The Universe Conspired

SIXTEEN

Pagdating sa opesina ay winaksi ko muna ang pag-aalala sa relasyon namin ni Rae dahil siguradong marami akong gagawin.

Abala ako dahil na rin sa mga kliyente na napabayaan nang lumuwas ako ng Maynila para puntahan sa ospital sina Rae at Nang Sylvia.

Our firm's clients are from the upper crust of the business world and they could have spoken to the other lawyers from our company but almost all of them just rescheduled their appointments when told I was not going to be around.

Right now, I'm mainly part of the legal team of a holding company active in real estate and food and beverage. It might seem odd that they'd opt for a law firm whose main headquarters is in Panay but the chairman originated from Iloilo and apparently has not forgotten his hometown.

Our team had a lunch meeting in one of the most exclusive restaurants in Iloilo which I would have appreciated more if we weren't too busy with finalizing some documents we're preparing for our client.

Alas kuatro na nang nakabalik kami sa opesina. Nadatnan ko ang matalik na kaibigan na si JP. He's working as an investigating agent for the bureau that's in charge of tackling and solving high-profile cases. He's based in Iloilo kaya't hindi ko alam ano'ng pakay niya sa akin ngayon.

"Napadalaw ka," diretsong puna ko.

"Good morning din, Attorney," ganti niya naman sabay tawa.

"Ano'ng balita?"

"Si Bernadette."

"Ano'ng tungkol sa kanya?" Medyo nawawalan na ako ng pasensya kay JP. Bakit hindi niya pa ako diretsohin.

"Iniimbestigahan namin ang asawa niya, Atlas."

I sighed and massaged my temple slightly as I sensed the urgency in JP's voice. He would never have come and disclosed this kind of information if it isn't serious.

"Graft and corruption?"

"Oo, pero hindi lang 'yon. Alam mo namang matagal nang may bulong-bulungan na may ugnayan sila ng isang sikat na druglord sa Iloilo. Hindi ko alam kung paano ito makaka-apekto kay Bernadette."

"Asawa lang siya ni Mayor, JP. Masyadong malayo ang agwat ng edad nila. Sa tingin mo ba may nalalaman siya sa mga ginagawa ni Mayor?"

"Maaring wala. Pero sinasabi ko lang sa'yo. Off the record ito, Pare. Hindi dapat ako pumunta rito. Lagot ako kung sakaling lumabas na kinausap kita tungkol dito. Ang sinasabi ko lang, baka dumating ang araw na kailanganin ni Bernadette ang tulong mo."

We both still care for Bernadette although the only times we see her now is during social functions. All three of us are busy with our own lives of course; JP and I with our respective careers, and Bernadette with whatever charity she is involved with.

"Hoy, ano 'yang singsing na suot mo?" puna niya. Hindi ko rin naalala na ibalita sa kanya dahil sa impormasyong binigay niya.

"Kailan ka lang nag-asawa at bakit hindi ako naimbitahan?"

"Nang nakaraang lingo lang."

"Sino'ng masuwerteng babae? Si Attorney de Leon ba o 'yong doktora sa kabilang bayan?" usisa ni JP na mukhang nangangantiyaw pa.

"Si Rae."

Halos madulas siya mula sa silya na kinauupuan dahil sa balita ko.

"Rae? 'Yong batang nagbakasyon dito noon?"

"She's not a child anymore," I retorted coldly, dismayed that no one seems to be taking the news of our marriage seriously or happily. Ako lang ba ang natutuwa na sa wakas ay asawa ko na si Rae?