Flames and Vengeance (South Series # 1) COMPLETED- To be published

Chapter 33

As the breeze changed on December pati ata 'yong will kong mag-aral nadamay. Tamad na tamad na ako kahit sobrang tambak ng backlogs ko. Buti na lang kasama ko ang barkada sa pagre-review, the jokes of Niko in between kept us alive and of course the multiple cups of brewed coffee.

For the first week of exams, we stayed at Cliff's unit, pabor sa akin kasi hindi ko na kailangan magdala ng gamit pamalit, lilipat lang ako ng unit.

Last month was a celebration for the Dela Cruz's firm, they won the case of the Dela Paz's murder. Ang galing ng mga mokong, one doubt they won it, just a loophole they mercilessly aced it.

The culprit was really the legal wife, that didn't even shock Kuya Miggy and Calix, they've been eyeing that angle, kahit si Kuya Patrick na inabala nila kung maka-talon sa party nila parang siya ang head legal representative.

I remembered saying to Calix, "Mag-ingat ka, baka mapatay din kita 'pag kumabit ka."

Pero tinawanan lang ako ni gago. But, truth be told, hindi na pumapasok sa isip kong magloloko siya, with almost two years of my relationship with him, he never made me doubt. Panatag akong natutulog na hindi siya katabi minsan.

"Magreview na!" Sabi ni Riley noong napansin niyang napatulala ako.

"OA, may inaalala lang akong clause." 

Natawa siya. "Ako pa lolokohin mo, panay Calix tumatakbo diyan sa utak mo."

"So? As if hindi Yca laman ng cortex mo."

"Ay wow! Med student ka, mare?" Natatawang sabi ni Kylie.

Tumawa si Niko. "Baka naituro ng ex. May neuro si Troy noong sila, eh."

"Shut up!" I murmured.

On our second long week exam, Riley stayed in my unit, bigla kasing nasira ang heater sa condo niya, at sino ba naman ang baliw na maliligo na malamig ang tubig, that will surely freeze one's brain. At kung magpapakulo, tamad si mokong.

"Hindi umuuwi si Kuya Calix dito?"

I sipped on my coffee. "Last month pa ata ang huli. He got another high-profile case. Nagpapakamatay ata ang gagong 'yon."

He sat beside me and rested his leg on my coffee table. "Another murder case?"

"Yeah. Maaga ata ako mabu-byuda 'pag magpapakasal kami ng maaga."

He looked at me with a questioning look. "Bakit magpapakasal ba kayo agad niyan?"

"Hypothetical." I lied. Wala pa kaming sinasabihan ng plano, susundin namin ang plano na civil muna tapos church in two months.

"Wag ka muna magpapakasal. Ilang taon ka ba after bar? Turning 26? Ang bata mo pa, though 30 na si Kuya Calix no'n."

Hindi na lang ako nagsalita pa, less talk less mistake, baka biglang magtampo pa 'to 'pag nalaman niya ang totoo.

Dumaan ang mga araw na nakikita lang namin ang isa't-isa sa video call namin na matagal pa ang limang minuto, he was so busy, busier than before, ako naman hindi ko alam ano uunahin ko sa dami ng cases na kailangan kong aralin.

"I missed you," I pouted. Scheduled na ang video calls namin, tuwing ala una ng madaling araw, 'yon din kasi ang review break ko.

He tried to give me a smile but failed, halatang nalulungkot din siya. Tahimik lang kaming tinitigan ang isa't-isa.