Sa halip na isang linggong leave, bumalik na ako sa ospital after three days kasi naasikaso ko na ang mga hinihingi ni Johann sa akin. Sabi niya siya na bahala sa settlement computation. We have been in constant communication since then.

"So, I asked a good friend of mine who knows the owners of Amaryllis to let me check the CCTV records of that night. She said it might take a while to review but she's willing to help," Johann reported. "What time do you think it happened?"

"Shortly before midnight," I said almost immediately. "Kasi pagkatapos nun, lumabas kami sa parking at sinalubong yung birthday ng friend ko. I was there because it was her birthday."

"Fantastic! Now it's easier to narrow it down. I can't believe you guys didn't think of checking out the footage sooner. I mean, well, you found out last but Chino should have known better," he said. "Sorry, not sorry for bashing our friend."

"In fairness to him, I think he found out just a day or maybe a couple of hours before I did. He was busy with something else."

"Ang sabihin mo, he is busy working with your ex because he is prettier than you," he teased. Hindi nya ako kita dahil sa telepono lang kami nag-uusap pero napanganga ako sa kaprankahan nya. Hindi ko alam kung mamasamain ko komento nya. Natawa na lang ako.

"Gaano mo katagal pinigilan sarili mo para sabihin 'yon?"

"Since the day we met. Pero mukhang malungkot ka that time and it was the first time we met so I thought it wasn't appropriate. Yet," sinabi nya habang natatawa. "No offense, doc, you're gorgeous but I think Mr. Jackson is sizzling! Too bad he's straight. And he only has eyes for a certain someone."

Biglang nawala ang ngiti sa mukha ko. Biglang hindi ko na gusto si Johann. Ayaw ko na syang kausap. Lecheng baklang to, he lifted me up just to crush my heart. Oo, affected ako!

"Anyway, thanks for the update. How soon can you get the footage?" I asked. Kailangan kong magfocus sa problema ko with Collin for now. Saka na yang kay Jaxx kasi he also has a problem of his own na mas malala sa akin.

Apparently, Grace is accusing him of rape and the video, according to a lot of people, showed Jaxx was guilty. Pero sabi naman ni Chino hindi sapat yung ebidensya kasi hindi kita lahat.

Hindi ko naman alam laman nung scandal nila. I just know that Jaxx's reputation has been marred. Merong nagdedepensa sa kanya pero mas maraming tao ang nagko-condemn sa kanya. Kasi nga naman mayaman sya at may impluwensya. Pwedeng-pwede sya talaga gumawa ng ganyan.

Except that they were accusing Jaxx and I believe he is innocent with every fiber in my body. He isn't the type to force himself upon someone. He respected me so much and I think he extends the same respect to his other women.

"In a day or two. I'll let you know. This is easy as pie. We'll be ready before we appear before the fiscal and I'm pretty sure direchong settlement na, at wala nang masasabi pa si Collin," sabi nya.

"Confident ah!"

"Of course, dear. I do my work thoroughly. And I think your case would be pretty straightforward once we get that CCTV footage. Let's just pray it hasn't been tampered with or that Collin hasn't gotten to it before us."

With everything falling into place, I might have a peaceful birthday after all.

Naisipan kong kamustahin ang kaso ni Jaxx kaya tinawagan ko si Chino.

"Hey Chingks, how did your primary investigation go?"

"Preliminary investigation, Cars. Not so good. The investigator thought it was prima facie evidence that Jaxx was guilty of the crime."

"Normal person's language, please."

"Basta, basing on the clip, Jaxx is a sexual offender and he needs to be tried."

"Talaga? Fuck, that's awful!"

"Mo lang! But we still have a chance. If only I could get the original clip to show for certain that there was no penetration –"

"Chingks, I don't think I want to know that. TMI." Gusto kong masuka nang marinig ko 'yon. Pero natawa lang si Chino.

"Cars, it's the only way to prove that Jaxx didn't rape her, because we all know he didn't. Jaxx is not a sexual offender. Also, I have a feeling there was more to that clip. We need to know who filmed it. Jaxx has an idea but he doesn't know his name or how to find him."

"You mean to say there was a witness to the act?"

"Someone filmed it. Both of Jaxx's and Grace's hands were seen and it was taken from a few feet away to actually see – are you sure you want to hear this?" he cut himself off.

"Nope. Thanks. Pero if there was a third party na hindi kilala ni Jaxx, kilala ba ni Grace? San ba to nangyari? Some modeling after party? Surely may ibang kakilala si Jaxx at Grace doon,"

"Hindi raw talaga maalala ni Jaxx e. It happened while he was in Japan last April. He said Grace invited him to a party. So, yeah it was someone who Grace knew. We're defending that he was set up. Sabi niya wala na syang maalala masyado sa pangyayari. He insisted that –dammit! Hold on. Seb's calling me. It's the fifth time since we started talking. I'll call you later," he said and immediately dropped the call.

I stared at the phone, surprised at what just happened but biglang pumasok sa callroom.

"Babe! Guess who did a perfect Whipple's!" tili ni Kaloy. Maaga natapos ang OPD clinic and rounds ko kaya nasa callroom na ako waiting for them after the endorsements. Sabay silang pumasok ni Jasmine. 

"Congratulations!"

"Hindi ako," he deadpanned pero binawi niya bigla. "Joke! Ako nga! Ako ang nagwagi!"

"Babe, ano na balita sa sex scandal mo?" Kaloy asked.

"Hindi sya sex scandal, ano ba," I rolled my eyes. "Makikipagkita kami this Monday with Collin and his lawyers. Hopefully, my lawyer would be able to get the original CCTV footage from Amaryllis then sabi niya it's a closed case na."

"Wow, bilis ah! Dapat kasama sa conditions mo na i-retract ni Collin statement nya na you're together and that he should admit to harassing you. He should confess online, in print, and on TV!" he said.

"Hmmm, oo nga, 'no? I should tell Johann to make sure nasa conditions yun. And a restraining order for fifty years."

"Fifty years? E pano kapag buhay pa kayo dalawa nun?"

"Kadiri to! Tingin mo maiisip nya pang mangmanyak at eighty?" nagtawanan kami tatlo.

"Well, if he were as hot as your ex then ako maiisip ko pang mangmanyak," sabat ni Kaloy at nagtawanan na naman kami. Nasa callroom kami ngayon nagtatrabaho para sa research papers namin.

Lagi nila akong tinutukso tungkol kay Jaxx – how hot he is, how fuckable he is, how they'd drug him and sexually harass him. Biro naman lahat iyon kaya medyo nabigla sila noon lumabas ang video ni Jaxx and Grace. They think Jaxx was drugged kasi mukhang wala daw sya sa sarili.

My heart was full when they showed full support of Jaxx's innocence even though they don't know the guy. Kilala lang nila sya base sa mga kwento ko. Nakita nila sya minsan na kasama si Justin at nakausap sya minsan ni Jasmine sa Cancer Center habang nagche-chemo si Tita Ella.

"Sexy pa rin ng ex mo, girl. I saw their video. The girl looks like a mercenary bitch. Maganda sya pero parang acting lang. While your ex looks hot as fuck when he's out of his mind," Jasmine teased while typing on her laptop.

"Can we not talk about him? I really don't have the energy to discuss him right now."

"Bakit ba hanggang ngayon iniiwasan mo sya? Akala ko ba alam na niya ang tungkol kay Justin? Dapat gumagawa ka na ng paraan na magkabalikan kayo. Or at least, be civil with one another para may family na marecognize ni Justin," Kaloy asked.

"Yes, pero di ako alam kung pinatawad nya na ako."

"Bakit hindi ka humngi ng tawad? Sure ka bang hindi ka pa niya pinapatawad? Baka naman pinatawad ka na nya tapos eto ka na naman naghihintay na siya lumapit sa iyo or di kaya si Justin na naman gumawa ng paraan," he continued to pry.

Alam kong gusto lang nila na maging buo pamilya namin. Alam nilang yun din ang gusto ko. Pero ayoko kasi talaga na pinapangunahan ako sa mga plano ko or nag-aassume ang mga tao na wala akong ginagawa.

I already tried talking to him na diba? And failed miserably. Hindi pa lang naulit kasi lumabas na ang mga skandalo na 'to.

"Hindi pa kami nakapag-usap ulit e. Besides, he has a bigger problem right now."

"He has a more pressing problem. But bigger? I don't think so. What's bigger than a broken family?" he pressed on.

"Look, magkakilala na ang mag-ama ko. Mission one accomplished na. Saka na lang kami ni Jaxx. Hindi ko pa siya kayang harapin."

"Hay naku Cara. Minsan gusto talaga kitang sabunutan. Masyado kang pabebe, girl! Put on your big girl panties and fix your shit! Hindi yung lagi ka na lang naghihintay na may ibang gagawa ng paraan pa maayos yung problema mo!

Hindi naman kailangan sequential ang problem solving e. Hindi prerequiste na magkakilala sila ni Justin bago kayo magkabalikan or maging magkaibigan kayo ulit," biglang sabat ni Jasmine.

"Biruin mo, your son told Jaxx about himself. That was your burden, Cars. Your sister told Jaxx about your pregnancy, kahit na it was an accident. Then, nung nag threatened abortion ka, he found out himself. Tapos ano nangyari, e di nagkanda leche-leche yung buhay ng mga kaibigan mo nang dahil sayo!"

"It was my prerogative to keep that information and tell it only to people who I think should know!"

"At yung ama ng bata was not part of the list of the people who you think should know?"

"That's none of your business!" singhal ko.

"Jesus! You're infuriating!" Jasmine stood up and picked up her things

"Girls, tama na," Kaloy said, trying to diffuse the situation.

"Eto kasing si Jas e, nangingialam sa buhay ng may buhay!"

"Hindi naman kita papakialaman kung una, hindi kita kaibigan. Kung ayaw mo na akong maging kaibigan okay lang. Pero may pangalawang rason pa ako para pakialaman ang buhay mo: kasi ginugulo mo ang buhay ko!

"If you're pushover friends are willing to accept all the crap you're giving them, well, ibahin mo ako, girl. This girl does not take shit from anyone, especially from insensitive friends who think they deserve all the understanding and forgiveness without working for it!"

"Ano ba problema mo? May nagawa ba ako sayo?? If you find Jaxx so hot and you want to fuck him, e di by all means go! You can sleep with him all you want! See if I care!"

"See? See how unbelievable your friend is, Kaloy?" sarkasitong tawa ni Jas. Hindi na nakapagsalita si Kaloy kasi hindi nya pa nakita ng ganito ka galit si Jasmine. Kahit ako man, I've never seen her so triggered.

"Pinapamigay nya na lang ng basta si Jaxx na parang wala siyang pakialam. Pero kapag nalaman niyang may ibang babae si Jaxx or nung nalaman nya na he and Grace were back together, sinong nagmumukmok at nag-iiiyak? Sinong laging lutang pumapasok?

"Hindi mo ba natanong sa sarili mo, Cars, ni minsan, who's helping you and who's making your life easier? Akala mo ba na basta na lang nagkakaroon ng labs and scans yung mga pasyente mo na hindi mo nirarounds? Akala mo ba yung juniors mo hindi nagkakandarapang ayusin yung mga kaso mo para lang ma-operahan na ang mga pasyente at hindi ka malalagot sa consultants?

"Girl, hindi 'yon magic! Singing magical dwarves don't exist! Hindi ka Disney princess! Tao gumagawa lahat nun, at may mga pangalan sila! Kaloy, Jasmine, Francis, Juno, Eric, Joseph, Eden, Carissa, Sean!" inisa-isa nya ang mga residents.

"Thanks for the help but I didn't ask you to help me. I asked you to give me a little time. Sinasabi ko naman kung kailangan ko ng tulong e," sagot ko. "Kung isusumbat mo lang pala 'yon sa akin, e di sana hindi mo na lang tinulungan at hinayaan mo na lang ako na–"

Pak!

Jasmine's hand met my cheek. I was too stunned to react, napanganga lang ako. Kaloy gasped before there was a faint ringing in my ears. Napahawak ako sa pisngi ko. I have never been slapped before.

"You are an awful, ungrateful, inconsiderate, selfish, self-centered, stubborn, disrespectful, and useless bitch, Cara. Bukal sa loob kong tulungan ka pero hindi bukal sa loob kong bastusin mo ako. Imbes mag 'thank you' ka na lang, nanumbat ka pa.

"Well, fuck you, too. You don't want our help? Fine! In fact, mas mabuti! I don't have to think of your patients and your kids anymore. You want me to fuck Jaxx? With pleasure! Hingin ko na lang kay Derek number niya. I'm sure he can get it for me. Or I can get it from the patient records section," Jasmine said as she zipped her bag. "You want me to send you a video of us fucking, too?"

I was still too stunned to move, both from her slap and from the words that were coming out of her mouth.

"Kaloy, una na ako. I can't stand to be in the same room with this user."

Once Jasmine was out the door, Kaloy turned to me. "Okay ka lang?"

"No. What the hell just happened? What was her problem?" unti-unti nang bumalik ang pakiramdam sa buong katawan ko at naramdaman ko na ang sakit sa pisngi ko. My blood started to boil remember Jas's last words to me. Ang kapal din ng mukha nya!

Hindi sumagot si Kaloy. Instead, he started packing his things, too.

"Aalis ka rin? Don't tell me you're siding with her?" hindi ako makapaniwala sa ginagwa ni Kaloy.

"Babe, toxic na ang mood, hindi ako makakapagtrabaho dito at deadline na nito next week," he started to explain.

"And I'm not taking sides, pero tama lahat ng sinabi ni Jasmine and you should think about what she said. You're being ungrateful and selfish and hurtful. The least you could have done was acknowledge the efforts of everyone around you but you're too proud to accept that. Kaibigan mo kami kaya sana you will value us as such. Hindi lang basta mga utusan."

"Well, that escalated quickly," I said sarcastically. Not taking sides but he just did!

"Hmm, maybe. But it was bound to happen, sooner or later." He shrugged and walked to the door. "It's not fear that's stopping you from moving on, babe. It's pride."