CHAPTER 06

I  stopped drinking for her and give my full attention to Catleya. "So- how can you say that? How sure you are?"

"Okay. Hold on tight to where you're sitting because you'll just be able to say in your mind why I left this man after you hear what I have to say." she said with full of assurance.

"You are so dramatic,” I replied defiantly.

"Whatever you say so! So let's start, first of all he topped on his bar exam. After that, he entered a law firm in Quezon City as a criminal lawyer. He won the first four cases he handled and the other two were serious cases, followed by the two more cases that he handled as a trial lawyer. And even once, he has not lost any of his case. He built his own law firm  reason why he left his previous firm where he worked. Because of that, everyone admires him even more. Just imagine... he is just a novice lawyer but he have already built his firm, that's really impressive.” Every words she utter, she seems really impress to Wayne “Actually, there’s a nickname for him... a Lawyer-with-no-Failed-Cases. Also because of his achievements, his firm boomed in just a year, so almost all the new lawyers who have just passed the bar are in his firm. That's more impressive, right?  Add to that, he earns MILLION in just one case he handles. Your ex Leigh is really damn successful."

I gulp hardly from what I heard. I don't care how much he earns. I’m just proud of him for the things he achieved and where he was right now, I’m glad. I also didn’t think he would have become much higher personality than I expected. I guess, my decision to leave him is worth it.

"How did you find out those things about him?" I asked her after I got silence for few seconds. It's good that she said something about Wayne because to be honest, I've had no idea about him since we broke up.

"He always shown in digital magazines and digital news papers on the internet. Try to read and almost all the articles are about him and the cases he wins." She answered me. "You will be amazed I guarantee you." She added.

"But, what did he tell you when you met earlier? Will he help you with your case? Because if I'm the one to be asked... he has to! You still date him after all, right? Like I said Leigh , when he handles your case, I'm 100% sure you'll really win. It's just easy for him to defend you in court because it's just about the land. If he was able to win his heavy cases, yours will be too.”

I just swallowed again and drank again before I answered her. "Well, h-he offered to help me," I said initially and Catleya's face seemed to light up because of that. 

"That's it? Just like that? If he's willing to help you like you said— it's very unlikely that he wont ask you for any charge Leigh. Did you know that a signature of a good lawyer like him reaches million?" She says.

I know about that thing but— "He said he would help me for free," I said weakly because that's exactly what Wayne said earlier.

She automatically frowned at me. "What? Are you kidding? IS HE JOKING? Free my ass." She said as if she didn't believe what I said and she even rolled her eyes.

As a matter of fact, it's not really free, is it? You probably know what he told me earlier when I talked to him and there was nothing free about it. He's asking for a bigger thing in return for me. But as I said, I will not mention to Catleya everything we talked about especially that thing.

"Oh dear, there's nothing free on this wold okay? Don't be fool about that word because sometimes, the return is even bigger when it says ‘free'. Well, he's your ex but so what?! We didn’t know if it’s against in moral principles in life what he wants in return.” She says in doubt.

I couldn't help but drink my canned beer this time while avoiding Catleya’s gaze. She was totally right!

"It's not that I'm scaring you Leigh but... don't be fool about what he said. Okay, let's say you had a relationship before, you left him, then you hurt him and you hurt too but it doesn't mean that he can do those things that are against your will. You understand me, don't you? " She said and hold my hand tightly.

Shit! Obviously, even if I didn’t say everything to her... it seemed like she had a hint right away. Why is she so smart and she knows a lot about it.

"I-I'm not sure," I replied even though what she was saying was really true.

"I'm just trying to remind you because you're my friend. But, it's still up to you to decide, you're at the right age and I know you already know what's right thing to do. Just don't let him take advantage of you and of course to your situation now." I really that knew she was just concerned about me.

We are in both silence for about a minute until she speaks again, "But seriously Leigh, what are you up to? Are you already thinking of accepting his offer?" She asked me directly. 

I slowly shook my head in response, "As long as I can, I don't want to be close to him again or to be involve in his life," I said weakly as I could now feel my tears welling up.

Shit! I don't want to cry but the pain in my heart is really increasing right now.

"Like you said, I hurt him... and I don’t want to get close to him again because I’m afraid that I might leave him again,” and my tears were already dripping without me being aware so I quickly looked up to stop it. I also felt Catleya's immediate soft patting behind me. "Because to be honest, I don't see my future— with him anymore. Everything had change,” and I was shaken again once more when my tears fell which I also quickly wiped away. "But when it comes to land, I might forget everything I told you today. You know how important that land to me, Mom gave it to me so I can't just give it up," I said and she nodded as if she understood me and then she hugged me as I hug her back.