Dear Christine,

I’m writing you here because I want to say “good luck” in your Bar Exams. This is it, I must know. After five years in law school, and after I witnessed your graduation, now you’re taking the most-awaited examination in your entire life. I saw the tears then in your eyes during the commencement exercises. Now I’m seeing both excitement and fear in your eyes. I don’t know if you’re just scared in the exam or just excited in becoming a full pledged lawyer. Or both…you didn’t say a thing to me since your Bar review. That I had to get a distance from you, for I know you need to concentrate. You need to hurdle this Bar exam.

I still remember many days and nights we had shared, you’re crying moments when you failed your exam in Remedial Law. You were almost drunk that I had to lift you up…You still remember that? When your terror prof in Constitutional Law called you up in class to recite and you’re mind wasn’t up, because the night before you had to bring your two-year old baby to the hospital. You hadn’t enough time to study for the lesson in class. Of course, you had no answer to your prof’s queries. I realized how hard to be a single mom and a law student. Your life becomes a routine.

Work during the day. Law school during the night. Your baby during the rest of the night.

I admire you for that. It is a routine, isn’t it. Maybe not, because as I can see it, you have to do all those things. Your only break, or I must say, your past time is talking to me. Sharing your “angas” to me. Damn, I’m not the incompetent and inutile father of your baby! What I’m doing for you is to support you in all your endeavors. I don’t want to see you falling. If that time comes, I will catch you and put you in your right place. We’ve known each other since first year college. We started talking our plans, and discovered that we both had envisioned to enter law school. Yes, everything had changed. You were dedicated to your study that you finished your BA Psychology with honors. On my part, I stayed six years, that long years in college before I got my diploma.

We still have many stories that I’m pretty sure, you still could rekindle. Now that you’re acing this event in your life, I just want you to know that I’m always here for you. I’m very happy for you, Christine. You’ve done a lot. You’ve changed a lot, from a timid, simple girl to a responsible, more matured woman. You had experienced adversities, most especially during your stay in law school. You became such a tough and sturdy woman I’ve ever known. By the way, how’s the first day of the Bar last September 7? How was it?

Would I say Atty. Christine?

Parang kailan lang nang sinabi mong “law school sucks!” and “I’m quitting.”