Beneath Those Glasses

Epilogue (Part 1)

Alyona Desteen's POV

"Ate, ayoko na! Mababaliw na ako rito!"

I mentally rolled my eyes when I heard my suster complain. Right. Here she is again, complaining about journalism when she could clearly see that I'm busy studying a case. It was my last case because I would be a professor for a few months.

The thing is, I don't know when and with who. Dad hasn't informed me yet about the details. He just asked me if I could teach for the meanwhile because they needed a substitute professor.

Who am I to say no? It's Dad who's asking. It's not that I'm obligated to follow him, and it's not like it's against my will, I just really agreed to it.

Because, why not? They said I was the 'jack-of-all-trades', that I could do everything. Hindi naman sa pagiging mayabang pero gusto ko lang masubukan. I haven't tried teaching just yet. I just graduated from Med three years ago, but I was not focused into it unlike with Law.

I liked Law more, reason why I took it first than Medicine. I was an accelerated student. They said I was smart, I could only mentally shrug. I could not consider myself as smart because for me, I am just someone who's passionate with her goals.

Masipag lang ako, but I don't think I am smart.

"Quit then." I answered as I continued to read the case. I have been reading it since earlier, but I just couldn't continue because of her. She kept complaining, and she kept on shaking my arm just for me to look at her.

She likes doing that. She likes pestering me because it satisfies her whole being. She said she wanted 'attention'. Typically my sister.

"Ayoko, ayoko," she shook her head. "I love journalism, okay?! But I hate how hard copyreading and headline writing is! Until now nga 'di ko pa kabisado ang unit counts ng bawat letter!" She complained again for the nth time.

"Memorize it, then. Duh?" I rolled my eyes on her, it was real this time. "You kept on complaining about copyreading and headline writing, really? You're a nursing student yet you're thinking about journalism."

"Kasi, Ate, gumagawa nga ako ng credentials!" She answered, eager to make sense. She isn't making sense, anyway. "Para kapag graduate na ako ng nursing, o kaya kapag pedia na ako, meron akong credentials. 'Di ba, bongga? Parang ikaw lang! Attorney ka na nga, doktor ka pa! Sa'n ka pa? Hay, tayo na talaga! Hashtag, Estrellas on top!"

"Ang ingay..." I lifted my eyes to see my other sister, Amy, walking down the stairs. She has her reading glasses on while holding a cup of coffee, probably, on her hand.

"Bawal basher dito, ah? Susumbong kita kay Dad, sasabihin kong ginamit mo ang card niya para bumili ng libro." Ashly threatened Amy.

"Dad allowed me," mapang-asar namang ngumiti si Amy sa Ate niya. Ash scoffed, defeated.

"'Yan, ganiyan, kapag ako bibili ng bagong damit ng kabayo ko, bawal! Pero kapag libro, pwede?! Unfair! Ate, payag ka ro'n? Attorney ka, ipaglaban mo ang human rights ko!" Pagsusumbong pa ni Ash sa akin.

"Lol," Amy laughed, still teasing her sister. "As if Ate would defend you."

"Pinagtutulungan niyo ako?! Ano ba 'ko rito, ampon?"