He Was My Umbrella

64

R-18.

"I can handle death threats, Cheska!"

Nandito kami sa office niya at pinag-aawayan ang naipanalong kaso na ako ang abogado.

"Certainly, you cannot! Ano ang magagawa mo kung barilin ka na lang bigla?!" Galit niyang sabi sa akin. "Hindi mo hawak ang buhay mo!"

"I can handle it." Kinuha ko ang bag ko at dali-daling lumabas sa office niya. Bigla ko namang nakabungguan si Renzo nang paglabas ko.

Engineer Cabrera and I are dating for three months now, and it's going well for the both of us. Well, at least, for him. I have a lot on my plate right now. Isa pa doon ang naipanalong kaso na hawak ko.

I am currently in the field of family law, and it sure isn't easy. I handled a child custody case earlier this month and it didn't go well. Yes, we won, pero hindi naging maganda ang resulta sa kabilang panig. I tried calling the cops, but that wouldn't do. Delikado talaga ang pinasok kong propesyon.

The mother gained custody of a child. What's even worse was the mother filed a restraining order against the father. That's the reason why he is sending me death threats. Trust me, in my 2 years of being a lawyer, everybody just wants to kill me.

"Are you okay, love?" Tanong sa akin ng jowa ko na nasa harap ko ngayon.

"Allegedly, I am not." I rolled my eyes.

We walked back to my office to talk about how was I not okay. Alam kong magugulat dito si Renzo, pero it has to be said.

"I'll be straight with you." Umupo ako sa swivel chair at tiningnan siya nang matalim habang nasa harapan ko siya. "I'm receiving death threats."

Biglang tumingin sa akin ang gulat niyang mga mata. Ugh, as if I didn't see this coming. "What?! From who?"

"May naipanalo akong child custody case at natalo ang tatay nito. What's even worse is nag file ang nanay ng restraining order against her ex-husband. I don't have proof beyond reasonable doubt na siya nga ang nagbibigay ng threats sa akin. I mean? Kala ko sa Crim Law lang may death threats! Family din pala," I scoffed sarcastically. "Well, on his side, he has nothing to lose so might as well get dirty."

"Are you fucking okay with this?! Your life is at stake!" Hinampas niya ang pader.

"Come on, Renzo! Don't act like you didn't know this would happen. I am a damn lawyer if it isn't that obvious. And this is not the first time that this happened!" Hampas ko naman sa lamesa ko.

His reaction is valid. Ganyan naman talaga usually ang mga reaksyon nila. Most of my death threats never really came true so what would make me think this would? We'll never know, but let see my chances. I love the thrill after all.

"C'mon, Engineer Cabrera. I pursued law for many goddamn reasons. I knew this would come in my way. I knew how it felt like to be a criminal lawyer. But I valued my moral principles that's why I left that field. For fuck's sake, just trust me on this!" Bahagyang sigaw ko sa kaniya. "I will not die. Not against my will." Umupo ako at huminga nang malalim, pinapakalma ang sarili. "I am a fucking family lawyer. Who the fuck will kill me just because he lost custody against his daughter? Masama na ang naging landas ng buhay niya, at sigurado akong hindi na niya palalalain pa ang sitwasyon. Hindi ko nga rin sure kung siya nga ba talaga."

"Just be careful. I don't want to lose you again." Lumapit siya sa akin. Hinalikan niya naman ako. "I love you."

"I love you, too." I patted his cheeks.

Napansin kong tumabingi ang tie niya dahil magaslaw siya kanina habang nagrereact sa sinabi ko sa kaniya. Inayos ko 'yon at mukha kinikilig pa nga siya! Ang lapit ng mukha namin sa isa't isa. He watched me intently while I was fixing his tie. Nakakailang! Titig na titig, kala mo sinusuri ang kaluluwa ko.