Wounds Of The Hearts, Justice Of The Mind

Chapter 4

"It's you, again..." His voice was dominant and cold.

I stood firm and didn't give him the audacity to intimidate me. He's cold, I get that, but I am too.

"Yeah, I passed by." I told him without breaking our gaze. "It's interesting to watch such trials in a courtroom rather than on the TV screen."

His brows furrowed, yet no expression was shown in his light brown eyes. A nonchalant type of guy, huh. Interesting!

"A lost STEM student likes to appear in a courtroom, do you know how dangerous it can be? To witness how the prosecution convict criminals and even the innocent one?"

Ano 'to? Feeling concerned siya?

"I don't care about danger... That's normal 'coz I am the danger itself," I shrugged my shoulders. "I'm interested because I want to be one," I said and looked away. "It's the dream that I want."

He cleared the lump in his throat, towering over me even more. Minamaliit yata ako ng lalaking 'to?

"If you badly want that dream, then pursue it. Without hindrance, without hesitation. If you're determined to choose this path, you need to cross the road where you really belong. It's not easy but the dedication to achieve it... must be present inside your heart."  He then walked out and left me hanging.

I went back to my senses, thinking of what he had said. I scoffed and a smirk flashed on my lips as I headed out of the courtroom and went to where I parked my bike.

I wore my helmet and rode my bike. As the city lights emerged the heavy traffic, thoughts about my dreams clouded my mind. Bawat salitang binibigkas ng law student na 'yon, tumatatak sa utak ko, na parang itinutulak niya akong kunin ang kursong nais ko.

But no matter how I wanted to be like him, I couldn't grasp the opportunity. I am caged, with no freedom to enjoy. I excel in academics; I have the potential but what would I do with it if that's not the path I want to sail?

***

Weighing all the burden on my shoulders, upon entering the house, my siblings welcomed me, and it made me happy. Despite exhaustion, I managed to smile with them, kissing their foreheads.

Our youngest hugged my thighs. I put down my bag on the couch and leveled with him so I could hug him. It's always the youngest, the sweeter one.

"How are you, baby?" I asked Nathan with a smile plastered on my lips, but he didn't respond.

I chortled and pinched his fluffy cheeks. Tumayo ako at binuhat siya papunta sa kusina. Naabutan ko si Yaya na nagliligpit at naghuhugas ng pinagkainan ng mga kapatid ko.

"Oh, nariyan ka na pala, ipaghahanda ba kita, Isaiah?" Tanong niya.

I shook my head. "Ako na lang, ya. Iwan mo na ang mga 'yan diyan. Ako na ang bahala." Utos ko na agad naman niyang sinunod.

Ibinigay ko sa kaniya si Nathan at saka ako naupo sa hapag-kainan. I rested my head on the back rest and closed my eyes a little bit. Pagod ako sa buong maghapon kahit natulog lang naman ako sa dalawang last subject ko kanina. Isinantabi ko ang mga iniisip ko at sinimulang kumain para makapag-pahinga na rin.

I cleaned the kitchen and before I went to my room, I checked my siblings to see if they were asleep at nang alam kong tulog na sila, nagpunta na din ako sa kwarto ko para humiga sa kama.

Words of that law student flashed on my mind again. Without hindrance, without hesitation... The only hindrance to my dreams is my father. Kailangan ba talagang nakasunod ako sa yapak nila? Hindi ba ako puwedeng gumawa ng sarili kong pangalan?