You Again, Professor [GL• #2]

Chapter 20

"She might be my Mom's ex-girlfriend," tipid na sagot ko, nagulat si Nicole sa sinabi ko.

"Ow,"

"Hey, Nicks! Please answer me, how do you know this woman?" tanong ko muli sa kaniya.

"She is Ate North's biological mother."

"Sino si North?" tanong ko muli sa kaniya.

"Kambal ni South?" bulong ni Luke, pero walang pumansin sa kaniya.

"I don't think I am in the right position to tell you guys," Saji cut her off.

"You already are, so please answer us!" seryosong tanong ni Saji kay Nicole.

"It’s too complicated to explain fully, and it’s not my story to tell. But yes, Northia Madrigal was North’s mother. We’re close because of Kuya Nathan—they were friends. That’s all I can share right now. I’m really sorry if that’s not enough." Nicole said sincerely.

"Si North, buhay pa ba siya?" biglang tanong ko kay Nicole. "Just to make the things clear, dahil baka siya ang hinawakang kaso ni Dad." dagdag ko pa, Nicole looked puzzled but eventually nodded and thought for a while.

"She died matagal na, due to unknown reasons, and hindi ko rin talaga alam ang ibang details, as if I'm even interested about her life." sabi ni Nicole pero pakiramdam ko ay may iba pa roon.

"Nicks, we're friends right? Please tell me everyting, gusto ko lang malaman kung anong ang nangyari sa kaniya, because my Mom and Dad, they're always arguing about it,"

"Yes of course we're friends, pero I hope you understand din na hindi ko story ang itinatanong mo, it's none of my business, kaya sorry, besides I really don't know anything about ate North, bata pa ako nun, all I could say was that she's really close to my family that's only the clear memory I had with her." she explained.

Tumango nalang ako matapos marinig ang paliwanag niya, at napakagat sa  ibabang labi.  "Baka tama tayo, Chan. Northia Madrigal was your mom's ex," sabi ni Saji at tinapik ako sa balikat.

"Maybe you should personally ask, Tita Cindy about this matter, Chan." dagdag pa ni Luke.

"Why are you so curious about her, bukod sa puwedeng siya nga ang ex lover ng mommy mo?"  tanong ni Nicole sa akin, tumayo siya para magpantay kami ng tingin.

"They were always arguing about it, and yesterday I overheard them fighting again. That’s when I found out that Northia is my mom’s ex, which explains why she’s so concerned about her daughter’s case, the one my dad handled."

"What about the case?" Nicole asked again with curiosity, invested din siguro na malaman.

"My dad... he manipulates everything. He helped the senator, who I think is involved in that case. My dad, he  protected that criminal, and because of my dad, Northia’s daughter didn’t get the rightful justice she deserved. My dad, he was great lawyer, after all," I said, bitterness evident in my voice.

"Do you hate your father, Chan?" tanong ni Nicole sa akin, sandali akong na tigilan at hindi alam ang sasabihin sa kaniya.

"Do I have to hate him? Should I blame him for siding with a criminal, even though it's his job to defend people, whether they’re guilty or not? I honestly don’t know." umiling ako sa kaniya.

"He's still your father, whether he's af fault or not. Don't doubt him, Chan." Saji said.

"I’m torn between my feelings as a daughter and the reality of his profession. How am I supposed to feel when the person I look up to—the man I’ve always seen as a protector—ends up protecting someone who took away another family’s peace, another family's happiness? I want to be angry at him, to resent him for his choices, but at the same time, I know it’s more complicated than that. It’s his job, right? But that doesn't make it any easier to accept. I feel lost, confused, and betrayed all at once. But above all, the one thing I can’t take right now is the pain. I’m hurt, deeply hurt, and I don’t know if I’ll ever look at him the same way again." I emotionally said, Luke tapped my left shoulder.