The Perfect Lawyer

01

"You're too perfect for me."

It has been years, but the memories were still so fresh. Those words lingered like the ringtone of my alarm clock. For once, I considered changing my ways to fit in someone else's world, and it ruined my whole life. Thank God for the awakening, but it broke me. I was immature and childish, but can you blame me if that was my only way to cope? I can still remember how silly that decision was six years ago.

It's almost 2 years since I transferred to this school. I am a fourth-year college student now. Everything seems fine. I am just a normal student here. I gain true friends and I love the way how people treat me here. I lost the fame but -

"Hoy magandang nilalang na ginawa ng mama at papa niya! Lutang ka na naman!" bigla naman akong natawa, that's John Vince Mendoza, he prefers Vinny, a gay friend of mine. Call him John and he will break your neck. Di daw bagay sa beauty niya.

"If I know, iniisip na naman niya ang ex niya. Hay nako bru, nasestress ang bangs ko sayo."sabi ni Jenniella May Gomez, ang pinakakikay kong kaibigan. And if you're wondering kung ano ang pinagsasabi niya? Obviously, I told them everything about me and my miserable past. They know my little secret too.

"Aray!" bigla ba naman akong pitikin sa noo ng dalawa.

"Ano bang problema niyong dalawa?"

"IKAW!" sabay pa talaga sila.

"Kanina ka pa PO namin kinakausap but it seems we are talking to a hangin here." ang arte ng baklang to.

"I'm just thinking about something." I tiredly said and sigh.

Jen suddenly clapped her hands "Aba Bruha! May isip ka pala?"

"Hoy Mayo! Nakakasakit ka na ng damdamin ha!" I pouted at hinila ang buhok nya. Loko 'to!

"Arrgh! Don't call me Mayo! It's MAY and for the record, I hate that name."

Kita mo 'tong babaeng to,ang ganda ng binigay na pangalan ng parents nila tapos ngayon may hate-hate pang nalalaman. Eh sila na lang kaya ang mag -parents.

"Punta na lang tayo ng classroom, it's almost time."

Ay! Kanina pa pala ako salita ng salita dito yet you still don't know me. I'm Zaira Trishalyn Arellano. Ang weird ng name ko no? Hayaan niyo na. By the way, I'm 21 years old. Currently, a fourth-year Business student at Arellano University. Yes, you read it right. My family owns this school but unlike some cliche queen bee stories, only a few knew and not everyone actually gives a damn. My Kuya is handling this school and I specifically told him that I don't want special treatments from professors and everyone else. Why? Simply because I hate fake attention. Kaya nga ako hindi ako dito nag-aaral dati. I wanna be known not by my parents' shadow. When people ask me if how am I related to the Arellanos? I just smile and say "Kaapilyedo ko lang." White lies won't hurt. Anyway, hindi naman siguro halata na madaldal ako no? Hihihi. Nandito na pala kami sa classroom and take note, first section ako. Well, my grades were more than satisfactory back then.

As usual late na naman kami. I can sense the tiger look of our Business Math instructor. If looks could kill, pinaglalamayan na sana ako noon pa. Sanayan lang 'yan.

"Ms. Arellano, Ms. Gomez, and Mr. Mendoza for the nth time why are you late AGAIN?" in-emphasize pa talaga ang again.

"We just forgot about the time Ma'am. Besides, 5 minutes late is not that bad and correction Ma'am, it's Ms. not Mr.!" nagpipigil na ng tawa ang mga kaklase ko. Baliw kasi 'tong si Vince eh, umousok na yata si Ma'am. She just continued writing in the board. I can hear my classmates murmuring something.

"Ano ba yan? Tanga na nga,late pa lagi."

"I just wonder why she is in the first section?"

"Connections I guess, because obviously, she doesn't deserve here."

Seriously, nagbubulungan ba talaga sila sa lagay na yan? Like duh! Naririnig ko po kayo. Jen gave me a look as if saying "Ano patulan ko na?"

But I just gave her a hayaan-mo-na look.

Sighs. People will always have something to say, one way or another.

The day ended like that. Nothing special happened. I was just scolded by my teachers for getting the lowest score on every quiz. Actually, I really don't mean to act stupid, it just happened. I just woke up one day and I got tired, tired of being the perfect lady that everyone expects me to be. Indeed, a lot salutes me, but the majority of them hate me. The reason? Crab mentality, jealousy, or maybe insecurities. I don't know. I lost all the drive I had to be on top when the person I loved the most gave up on me just because I was almost perfect. Hindi ko naman pinili maging ako. May mali ba sa akin? Ang dami kong tanong, pero pagod na ako. Nakakapagod mahalin ang mga tao. Lagi silang may masasabi. Their words can even kill you if you let them.

It's funny how people judge you by the time you fail to equal the standard that you have set for yourself where in fact, you don't have to prove yourself to them.

"Hooooooo..." I just sighed with that thought. Suddenly, a shadow came near me.

"What's with the deep sigh our little princess?" my brother asked me. His name is Luis Zaicharias Arellano. He is three years older than me.

"Nothing Kuya, I was just thinking why I became like this? I feel so lost Kuya. I feel like this is no longer me, although I like it better. Peaceful, carefree, but this isn't me. " I am so afraid to give my best because I don't wanna be labeled the Miss Perfect again. It traumatized me.

He came near me and patted my head, "Love changed you lil sis. You were pampered. You didn't know how to cope with the pain. Your feelings are valid and so are your ways, but don't let it break you."

"I don't know Kuya. I just don't know." I sobbed.

He didn't say a thing, he just hugged me, and we stayed like that for about a minute.

"You better sleep now. Pumapangit ka na oh, cry-baby ka talaga. Hahaha"

"Kuya talaga. Good night na nga. Thank you."

"Good night my princess." He kissed my forehead before closing the door.

My brother, my dearest Kuya. If only I knew that was his last good night to me, I could have hugged him tighter.

I was back from my reverie when my office assistant knocked.

"Attorney, I'm going home now. Uwi na rin po kayo."

"Alright. Take care, Beatrice."

I smiled sadly with the thought of going home.

Home. I have a huge penthouse, but it feels empty. I guess I have to spend my time reading cases tonight. It is better this way. I feel less lonely. I just need to keep myself busy.

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