I am a woman. Not just a woman. Ayokong sinasabihan ako kung anong dapat kong gawin.
I always think that I am right. Hindi ako mapakali kapag nalaman kong mali pala ako, gusto kong lagi akong tama.
I grew up in an abusive family. That's why I swore that I would never become my mother. Ayokong maging mahina. Ayokong maabuso. Ayokong maging kaawa-awa.
I want to be able to defend myself. Bagay na hindi nagawa ng nanay ko.
Yeah, love. Love made her weak. Love made her powerless. Love made her a fool. That's why I hated her. I hated the two of them.
Kung sana pinakinggan ni mama ang kahilingan kong iwan na niya ang kaniyang asawa, hindi na sana kami umabot sa ganito.
Kung sana inisip niya man lang ang takot ko sa gabi gabing nag-aaway sila.
Again, because of love. She was blinded by love.
"Attorney!"
Muntik na akong mapatalon nang marinig ang malakas na boses ng sekretarya ko. Hinihingal siyang huminto sa harapan ko.
"Did you hear the news?" she asked. Hindi pa niya naayos ang necktie at magulo ang pagkakatali niya ng kaniyang buhok.
"Hindi, bakit?" Nagulat ako nang bigla niyang dinampot ang remote sa table ko at binuksan ang tv.
Agad bumungad sa akin ang reporter at sa likod niya ay maraming tao ang nagkakagulo.
My forehead wrinkled when I saw a familiar man who was forcefully being dragged by the people.
It was Engineer Arellano. Nakaposas ang kaniyang kamay habang hawak hawak siya ng mga pulis. He has no emotions on his face.
"He's accused of rape."
I froze when I heard what my secretary said. Napatigil ang ballpen na pinaglalaruan ng aking kamay.
I gulped. He ...what?!
He... raped someone.
Walang pumapasok sa isipan ko sa mga nagdaang oras. Hindi ko alam kung ano ba ang magiging reaksiyon ko.
I'm having doubts. Is he really that kind of person? Did he really rape her coworker?
"A-attorney, kanina ka pa naglalakad diyan," my secretary showed up after two hours.
Hindi ko namalayang sa loob ng dalawang oras ay wala akong ibang ginawa kundi maglakad pabalik-balik.
"Ano? Anong balita?" I faced her.
She sighed. "He choose to plead the fifth. " Ibinaba niya ang tasang hawak niya.
Sh-t. He's not denying it. But he's not admitting it.
Pagod akong umupo sa aking swivel chair. Damn you, Engineer! Dumadagdag ka pa sa mga iniisip ko!
"W-wala raw pong kumukuhang attorney sa kaso niya," she bit her lip and bowed her head.
I stopped.
"Alam ko kung anong sasabihin mo,huwag mo nang ituloy."
BINABASA MO ANG
The Love That Destroyed Us
RomanceIn our lives, we meet different kinds of people. Someone who will bring pleasure. Someone who will make us feel love, pain, fear, regrets, and resentment. They can also be the cause of our own destruction. But for Maureen Iris Guiñarez, it was all...
