Mountains To Cross

Chapter 30

Chapter 30

"Not guilty ang hatol sa anak ni General Palaez na inakusahan ng isang kapitan ng-"

"Shut that down!" Sigaw ni Tito Havriel sa pagdating sa bahay nila.

I don't know if it's a good decision to stay with them until here pero nararamdaman ko na kailangan nila, ang buong pamilya nila, ng karamay at katulong ngayon. Tito's angry and loud voice made me tremble for a moment. His hands are shaking.

"Hav..." Tita Ara called.

"We'll file an appeal." Niluwagan ni Tito ang necktie niya, akala mo'y nasasakal, "I won't accept this!"

"Havriel..." Tawag ni Daddy.

"This is stupid!" He shouted again, "This is unacceptable! This is not the law I studied for years! Hindi ako papayag na ganito ang gagawin ng batas sa anak ko, Riley!"

"Hav, when you took his case. You already know that you will lose..." Sagot ni Daddy. Natahimik si Tito. And slowly, his tears fell through his cheeks. It was so slow, like how pain is slowly sinking in. Hindi ko mapigilan ang mapaluha at umiwas ng tingin.

It is unacceptable, unfair and each one of us is enraged of what the court decided. Kung kami siguro ang concluded, gusto pa naming lumaban at magpatuloy. We will fight for him until he gets the justice he deserves.

Pero paano naman si Tain? Paano naman ang gusto niya? Mahirap ito para sa amin pero higit na mahirap ito para sa kanya. Who the fuck wants to give up? No one. Who the fuck wants to just choose peace over justice? No one. Tain is exhausted. I can feel it.

"This is why I don't want you to defend me." Napalingon kami kay Tain na kakapasok lang sa bahay. His eyes are swollen and even if he won't admit it to anyone, I know he cried alone on his way home.

"Let's file an appeal, Justin." Sabi ni Tito, "We will do everything. Gather every witness and evidence. We will win it this time. Justin... let's not give up like this. Nandito kami ng Mama mo..."

"I don't want it, Dad." Tain said.

"You deserve justice, Tain!" Tito exclaimed back, "Kasama mo naman kami!"

"I said I don't want it!" He shouted back. It was so loud that echoed in the whole house. Mariin na ipinikit ni Tanya ang kanyang mga mata, tinitiis ang kapatid niya. But I clearly saw how Tanya's tears fell with that shout.

"Justin..." Tita Ara called.

"Pagod na ako!" Tain shouted back, "It is not worth it! I am tired! You don't know how exhausting it is to think about that night over and over again! Wala ka don, Dad! Hindi ikaw ang nagsasalita! Hindi ikaw ang paulit-ulit na tinatanong! Hindi ikaw ang paulit-ulit na sumasagot sa kanila! It's not you whose reliving all those trauma! Ako!"

"Oh my god..." Mommy whispered behind me.

"I was ridiculed for fighting for that stupid justice!" Tain shouted, "I was ridiculed for telling the world that I deserve it! They are all laughing behind my back, Dad! Ngayon, sabihin mo sa akin kung worth it pa ba ang lahat ng ito!"

"Tama naman na, please..." Tanya held his brothers arm.

"Who laughed at you?" Tito asked, "Who the fuck laughed at you?"

"Everyone made me feel like I am already less of a person because of this. They turned the tables at made it seem like I am the liar." Dugtong ni Tain, "They mocked me. Every single day. Ayoko na... Tama na, Dad..."