The Royal Series 02: The Royal Wooing

Chapter 21

LAURICE

"Are you apolitical?" I asked Chris as we sat with our backs leaning against the tree.

"No, especially not with my job."

"What if you weren't a lawyer?" I asked.

"I still wouldn't be, bakit?"

"There's..." I told him "...a conversation I overheard at a conference. It bothered me kasi wala raw s'yang pake when he was asked about his opinion on Great Jade's upcoming election."

"Those people suck the most," he commented.

"It didn't sit well with me, you know? Parang...you'll sign a contract without checking it and thinking of the possible consequences it can bring. I wanted to ask and kind of make them change their mind pero nainis lang ako." I told him, trying not to make it sound like it's Philip and just some random person.

Yung pinigilan ko atang sabihin kay Philip, nasabi ko kay Chris. It was like, I was whining to him like a kid who got into a fight and lost. Feeling ko I've been talking too long kaya I looked over to Chris and he was looking at me intently, he looked like he was encouraging me to go on so I continued.

Ang frustrating lang na I wanted Philip to see what he should see. But I couldn't be the bigger person, so I ended up walking away.

"Ah, so this is why you walked away from Philip last time?"

"Yeah—huh?" I gasped and when I looked at him, his eyes widened before he looked away.

"Well...a friend of mine was in that yacht too and he told me. You were subtle but my friend's a little too detailed. And I know about Philip being apolitical."

"It's really frustrating kasi! I mean, if I had people reaching out to me about some shady business where the benefit is a lot of money or power in return, surely he has. Tapos yung mga taong nahihirapan whether it's finding a job, not having an equal chance at things and—why are you looking at me like that? You're even smiling, do I look like I'm having fun?" I pouted as I hugged the stuffed toy that he gave me earlier.

But Chris only laughed and leaned closer before lightly pinching my nose and I tried to bite his finger when he let go of my nose. I failed.

"On a serious note, that's because you broke free from your comfort zone. I know what it's like kasi pinalaki rin naman ako na sinasabing maayos yung paligid ko. We have the privilege of living in our own reality that is full of luxury. Maybe Philip doesn't really want to get out of that privilege bubble because he's not ready to explore things beyond what he's comfortable with."

"So?" I asked and hugged the stuffed toy tighter.

"It's up to him if he wants to try living in other people's reality. People who are not in his circle." He answered and looked at me with furrowed brows. "You tried to educate him but you didn't know how, but you definitely opened the door outside of his privilege. Give him and yourself more time. It's not easy being an effective educator, especially to people who are too comfortable with their life."

"You think he's mad at me?" I asked. "I mean, I was annoyed pero he's a great friend."

"Ask him, malay ko kung galit s'ya sa 'yo ngayon o hindi."

Tiningnan ko si Chris but he laughed as soon as our eyes met kaya I hit him with the stuff toy, it only made him laugh harder.

"How's your work sa IC lately?" I asked.

As he told me how things have been at work, I reached for the chips between us. I actually had a hard time opening it but when he noticed, he just took it from me and returned it once it was open.