Evicted (TLS #2 - COMPLETED)

Article 2 - Section 17

"Good morning, Ms. Velasco. I'm Attorney Alarcon, thanks for gracing me some of your time," pormal kong bati kay Ms. Florrizel Velasco, the ex-wife of the victim and at the same time, the mother of the accused.

Sinuri ako ng ginang mula ulo hanggang paa bago mataray na sinenyasan akong umupo sa kaharap na upuan.

I mentally rolled my eyes.

Ang attitude ni Tita.

"My son is innocent," kabubuka ko palang ng bibig ko para magsalita ng bigla niya iyong sabihin. Nakatingin lang siya sa salaming dingding ng coffee shop kung nasaan kami ngayon.

"My son is innocent," she repeated. Huminga ako ng malalim at pinagsiklop ang mga palad ko sa ibabaw ng lamesa.

"Yes, ma'am. Your son is innocent not until he was proven guilty on court," matapang at puno ng katotohanan kong saad. I saw her taken aback with my response. Nanatili sa ere ang mga kamay niya na may hawak ng tasa.

That's true. In court, you're still innocent as long as the verdict isn't given yet.

Inoccent until proven guilty. That fucking rule that sent thousands of criminals on the loose.

It's because the law sides with the factual evidences and not just speculations. Kahit totoo pa ang sinasabi mo, kahit na totoong inosente ka, without evidences proving your innocence? You're done for! And hello? That's the justice system for you.

Ngumiti ako ng matamis kay Ms. Velasco.

"I'm here to ask you about your past marriage with Mr. Rocky Sison, ma'am," it took her a little while before she finally put her cup down and nodded.

"Proceed," she said and so I started with my probing question before I reached the question relating to the reason why they split up.

"I caught him with that woman on bed. Hindi ko alam kung anong dapat kong maramdaman dahil doon," bahagyang siyang yumukod sa table at tinitigan ako nito sa mga mata.

"Why would he touch that filthy woman, when he can't even touch his wife after years of marriage," I was taken aback and was a little lost with what she meant.

"You see attorney? My ex-husband is gay. He wouldn't even touched me, so I was surprised that she married that woman almost immediately after our divorce,"

"But you have Rocco Sison, ma'am," agad siyang napa-iwas ng tingin ng marinig ang sinabi ko.

"He's not Rocky's son. Tulad ng sinabi ko ay hindi ako ginagagalaw ni Rocky. Rocco is a result of my affair with another guy," amin nito.

Dammit! And now, I had to start all over again!

I need to drop the charges of Parricide in case what she says is true. Hindi maaaring Parricide ang ikaso kung hindi sila tunay na mag-ama. It would then escalate to murder.

"Rocco knew that?" Agad siyang umiling at saglit na sumimsim sa kape.

"Rocky values his name more than anything. Kaya nga hindi makalabas labas ang baklang yun. Ano pa kaya ang aminin sa mundo na naiputan siya ng asawa niya sa ulo? No, he wouldn't give that to the world to see. So he chose to father my child. Ang akala ko ay magiging ayos na kami. He loved Rocco like his own. Pero akala ko lang iyon," agad na bumakas ang pagsisisi sa mukha ni Ms. Velasco.

"When Rocco turned 18. Umandar yata ang kabaklaan ni Rocky, he tried to rape my son pero hindi siya nakapagtagumpay. But Rocco, he suffered depression because of that. Sinabayan pa yan ng pagkakahuli ko sa kanila ng babae niya," What the hell?

I have an idea on what might have happened that night.

Now, all I have to do is to check the validity of this woman's statements.

"But can you support this accusations ma'am?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

"Of course, but my evidences were already given to my son's lawyer," mariin akong napapikit dahil sa narinig.

Too late...

"Well then, thank you for your time ma'am," paalam ko sakanya bago sandaling sumimsim sa kape saking harapan at tuluyan ng tumayo. Tumango naman ito at ibinalik ang atensyon sa pag-tingin sa mga tao sa labas.

"I don't know what's up with Sheena but she's been messing with my son's head up until now, attorney. Sana magawan mo yun ng paraan," ani niya bago siya tumayo at nauna pa saking lumabas ng coffee shop.

I took out my phone and called Venus to schedule a visit with Rocco Sison. And luckily, I can go today.

If all of this match up. I'm doomed.

Naaalala ko na naman ang mukha at sigaw ng mga magulang ko ng malaman nilang natalo ako. Ano pa kaya pag nalaman nilang iisang tao lang ang nakapagbigay sakin ng unang talo at mukhang pati ang pangalawa ay siya rin?

Wala sa sarili na lang ako napabuntong hininga bago tuluyang pumasok sa correction para maka-usap si Rocco.

"Hi attorney!" Nakangiti nitong bati. Kung titingnan mo siya ay napakanormal niya na para bang walang bumabagabag sa kanya, like he didn't care that he's inside the jail, and would probably stay there for all his life.

"You're not with Sheena?" umangat ang kilay ko ng marinig ko ang tanong niya lalo na nang sinubukan niya pang tignan kung may kasunod pa akong papasok sa loob ng visiting area. Napanguso naman siya ng marealize na wala doon ang hinahanap niya.

He sat in front of me, looking so dejected.

"What do you need?" Walang ganang tanong nito malayo sa masayahing boses nito kanina.

"Was she visiting you?" kunwari ay wala lang na tanong ko habang inilalabas ang mga gamit sa bag ko.

"Last week she did, but she hasn't been here for a while," pinilit kong papormalin ang mukha ko kahit na nabigla ako sa naging sagot niya. I then remembered Ms. Velasco's words.

"I don't know what's up with Sheena but she's been messing with my son's head up until now, attorney. Sana magawan mo yun ng paraan,"

"Rocco," tawag ko sa kanya sa pangalan niya.

"Can I call you that?" tanong ko na tinanguan naman niya.

"I wanted to ask. Do you love Sheena?" agad siyang tumango ng sunod sunod.

"How 'bout your dad?" natigilan siya at alangang umiling.

"Does Sheena loves you?"

"Of course!" malakas at halos bayolente na ang pagkakasagot niya noon.

"Sinong mas mahal niya, ikaw o ang Daddy mo?"