Almost Enough (Could Trilogy #2)

Almost #7

ALMOST ENOUGH #7

Sharyn’s POV

“How many hours do you have left?” tanong ni Jagger sa akin nang pumasok siya sa conference room.

He’s one of the newly-hired lawyers of Quisana-Mercadelas Law Firm where I was doing my internship. They specialized in Family, Torts, and Environmental Law so I decided to try—iyon lang din kasi ang naisip ko na pwede kong i-specialize once I passed the bar. At least, we have a wide range of specialties once we open up a law firm—ako, si Jhules, Sai at Aero, while Five and River both wanted to become a prosecutor, as for Skater he'll probably be an architect-lawyer.

“Still need 48 hours,” I replied to him while I was sorting the files. Sunod-sunod kasi ang hearing ni Atty. Jada Mercadelas, Jagger’s sister ‘tapos kailangan ko pa siyang tulungan sa pag-draft ng ibang kaso.

“Dami pa, a,” ani nito sabay upo sa tabi ko. He seemed bothered more than his usual self. Madalas kasi ay makulit siya at maingay. “Gusto mo pirmahan ko na lang para ‘tapos ka na agad?”

“Hay nako, Jagger. Gusto mo na naman mapagalitan ni Judge,” I replied, referring to his mother. “How about you help me sort the files? Wala ka bang ginagawa?”

“I have a lot but can’t focus,” he sighed. “Anyway, kumain ka na ba?”

“Hindi pa,” sagot ko habang abala pa rin do’n. “Mamaya na lang kapag alas-dose na.”

“It is already twelve, Sharyn.”

“Huh?” I checked my watch. “Oh, I forgot about the time.”

“Ano? Kain na lang tayo? Gutom na ako,” yaya niya.

“Bakit? Hindi mo ba kasabay si Graceli?” I asked, referring to the woman he was courting—dating?

“Nah, she has a duty,” medyo matamlay na sagot niya habang nakatitig sa phone. “She’s not replying, mukhang busy.”

“Did you guys fight?”

He shrugged. “Not sure. Ayoko na pag-usapan. Kain na nga lang tayo.” Tumayo na siya. “Libre ko. Try natin ang bagong bukas na Arabian food sa may ground floor.”

“Bakit hindi mo sinabi na libre agad?” I stood up and fixed myself. Dinampot ko lang ang phone ko sa lamesa at sumunod na sa kan’ya. “Gutom na nga rin ako.”

“Why? Hindi ka ba pinapakain ni Hunter?” He glanced back. “Nako, hindi ka naman yata inaalagaan nang mabuti. Kayo na ba?”

“Not yet,” sagot ko. Lumabas na kami sa conference room at naglakad papunta sa hallway palabas ng opisina hanggang sa marating na namin ang elevator.

“May chance?” Jagger asked, pressing the elevator button. Nasa penthouse kami nitong building na pagmamay-ari rin nila.

“Yes,” I immediately replied.

“Then bakit hindi mo pa sinasagot? Pinapahirapan mo pa yata. Paano kapag napagod?” Jagger clicked his tongue. “Sige ka, baka mawala na naman.”

“Don’t threaten me, okay? If his love is deep, surely he will not get tired,” sabi ko nang makapasok na kami sa loob ng elevator. “Why? Are you getting tired of Graceli?”

“I guess so,” he shrugged. “At least, ikaw kay Hunter, you are telling him what you feel. Si Graceli? Ewan ko. . .minsan gusto niya ako, madalas hindi.”

“Maybe, she is scared. With your reputation of being a heartbreaker, Jagger, surely she is.” I looked at him. “We are all scared. Who is not scared of love?”