Race Against Love (on-going)

Chapter 24

ADLER

"How long will it take?"

Naiinip na ako. Habang tumatagal lalo akong kinakabahan. For people who have dark secrets like me, maybe it's normal to always have a bad feeling about this whole thing.

"Depende Sir, kapag walang problema sa mga requirements, mga six months," sagot ni Randy.

He's one of few people I trust in terms of legal issues. Matagal na siya sa kumanya ni Papa. At alam kong mapagkakatiwalaan siya.

"Six months? Mabilis na 'yon?!"

I know that it's going to be a lengthy process and I heard it will take up to four years. But this will depend on who's going to handle the case. I think I have the best lawyer to help me move the case forward, faster. And I also heard that six months will be the fastest acceptable time frame to process annulment, but I can't wait that long.

"Gagawin ko ang lahat Sir, para mapabilis ang proseso. Makikipagtulungan ako kay Atty. Manzano. Ang maipapangako ko lang, kapag kumpleto na ang lahat ng requirements, hindi na ito lalagpas ng anim na buwan."

I know I've been a huge pain in his as$ these past few weeks with all these unexpected rush requests I sent in his office. And since my Dad's office is paying him good, I should expect a lot from him.

At sobrang tagal nito. Hindi na ako makapaghintay. In that span of time, a lot of things can happen. Ngayon pa lang, tuwing nagtatanong ng kung ano-ano si Reese, daig ko pa ang uminon ng isang drum na kape.

I can't keep doing this. Keeping secrets from her that I'm married.

The annulment has to be done soon. I'm sure Reese will get mad if she finds out that I'm married. Pero kapag nalaman niya ito after ma-process ang annulment, my explanation of keeping it from her will be more acceptable. Pwede kong sabihin sa kanya na, in the process ang annulmnent namin ni Jill nung makilala ko siya.

But if she finds out everything before the annulment, I'm dead. Alam kong hihiwalayan niya ako.  Hindi niya tatanggapin ang dahilang kasal pa ako at hinihintay ang processing ng annulment. She won't like the sound of it.  Na parang siya ang dahilan kung bakit ako makikipaghiwalay kay Jill.

"Ipapaalala ko lang sir, si Adam ay tatlong taon pa lang. Ayon sa batas, ang nanay ang may full custody ng bata."

I'm prepared for that. Hindi ako papayag na mapunta kay Jill si Adam. Siya na lang ang tanging ala-ala ni Alden. Siya ang dahilan kung bakit ko pinakasalan si Jill. 

My last trip to CDO was not in vain. I've been keeping an eye on Jill and I won't let her slip away. Malaki ang tulong nito sa paghahanda ko sa pagkakataong maghaharap kami sa korte para sa annulment at child custody. And I will make sure that the law will be on my side.

" Alam ko. At pinaghandaan ko na 'yan, may iba akong plano d'yan. Nag-usap na kami ni Attorney Manzano..."

I could still remember when she threatened me to terminate her pregnancy kapag hindi ako pumayag sa gusto niya. If it was threat or a bluff, I didn't care. Ang tanging ikinatakot ko ay ang posibilidad na gawin niya ito. And I couldn't take that risk. Alam kong wala akong kinalaman sa buhay nila. At kayang-kaya kong lumayo kasama si Nayah. Pero hindi ko kaya. Walang kasalanan ang bata para madamay sa kalokohan niya. At kahit na alam kong isang malaking kalokohan ang hiniling niya, pikit-mata kong tinggap ito at hiniwalayan si Nayah.

Akala ko noon, simple lang ang sitwasyon. Kapag pinakasalan ko siya at nakapanganak siya, madali na ang annulment. Pero napakahirap pala.

When I first attempted to ask for it, nagkasakit si Adam. And he was the priority. Then when I attempted to ask for it again, parang hindi na ako iniintindi nina Papa at Tita Sandra. Tila nakalimutan na nila ang pangako nila na tutulungan nila ako.