School of Law #1: Burdened (COMPLETE - TO BE PUBLISHED)

Chapter 25

Halos tulala pa rin ako nang hinatid ako ni Doudge sa hotel room. Nagdalawang isip pa siyang iwan ako pero sinenyasan ko na lang siyang mauna na at okay lang ako.

Nang ako na lang mag-isa ay agad akong napahiga sa kama. My tears kept on falling as the scene earlier keeps in replaying in my mind.

She can't even talk about it! That night triggers her! Kaya ba nagdesisyon si daddy na wag na lang ituloy? Is this what he meant?

She was so fine! But then when I mentioned that... shit. I didn't even mention the tragedy. I just asked to file the case!

She knew! She didn't forget! She just hid it!

Fuck.

Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin! Seeing my sister suffer like that, tears the hell out of me. I don't think I could ever see her go through that shit whenever she's asked to give statement. Shit. Is this dead end already? Should I really listen to daddy's decision?

My mind was haywire. I cannot think straight. All I did that night was cry and cry as I think of how Cali responded to my question earlier. I cried my heart out until I fell asleep.

I hugged my pillow tightly.

I saw my phone vibrating, pero hindi ko iyon pinansin. Pinanatili ko ang mukhang nakabaon sa unan hanggang sa hindi ko na namalayan at nakatulog na pala ako.

The next morning, wala ako sa sarili. Literal na hindi ako makabangon. I was just staring at the ceiling while my phone keeps on vibrating.

Kinuha ko iyon at tinitigan lang. Si Des. He's been calling and texting me since lagst night, but I didn't reply nor answered a single message from him. Marami rin akong natanggap na message mula kay Merian. She was asking how our work go, but I couldn't answer her either.

Hindi ngayon. Hindi ngayon na gulong gulo ang utak ko. It's our third day. We're supposed to go home tonight, but right now, I don't know. I don't want to go home. Fuck.

Isa lang naman ang ipinunta ko. Isa lang naman ang gusto ko. I've been aiming for this for the past two years! Bakit ang hirap? Bakit ang hirap kunin ng hustisya? Bakit sobrang unfair?

I sighed.

Ramdam ko yung bigat at hapdi ng mga mata ko. Probably because I cried my heart out last night.

I felt my phone vibrating again. Napapikit ako at sinagot iyon.

"Fuck. Thank God. Why aren't you answering? Caish, I'm worried!"

Bumuntong-hininga ako at kinalma ang sarili.

"Sorry. Something came up with work. I have something to fix, Des. I'll call you when everything's okay."

"Huh? Why-"

Hindi ko na siya pinatapos pa at agad kong pinatay ang tawag. Itinabi ko ang phone ko sa bedside table at saka ako muling nagtalukbong ng kumot.

Nakatitig lang ako sa my bintana. Then I heard a knock followed by a voice outside.

"Cai?"

Hindi ako sumagot. Narinig ko na lang ang pagpihit ng pinto at ang pagsarado nito. I heard footsteps nearing the bed.

"So, what's the plan now?" I heard Doudge asked.

Tinanggal ko ang comforter at tiningnan siya. Nakaupo siya sa may paanan ko. Bumuntong- hininga ako at saka bumangon. Naka-indian sit na ako at nakasandal sa headboard.

Umiling ako.

"I don't know, Doudge. Honestly, hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko."

I sighed and looked at him."Did you see her face? Takot na takot siya. Fuck. I don't think I could handle seeing that reaction of her in court."