Miyaka's Fire

Chapter 15

The following days, weeks and months, she was actually on her happiest state. There was no I love you, no formal declaration of love but she felt like their relationship has reached to the next level. Slowly she is seeing Lawrence open up to her. He was sharing stories about how what are his favorite past time when he was young. How he grew up with just his Nanny guiding him and how he feels detached from his parents. He didn't exactly say yet what's the reason why he feels alienated from them. Hindi rin naman niya minamadali ito. She already has an idea but she wanted him to do it when his ready. If there's one thing she realized after 6 months of being his girlfriend, oh yes 6 months na sila, it's how he wanted to do everything on his own accord.

"Anak, yung mga plato pakilagay na sa mesa." Nabalik siya sa realidad ng magsalita ang Mommy niya.

"Hay naku. Nag de day dreaming ka naman." narining niyang alaska ni Yuri sa kaniya. Tiningnan niya lang ito ng masama. "O mag-aaway na naman kayo." Pansin ng Daddy nila ng makita na nasa full battle mode na ako. "Lawrence, anak, ikaw na mag-ayos ng mesa." utos nito kay Lawrence na nakatingin sa niluluto ng Mommy niya.

Linggo ngayon at family day nila.

Simula nang mag 4 months sila ay iniimbita na ito nang Mommy niya na pumunta sa kanila kapag Sunday. Maaga pa lang ay nasa kanila na ito dahil nagsisimba muna sila pagkatapos ay sabay magbreakfast. The rest of the day ay moment na nila dapat. Kung ano ang trip nila minsan ay hindi na sila pinapakialaman ng parents nila. Kaya lang most of the time, mas kasama nito ang Daddy niya kesa sa kaniya kapag Sunday. Parang mas mahal na nga nito ngayon ang Daddy niya kesa sa kaniya at ganoon rin ang Daddy niya rito. Tuwing umuuwi siya ang tanong ay, "Si Lawrence?" Siguro kasi wala itong anak na lalaki kaya ganoon ito. Si Lawrence naman ay parang sabik sa ama kaya din siguro ganoon nalang ang attachment nito sa Daddy niya. Hindi naman siya nagseselos. Sadyang nababaghan lang. Isa pa, okay na rin siya doon. At least nakikita niya ang effort nito na mapalapit sa pamilya niya. They have the rest of the week for themselves though so she's not really that bothered.

Nakita niyang kumilos naman ito ang inayos ang mesa. She was amazed how he becomes just an ordinary Lawrence when he's with them. Walang ere. Walang qualms. He just mingles and levels with the rest of the family so effortlessly. Pati ang kagagahan ni Yurisha ay minsan nasasakyan pa nito kesa sa kaniya.

"Lawrence." Tawag ni Yuri sa pansin nito. Umupo ang kapatid niya sa isang mesa sa pabilog na table nila. Old school ang mesa nila. Yun pa yung mesa na may maliit na pabilog sa gitna na pa-iikutin mo para makuha ang gusto mo sa nakalagay sa mesa. Sabagay, old school ang pamilya nila so karamihan sa gamit nila old school. Nakatayo siya sa may kitchen counter habang umiinom ng kape. Ilang hakbang lang mula sa mesa nila iyon kaya naririnig niya ang sinasabi ni Yuri.

Ang Daddy niya ay nakaupo rin sa mesa habang nakaharap sa tasa ng kape at nakahawak sa tablet nito. Dun na ito nagbabasa ng news. Come to think of it, hindi na pala sila masyadong old school medyo nalang pala.

"Mahirap ba maging lawyer?" wala na naman sa hulog na tanong nito. Napaikot niya ang eyeballs. Ang talino talaga ng mga tanong ng ate niya. Pero hinayaan niya ang dalawa. Moment nila iyon.

"Depende sa sitwasyon." sagot ni Lawrence. Tuamayo ang Daddy niya bitbit ang tasa nito at pumasok sa kusina. Sinamahan ang Mommy niya.

"So ano yung pinakamahirap?" sabi ni Yuri. Tahimik na napatingin si Lawrence sa kaniya. Uh oh. Alam na niya ang sasabihin nito.

"We'll if your job is hurting the one you care for the most." isang ohhhhh ang nasagot ni Yuri. Hindi niya alam kung naiintindihan nito na sensitive ang topic o hindi. "Bakit mo pa rin ginagawa kung nasasaktan mo ang mga mahal mo sa buhay?" Kinakabahan siya sa isasagot ni Lawrence parang gusto niyang magtakip ng tenga. So she decided to busy herself with tidying up the counter, Kunwari pinupunsan niya. Buti na lang may nakita siyang pampunas na pakalt-kalat.

"Well." Lawrence started. On her peripheral vision she saw him sat on one of the chairs. "I had an ought to protect and defend those who seek my help without prejudgement." tumango lang si Yuri.

"Isa pa." he continued. "May downside ang bawat trabaho sa lahat ng tao sa paligid mo. It's all just about acceptance and respect in the end."

"I see." sagot ni Yuri. Natanong din niya ang sarili kung natanggap na ba nya na hindi nito bibitawan ang kaso ni Janus. Nasa korte pa rin kasi ang kaso nito. At sa takbo ng kaso, kung pagbabasehan niya ang kwento ni Celia, malaki ang tsansa na matatalo na ito. Isang bagay na nagpapasakit lalo sa dibdib nya. Masaya siya dahil nakikita niya na magaling sa trabaho nito ang boyfriend niya but a part of her wishes that he fails at his job just this once no matter how selfish that may be.

"Nakikita mo ba ang sarili mo na pinipili ang taong mahal mo over your work?" dagdag tanong ni Yuri. Gosh. How she wishes that Yuri just stops opening her god damn mouth.

"I-." Lawrence suddenly sounded unsure.

"am not sure." He faintly said. "Tama na ang kwentuhan. Kumain na tayo." Pero natabunan at nasabayan iyon ng boses ng Mommy niya. Kasunod nitong naglalakad ang Daddy niya. It was almost like a whisper but she was able to hear it. She looked at Lawrence's direction and he was also looking at her. His eyes was sort of pleading but she was not sure if she read it right. Tiningnan nya si Yuri. She looking at her as well. Then she looked down na parang ito pa ang nahihiya sa kaniya. Suddenly she felt ashamed too. What else could be more shameful than having your sister hear your boyfriend say he loves his job more than you? What's more shameful is finding herself understanding him than hating him. In fact, she wanted to defend him infront of her sister no matter how desperate she may look like. It was a good thing that she was able to stop herself. Then she realized a sad thing, she's really willing to defend Lawrence even if it will make her desperate on the process? When did she become so shameless?