"Objection, Your Honor!" biglang angal ni Atty. Yara. Sabay nilang hinampas ang kanilang mga kamay sa mesa. Napawi ang lahat ng yabang nya at sa isang iglap namutla sya na parang kabuki dancer. Kahit si Jaxx napanganga nang makita namin syang pumasok mula sa kanang parte ng silid.

"Ano na naman ngayon, Atty. Yara? Ano, hindi niyo na ba patatapusin ang kasong ito?" galit na tanong ni Judge. Nang hindi makapagrason ang abogada, hinayaan ng huwes na maupo na ang witness.

Kaming lahat nakatutok lamang sa kanya hanggang sa makaupo siya sa stand. Pormal at konserbatibo ang suot nitong burgundy na shift dress na may cap sleeves at nagtatapos sa may tuhod nya. Hindi sya naka killer heels ngayon, kundi three-inch stilettos lang na kulay itim.

"Please state your name."

" Grace Nelson."

"Do you swear by the Almighty God that the evidence you shall give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"

"I solemnly and sincerely declare and affirm that the evidence I shall give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth," Grace affirmed.

Hindi sila handa sa alas na pinalabas ni Johann. Kahit ako man, I had no idea what she was doing here. Hindi ko rin alam if I could trust her. Baka bigla na lang niya kaming ilaglag. Kaya siguro ako kinabahan kanina. Maybe this is why I felt na merong masamang mangyari.

Nang nagsampa ako ng karagdagang kaso laban kay Collin, binawi ni Grace ang mga akusasyon niya laban kay Jaxx. Gumawa sya ng statement sa social media na binabawi nya ang mga ibinintang nya kay Jaxx, na wala siyang ginawa na labag sa kalooban niya. Inamin niya na walang alam si Jaxx sa nangyari at may ibang tao na dapat sisihin.

Wala pang sampung minuto na nagpahayag si Grace, bumalik na si Jaxx bilang most eligible bachelor, this time dumami pa nangha-hunting sa kanya kasi maganda lahat ng sinabi ni Grace tungkol sa kanya.

Tahimik ang buong korte at sinimulan na ni Johann na kwestiyunin si Grace, simula sa paano niya kakilala si Collin at kung ano ang relasyin nilang dalawa. Lahat ng tanong ni Johann tinatatag niya ang kredibilidad ni Grace at kung ano ang partisipasyon nya sa pangyayari.

Pareho ang lahat ng sinabi nya sa witness stand sa mga naamin nya na sa akin noong gabi na tumakas kami kay Collin. Mas madrama lang ng konti pero wala siyang binago sa mga katotohanan. Same facts, same confession. Okay na sana kaso when Johann was finished, Atty. Yara stood up to cross-examine her.

Inayos nya ang upo niya, halatang kinabahan, but she held her chin up at nilabanan ang makamandag na titig ng abogada.

"You made a deal with my client. Correct?"

"Objection, vague," walang gana na singit ni Johann. Sinamaan sya ng tingin ng defense attorney pero binago rin nito ang tanong.

"You made a deal with my client to frame and blackmail Mr. Jackson. Correct?"

"Yes."

"Then could it be that you made a deal with Mr. Jackson now to frame Mr. Diaz and blackmail Mr. Diaz?"

"No."

"No? Kamakailan lamang nagsampa ka ng kaso laban kay Mr. Jackson na ginahasa ka nya. Ilang linggong nakalipas malalaman namin na binawi mo ito at bigla na lang tumetestigo ka rito para proteksyonan ang ex-girlfriend niya. Hindi 'yon normal na gawain, Ms. Nelson. In fact, kaduda-duda siya."

"Objection!"

"Overruled. Continue." Ngumisi si Atty. Yara kay Johann.

"Magkano ang binayad di Mr. Jackson sa mga serbisyo mo this time?"

"Wala siyang binayad at wala siyang ibang inalok sa akin. Kusang-loob akong pumunta rito," gigil niyang sagot.

"Ayon kay Mr. Diaz, hindi ka basta-bastang gagawa ng bagay na walang kapalit - money, fame, connections, a spot at the Victoria Secret catwalk," mabigat nyang bigkas. Poised pa rin si Grace ngunit nakita kong kinuyom nya mga kamay niya at nilingon ng saglit si Collin.

"Mr. Diaz is your employer, correct?"

"Yes."

"Seeing your portfolio, I think he has done a wonderful job as a manager to get you to places. Surely, you have been compensated for these very well. May nagawa ba sya sa iyo para sa pagtataksil na ito? Maybe he wasn't able to land you your coveted Milan Autumn Fashion show in exchange for sexual favors?"

"Objection, Your Honor! Prejudicial!"

"Ano na naman? Kailangan nating malaman kung gaano ka 'credible' tong witness mo. She never walks away empty-handed so what's in it for her this time?"

"Your Honor –"

"Did Mr. Jackson offer to have proper sex with you in exchange for your testimony?"

Napasinghap ang mga tao sa silid. Nakita kong napangiti si Collin habang si Grace naman ay naluluha na. Napamura si Jaxx at humagikgik lamang si Collin. Lumingon ako sa likod at nakitang pinipigilan na ni Chino at ni Dad si Jaxx. Nangigilaiti na to sa galit.

"Objection!"

"Sustained! The court will dismiss that question. Atty. Yara, I'm giving you a warning."

"What did Mr. Jackson offer you, in exchange for your admission of his innocence and Mr. Diaz's culpability?" binalik nya attensyon nya sa modelo.

"Nothing!" giit naman ni Grace. Halatang ginagalit lang siya ni Atty. Yara para magin emosyonal at magkamaling sumagot, kung sakali.

"Imposible," panunya niya. " Bakit mo naman pahihiyain ang amo mo na nagpaganda ng career mo nang walang kapalit? Magkano ang kapalit o di kaya, ano ang kapalit?"

"I have my reasons and it has nothing to do with Jaxx!" sigaw nito kay Atty. Yara. Ramdam ko ang galit nya kahit pa pinipigilan niya. Kung pwede lang, baka nasunog nya na si Atty. Yara sa tindi ng galit na nagliliyab sa mga mata nya.

"Oh, first name basis. Kung sabagay, ganoon nga naman siguro talaga kung madalas nyong tinutulungan ang isa't-isa kapalit ng mga... pabor. Basing on your testimony, magtatrabaho ka para matikman ang isang tao. So kung hindi pera, sino ang kapalit?"

"Your Honor!"

"Sit down, Atty. Valverde! One more unnecessary outburst from you and I will have you thrown out of my court!"

"Jesus, this is unbelievable!" Johann threw his hands up in the air.

"I'm warning you, attorney!" the judge glared at him.

Dahan-dahan naglakad ang defense attorney palapit sa witness stand, na para bang lawin na nag-iikot sa mapayapang langit pero ang mga mata nitoy nakatutok na sa kanyang biktima. Ngumisi sya pero hindi kumurap. Rinig ang bawat talak ng kanyang high heels habang nilalaro nya ang bolpen sa kamay niya.

"You have a motive in turning the tables against my client, Ms. Nelson. Basing your testimony and on the track record in his company, your allegiance can be bought. You immediately jump ship and go to the winning side, or to whomever you would benefit more. I don't think that speaks very well of your credibility. However, it speaks volumes of your motives."

"Now, we all know you aren't exactly virginal or altruistic. You know your way around this business and I should say I'm proud of you for making it so far up in the professional ladder. A few more beds and you're off to the same supermodel pedestal as Gigi and Kendall."

"You bitch!" Grace seethed as she gripped the edge of the witness box. I could see she was trying to control herself pero mukhang nananalo si Atty. Yara sa pambabastos sa kanya.

"Language, Ms. Nelson!" The judge warned her. "Atty. Yara, that was contemptuous. That's your last warning."

"So there is something that Mr. Jackson is better at or more capable of obtaining for you than Mr. Diaz. Because why else would you suddenly shift sides, right? Did you suddenly have divine enlightenment that you want to play Ms. Heroine?

"No. I told you this has nothing to do with Mr. Jackson!"

"Oh, come on! Gawin mo naman 'tong kapanipaniwala! Halata naman na hindi ka mananalo sa kaso mo laban sa kanya kaya tinigil mo na ito to avoid further embarrassment and damages. At dahil hindi mo kayang bayaran ang moral damages na nagawa mo, naisipan mong pagbayaran siya sa pamamagitan ng mpag testify dito, para sabihin sa lahat na guilty si Mr. Diaz habang walang kasalanan si Dr. Claraval. Tama ba ang hinala ko?"

"Or, wait a minute!" her eyes widen when an idea pops into her head. She dramatically gasps and holds a hand to her chest. "Hindi kaya ginagawa mo 'to so you can get away scot-free? You shifted your alliance with them so you won't be penalized! You negotiated with Mr. Jackson that you won't have to pay him a single cent!"

"Your Honor, objection!"

"Everyone is driven by a goal, a motive. And that right there, Ms. Nelson, is yours. You're not credible. You're just desperate. I hope you will get what's coming to you one day. You're taking advantage of the kindness and of the trust of my client. He wasn't himself that time. He was drugged and instead of helping him, you turned your back against him. Just when he needed you the most," Atty. Yara said dramatically as the ending to her speech. Bumalik ang yabang sa nakakarimarim nyang mukha, na para bang teacher's pet na nabigyan ng attensyon.

"It's about time he gets what he deserved! Mr. Collin Diaz is a sexual predator who takes advantage of women under his employment to satisfy his sexual proclivities and frustrations just because he never had the chance to fuck Cara. I bet he's fucked you many times over, and now he's threatening to rape your sister until she begs for his dick in her mouth because her vagina is already bleeding raw!

Muntik na akong mahulog sa kinaupuan ko. Hindi ko inaasahan ang lahat ng lumabas sa bibig ni Grace. Madiin at paulit-ulit na hinampas ni Judge ang kanyang malete ngunit imbes na tumigil, mas nilakasan pa ni Grace ang boses nya.

"I know this much is true because you tried to rape me, Collin, except that Jaxx got there right before you shoved your dick inside me. And you tried the same with Cara and Jaxx was there again! Oh, how pitiful, the rapist couldn't fuck helplessly drunk girls because Mr. Jackson was there to save the day! Boo hoo hoo!

"Shut up, Grace! I have no idea what you're saying! This has nothing to do with you!"

"But it has everything to do with me you, sick bastard! Ilan na ba ang ginahasa mo, ha? How many have you traded? Too many to count, Collin! Too fucking many! I will make sure you rot in jail and you will never lay a finger on any other female!"

Nagkagulo na sa korte at lumapit na ang mga guard kay Atty. Yara at kay Grace. Judge Babaral pounded her gavel and shouted for order repeatedly. May mga guard na rin na nagbantay para pigilan si Jaxx at si Collin kung saka-sakaling may gagawin silang masama.

Hawak na ng mga babaeng gwardya ang braso ni Grace at pwersado syang pinababa sa witness stand habang may ibang lalakeng guard ang huwak sa braso ni Atty. Yara para pigilan syang dambahin si Grace. Tuamyo ako para lapitan si Grace pero pinigilan ako ni Johann.

"Miss, magkakapasa ako sa higpit ng hawak nyo," singhal ni Grace habang hinihila ang braso nya. Sumama sya sa guard pero bago pa man sya makaalis, lumingon sya kay Atty. Yara at saka tinanong ito.

"Tell me, Viviene, how is your sister?"

"She's none of your business!"

"You mean you don't know? Collin's friend just sent me a photo of her in bed, both hands tied above her head, in some bed pressed against the wall, in a room painted yellow. She was always your dad's little princess and I could see why.

"She grew up very pretty– button nose, big doe eyes, swollen pink lips, a red rose tattoo on her wrist against her pale skin.. But she looked very scared, Viv. And no one is there to save her." Grace tilted her head and pouted. Siya naman ngayon ang nangutya.

Tiningnan ni Atty. Yara si Collin. Hindi sumagot si Collin pero nakatitig lang sya kay Grace. He ground his teeth and his nose flared. Hindi sya nagsalita ngunit yung lang ang kailangan nyang gawin para makupirma ang lahat ng sinabi ni Grace. Her jaw went slack nawala lahat ng dugo nya sa mukha. Lahat ng galit sa mga mata nya ay napalitang ng pagkagulat at takot.

"No, you didn't..." bulong nya habang umiling. Hindi sya makapaniwala sa nangyari. "Collin, nangako ka!"

"Wala sanang nangyari if she didn't testify!" bintang nito kay Grace habang nakaturo sa kanya. "You never knew when to shut up, you stupid, fucking, gold-digging slut!"

"Bakit mo ginawa, Grace? Alam mong may mangyayari kay Rose kapag tumestigo ka, pero ginawa mo pa rin! Walang hiya ka! You fucking, selfish bitch!" sigaw ni Atty. Yara habang nagpupumiglas sa mga kamay ng guard. Umiiyak na sya sa galit at takot para sa kanyang kapatid.

"Bakit mo ginawa, Grace? Alam mong may mangyayari, alam mo kung anong gagawin sa kanya! Inosente sya Grace!" sigaw ni Vivienne habang nagpupumiglas sa kamay ng guard.

"Ako rin, Viv, inosente! Pati si Cara, walang ginawa. Hindi mo ba naisip iyon? Pero pinili mo pa rin depensahan ang isang rapist! Eto alalalahahin mo sa susunod na piliin mong depensahan ang isang demonyong rapist katulad ni Collin dahil nabulag ka sa pera. Sana nakaukit na to sa sa alaala mo, that you sold your sister to the syndicate, that you let Collin go and fuck innocent women dahil nasilaw ka sa putang inang pera!

"Kahit na bestfriend kita pinahamak mo ako! Payback is a bitch, Viv. I hope your sister's demise will haunt you until you die, attorney!"

"Putang ina mo!!" huling sigaw ni Atty. Yara bago sya nakawala sa guard at tumamkbo papunta kung saan si Grace. Nag sitayuan na ang mga tao at nag takbuhan na.

Sinugod ni Jaxx si Collin habang tinakluban naman ako ni Dad. Sabay kaming bumagsak sa sahig at tinulak niya kami ni Johann sa ilalim ng mesa. Patuloy ang sigawan – si Vivienne nagwawala, si Judge Babaral nagsisigaw ng mga utos sa mga guards, may mga lalaking nagmumurahan. Bago ko pa naintindihan ang mga nangyayari, nakarining na lang ako ng tatlong putok.

Then, silence.