Boss Lady #4: Laws in Love

V. Yellow

"AXEL, you okay?" tanong ni Trey. Nawala sa malalim na pag-isip ang abugado kaya tumingala ito.

"Huh?"

"Pare, bigla kang natahimik dyan. Okay ka lang ba?" tanong ng kaibigan. He is with some of his best friends tonight at Trey's condo unit for dinner with Trey and his wife Erika who is now seven, almost eight, months pregnant.

Axel nodded as his hand rubbed over his face. "Yeah, I'm okay. May inaalala lang."

"Another difficult case?" tanong naman ni Theo.

Umiling siya matapos uminom sa basong may laman na scotch. "No, not really."

"Babae 'yan noh?" nakangising tanong ni Atlas sa kanya.

Doon natahimik si Axel na nagdulot para asarin at tawanan siya ng mga kaibigan. Maging si Erika na nakikinig lang ay nakitawa na rin dahil sa asar nina Trey.

"Tangina, pare. Ikaw na susunod na matatali?! Ikaw talaga?!" wika ni Atlas na tumatawa tawa pa. "Akala ko si Wild ang susunod dito kay Trey!"

"Gago. 'Di pa nga nahahanap ni Wild si Clara eh, paanong susunod 'yon sa akin. Hanapin niya muna si Clara at suyuin niya," sabi ni Trey. It has been years since they last saw Clara with Wild who, according to their best friend, suddenly disappeared without any note whatsoever. Ever since, Wild has been on the hunt for the love of his life.

"Pero 'di nga, Axel? You're worried over a woman?" Theo inquired.

"Yes, but it's not the way you all think it is," he clarified. "This woman needs my legal assistance, pero kailangan niyang masustentuhan nang malaki ang kaso, but her money isn't enough."

"That's not supposed to be your problem, right? Pwede naman siya sigurong humanap ng abugado na mababa lang ang fees. Or she can go and look for a public attorney," Atlas said.

"No, it's not about my lawyer's fees. She's gonna go head to head against someone who's fucking richer than her."

"But that's still not supposed to be your problem, Axel, 'di ba? You're always emphasizing how you separate your law practice from your personal life," sabi ni Theo.

Axel went silent. Totoo naman ang sinabi ng kaibigan niya. Ever since he practiced law, he made sure not to let his work interfere with his life and vice versa. Everything about work should stay inside the office and the firm, hindi pwedeng lalabas doon at hindi pwedeng dalhin sa labas ng mga 'yon. Kaya rin siguro nagtataka ang mga kaibigan dahil hindi ang mga ito sanay na makita siyang ganito.

"I can't tell you the details as much as I want to hear your insights. It's confidential. It's just in my head for a few days now," pag-amin niya. Since he personally saw Gregorio Sandoval manhandle his own wife, Axel cannot seem to get the case off his head.

"Ang hirap ata nyan, pare. Hirap talaga maging abugado. Buti na lang, luto luto lang ako," sabi ni Theo sabay tawa. Pabiro niyang sinuntok ang braso nito dahil katabi lang niya ang kaibigan.

"Mahirap talaga kapag magaling na abugado tulad ni Axel. This man is the best lawyer in the country, so it's really going to be difficult for him to handle cases," wika naman ni Trey.

"It is difficult but well, I enjoy what I do. Hindi lang kasama ang mga death threats na minsan ay nakukuha ko," sabi ni Axel.

"Well, we know you'll find a way to remedy whatever that issue is, Axel. Ikaw pa ba? Wala kang kaso na natatalo, wala kang problema na 'di nalulutas. You'll soon realize the right thing you should do for this client you're worried about," Trey told him, causing the others to nod in agreement.

"Sorry to butt in the conversation, but I do agree with my husband. And Axel, with how I know you, I know you'll do the right thing and that is to help your client in any way you can," wika ni Erika. "You've told us stories about your pro bono cases, and the times when you finance the case to help your client dahil wala na silang pera. I mean, whatever the issue is, I hope you will extend any assistance. Panigurado ay sa'yo lumapit 'yung client dahil alam nilang ikaw lang makakatulong sa kanila, so why not commit yourself to that?"