Eyes On Me, Baby (COMPLETED)

Chapter 01

Chapter 01

I was re-reading the script while waiting for my parents to come home. Nakapagdrop na ako sa mga subjects ko. I just needed to ask for money para makapag-enroll sa creative writing. I focused on reading but my eyes kept on darting to the clock hanging on the wall. It was already 8pm. Wala pa sila. That usually meant something wrong happened—it was either Mom lost a big client or Mom lost a huge case. She was usually efficient with her job. She was usually home before 8pm. Kapag ganito na wala pa siya, based on experience, ay may hindi magandang nangyari.

Agad na napa-angat ang tingin ko nang marinig ko ang boses nila. They were arguing about something I was really not interested in—marami na akong problema kaya bakit ko poproblemahin ang problema ng ibang tao? I really did not get the appeal of being a lawyer.

"Mom," I said, but they were being so loud that they did not hear me. May pinag-uusapan sila tungkol sa liquidation ng isang kumpanya at wala talaga akong maintindihan. But I needed to show them the dropping form and the enrollment form. Last day na bukas para maka-habol ako sa late enrollment.

Dumiretso sila sa kusina. Nagtatalo pa rin sila habang kumu-kuha ng tubig si Mama sa ref. Ngayon naman ay pinagtatalunan nila kung paano sasabihin sa shareholders' meeting iyong nangyari.

Being a lawyer paid well, but it seemed like a very troubling profession. Hanggang sa bahay ay dala nila ang problema ng kliyente nila. How could my mother seriously think that I would follow their footsteps when they make lawyer look so tiring?

At least in my scripts, I could just kill my character and then all my problems would end. Or maybe tell them that it was all just a dream.

"We better tell Gia to set up the meeting."

"Kailan?"

"A month from now? We still have to finalize—" she said before she paused when she saw me standing 5 meters away from them. "What?"

I walked towards them and placed the 2 papers in front of them. I watched as my parents read the content of the papers and how their eyes widened. Why were they surprised? I told them this morning that I would be dropping out.

"Karaminah Viel Trajano!" she shouted exactly the way she shouted at my father back when he lost that one case 3 years ago.

I stood there. "I attended my classes today," I said.

"You dropped your classes?!"

Tumango ako. "I attended all my classes," I repeated. "Wala akong naintindihan. It's either that or I'll fail all my subjects," I honestly said. She was the one who was always reminding me that my grades were important because they're permanently written on my transcript.

Her lips parted. Tumalikod siya sa akin. Tumingin ako kay Papa na mukhang nabigla din.

"Bukas na iyong deadline for late enrollment."

I counted inside my head.

One.

Two.

Three.

Umabot ako ng isang minuto, pero walang nagsasalita sa kanilang dalawa. I looked at the clock. 23 minutes before 9pm. Kailangan ko nang umakyat dahil maglilinis pa ako ng katawan. I wanted to be ready for sleep before 9:30. My optimal writing hours were 10:30 to 1am. I needed to make the most of my time.

"Will you write a check or will I pay in cash?"

Mom turned around and looked at me. Her lips were still hanging. Ibinaba niya iyong tubig.