Ruled by the Attorney

KABANATA 25

I quickened my move, after hearing those words last night I  couldn't even sleep!

I dressed up myself with an black sleeve shirt and black flare pants with white sneakers. I tied up my hair and also brought my attache case and my reading glass.

"Hello?" I called Kayerix. She know about this first.

" Oh? Bakit?" tanong niya sa kabilang linya. Nangunot naman ang noo ko.

" Nasaan ka? Akala ko sabay tayong pupunta." ani ko habang minamaniobra ang manibela.

" it's damn early Cassie! for goodness sakes! Are you already dressed up? because i couldn't even wear anything." aniya at naghari ang katahimikan ng marinig ang sinabi niya.

She couldn't even wear anything. seriously.

" Wife. Why are you shouting it's too early." I heard Kairus voice in another line.

It's already 7 o'clock in the morning.

" I think you should dressed up first because you didn't wear anything. See you!" ani ko at inaantay patayin niya ang tawag.

" Cassidy!" singhal niya bago patayin ang linya.

Around 8 am ng makarating ako sa lugar kung saan pinagdalhan si Travis.

"Ma'am ano pong maitutulong namin?" bati nung isang pulis bago ako tuluyang makapasok sa loob.

Pinakita ko ang license card ko sa kanya. Tinignan niya naman agad ito.

" Atty. Cassidy Alcantara. I'm here for Neo Travis Callahan. Can i come in?" untad ko. Sinenyasan niya akong pumasok.

I saw Chief. Gomez my great friend sitting on his chair.

He stood up when he saw my built. We shakes our hands.

" Redrick--" tawag ko. Tango at ngiti ang iginawad niya sa akin.

It's damn too early obviously. At baka ako lang nanditong tao maliban sa mga pulis.

" Cassidy, it's been a long time." aniya kaya tumango rin ako.

" It's 2 weeks ago since i last saw you. Redrick!" ani ko ng mahina. Baka mapagkamalang wala akong respeto sa chief nila.

" Well yeah but for me it's almost 2 years. Bihira lang tayo magkita kahit related naman ang trabaho natin sa isat isa. " aniya kaya natawa ako.

Naglalakad kami kung saan daw naroon si Travis. Pagkaharap ko nakita ko siya sa dulo ng silid habang seryosong nakatingin sa amin.

" I'll wait you outside." ani Redrick tumango naman ako bago pumasok sa loob.

Naupo ako sa harap niya. Hindi naman siya natinag at nanatiling seryosong nakatingin sa akin.

" Hey how are you?" i asked him while staring on his hands.

Veins was appeared on it. Itinago niya ang kamay niya ng mapansing nakatitig ako rito.

" Maayos. Nasanay na ako. Nakulong naman na ako dati." mapait niyang saad.

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin dahil sa sinabi niya. Nakaramdam ako ng kirot dahil roon.

I took a deep breath before looking again on him.

" What did you do? You were accused as an suspect." mahina kong saad.

" Please cooperate with me. I'll fighting with you. Because everyone have rights to fight for." dagdag ko.

Umiling ito sa akin parang may narinig na hindi niya gusto.

" Fighting for me? Just let that case put me in jail. I'm a fucking murderer. That's what they say. Let them be." untad niya.

Nabigla ako sa sinabi niya. I didn't mean anything except for sincerity to fight for him in this case.

"Travis. You're not a murderer." anang ko at nanatiling nakatingin sakanya.

He looks at me directly in my eyes.

" Fighting for me? But in the first place you didn't fight for us." saad niya.

Nanghina ang tuhod ko ng marinig ko iyon. Lumaylay ang balikat kong nakatulala sa harap niya.

“ But we're in different situation that time. I understand every edges of your decision.”  anang niya. ramdam ko ang mariing niyang tingin.

“ I don't know what-” he cut my words off.

“ You don't have anything to say. Just listen to me please. Do i have rights? If yes i do have. Why this damn me didn't feel my freedom?” tanong niya.

Napatitig ako sa namumula niyang mata. Hindi ko alam kung  bakit. Naninikip ang dibdib ko. He didn't mentioned anything but i have this huge feeling that i am one who let him to feel that suffocating life.

“ You have rights on everything in your life. You just focusing and thorn in your past. Hinayaan mong maging ganoon ka. Why? Anong meron sa past na hindi mo maiwan?” tanong ko. Nag-iwas siya ng tingin.

“ I have rights everything in my life? Do i have rights on you?” tanong niya at nilingon ako.

Gulat ako at bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko.

“ W-what did you mean?” turan ko. He looks at me intently.

I could even feel times four drummed of my heartbeats.

“ You're my life. You're my everything. Yet im just your startling past.” aniya at nagpakawala ng mabigat na buntong hininga.

No.

“ You have a lot of mean in my life. You're my everything. Even you didn't notice my presence in your back. I still do supporting you and cheering you up. I'm ready to compulsory in you arms. To malfeasance on your words. To surrender my freedom of speech when you're around.” nakatitig lang ako sakanya ng sabihin niya iyon.