The Love That Destroyed Us

CHAPTER 10

WARNING: SENSITIVE CONTENTS. 

"Ma'am, may nagpadala po ng pagkain sa inyo," my secretary peeked at the door.

Compared before, ang haggard haggard niya. Nitong mga nakaraang araw ay marami kaming inaasikaso.

I planned to reopen the case of Mr. Lopez. I couldn't accept it. Hinding hindi ko matatanggap na ganoon ang nangyari.

I will still continue to fight. Hindi pa tapos ang laban.

I want to prove to everyone that thy were wrong.

Gusto kong patunayang mali ang sinabi nilang ang mundo ay tatsulok at ang hustisya ay para lamang sa mga mayayaman.

"Leeave it there," turo ko sa lamesa.

I sighed as I sipped on my fourth coffee for today. Mahirap makahanap ng matibay na ebidensya at witness. Mahirap, pero kakayanin.

Yes, my client told me that I did a great fight. But I can still do a greater fight. Hangga't kaya ko, gagawin ko. Wala namang mamawala sa akin.

Napatingin ako sa aking phone nang may mag text.

Engineer Arellano:

Eat your lunch.

I shrugged my shoulders and continued what I was doing. Ang dami niyang mensahe kanina pero hindi ako nag-abalang mag reply. And besides, it was not my responsibility to reply.

Inayos ko ang suot na suit at naglakad paalis sa law firm.

"Nasabi ko na ang katotohanan sa korte, bakit ka pa nandito!" a witness who testified against my client shouted at me.

Ang lakas ng loob niyang sumigaw pero kung makaaiwas ng tingin ay parang may nagawa siyang kasalanan.

I crossed my arms over my chest and lifted my chin. I always do this when I want to intimidate someone.

"Magkano ang tinanggap mo para magsinungaling? Pera?" I asked bitterly. "Pera kapalit ang kalayaan at buhay ng isang tao?"

He shook his head. "Nasabi ko na ang katotohanan. Umalis ka na, parang awa mo na."

"Mahal!"

We stopped when we heard a voice of a woman. She came from their room. She was carrying a newborn baby. The witness took the baby and he glanced at me, looking so scared.

I laughed bitterly.

"Umalis ka na, attorney," he said sternly.

"Hindi ka ba hinahabol ng konsensya mo?"

"Kinailangan ko iyong gawin para sa anak ko."

I smiled as I took my bag and stood up.

"Alam mo bang may asawa si Mr. Lopez? Her wife was just gave birth to their child."

He looked shock as he gulped.

"Congratulations on your baby." I smiled. "But remember that you took another child's right to have a father." Ipinatong ko ang calling card sa mesa nago naglakad paalis.

Engineer Arellano:

Anong oras start ng trial?

I rolled my eyes as I typed a reply.

Me:

Ngayon na, don't bother coming here.

I sighed heavily as I looked at the empty seat beside me. This it it.

Trust me, Mr. Lopez. I will prove you right  this time.

"Judge presiding. All rise."

We stood up. When he told us to sit, we did.

Iginala ko ang tingin sa paligid.

His wife, carrying a baby in her arms, was also here. She smiled at me and I smiled back.

"Mr. Legaspi. In the previous trial, you told me that you saw  Mr. Lopez in the act, right?"

He nodded. I stopped because I could feel my head throbbing.

"Then why are you here?Is it really true?"

Glad he decided to correct his mistake.

He slowly shook his head. "Ang mga nasabi ko noon ay pawang mga kasinungalingan lamang."

The prsecutor stood up. "Witness, do you know the perjury is serious crime?"

The witness nodded and closed his eyes tightly.

"Ang totoo niyan ay kabaligtaran ang nakita ko. "

There was a loud murmuring. Uminom muna ako ng tubig. Nanlalabo na ang paningin ko. Please, not now.

"Order in the court!"

I glanced at the audience before I spoke.

"Sinabi mo noon na siya ang gumawa at nakita mismo ng mga mata mo? Anong nangyari? Why are you changing your statement?" I asked.

He sighed. "H-hindi kaya ng konsensya ko. Habang nagpapakasaya ako dahil isa na akong ama ay may ibang batang nawalan ng ama," he glanced at his wife who was crying silently.

"Can you tell us the real story now?"

Hirap na hirap niyang ipinikit ang mga mata bago magmulat at magsalita.

"Noong gabing iyon, ako ang tagabantay sa isang kompanya. Nag-iikot ikot ako sa parking lot nang makita ko si Mr. Lopez. Siya ang janitor doon. P-patapos pa lang siya sa paglilinis kaya iniwan ko siya s-aaglit. Nag-ikot ikot ako sa loob ng parking lot hanggang sa may m-marinig akong sigaw. N-nagpunta ako sa m-madilim na bahagi ng parking lot. D-doon, nakita kong may lalaking sumisigaw ng tulong. Itinatali siya ng isa pang lalake, tapos kitang kita ko kung paano siya babuyin ng dalawa," his voice was shacking.

I closed eyes. How disgusting. Binaboy siya. Wala man lang siyang kasalanan pero binaboy siya.

Sandaling umingay na naman ang paligid.

"Paano mo napapatunayang nagsinungaling ka noong nakaraang trial?" the prosecutor asked, looking so pissed now.

"N-nakita ako ng lalake kaya sa sumunod na araw ay pinatawag niya ako. Ang s-sabi niya, papatayin niya raw ang pamilya ko kabang nagsabi ako ng totoo. S-sinabi niyang palabasin n-naming si Mr. Lopez ang gumawa kapalit ng malaking halaga ng pera.."

"Magkano?"

"Isang milyon po.."

I took the envelope as I handed it to the judge.

"The paper shows the transaction between the real criminal and the witness."

Lumapit akong muli sa witness.

"Ang sabi mo, pinatawag ka upang pag-usapan ang bagay na iyon? Anong ibig mong sabihin sa pinatawag?"

The audience were exchanging glances with each other. Mr. Lopez's wife was trying her best to remain calm.

I stopped when I caught a familiar pair of eyes. He really came, huh?

Sa pinakadulo ay naroon si Yohan. His arms were crossed over his chest. Mukhang kagagaling lang niya sa trabaho. He had this proud smile on his face.

"B-boss ko siya sa kompanyang pinagtatrabahuhan ko.."

I smirked as I looked around. Huminto ang paningin ko sa nakaupong lalake.

"Is your boss here?"

He nodded hesitantly.

"Maaari mo bang ituro kung nasaan siya?"

He nodded as his fingers pointed at the man sitting at the back.

Nagkagulo ang mga tao.

The man cursed and we were surprised when he fished a knife from his pocket.

"Useless bastard," tumili ang mga tao nang tumakbo siya papunta sa witness habang may hawak na kutsilyo.

But before he could stab him, I ran as fast as I could to block him.

Silence.

Silence was all I heard.

I froze as I looked down to my waist.

Sh-t. I was stabbed.