Cold hearts

10

"I refuse to sign those papers, attorney Ladesma. With all due respect, hindi pa po patay ang daddy so why on earth are you making me sign sa mga contract regarding sa matatanggap ko pag namatay siya?" Saoirse asked Arlene's lawyer with a glare.

"It's the process, Ms. Araneta. Considering the fact that you're still a minor, all your assetts must be kept by your living and legal relatives, take Arlene as an example," he said while passing the pen back to her.

Saoirse's nostrils flared in frustration. "But I'm not just some puppet for my relatives to control! I have rights, and I won't let anyone take advantage of me, especially not when it concerns my father's estate."

Attorney Ladesma's tone hardened. "Your father's estate is a serious matter, and it's my duty to ensure that everything is in order. Signing these papers is not a suggestion, it's a legal requirement."

Saoirse crossed her arms defiantly. "I don't care about legal requirements! My father's still alive, and I won't entertain the thought of his death just to satisfy some bureaucratic nonsense. You can tell my relatives that they won't get a single signature from me until it's absolutely necessary."

The attorney's patience wore thin. "Ms. Araneta, I understand your reluctance, but you must grasp the gravity of the situation. Your father's health is precarious, and it's crucial to have these matters settled beforehand to avoid any complications."

Saoirse slammed her hand on the table, her voice rising in anger. "I won't be manipulated into signing away my rights! If my father wants to discuss his estate, he can do it himself. Until then, I won't be coerced into making decisions about something as sensitive as his assets."

Attorney Ladesma leaned forward, his voice steely. "You're being naive, Ms. Araneta. Ignoring these legal matters won't make them disappear. Your father entrusted me to handle his affairs, and I won't let sentimentality cloud my judgment."

Saoirse stood up abruptly, her eyes flashing with determination. "Then consider this my final decision: I won't sign anything until my father is present and able to discuss his wishes himself. And if you or anyone else tries to force me, I'll take this to court. I won't back down."

Saoirse's voice dripped with disdain as she gathered her belongings. "Excuse me, I believe I'm just wasting my time here."

Attorney Ladesma's expression hardened, his patience wearing thin. "Ms. Araneta, walking away from this won't make the situation disappear. Your father's affairs need to be addressed, whether you like it or not."

Saoirse shot him a withering glare. "I'm not walking away from anything. I'm walking away from you and your attempts to pressure me into something I'm not comfortable with."

The attorney's tone turned icy. "You may regret this decision, Ms. Araneta. Ignoring legal matters won't make them vanish, and it certainly won't make them any easier to handle when the time comes."

Saoirse's jaw tightened as she squared her shoulders. "I'll handle my father's affairs on my own terms, not yours. And if that means taking legal action to protect my rights, then so be it."

With a final dismissive glance, Saoirse turned on her heel and stormed out of the lawyer's office, leaving Attorney Ladesma to contemplate the brewing storm of conflict ahead.

"He is annoying! I swear to God!" Saoirse exclaimed as she stormed into the house, frustration evident in every step.

"What happened ba?" Vinny asked his cousin, concern etched on his face as he watched her pace back and forth.

Saoirse huffed, her anger still simmering. "That lawyer of Aunt Arlene's is trying to pressure me into signing some papers regarding Dad's estate. Can you believe it? Dad's still alive, and they're already planning for his death!"

Vinny's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "That's messed up, cous. Did you tell him off?"

Saoirse nodded vehemently. "Of course I did! I refused to sign anything until Dad can discuss it with me himself. I won't let them steamroll over me and dictate what happens to his assets."

"Does tita Irene know about this? I mean, I know that you're not close with her, but I think your mom needs to know what is happening," Vinny suggested, concern evident in his voice.

"Do you think that a person with a high pride like her will care? Para lang akong nakikipag-usap sa hangin," Saoirse said bitterly, taking a sip of the orange juice the maid had served.

Vinny sighed, understanding the tension between Saoirse and her mother. "I get where you're coming from, cous. But this is something your mom needs to be aware of. It's about your father's properties, maybe she can help," he said.

"Whatever happens to my family, it's none of her business. It's the problem of the Aranetas, and a Marcos like her must not be involved," Saoirse said firmly, her gaze fixed on the flower in front of her.

Vinny frowned, sensing the underlying tension in Saoirse's words. "Cous, I know you've had your differences with tita Irene, but she's still family. And when it comes to something as serious as this, maybe it's best to put aside personal feelings for the sake of sorting things out."

Saoirse sighed, running a hand through her hair in frustration. "I know, Vinny. But it's hard to forget all the times she's made it clear that I'm not part of her perfect little world. Why should I involve her now when she's never bothered to involve me in anything?"

Vinny reached out and gently squeezed her hand. "I get it, Saoirse. But sometimes, we have to rise above our differences for the greater good. And if involving tita Irene means protecting your Dad's properties and making sure everything is handled properly, then maybe it's worth considering."

Saoirse looked torn, her emotions warring within her. "I'll think about it, Vinny. But right now, I just need some time to process everything that's happened today."

Vinny nodded understandingly, giving her hand another reassuring squeeze. "Take all the time you need, cous. Just know that I'm here for you, no matter what."

As Saoirse returned to her room, the weight of the day's events hung heavily on her shoulders. She sought solace in the familiar comfort of her surroundings, her gaze drawn to the picture of her and Greggy that sat on her bedside table.

Memories flooded her mind as she traced the outline of their smiling faces captured in the photograph. Greggy's infectious laughter echoed in her ears, momentarily easing the tension that had gripped her heart.

Saoirse took a deep breath, steeling herself for the conversation ahead, before reaching for her phone and dialing Irene's number. With each ring, her heart pounded in her chest until finally, Irene answered.

"Hello, Mom," Saoirse said, her voice steady despite the turmoil swirling withinher.
                         -Saoirscee-