I've been going back and forth for days in this government office that the guard already know me. "Di pa tapos ma'am?" he asked me one sunny afternoon after seeing me going out of the office for the nth time. "I need a lawyer kuya, I don't know where to start this thing, everyone is telling me to get a lawyer" Maiyak iyak na akong nagkamot ng ulo habang pinapakinggan si kuya guard na tinuturo sa akin ang direksyon ng opisina ng mga abogadong pwede kong puntahan.
"Pagdating mo dun ma'am hanapin mo si Attorney Galvez, mabait yun tsaka approachable naman" I thanked him and quickly headed to the street he told me earlier. Sana naman nandito, Dios ko po, hindi ko na alam kung anong gagawin ko dito. I came here months ago thinking of a month vacation and that's where I decided to fix these errors on my paper. I never thought it would cost me almost a year before this could be finally sorted out. Nahinto tuloy ako sa kolehiyo ng biglaan.
"Hindi po ito maaayos ng isang buwan lang Miss, especially that your case include multiple errors that requires overall changes" sabi nang babae sa opisina na pinagtanungan ko kanina.
I arrive at the address told by kuya guard earlier. Hinihingal akong naupo sa sofa sa gilid nang may lumabas na lalaki at tiningnan ako na wari'y nagtatanong kung ano ang pakay ko ngunit ngumiti lamang ito. A few minutes later, another guy went out and approached me, I told him the lawyer's name and turned out he's not around. I guess I need to go back next time or just ask for this guy's number para malaman ko kung kailan nandito si attorney. Tinitignan nung lalaking pinagtanungan ko ang papeles na binigay ko nang lumabas ulit ang isa pang lalaking pangiti ngiti kanina. He looked at me twice and then at the papers then asked me a few questions about it. He told me about the requirements while I am busy arguing with my mind whether he's a lawyer or not. Honestly, he's too young to look like one. I think this guy is just seven to nine years older than me. Maybe he's a paralegal in this firm, o di kaya secretary. I expected someone in their early forties or fifties but this guy's age fits neither of the two. I am reading the name printed on the glass wall that says Atty. Justin De Jesus when I asked for his name just incase may itatanong pa ako tungkol sa mga requirements na pinagsasabi nya kanina.
"I'm Justin" he said smiling.
"Justin De Jesus" Oh, sya pala yon! Guess my case will be handled by this guy. Bigla tuloy akong nahiya dahil sa mga iniisip ko kanina. "Gia-Gianna po sir, Giana Mendoza," Dang it! I should be calling him attorney right? But I already called him sir! Bahala na nga.
I submitted the requirements and we proceeded to the monthly hearing until my case was solved. Sir Justin would just call me for the briefing and the updates about my case. It took me months to finally paid the fees and settled everything and it made me kinda sad. "Paano ba yan, ayos na apelyido mo, pwede na ulit palitan" nangingiting sabi ni attorney na hindi ko naman naintindihan. Ito na ang huling pagpunta ko sa opisina upang magpasalamat bago ako babalik ng Maynila. Maybe I won't be able to see him again, bahala na nga. I'll just go to law school after college, baka sakaling mag krus ang landas namin. Gusto ko lang makipagkaibigan, nakaka inspire kasi, sobrang bait at pasensyoso. Hindi rin nakaka intimidate tulad ng ibang abogadong nakasalamuha ko dati nung pumunta ako ng public law office.
"You may now kiss the bride" natauhan ako sa mga iniisip nang biglang magsalita ang pari. "Kiss na daw kita" nakangiti at tila nanunuksong sabi ng lalaking nasa harapan ko. Kahit kailan talaga to, bwiset!
"Cheers to Mr. & Mrs. De Jesus!" shouted his brother as we headed towards the reception.
