Chasing Keith Alexander Martinez

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Attorney Annabel Lee Escalante–Martinez was named after one of Edgar Allan Poe's poems—Annabel Lee. But unlike the poem, Annabel Lee was so full of life, especially when she defended her clients in court. 

She is ruthless, smart, intimidating, and doesn't let her emotions get the best of her—the epitome of an Alpha female.

And she is everything I aspire to be...

Of course, knowing this, hindi ko maiwasan ang kabahan as I stood in front of my mother's office. Wiping away all of  the grubble that has been on my face, I straightened my clothes and finally decided to knock. Patiently standing in the dark hallway of our house as I waited for her to let me in.

Growing up as the only child to a lawyer mom and a surgeon dad, I can remember how my classmates during pre-school and elementary constantly tell me how lucky I was. I mean, they weren't wrong. Halos araw-araw nila akong tanungin kung nakita ko na ba si mom mag-defend ng kliyente niya, or kung nasaksikhan ko mismo kung paano mag-opera ang dad ko.

And these questions even doubled when recognitions were just around the corner. You know how kids were, they were so full of curiosity about the simplest things. But as for me, I was filled with pride. And as a kid, I wanted to tell the world how proud I was for being my parents' child.

"Come in..." I finally heard her say.

As I entered, a woman in her late 30's stood behind her oak wood desk. She was wearing a white blouse—sleeves pulled up to her elbows, and a pair of black trousers with a brown Hermes belt to cinch up her waist. Her hair was a bob cut, ending just below her ears, perfectly framing her round face.

"Hi mom..." Bati ko at lumapit sa kanya upang halikan ang pisngi niya.

I made my way towards her leather upholstered sofa set to sit nang bigla niya akong pigilan.

"There's no need to sit, my son." At tiningan niya ang suot niyang relo, "I don't plan to make this long dahil kailangan ko pang bumalik ng opisina. I still have a client to defend tomorrow."

Tumango ako, "I understand po." At nanatiling naka-tayo sa harapan niya habang pinasadahan niya ako ng tingin mula ulo hanggang paa.

Hearing her let out an exasperated sigh, kaya mas lalong lumakas ang kalabog ng puso ko sa dibdib ko. Looking up at her, I saw her smoothen out the crease forming in between her brows.

"The school called kanina... They thanked us for the jaw-dropping donation that your father and I gave at their almuni's charity event yesterday." Pagsisimula ni Mom. And knowing where this conversation was going, I wished na pinaupo niya na lamang ako.

"And as your ever so caring mother, I asked how you were doing at school. And alam mo ba my dearest son? Naka-usap ko 'yung Dean, who is a very close friend of your father. He even told us the news, you're a candidate for Valedictorian... Tama ba ako?"

I nodded, "Opo."

And I heard her scoff. "My son, a candidate for Valedictorian... A candidate?! Meaning may isa 'pang pinagpipilian." She snapped, " So, choice ka lang?!"

Hindi ko nagawang magsalita o ipagtanggol ang sarili ko, dahil what mom was saying was true. And this made her ever more pissed than she already was.

"I didn't give birth to you Alexander just to be a choice! Tandaan mo 'yan! Oh God, what will your Lolo think?!"

My lolo–dad's father, never truly accepted mom. Even after she married dad and became a lawyer, she wasn't really acknowledged by him as part of their family. But after mom had me, I quickly became Lolo's favorite when I showed early signs of high IQ. And my mom thought, na sa ganitong paraan ay kahit papaano, ay makakukuha niya na 'rin and respeto at pagkakakilanlan ni Lolo. I mean, it's the least that I can do for her, right?

"My God, Alexander! I'm so disappointed with you!"

To say na naramdaman ko ang sakit ng pagtagos ng mga salita niya, would be an understatement... Her words were like some dusted old vinyl that my dad always keeps in the library, and on a record player, it was stuck on loop—constantly repeating mom's words... Haunting me, and drowning me.

I felt myself bit my lower lip as tears were about to escape from the corners of my sleep deprived eyes. "S-Sorry, Ma." Were the words that I only managed to say, kahit alam kong hindi ito sapat.

"I don't want your apology, Alexander!" Pagbabara niya, "Ang kailangan ko ay for you to remain at the top, and not be some lousy ass option. Sa tingin mo, Harvard would accept some second placer such as yourself?! Because I sure won't."

"G-Ginawa ko naman lahat, Ma."

"THAT'S NOT ENOUGH!" At muli niyang minasahe ang gilid ng sentido niya. "You know what, Alexander? I don't have time for this!" Inis niyang sambit, before she grabbed her Birkin bag and coat which was on top of her desk.

"I scheduled two additional tutors for you," she informed as she made her way to the door without even looking at me.

"And for the love of God, don't disappoint me again, Alexander."

With that, she shut the door behind her, leaving me there staring at nothingness. And at that moment, I felt like a kid again—a kid whose parents didn't attend their son's recognition because he hadn't got all lines of 9's on his report card... A seven year old who wondered if his parents were even proud to call him their son.