Love Me Too

Epilogue

                                           

                                                *****

Ginagantihan ni Lance ng matatapang na titig si Clarisse. He's giving her a smirk para lalo pang pikunin ang nagngingitngit na nitong hitsura. Natatawa siya habang pinagmamasdan ang nangangalit nitong mga panga.

"Thirty million pesos!" she said firmly.

He chuckled.

"Tsk, tsk,tsk..." iling niya. "Sip some coffee first para magising ka Atty. Calderon. You must be dreaming to ask that kind of amount."

Sarkastikong tinawanan siya ng abogada at pinandilatan ng mga mata. 

"Anong malaki sa hinihingi ko kumpara sa total asset niyang kliyente mo?" she retorted sabay tingin nito sa kliyenteng katabi niya na nagmamay-ari ng isang multimillion company.

He crossed his legs, leaned comfortably on the chair and rubbed his chin. "Ehem...baka nakakalimutan mo that there's a prenuptial agreement between them. The amount you're asking is too big para sa tatlong taong pagsasama."

"I am not asking an unreasonable amount. My client deserves that compensation para makapagsimula siyang muli ng panibagong buhay."

Lance clapped his hand while shaking his head. "Wow! You're amazing! You're making me curious kung anong klaseng buhay yang tinutukoy mo na nangangailangan ng thirty million pesos para makapagsimula," sarkastikong sagot niya sabay tingin sa kliyente ng kausap na noon ay nakayuko at umiiwas ng tingin sa asawa.

Kita niyang napakuyom ng kamay si Clarisse. "Stop being sarcastic! My client endured and suffered a lot from this marriage. She is mentally, physically and emotionally abused. Ano ba naman ang thirty million pesos kumpara sa daan-daang milyones na asset ni Mr. Co! Can he at least compensate his wife sa lahat ng mga pagtitiis na ginawa nito?"

"Your accusing my client for mentally and emotionally torturing a type of wife who spent most of her time shopping, partying, gambling and drinking? Atty. Calderon masyado mo naman yatang hinihele yang kliyente mo."

"Oo ginagawa niya yan but that's because she needed some outlet to release her stress and pains. Your client is a womanizer, adulterer and most of all a wife-batterer!" gigil na pahayag ng abogada.

Lance leaned forward and take a closer look of Clarisse. "Do you have proof on that?" halos pabulong na sabi niya.

Natahimik ng ilang saglit ang babae.

Tinawanan niya ang pananahimik nito. "What to do? You're accusing my client based only on what Mrs. Co said while our side got all the evidences of her inappropriate actions." Pinalo niya ang mesa sabay na nagseryoso ng mukha. "Ten million pesos!"

"Thirty million pesos! Our demand won't change!" pagmamatigas ni Clarisse.

"Atty. Calderon stop teaching your client how to be greedy," nang-aasar na sambit niya.

"Fifteen million pesos. Take it or leave it, Atty. Perez!"

"Then... see you in court," sabay ligpit niya sa mga gamit sa mesa. "Siguraduhin niyo lang na may sapat kayong ebidensiya to defend your claim," nakangising paalala niya.

Hinawakan bigla ni Mrs. Co ang braso ng abogada at bumulong dito.

Tumingin sa kanya si Clarisse with less intensity. She cleared her throat first. "Twenty million pesos."

"No," he firmly disagreed.

The wife whisper again to her lawyer.

"Fifteen million pesos," Clarisse said in a much lower voice.