CHAPTER 2

I came back to my senses when I felt something cold touches my swollen and reddining cheek. I got shocked making me jolt in surprise.

"Tangina!" mura ko.

Nang inangat ko ng aking paningin para tignan ko kung sino, it was Heydrich standing in front of me. It is the same gestures and expression exactly what I remembered during the first time that I met him.

"Heydrich," tawag ko.

Seryoso ang kanyang tingin. May hawak siyang iced coffee in can na nakadikit sa namumula kong pisngi, habang may hawak siyang isa pa na nasa kabilang kamay niya.

"Hindi pa ba tayo babalik sa room? Baka andun na si Attorney Diaz." nakakunot noo kong tanong.

Heydrich and I are both future lawyers. Simula ng magkakilala kami, halos hindi na kami mapaghiwalay. I already met his parents before, mabait sila at ang gaan ng loob ko sa kanila. Wala na sila sa Pilipinas ngayon dahil sa kompanya nila na kailangan nilang ihandle sa Italy kung na saan andun ang main branch ng architectural firm nila na papa niya ang may hawak habang may sariling law firm naman ang mama niya. May law firm ang pamilya nila dito sa Pilipinas na hawak naman ni Tito Argus, kapatid ng mama niya. His father, Tito António is an Italian-American, while his mother, Tita Marga is an Italian-Filipino.

Pareho kami ng course na kinuha dati which is legal management at kaparehong university din. He wanted to be a lawyer just like his father. Nang malaman ng parents niya na balak ko ding maging abogado, gusto nilang sagutin ang buong law school ko. Nung una tinanggihan ko dahil nakakahiya na sa kanila. Madami na kasi silang naitulong samin ng mama ko. Pero nung kalaunan, tinanggap ko pero kapalit nun ay magtatrabaho ako sa lawfirm nila. Pumayag na lang ako kasi sayang naman ang magiging sahod ko kung hindi ko kukunin ang trabaho.

"We still have fifteen minutes. And stop cursing, Pharynne." saway niya sakin.

Napangiti na lang ako sa kanya.

Madilim niya akong tinignan bago nagsalita. "Ano nginingiti mo dyan?" tanong niya. Nakataas pa ang kilay nito. Iniisip niya siguro na masaya ako kahit na pinagalitan niya ako.

Kahit na ilang taon ko na siyang tinuruan ng magsalita ng tagalog, halata pa din ang tono ng pananalita nito.

Kinuha ko ang hawak niya habang nakangiti pa din sa kanya. Nakadampi pa din sa pisngi ko ang inumin na hawak ko. He sat beside me before he opened his drink and sip on it.

"Nothing. I just remembered how we met years ago. It was the same gestures and expression." ani ko. Ibinaba ko ang hawak saka binuksan bago uminom.

Napasandal siya sa mesang nasa likod namin. Ngumisi siya. "Yeah. And your cheek is still in the same state, just like how we met." he tsked while glaring at my reddening cheek. Umiwas siya ng tingin saka uminom.

"But at least I still get to have my iced coffee in can from you. Just like how we met before." mas sumama ang timpla niya dahil sa sinabi ko.

"Oh yeah? Edi magpasampal ka na lang ulit kay Aunt Laura." he said sardonically.

Sumimangot na lang ako saka napaiwas ng tingin. He sighed. He finished his drink first before he faced me.

"Pharynne, even though you won't tell me anything, malalaman at malalaman ko pa kung ano ang nangyayari, kahit na itago mo pa yan. I knew you for years already. And besides, why don't you leave that house?"

Tumayo na kami at naglakad palabas ng cafeteria.

Napayuko ako at umiling. "Kung pwede lang..." kung pwede lang, ginawa ko na matagal na. "... pero ayoko namang iwan sina Gio dun. Alam mo naman kung gaano kagago ang tanginang lalaking yun." gagawa ako ng paraan para matigil na si Carlos sa pinanggagagawa niya kina Mama. Kailangan ko silang protektahan sa kanya.

Napatigil siya sa paglalakad. Humarap siya sakin na madilim ang mukha. "That's bullshit. So, ang sinasabi mo ba na hahayaan mo na lang na saktan ka nila dun?" he argued.

"Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko. Alangan naman pabayaan ko sina Mama dun sa bahay."

Pumasok na kami sa room. Maingay ang mga kaklase namin. May mga naguusap, may mga nagbabasa naman ng codals, may iba ding halos pipikit na ang mga mata sa antok sa dami ng dapat na basahin.

Mabuti na lang at natapos ko na basahin ang lahat ng codals namin kagabi. I am good at memorizing kaya hindi ako nahirapan na alalahanin ang lahat ng mga nabasa ko.

"Sinasaktan ka na nga sa inyo, hinahayaan mo lang. At kung ang problema lang naman ay ang tungkol sa tatay mong hilaw, madami namang paraan para mapaalis yun sa bahay niyo. You can file a case against him."

Napasimangot ako. "Di ko tatay yun." I grimaced.

"You're a law student, Pharynne. You exactly know what to do."

Magsasalita pa sana ako ng dumating si Atty. Diaz, professor namin sa Constitutional Law I. Nagsiayos kaming lahat ng upo.

"Okay class, settle down. Before we proceed to our quiz, let's start the recit," sabi niya. May hawak siyang index cards kung saan nakalagay ang mga pangalan namin.

Tahimik ang lahat dahil sa kaba. Tila inaabangan kung tatawagin ba ang mga pangalan nila. Kahit din naman ako, may konting kaba.

"Perez" tawag niya at tumayo ang isang kaklase namin.

Bahagya pa itong nanginginig dahil sa kaba.

"Recite the Article 9, Section 5."

"The C-constitutional Commissions s-shall appoint their officials a-and employees in accordance with law," nauutal nitong sambit dahil sa kaba.

"That's Section 4, Perez. Remain standing." sumama naman ang mukha ng attorney.

"Cayuga!" sabi ng prof.

Napatayo naman bigla ng tawagin ng prof. Maayos niya naman nasagot ito.

"Same question."

"Uhh... I don't k-know Sir." sagot nito dahilan upang mas dumilim ang ekspresyon nito.

"Sanchez"

"Pass S-sir"

Nagtawag pa siya ng ibang kaklase namin. May nakakasagot pero halos sa mga natawag niya ay pawang mga nakatayo. Mukhang nauubusan na siya ng pasensya. Malakas na hinampas niya ang mesa kaya napatahimik ang lahat.

"You are all hopeless! Ano ba kayo? Nagsipag-aral ba kayo o wala? You do have a lot of time in the world to read, yet wala kayong matinong may maisagot? 'I don't know' or 'Pass' isn't an acceptable answer inside the court. Nor ignorance isn't an excuse to be an exception to the law. Are you, students really sure that you'll take law? Kung gusto niyo mag-abogasya pero mahina kayo, drop out forms are here in the table. Maybe law school isn't for you."

" Raleigh" tawag nito kaya tumayo si Heydrich.

"Recite Article 3, Section 13. Kapag hindi mo nasagot, all of you will be deducted five points," sabi nito dahilan para bumigat ang pakiramdam ng buong klase.

Yung five points na maaaring mabawas sa scores ay malaking epekto ito para sa grades. Kaya kahit mahirap ang pag-aaral ng law ay kailangan mo talagang magsipag sa pagbasa ng cases at pagkabisa ng codals. Kailangan ding maging matiyaga ka para makaahon sa law school. Being an honor student or being smart enough isn't an assurance for one to pass the law school. Meron kasing mga matatalino nga, na they even graduated magna cum laude or Dean's Lister, but nung nasa law school na, nangangapa naman.

Umayos muna ito ng tayo bago nagsalita. "All persons, except those charged with offenses punishable by reclusion perpetua when evidence of guilt is strong, shall, before conviction, be bailable by sufficient securities, or be released on recognizance as may be provided by law. The right to bail shall not be impaired even when the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus is suspended. Excessive bail shall not be required." mahabang lintanya niya.

"Sit down." sabi ng attorney. Nang tignan ko si Heydrich ay kalmado naman ito.

Langya, bat di 'to kinabahan? Perks of having a lawyer father eh? Wag naman sana ako ang matawag.

"Cortés, recite the Article 8, Section 1" gago kakasabi ko lang eh.

Tumayo ako at huminga ng malalim bago nagsalita.

"The judicial power shall be vested in one Supreme Court and in such lower courts as may be established by law.

Judicial power includes the duty of the courts of justice to settle actual controversies involving rights which are legally demandable and enforceable, and to determine whether or not there has been a grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part of any branch or instrumentality of the Government." sunod sunod kong sabi na bahagyang nagpahingal sakin.

"Recite Article 9, Section 2 of the Common Provisions"

"No Member of a Constitutional Commission shall, during his tenure, hold any other office or employment. Neither shall he engage in the practice of any profession or in the active management or control of any business which in any way may be affected by the functions of his office, nor shall he be financially interested, directly or indirectly, in any contract with, or in any franchise or privilege granted by the Government, any of its subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled corporations or their subsidiaries."

Tumango-tango naman si attorney sakin. Anak ng tinapa, sumasakit na ang mga paa ko dahil sa heels na suot ko. Upong-upo na talaga ako.

Tumikhim si attorney kaya napaayos ako ng tayo. Pakiramdam ko may sunod pa 'tong tanong eh.

"Another question. If you are able to answer this then you, together with Raileigh will be exempted to the quiz, however, you will be given additional five points to your recital." sabi nito kaya napaalerto ako at nakinig ng mabuti.

"X was charged with bigamy for allegedly contracting two marriages: the first with Z and the second, without having the first one legally terminated, with Y. During the subsistence of his first marriage, Z acquired Canadian citizenship and thereafter filed for divorce in Canada. The divorce was eventually granted. Years later, X met Y to whom he admitted that he was previously married to Z but was already divorced. When their relationship turned sour, Y filed a complaint for bigamy against X.

X admitted that he contracted two marriages but interposed the defense that his marriage with Z had been legally dissolved by a divorced obtained in a foreign country. X presented a certificate of divorce as evidence.

Is X' presentation of the certificate of divorce legally terminated his first marriage with Z? Will he be held liable for bigamy? Defend your answer."

I shot my brows up a bit upon hearing what he said. Ang mga kaklase ko nagbubulungan na hindi nila alam ang sagot o hindi nila alam kung saang lupalop yun nakuha ng prof namin. I knew that this wasn't in our class. This might be probably in the higher class or may it in Criminal Law, I presume.

I squinted my eyes and look at him. Alam niyang alam ko na hindi ito kasama sa klase niya. He's looking at me intently with a tight smile as if he's challenging me.

I stood straight and cleared my throat before I speak.

"No, Attorney. Before the divorce decree can be recognize here by our courts, a copy of the divorce decree itself must be presented and admitted in evidence to be proved as a fact. A certificate of divorce is insufficient evidence because the divorce decree required to prove the fact of divorce is the judgment itself as rendered by the foreign court. The type of divorce and whether such divorce capacitated Z to remarry could not he ascertained through the certificate of divorce. Therefore, X is held liable for bigamy for failing to prove that he had the capacity to remarry when he contracted his subsequent marriage." I said continuously said. My lips formed thin line and smirk inwardly.

"And Attorney, your question isn't in our class. I presume that it is in Criminal Law." I added.

Napailing siya. Akala niya siguro hindi ko alam ang balak niya. He purposedly asked me a question that is not related to our class.

"Very well said, Miss Cortés. You may take a sit."

Bahagyang lumapit pa sakin si Heydrich at bumulong. "Buti nasagutan mo ang tanong niya. How did you know about it?" tanong nito.

"Well, I get to encounter that same case before sa kompanya niyo. Remember Ms. Aguila? She filed a bigamy against Mr. Sarto nang maging malabo ang relasyon nila." tumango naman ito.

Divorced na siya sa unang asawa niya nang makilala niya si Ms. Agiula. His first wife acquired citizenship abroad and filed a divorce after. Umamin siyang nag-contract siya ng dalawang kasal but he defended na na-dissolved na ang kasal niya sa unang asawa nito in a foreign court. Nagpresenta siya ng certificate of divorce bilang ebidensya sa korte but then the judge find it as insufficient evidence to support his claim which therefore gave him a verdict that Mr. Sarto is liable for bigamy.

Matapos ang recit, ay agad siyang nagpaquiz siya maliban saming dalawa. Napuno ng mahihinang bulong at ungot ang room kaya hinampas ng prof ang mesa gamit ang kanyang kamay dahilan upang tumahimik ang lahat.

Bagsak ang balikat ng mga kaklase namin nung lumabas sa klase. Madaming kablockmates namin ang nagrereklamo at may ayaw kay Atty. Diaz dahil sa strikto ito at kinatatakutan ng mga law students lalo na ang mga first years.

Ewan ko ba kung bakit ayaw ng mga studyante ng mga terror profs. I mean, it is actually better to have them because they are very keen when teaching their students. Mas mag-eeager pa nga yung mga students pag ganun kasi they gave a very honest critique and makakatulong yun sa mga studyante na pagbutihin pa nila yung ginagawa nila.

The way to success isn't an easy process. Hindi lang naman kasi overnight yun. Lahat naman ata ng bagay hindi makukuha sa maikling panahon. We need a lot of time, effort, patience, and perseverance. Walang bagay na madaling makuha. Kung yung success na meron ka ay nakuha mo sa madali at masamang paraan, it won't last long. Hindi naman kasi lahat ng bagay dapat minamadali. Success is a lot of times sweeter if we got it through our own hardwork and in a right way.