"Saoirse—"

"Cut it, Quen." I said, stepping out from his car at padabog kong sinara iyon. Kanina pa kami nagtatalo about my responsibility as his campaign manager.

I bluntly copied his arrogant expression. "I'm gonna win but I still need to burn that mofo."

From the signing of the Roll of Attorneys hanggang makarating kami ng Ciudad Real, hindi na siya tumigil sa kakaremind sa'kin about the upcoming miting de avance. Alam ko naman na I am liable for the PR stuff pero hindi naman kailangan ulit-ulitin.

In the first place, hindi ko naman ginustong sumabay ang personal matters ko. At ang nakakainis lang, he won't give me the time that I need to sort it out.

"Ano bang mahirap intindihin na almost a week na lang?" he immediately walked ahead to block my way. Lagi kaming nag-aaway pero hindi naman umaabot sa ganito. I can tell you, mabibilang ko lang sa daliri ang mga instances na kumontra ako sa kanya.

"At anong mahirap intindihin na may sarili rin akong priorities?" I replied with sarcasm.

Agad niya akong tinaasan ng kilay. "Priorities? Am I not on your priorities?"

"Don't you hate it when I'm asking a question with an obvious answer? Well, look at you now," pagtataray ko. I've had enough silence for this day, akala ko titigilan niya na ang senseless argument niya. Supposedly we are going to have dinner now but the mood will ruin it.

He tightened his grip at my wrist. "I need you to step up my game."

"I'll file a lawsuit if you break my bones." I said then rolled my eyes.

Then he shot deadly daggers through his gaze. Luckily enough, I averted.

"Porque abogada na," he laughed hysterically as if it was a joke. The last person who I never thought will mock my profession is him.

If being in a law school with degrading remarks is satirical, I would still not be entertained.

Tangina.

What just happened?

"Saoirse, I made you the Attorney Lopez in case you forgot." He warned with a devilish grin, storming out of the room with a loud thud.

All I know is I wanted to get out of this place. The disrespect is too much to handle. Hindi ba pwedeng maging masaya niya dahil I am finally standing up on my own? Naisipan kong magpa-book ng taxi to get back to Manila. Pricey man ang aabutin sa metro but I can't afford to have another conversation with Quen. Not until he gave a rightful apology.

I desperately want to vent out my anger. All of my acquaintances are affiliated with him in any way. Alangan naman ikwento ko sa kanila how their friend treated me bad, as if they would sympathize with me. Adding fuel to the wildfire is definitely not an option.

Kada browse ko ng contact list, na-realize kong I never had real friends. Grabe, 25 years pero ni isa wala. Lahat tinalikuran ko for a certain man who doesn't even respect me, my time, and my career. Bullshit!

A playful smile lingered in my lips as I came across a name.

Primo Castellano

Who thought the devil wasn't the enemy? Or maybe he's hiding a facade, just like the rest of us. All of us wear a mask, you choose whether you play a prey or a predator. Kahit anong gawin ko, hindi ko maisip na the Primo I met is my boyfriend's political opponent.

I am clearly not thinking straight. The more na involved ako sa kanya, the more I put myself into trouble. Self-version ko yata ng paglalagay ng isang paa sa hukay. Dami kong hanash but it all ended to dialing his number.

Calling Primo Castellano...

In a split second, he answered the call.

I knitted my voice as I heard a high-pitched voice. "Hello, sino 'to?" That's certainly not what I was expecting.

Teka, maling number yata but the voice is way too familiar.

"Am I calling Primo?" I checked.

Her reply is a soft chuckle. And the line was dropped.

I pursed my lips. Mukha ba kong clown ngayong araw na 'to? Why is everyone treating me like a joke? Baka nga it's better to detach myself from people like I always do.

—

Enough drama. That was two hours ago. Now, I am waiting for Primo and Maeve in a coffee shop downtown. Ako pumili ng location since ako ung nag-aya for a casual talk. The place is secluded and privacy won't be a problem. Of course, hindi ko naman gustong ipahamak ung sarili ko.

I placed my earphones on and busied myself with my phone. Minsan lang ako mag-open ng social media accounts dahil flooded lang naman ako ng hate comments. I hope today's a different story.

ABC News @abcnewsph

THREAD: Hon. Elijah Quentin of Ciudad Real asks support from voters in his speech

Quentin: Salamat Ciudad Real. Tatlong termino ng serbisyo at kada taon ay kasama ako sa "Good Governance Award" ng DILG.

Quentin: Kahit ako ay bababa na aking posisyon bilang alkalde ay asahan niyo ang aking suporta. Ganoon rin sa aking pamilya na namuno dito sa sampung taon.

Quentin: At ngayon ay ineendorso ko ang aking anak na pumalit sa aking posisyon. Nawa'y patuloy pa rin ang legacy ng aming pamilya at mangyayari lamang iyon sa inyong pagboto.

Well, that kind of news was not so surprising. Father and son tandem.

Hindi ko na lang ni-retweet dahil I don't want to fuel the hate. Never again to being called a Quentin apologist. And that's the reason why I stay mum these days, ayoko na talaga ma-involve. But it doesn't work that way. As if I had a choice to stay lowkey.

Agad kong tinago ang phone ko noong nakita ko na parating sila Primo. I never want them to know that I support the Quentins. Lahat kasi ng sinabihan ko parang may allergic reaction kapag nalalaman iyon.

Nakita nila agad ako since hindi naman kalakihan ang café. Nakasuot pang corporate attire si Maeve while Primo's on a casual shirt and jeans. Finally, hindi na ako outcast ako dahil I wear something alike them— a cloth of formality. In Layman's terms, I made sure na hindi ako mukhang kawawa duh.

"As promised, here's Maeve." pakilala ni Primo.

The last time I saw her parang nasa upper box ng concert arena. Pero she really is intimidating, the way she walks pa lang alam mong mataas ang standards. Plus mukha talaga siyang mga ideal lawyer models sa Pinterest. I won't get shocked if jowa niya nga si Primo.

Nginitian ko siya. "Ivy Gonzaga."

The safest thing to do is not to give them the slightest clue about my identity. Sana hindi talaga nila ako ma-recognize kasi I removed all my photos from my social accounts.

"I heard you ran into Primo last oath-taking." Maeve said with a doubting tone. Pero nagmistula itong pang-aasar kaya naki-ride na lamang ako.

I corrected. "Actually, he ran into me."

Primo shrugged off our conversation by taking our orders. Syempre I ordered ung pinakamahal sa menu, a show off move but I need to have a lasting impression. Mayoral candidate and bar topnotcher lang naman ang small talk ko.

Automatic na charged naman kay Quen lahat ng credit cards ko. Swipe swipe lang.

"The drinks are on me, ako naman nag-aya." I said, almost handing Primo the card. Until I realized– shit, nandoon pala buong pangalan ko. Bigla akong napatingin sa wallet ko at thank heavens, may 10k pang laman.

"No, I'll pay." He said with formality. At diretso na siyang naglakad patungo sa counter.

I can sense na hindi kami comfortable ni Maeve to each other. Hindi ko rin naman masisi ang sarili ko. I'll admit na intimidated ako. But I faked a smile and tried to start a decent conversation.

"Kamusta naman Atty. Maeve?"

She gave a little smile. "Drop the formality, Maeve na lang besides batchmates naman tayo."

I nodded. And this is the part I should ask questions for a better discourse, I suppose?

"Sure, Maeve. So what are your plans sa career?"

"To be honest, there are lots of companies recruiting me pero baka magwork ako sa firm in Ciudad Real."

"I only got one offer, sa Ciudad Real din." I admitted. Wait, did I just spilled? Minsan talaga nakakabobo ung bibig ko, hindi ayon sa iniisip ko.

Uminom muna ako ng tubig to refresh my system. Kaya guys, stay hydrated. Hindi niyo naman gustong magkaroon ng tuyong utak like me.

"Don't tell me you'll be working for Quentins?" She interrogated and arched a brow. I gulped nervously, pucha! Buti na lang nakapagpigil ako dahil kung hindi, baka nabugahan ko na siya ng tubig sa mukha.

Holy cow! Bakit naman biglang nabanggit na naman ang most hated word ko? Kung Twitter lang 'to, probably nilagay ko na ang "Quentin" as muted.

"Quentins? That political family?" I acted as if I was fuming mad. "No way."

Tumango siya and patted my shoulder. "Seems like you're on the right track, Atty."

Once upon a time, political views were often questioned in this country. We are entitled to our own opinions under Section 4, Article 3 (Bill of Rights) of the 1987 Constitution.

No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government for redress of grievances.

Hindi ko rin naman masisi ang Filipinos ngayon. Malaki na ang source of information nila, television, newspapers and social media sites.

Kung bakit binabash nila ang gobyerno? They sure have a particular reason. If they hate the Quentins, there must be a real problem. A problem that I chose to be blind of.

I do love Quen, I mean it. But the way he acted on me earlier? That's not what a lover does.

That's the problem with privilege. Bulag ka hangga't meron ka noon, pag nawala saka kukuda. And I think that applies to me.

The atmosphere changed noong dumating na si Primo, holding our cups of coffee.

"Musta bonding?" He jokingly asked. Noong walang sumagot, he looked down shyly and chuckled.

In the next few minutes, we quietly sipped our coffees and checked our emails. Adulting things. Nabasag ang katahimikan when my tummy furiously rumbled.

"Ano ba 'yan, Ivy! Baka sabihin ng mama mo ginugutom ka namin." Maeve joked. Tumawa siya pero ang hinhin pa rin. Tawang may class, chos!

"Don't eat us, Ivy. Yummers kami pero may pangarap pa kami sa buhay," pagsali ni Primo.

"Let's just ask questions about law since lawyers naman tayo dito." Maeve suggested. Pareho kaming pumayag ni Primo.

"Teka Primo, lawyer ka pala?" pag-usisa ko. To be honest, nashookt ako to the core. I mean he just looks so casual whenever I see him. Now, na-gets ko na ang frustration ni Quen. His opponent was a fucking lawyer.

And in this society, pag may title na naka-attach sa pangalan mo, you are favored. To be honest ganon pala ako kalala na mag-asam ng attorney title before. I don't know why people are so obsessed with titles.

As if madadala namin 'yong title na iyon sa heaven.

Imagine having a free pass to purgatory dahil engineer, doctor o lawyer. San Pedro be like: Si Atty. Lopez, malakas 'to kay God. Special guest 'to, okay ba mga angels?

"Ako na magsisimula. Why did you chose law?" I asked, in the hopes to learn something from them.

Alam ko namang I lack a lot of things. At isa doon ay ang pagkakaroon ng fiery passion for law. In the first place, I did it to boost my social status.

"Bata pa lang ako, I witnessed a lot of injustices in our country. I might not be a big help but I want to be one with the oppressed. Kaya pinag-aralan ko ng maigi ang batas para maging sandata ko 'yon," dire-diretsong sagot ni Maeve. That's what a real lawyer is, may compassion at principles.

"I wanted to be a doctor. My mom wanted me to be a lawyer. I just found myself engaged with law after a year." Primo directly replied.

Ang alam ko lang, the awkward phase vanished into thin air. I really hope that it is the start of good friendship. Or maybe it is more than hanging out, baka maging eye-opener rin sa political views ko.

Being a woman of the law adheres to fair judgment. At ang pagkakaroon ng biased opinion is a red flag in our occupation.

"Ikaw, Ivy? Why law?" pagbabalik ni Primo ng tanong.

I wish I already figured out the answer by now.