Today is my second hearing. The lawyer said to me na malabo na malusutan ko ang kaso, Oo, marahil na tama siya, dahil kahit saan naman na angulo na tignan ay walang paraan para malusutan ko ang kaso. I know Mitch will make a way, I trust her. Sobrang kinakabahan ako, I don't know if I can get away to it. Gusto kong maging matapang, pero paano kung nandito naman ako sa loob. Plus, I have not seen Nikko these days, well sa kaso ko ba naman hindi ko siya dapat na makita. I don't know where he is, Michael told me that there is nothing for me to worry. 

Hinawakan ni Aling Melba ang kamay ko, bilang pagsuporta niya sa akin.  Masaya ako dahil kahit papaano gumagaan ang pakiramdam ko dahil alam kong meron ako kasama. Kung magtagal man ako loob, I'll be happy to have them. 

"Malalagpasan mo to Yan Eris. Maging positibo ka dapat."

"Maraming salamat" It is hard to be, I can't help to be pessimist. I don't know, wala naman na kong lusot. Oo handa ako lumaban. Kung magpakatatag dito sa loob, iyon na lang ang makikita kong paglaban ko.

Why is it unfair? Nandito ako sa loob! Napabuga ako ng hangin para kahit papaano mailabas ko ang bigat sa loob ko. 

"Kung makulong man ako, Alam ko na kahit papano ay nasa mabuting kalagayan ako dahil nandyan kayo. Hindi ko kasi alam kung makakalabas pa ko." Aling Melba laughs sarcastically. 

"Ano ba yang pinagsasasabi mo. Lalabas ka sa lugar na ito naintindihan mo."

Tumango ako, kahit walang kasiguraduhan. Sige, magtitiwala ako. Kailangan, in this challenge I know this will be one of the schemes to be pessimist. Tama si Aling Melba kailangan maging positibo ako, magtiwala at maging matatag. Dito papatunayan ko na lalaban ako.

"Eris, mag-ayos ka na, bawal nahuhuli kapag may hearing." Kusa akong napangiti,nang makita ko siya pa ang naghanda ng mga damit ko. I just missed the feeling na may Nanay na umaasikaso sayo. I just don't experience it with my own mother. 

Dahil dito mas lumalakas ang loob ko. May pulis na rin na sumundo sa akin. Natawa ako nang parang bata na kumakaway-kaway si Tina at si Aling Melba naman tahimik lang na nakatanaw sa amin. 

 Pagpasok sa hall sinalubong ako ni Taylor. She is in her full smiles and hugged me tight. Sobra siyang naeexcite ngayon.  I shrugged, I guess this is one of the signs that I should be optimistic. 

Today is your big day Eris, Smile!" She lift my chin up. Pero bakit ganoon siya kasaya na parang walang nangyari kahapon. What is so special about this day aside from masisintensyahan na ko. Agad na rin kami na umupo na kami sa may pwesto namin. 

 Maya-maya kinalabit ako ni Taylor, Lauren just gave me a grin.She has her heads up, and a lawyer being accompanied by her.  She stands with confidence that she will win this war,. lInirapan niya ako. hindi pa rin siya dumadating. Napatingin ako sa upuan ko, wala pa rin si Mitch. I clammed my both hands to release tensions inside me. Where the hell is she? Hindi naman niya ako ilalaglag dito, or something else happen to her.

Lauren gave an evil grin to me.  No, that can't be. Wala siyang puwede na gawin kay Mitch. Gusto ko siyang sugurin, gusto ko siyang saktan. Hindi na pupwede tong ginagawa niya. How should I, any wrong move, mas madadagdagan pa ang hatol sa akin. Bakit niya ako patuloy na ginaganito, She will make sure that I feel helpless at all time.

I clenched my fist, hindi na puwede to. 

The door opens napatingin ko. How it could be?

Everyone were surprised on Anikka's arrival. Me as well, mas lalo akong nagulat.  paano siya napunta dito? It must be Mitch.  She walks to the aisle fiercely making everyone stunned to her. She walks like she owns the crowd, ibang iba na siya talaga sa Anikka na kilala ko, sobrang layo na rin nang narating niya. 

Natauhan ako nang lumapit sa akin si Lauren.

"Hindi ko inakala na sa'yo pala pupunta si Atty.  Aragon. You know what? I've ask her first dahil alam ko ang credibilities niya because I want you rot." I plainly look at her, I wanted to shout out to her face who is Anikka for me. Parang close sila a?

"Even if you have Atty. Aragon, kahit anong gawin mo hindi ka mananalo dito.  Alam mo naman na wala siyang natatalong kaso. Huwag mo naman sirain ang reputasyon ng kaibigan mo. " She said in her pitiful voice. Sobrang nakakairita. 

"Ehem."

"Ow,  Atty.  Aragon,  it is a pleasure--"

"Stop talking non-sense to my client." Sinamaan lang siya ng tingin ni Lauren,  nakipagsukatan din naman ng tingin si Anikka sa kanya. She seems to be starstrucked at her, ni hindi man lang siya makagalaw. How brave is she when she face me, ngayon halos hindi na siya makagalaw. 

"Also,  dont even dare underestimate my capabilities, hindi mo alam ang ano pang kaya kong gawin,  lalo na sa mga nakakalaban ko sa kaso.  So would you mind to go away." Umirap lang si Lauren at nagpunta sa puwesto niya. 

Napahilot na lang si Anikka sa sentido niya, animo stress na stress siya. 

"That bitch is crazy." 

"Akala ko si Mitch yung-" Ngumiti lang si Anikka sa akin. 

"No.  Mitch asked me to do this,  dahil alam namin na tatanggi ka kung ako mismo ang mag-ooffer sayo."

"Kung hindi pa lumapit yang Lauren na yan sa akin di ko pa malalaman. Why did you not call us in first place,  you have lots of lawyer friends and you just chose an incompetent one." Tumingin siya doon sa Lawyer ko na nakatayo sa gilid.

"Ayoko nang idamay pa kayo,  tanggap ko na. Salamat na lang sa tulong mo."

"Stop being dramatic my friend.  Hindi mo bagay,  you are not Eris that I know."

"Anikka naman."

"I assure you we will win this. You have me." She winked.

Anikka starts to start holding her envelope, while listening to Lauren's lawyer. She seems so bored, parang hindi man lang natatakot sa abogading to. She's to confident while it is clear na this attorney wins the case. 

"These evidences proves that Ms.  Magdayo's commit adultery." The attorney shows those pictures, iyon ang mga kuha na kumalat all over the media. Now I know na si Lauren ang may pakana ng lahat ng ito. 

Hindi pa ba yun bago Eris. The attorney finished her statement habang si Anikka confident na confident pa rin, ni hindi man lang siya kinakabahan.  She lift up her left brow before she starts speaking. She always do that when she knew she will win something o kaya confident siya sa mga statements niya. 

"Your honor, I think there is nothing wrong with those pictures as long as they are Mr. Sarmiento ang my client is unattached." 

Kita ko ang gulat sa mukha ni Taylor, bumulong siya sa abogado niya. Pero teka, ano ba itong sinasabi niya.

"Objection your honor,  my client is married with Mr.  Sarmineto."

"Objection decline. Atty. Aragon please continue."

Anikka just grinned na para bang hindi apektado sa sinasabi nang abugado ni Lauren. Tinaasan lang ni Anikka ng kilay. 

"As I have said, both parties were unattached, means they are single"

Tumayo muli ang lawyer ni Lauren. "How could you say that? This is the marriage contract of Lauren and Nicholas Sarmiento."

That lawyer stopped talking as Anikka raised a certain document and present it to the judge.

"Your honor, I am afraid that there's falsification to your file, because I have here a Certification of no Marriage of Mr.  Nicholas Sarmiento." Inabot ni Anikka ang papel. "You can check its authenticity and I am very confident for it. You know my credibility judge and I wont provide falsified evidences."

Ngumiti lang si Anikka, she gives me a simple thumbs up of winning the case. Pero teka, ano ang sinabi niya? Nikko and Lauren were not married? Paano? I saw it with my own eyes. 

  "Which clearly means that he is not married to anyone, therefore my client does not commit any of your accusations because Mr.  Sarmiento is not married to anyone. We have a witness to state that."

Nagulat si Lauren sa nakita niya. Paanong hindi, it is her mom walking on the aisle. Agad siyang lumapit dito at pinigilan na lumapit sa amin.

"Mommy no!" Aniya at hinila ang mommy niya palabas, pero pumiglas lang si Mrs. Sarmiento.

"Order in the court!" Pareho silang natigilan. 

"Judge, I am ready." Tumingin siya kay Anikka. "Attorney?" Tumango lang si Anikka. 

"Itigil mo na itong kahibangan mo Lauren." Umiling-iling lang si Lauren, she cried begging her mom not to go. Still her mom stands still, itininayo niya ang nakaluhod na si Lauren. "Tama na to Lauren."

She sits on the witness' chair and swear to say the truth, then she starts telling everything. 

"Nicholas is my adopted son. I did not expect that my Lauren will fall in love with his brother." Pinunasan niya ang tumulong luha niya. As I see, she acted up to be tough, alam kong mahirap rin sa kanya ang ginagawa niya. I did not expect this doing it against her daughter. As I know about her, she always stands with Lauren. 

" I don't want this, because I raised both of them as siblings. Kahit labag sa loob ko, I just prefer to make my daughter happy. Ganun naman ang maging isang ina. She is my precious. Kinunsinti ko ang gusto niya, I also agreed sa gusto niyang pakasalan si Nikko.I fixed everything. Hindi ko kaya na makita na tuluyan maikasal ang dalawang taong pinalaki ko bilang magkapatid. So, I faked it, nagpagawa ako ng pekeng contrata.  Because of this decision ang dami na palang nasasaktan and my daughter becomes in her worst." Tumingin siya kay Lauren. "This is not you dear, para rin sayo ang ginagawa ko." Aniya at pinusan muli ang kanyang mga luha. 

"No mommy, no! Paano mo nagawa sa akin ito." Agad siyang lumapit kay Mrs. Sarmiento pero pinigilan siya ng abogado niya. Nagwala siya nang inawat siya nito.  Sumensyas ang judge na palabasin ang kampo ni Lauren. I feel pity for her, alam kong mahirap ang nasa sitwasyon niya, her mom statnd against her, for what?

The judge had 30 minute recess to think about the case. Anikka held my hand assuring that we will win the case. 

................................

" Erisha Mariz Magdayo is proven not guilty." As the judge say it my heart skipped. I can't believe it happens. O baka naman nanaginip lang ako. 

"I told you,  you should trust me." Bulong sa akin ni Anikka.

The Judge declare the hearing ends. I am  a free woman, importantly, wala akong kaso. I did not expect this thing to come. Thank God for everything. I can't explain this feeling, one thing for sure. I am so glad na nalampasan ko to. I though I am hopeless, na hindi na ko makakalis sa sitwasyon na ito. I am so happy, these persons lend their hands to keep me away from darkness again. 

"See! I told you we will get out of you here." Taylor said and hugged me excitedly, halos ayaw na niya akong bitawan kung hindi lang tumikhim si Anikka. 

"Attorney, you are so great out there. So breathtaking." Sabi ni Tayloe at nagthumbs up pa.

"I won't be here if I am not the best dear." Anikka smiled at Taylor. Tumango-tango lang siya.

"Yeah, very well indeed."

Agad akong yumakap sa kanya. She is really my best friend. Kahit halos sirain ko na silang dalawa ni Lukas noon, she still here and help me get out of this case.

"Salamat talaga Anikka.  Maraming salamat! Utang na loob ko sa'yo to."

"Shh.  I am your friend and I am happy to help you." She grinned "So,  Why dont you just go back to Nikko's arms since pareho naman talaga kayong single."

Sumingit si Taylor. "Correct, Happy happy na!!"

Umiling lang ako. They just respond their disappointed faces. 

"Hindi na siguro. Tama na itong nangyari.  Oo pareho na kaming malaya ngayon,  pero kasi pag kasama ko siya may laging may masamang nangyayari sa aming dalawa."

Umiling lang si Anikka. Alam kong hindi sila sang-ayon dito, pero para sa akin ito ang pinakatamang gawin. I've through lot of things. Tama na siguro na I should settle and have peace of mind.

"Eris,  wala nang sinuman ang pipigil sa inyo ngayon. Wag kang nartyr.  Go your happiness." I hold Anikka and Taylor's hand.

"Anikka, Taylor,  sa mga nangyari sa amin ngayon,  nagpagtanto ko na hindi kami ni Nikko para sa isa't isa."

Tumaas ang kilay ni Anikka."So anong plano mo? "

"I will just stay in New York for good.  Since plano ko naman na iexpand ang Amaya doon. "

"Eris." Pag-awat sa akin ni Taylor. I know they want me to go back with Nikko. Maganda na rin na hindi kami magkatuluyan na dalawa.  Sa kabila ng lahat I should love myself better than anyone else. Also, I like to thank God for this dahil binigyan niya ako ng mga kaibigan na handang tumulong sa akin.

"I will be fine thank you."

"Ikaw talaga." Kinurot ni Anikka ang pisngi ko. "Siguraduhin mo lang yan ha, baka bukas malaman ko nagdadate na kayo ni Nikko." Pareho natawa ang dalawa.

"If that is to be destined, we'll get there. Pero mas gusto kong unahin muna sarili ko, to heal." Tumango silang dalawa na tila ba sangayon sila sa sinasabi ko at naintindihan ang pinupunto ko. 

"By the way Anikka, I want to know, how do you figure out all of things things." 

Napangiti si Anikka. I know that smile of hers na parang tinatagong kalokohan.

"Long story Eris."

..........

LAST EIGHT CHAPTERS! Hope you still support till the end. Love lots!