to sit on the chair before him. "At ano naman 'yon?"

I jutted my chin up. "I want to file a divorce."

Napatigil si Kuya Kent. "Kanino? Kay Bryce?"

I gave him a straight face. "Kanino pa ba ako kasal, kuya? Natural kay Bryce! Sino pa ba yung nang-gago sa akin?" I said bitterly. 

If he was angry, he didn't show it. "Bakit mo balak magdivorce?" 

"Adultery, kuya." 

"And does he know na magdidivorce kayo?"

"Yes."

"Okay." Tumayo siya at nagbigay ng mga papeles sa akin. "I need both of your signatures dito. After that, we--"

"Kuya, gusto ko ng mabilis na divorce. Ayaw kong matagal. Yung parang isang taon pa bago ma-finalize."

 "Kung ganon, marami akong babaguhin." he started enumerating the procedure at pinatanggal ko yung iba. He wrote it down. 

"What would we have then?" I asked Kuya Kent. 

 "Mauuna ang tatlong guidance counseling even before you would sign the contract. And when you sign the contract, maaring matapos at magka-final court hearing three weeks after."

I smiled. "Ganyan lang ba kadali ang mag-divorce, kuya?" I asked. 

He frowned. "Natalie."

"Of course, I'd be more than willing to pay more than what you charge." I said nonchallantly. 

"Natalie."

I pouted. 

He sighed. "Basta kailagan ko ang mga pirma niyo ni Bryce dito."

"Akala ko ba pagkatapos ng tatlong counseling yon." I said. 

"Para ready na, Natalie. Ikaw mismo nagsabi na gusto mong madaliin." 

I smiled. "Oo naman, Kuya Kent." 

I got the papers pero hindi ako dumeretso sa RossCorp. Instead, I got into my clinic and read the papers again and again. 

At hindi ko na namalayan na nakatulog na pala ako.

...

"Dr. Ross."

I grunted. 

"Dr. Ross."

Kumunot yung noo ko. I wanted five more minutes. 

"Dr. Ross."

Okay. That does it. 

Bumukas yung mga mata ko and I saw Jenny hovering over me. Napatingin ako sa relo and I realized na magla-lunch na. I've been asleep for almost four hours. 

"Dr. Ross--" I cut in.

"Dr. Barton, Jenny." I said.

Nag-inat ako. Nang itaas ko yung mga kamay ko, my back suddenly felt so stiff at parang may backpain ako. If sleeping in that position meant this pain, hinding hindi ko na gagawin yon.