Case Closed

19

I was too stunned to speak, hindi ko alam kung paano ko 'yon sasagutin.

He stepped backwards at tinignan ako, a grin present on his face.

"U-Uhm, ano kas---"

He chuckled before pinching my right cheek.

"I'm just kidding. Chill ka lang." He laughed. "Oh, by the ways, here's your wallet pala. I saw it sa courtroom."

Inabot ko 'yon sa kamay niya at nagpasalamat.

"No---"

"I need to go na. Nice meeting you again, Ms. Lee." He tapped my shoulder before walking away.

Ms. Lee? What happened to baby a while ago?

"Noah." He turned around para lingunin ako. "Wanna grab dinner? You know, at our usual go to resto?" I bit my lower lip. "My treat."

"Judge ka na, Lee. At defendant ako ng kasong hinahawakan mo. Isn't that part of the rules inside the courtroom? You can't build a connection between you and---"

"But, we're not inside the courtroom." I replied. "And please drop the honorifics."

"Ang tigas talaga ng ulo mo." He tsked. "According to the revised penal code 63---"

"Pwede bang 'wag mo sa 'kin pairalin ang pagiging abogado mo?" My brows furrowed. "I just wanna catch up with my-- my best friend." I looked away. "We just ended our relationship but you're still my best friend---"

"Before." He said. "That was before, Lee. Hindi na ngayon." He put both of his hands on his pockets. "Because, the only relationship I have with you now-- is you being the judge of our case. 'Yun lang. Hanggang dun na lang." May diin niyang sabi bago ako talikuran.

That was rude.

Tinawagan ko si Vanessa para ibalita sa kaniya na nagkita kami ng kambal niya. Wala lang, bakit ba.

"Vane, nagkita kami ng kambal mo." Bungad ko sa kaniya.

["We? Anyare? Months ago pa huling kita namain, e. Nung hinatid ako sa airport bago lumipad dito sa states."]

"Sinampahan siya ng kaso ni Alexis."

["What the fuck, tinuloy niya?!"] Gulat niyang tanong, buti na lang hindi tumaas boses niya.

"Oo."

["Saan kayo nagkita?"]

"Courtroom."

["What the fuck, abogado ka niya?!"] Gulat na naman niyang tanong sa 'kin.

"Hindi. Ako 'yung judge ng kaso."

["Putangina."]

"Putangina talaga."

["Ano na balak mo?"]

"Ewan ko, tangina. Basta ang gusto ko lang, hindi makulong si Noah sa kasalanang hindi niya naman ginawa. If things didn't go as planned, and if Alexis chose to play dirty. Then, I'll stand up for Noah." Tuloy tuloy kong sabi. Buti na lang hindi ako nabulol, gago.

["No way! Don't tell me..."] Hindi niya matapos 'yung sasabihin niya kaya nagsalita ulit ako.

"Yup. Whatever you're thinking is you're right."

["Beatrice..."]

"It's fine, as long as it's for your brother."

When a law is unjust, it is only right to disobey.