Love Me Too

Chapter 43 (Final)

         

                                              *****

Clarisse

Three years later....

"The old saying like father, like son never gets old..." bigkas ni Atty. Fabro Reynaldo, ang chief ng pinapasukan kong Public Attorney's Office. He's an old man in his seventies whose whole life had been dedicated in pro bono cases.

Inilapag nito sa aking mesa ang isang lifestyle magazine. Nahinto ako sa aking ginagawa sa laptop nang makita ko kung sino ang nasa cover . It's Atty. Lance Oliver Perez.

"Nabanggit mo dati na you had a chance to personally meet the famous Atty. Dominador Perez. That's his son, " the old man commented sabay balik nito sa kanyang table na katapat lamang ng aking mesa.

I straigthtened my eyeglasses. Dinampot ko ang magazine at binasa ang isa sa mga nakalagay na cover captions 'Young Achievers Under 30'. Lihim na tumaas ang isang sulok ng aking mga labi habang tinititigang mabuti ang pamilyar na nakingiting mukha sa aking harapan. He didn't only become successful and famous, he's even more handsome now. He still got that sunny face and hasn't lost yet his signature radiant smile. But his aura became manlier and his eyes start to convey toughness. Mga matang alam mong dumaan na rin sa ilang mahihirap na pagsubok.

Huminga ako ng malalim. It was a sigh of relief. I could say that letting go of him was one of the hardest but best decision I've ever made in my life. Di ako nagkamali na lahat ng mga sakripisyo at sakit na pinagdaanan namin ay may katumbas na magagandang bagay.

Hindi ko lamang nakikita si Lance sa mga newspapers o magazines kundi pati na rin sa televisions. Minsan napapanood ko ang mga interviews niya tungkol sa mga hinahawakan niyang malalaking kaso. Tama si Atty. Reynaldo na siya nga ang magtutuloy sa magandang reputasyon sinimulan ng kanyang ama.

While staring at his face now, my heart is no longer thumping for any romantic reason pero gumagaan pa rin ang aking pakiramdam everytime I see or watch him smiling. I'm happy for all his achievements at sa mga bagay na maaabot niya pa. I'm like a proud friend silently looking at him from afar.

"Kilala mo ba siya?" tanong sa akin ng matandang abogado. Marahil ay nagtaka ito sa pagkakatitig ko sa magazine.

I looked at the old man. Ngumiti ako at umiling.

"Hindi po. I met Atty. Dominador Perez but not his son," may ngiting sagot ko.

"What an impressive young man. Since his father became a congressman, he bravely took over the management of one of the largest law firm in the country at such a young age." He sighed. "How I wish you can find a man as capable as him."

Tumikhim ako, mabilis kong binitawan ang magasin, ibinalik ang aking atensiyon sa laptop at nagkunwaring abala. Nararamdaman kong may ibang patutunguhan na naman ang aming pag-uusap.

"Sa edad mong yan dapat naghahanap ka na ng mga lalaking gaya niya hindi yung kuntento ka na sa kung anong buhay meron ka ngayon. You're a great woman at kahit anupaman ang pinagdaanan mo, you still deserve a good man by your side," dagdag pa nito.