"Catch Me, Attorney. (Law Series #4 || Season 1 & 2)

PART THIRTY-SEVEN: Her First Heartbreak

"If I fall for you, will you Catch Me, Attorney?"

With my heart pounding hard still, I gulped.

Magkatitigan pa rin kami ni Lyle mula sa malayo. Ang mga phones namin ay nakadikit sa tainga namin at rinig namin ang bawat paghinga ng isa't isa.

Habang ang mga taong dinaraanan kami ay mga nagmamadali sa paglalakad, kami naman ay hindi makakilos. Nakatayo lang kami pareho at nakatingin sa isa't isa. Hindi ko malaman ang nararamdaman.

Sa likuran ni Lyle ay tanaw ko ang kalangitan. The sun was setting, the sky was somewhat orange-ish. Malamig na rin ang hangin.

Lyle smiled at me weakly. "Will you catch me, Reign?"

My lips parted. Gusto kong magsalita pero masiyadong magulo ang isip ko.

"Will you catch this foolish heart of mine?" Lyle added.

Bumukang muli ang labi ko pero hindi ko pa rin alam ang sasabihin o mararamdaman. Blangkong-blanko ako pero ang bigat sa pakiramdam.

"Lyle..." I whispered.

"I understand," sagot niya at hindi inaalis ang tingin sa mga mata ko. Suot pa rin ni Lyle ang doctor coat niya at ang bilog na salamin. "Sobrang unexpected. Kahit ako ganiyan ang naramdaman noong una. Hindi ko rin alam ang sasabihin o gagawin. Pero noong niyakap mo 'ko noon, noong hinabol tayo ng mga customer sa coffee shop, I... I have never felt that safe. I have never felt those intense emotions before na parang... parang maluluha na ako sa sobrang overwhelming ng mga nararamdaman ko."

I didn't say anything. Pinakikinggan ko lang siya.

Nililipad na ng hangin ang buhok ni Lyle pero hindi ito nagpatinag. "Hindi ako sanay sa ganoon. Wala pang nakapagparamdam sa 'kin nang ganoon. I grew up as someone dependent to no one. But when you came... you made me feel like I can entrust you with my heart. Na kahit anong gawin mo—play with it, take care of it, or even break it—I don't mind."

Lyle smiled but his eyes didn't. Parang 'yong mga emotions na matagal na niyang pinipigil ay kusang lumalabas ngayon. He looked emotional.

"I knew something's up and I'm pretty sure that it would fuck me up pero wala akong magawa," Lyle added. "It feels like I was meant to fall for you like how the sun, the stars, and the moon rise in the east and set in the west. It happens inevitably, helplessly, silently. Even if it hurts sometimes."

Kapwa kami natahimik. Lalong bumibigat ang pakiramdam ko. Nakatingin lang kami sa isa't isa at nanatili sa ganoong sitwasyon hanggang sa tuluyan na akong nagsalita.

"Sabi mo noon, romance isn't for you, right?" I asked.

Lyle gulped as he nodded. "Not until you made me feel that I actually exist. You made me break my rules."

That rendered me speechless.

"Why me?" I later asked.

"Why not you?" Lyle asked back.

"Lyle—"

"Gusto mo ng mas direct na sagot?" tanong ni Lyle. "Listen to the song carefully and you'll know."

Tumutugtog pa rin ang The Only Exception ng Paramore sa malapit na convenience store.

"That's the answer, Reign," Lyle answered and looked straight into my eyes. "You are my only exception."

The chorus played. Magkatitigan lang kami habang tumutugtog ang buong chorus.

"What do you think?" Lyle later asked. "If I fall for you, what would you do?"