004: Departure

Lara’s POV

"I love you, Tav," humahagulgol na bigkas ni Lia habang nakayakap sa kay Tavia.

It's been a week already since her despedida party. Nasa airport kami ngayon kasama ang kuya at magulang niya para ihatid siya paalis.

On my left side stood her crying parents and her brother who looks really bored. Raven was standing beside me on my right side.

Tav chuckled, but she was near to crying too. "Come on, Lia. You are making it hard for me to leave!"

Mas lumakas ang hagulgol ni Lia. She is actually more close to Tavia than me and Ravi so that may explain her loud sobbings.

"We'll still communicate naman, eh. I told you already, hindi ba?" ani pa nito.

Kumawala sandali si Lia sa yakap pero agad siyang hinigit ni Ravi sa braso dahilan para makatakas si Tav at humarap sa akin.

She walked while pouting her lips and I gave her a big tight hug. "I'll miss you big time," napapaos kong sabi.

I felt her hug went tighter and she whispered, "I'll miss you more."

Her embrace was both warm and tight. I didn't bother giving attention to the tightness of her hug, but just felt it until it lasted.

Sandali pa kaming nagtinginan at alam ko na ang pinaparating ng mata niyang naluluha. Ngumiti ako at tumango. "We'll be fine."

She also smiled and sighed heavily before turning on Ravi's direction. Yinakap siya ni Tav at sandali pang nag-usap nang mahina.

When the paging system of the airport called the passengers, she kissed him on the cheeks and kissed ours too.

"Tav.." umiiyak pa ring tawag ni Lia.

"Take care! I love you all!" aniya. Ikinaway niya ang kabilang kamay na hindi niya gamit sa paghila ng maleta.

As soon as she vanished within the crowd, nagyaya si tita Olivia, mama ni Tav, ng lunch sa restaurant. "Tara na mga, anak."

"Tita Liv, baka hindi po muna ako sasama sa inyo ngayon," mahinahon kong sabi habang naglalakad kami palabas.

"May plano ka na ba, Llarisa?" aniya at sinulyapan ako sandali.

"Opo, tita eh."

Agad tumango si Tita Liv. "Oh siya, mag-ingat ka, ha?"

Ngumiti muna ako sa kanila bago amo hinatid ni Ravi sa sasakyan namin kung saan naghihintay si Kuya Arnel.

Lia, however, was still recovering from everything. Namumula ang mga mata at ilong nito habang nakaupo nang tuwid sa shotgun ng kotse ni Ravi.

Pinaadar na ni Kuya Arnel ang sasakyan at nagtungo kami sa law firm namin. Tinawagan ko si Mama na papunta na kami sa office niya kaya naman nung nakarating kamj sa building ay nasa reception na rin siya.

Sinara ko ang pinto pagkababa at sinulyapan si Kuya Arnel mula sa nakabukas na bintana ng shotgun seat. "Kuya, sandali lang po."

"Sige lang po, Miss Lara," ngiti niya at pinatay ang makina ng sasakyan.

"Salamat po."

Bumaling ako sa glass walls ng ground floor kung saan kita si mama na nakikipag-usap nang mahinahanon sa reception desk.

"Good morning, Miss Lara," bati ng guard.

"Good morning," wika ko sa guyardiya at malimit ko lang itong nginitian. Dumiretso ako sa kay mama. "Ma.."

Agad napalingon si Mama sa gawi ko. Nagmano ako sa kaniya at h*****k naman siya sa pisngi ko.

"You're on time, anak," aniya. "Sandali lang, ha?"

Ibinalik niya ang tingin sa babae sa desk. "Pakisabi na lang sa assistant ko mamaya na alas tres ako babalik ng opisina."

Nilingon ko ang kabuuan ng ground floor. The second floor of this building is my father's merchandise. He runs the business as well as the very romantic restaurant at the fourth floor.

My mother is based on the third floor of this building where she manages and works for our law firm.

"Sige po, Attorney," rinig kong tugon ng receptionist at sinulyapan ako. Mahina siya yumuko at ngitian ako.

"Thank you," ani Mama at humarap na sa akin.

Sabay kaming lumabas ng building at sumakay sa passenger's seats. Tinuro ni Mama ang destinasyon namin kay Kuya Arnel habang nakatitig ako sa labas ng bintana.

We passed through some ongoing infrastructures projected by my father. Hospitals, Rehabilitation Centers, and many more.

"Lara."

Napalingon ako kay Mama. She raised her eyebrow and slightly gave me a grin. My mother's features are very angelic. It's totally the opposite of mine and my father's.

My lips protruded. "Po?"

"You look good."

Napangiti ako. My mother likes my dresses but it is not the same with my Papa. He'll always say, I am showing too much skin. But maybe that's how it is with men. My father is really conservative and protective over me since I am their only child. Nasanay rin naman kasi ako sa mga damit kong ganito kaya wala rin siyang magawa.

Sporting a sleeveless floral dress that hugged my body tightly, I went out of the car after Kuya Arnel parked in front of a Korean restaurant.

"Arnel, bumalik ka na lang mamayang alas dos," utos ni Mama at tumango naman si Kuya bago umalis.

Sabay kaming pumasok ni mama sa loob ng resto at agad naman kaming dinala ng waiter sa isang reserved table.

I sat across her and put my sling bag on my back. Sandali pang nag order si mama para sa amin.

"That's all," aniya at umalis na ang waiter. Hinarap ako ni mama. "How was Octavia, darling?" malambing na tanong niya.

"She left for Manila already," sagot ko at ngumisi nang maalala siya.

Agad bumalik ang waiter dala-dala ang juice at hinintay namin itong umalis bago magpatuloy sa pag-uusap.

"And Aurelia?"

I chuckled a bit. "Well, she was crying hard. Raven had to attend to her with Tita Olivia."

Sandaling natawa si Mama. "That kid, really."

Maya-maya pa ay dumating na ang order namin at nagsimula na kaming kumain. Mama is a mother to the four of us— Tav, Ravi and Lia. She would always support us in everything that's why close rin sila ng mga kaibigan ko.

We were eating Bulgogi when someone suddenly called my mom from her behind. "Attorney Claveria!"

Although I am not her, napaangat din ako ng tingin kung saan nanggaling ang boses. Lumingon si Mama at agad tumayo nang makita ang papalit na binata.

"Rehan!" Mama exclaimed after familiarizing him.

A man, probably a bit older than me, walked towards us and smiling really wide.

He looks really familiar, but I don't know where I saw him. And with his name, I doubt that I know anyone who's named Rehan.

Maraming nakatingin na ibang costumers sa kaniya. He was sporting a white polo shirt with the three buttons open. His chest was revealing a tattoo, it's dragon I suppose.

"Attorney," tawag niya nang makalapit.

Ibinalik ko ang tingin sa plato ko at nagpatuloy sa pagkain. Sanay na akong palaging may mga taong nakakakilala sa mga magulang ko. With my mom as a well-known attorney and my father as the city mayor, I doubt anyone would be unfamiliar to us.

"How's your mom doing, Rehan?" ngiti ni Mama.

Alright, ayaw ko nang naririnig ang usapan nila kasi para namang akong chismosa kapag ganoon. Pero mas ayaw kong umalis dito para bigyan sila ng privacy.

Heck no! I am Llarisa Lei Claveria. I don't give a d*mn.

"She's doing well na po, Attorney," sagot naman ng binata. "She'll probably go back to work next week."

"Immediately?" gulat na tanong ni Mama.

I rolled my eyes as I was thinking that my Mother is really socialite even though were on the province. I am totally the opposite of her kasi wala pang isang minuto ng mga taong pinapakilala sa akin, natatarayan ko agad.

I don't know how I do it and I don't know how to stop either.

"Nagpupumilit po, eh," sagot ni Rehan at nahagilap ko pa itong kinamot ang dulo ng ilong niya.

"Saka matatalo rin naman po ako kung sakaling magkasagutan kami. She's an Attorney."

Nagtawanan sila at naka-relate naman ako sa sinabi niya. It's not as if Attorneys are always right, but it's really hard arguing with them, especially with my Mom.

Nakangiti pa si Mama nang bahagya itong napatingin sa akin.

Oh, I know what's next.

"By the way," baling niya sa kausap. "This is my daughter, Lara."

Inimuwestra ako ni Mama. Natigilan naman ako sa pagnguya at pinunasan ang bibig gamit ang table napkin.

"Uh yes, attorney. I know her," nakangiting tuon niya sa akin. Well yes, as the city mayor's only child, who wouldn't know me?

My mom's face reeked of awe. She must be surprised. "Is that right?" nakangiting tugon ni Mama habang nakatingin pa rin sa kay Rehan.

"Well, Lara." Tumingin ulit si Mama sa akin. "This is Rehan. He's the son of Attorney Barrientos from our firm. He is a 2nd year Accountancy student and he plans to take law."

The guy stretched his hands out to me and gave a wide smile. Ibinaba ko ang table napkin at bahagyang itinagilid ang mukha para kilatisin siya.

Why does he know me?