Chapter 59

I wanted to take it as if it was the universe intervening.

I already knew that Lui was up to something... I just didn't know for sure. Pero ngayon? Alam ko na talaga na may pina-plano siya. I finally heard it myself.

Change of plans?

In the first place, what was the plan?

I knew I could just ask him—but I also knew that he'd just lie to me... or at least feed me some half-truths.

I could ask Mauro and Achilles... but knowing Lui, he wouldn't tell those two, as well. I knew that we're working with them, but I also knew that they didn't trust each other. So, no, he wouldn't tell them what he's actually up to.

He gave me no choice but to invade his privacy—because I'd rather do that than to just wake up one day—fuck. I couldn't even bring myself to think it. Pakiramdam ko ay kapag mas sinabi at mas inisip ko, mas lalo lang siyang mangyayari.

It took me a whole fucking week to know kung sino ang kausap niya. It was so hard to figure out kung ano iyong plano na sinasabi niya dahil halos hindi naman siya umaalis sa tabi ko. Naisip ko na kung anuman iyong plano na 'yon, it was already pre-determined... Like they already knew that this could happen. And they already planned out the steps.

All Lui needed to do was to say the word.

And he did.

But I guess I was desperate—to the point wherein I'd do anything just to figure out kung ano iyong plano na sinasabi niya. Even if I had to resort to sleeping with him and purposely tiring him out para lang makuha ko iyong cellphone niya—iyong cellphone niya na laging naka-dikit sa kanya nitong mga nakaraang araw.

It was easy to figure out his password when he's always around me. I did check his call-log para tignan kung sino iyong kausap niya nung mismong araw at oras na 'yon. His log was wiped off for that day like he knew na gagawin ko ang ginagawa ko ngayon. I checked his inbox. There were a lot of unopened messages on his phone. I tried a couple of key words before I finally figured out kung sino ang kausap niya.

"Can't say that I'm surprised," I said nang magkaharap kami ni Iñigo.

It was like... in the movies.

We're here in some underground parking lot in the middle of the night, taking refuge in a heavily tinted parked car like this would save us kung bigla na lang kaming makita ng mga Villamontes.

"Alam ba ni Lui?"

I looked at him. "What do you think?" I asked. My tone wasn't the nicest, I knew, but we didn't exactly meet under the best circumstances.

Iñigo pressed his lips.

"What's the plan?" I asked him. I didn't have any time to waste. Isang linggo na lang, tatawagin na ulit iyong bagong witness. Lui did tell me na tatawagin sa witness stand si Villamontes... but then again, he did say that the plan has changed...

So, what now?

Iñigo didn't say a word. Normally, I'd wait. But I wasn't exactly in the waiting mood—I didn't know if it was because of the fear or because of the hormones. Either way, it was because of Lui.

"I'm pregnant," I told him.

I knew what happened before.

I heard the stories.

I mean, who wouldn't? It was a huge story at that time—it still is. Iñigo, the BAR topnotcher of his batch, who not only lost the case of the year, but also lost his unborn child.

I knew that his fraternity sabotaged his career. For the longest time, he couldn't get a position in a reputable firm despite his credentials. It was only when he built his own firm did his career began to recover. Kaya naiintindihan ko kahit papaano kung bakit hawak niya 'yong kaso na 'to.

Trabaho lang—ilang beses ko ng narinig 'yan at sinabi rin sa sarili ko.

Pero ngayon? Hindi na lang 'to trabaho.

So, if it means that I needed to blackmail Iñigo—to use this pregnancy card against him, as cruel as it may be, then so be it.

At this point, nothing's off the table.

"This happened to you before—will you seriously let it happen again?" I asked, staring right into his eyes so that he knew that I really meant it.

I knew I promised Lui that I'd leave... but not now.

Not when this was starting to feel like suicide mission on his end.

"Tali—"

"Cut the crap, Iñigo," I cut him off. "Alam ko na nag-uusap kayo ni Lui. You probably already know na sinabihan niya ako na umalis ng Pilipinas. Well, newsflash—I won't leave. I won't. He has to physically drag me to get me to leave. So, now, tell me what's the plan."

I stared at him.

And waited.

Because at this point, what choice did I have? I tried to check Lui's phone but there was no trace of whatever the plan was. I knew that I couldn't drag it out of Lui even if it killed me, so I had no choice but to emotionally manipulate it out of Iñigo.

But he still wasn't talking talking.

"Tatawagin mo ba si Villamontes sa witness stand?" I asked. I felt like I had to pull out all the answers from him. It was starting to make me feel like I probably should've went to his wife to get all the answers to my question. And I probably would kapag hindi niya pa rin sinabi sa akin ngayon.

Tumango lang siya.

"He'd definitely perjure himself," I said. "Then I will refute and debunk his every statement," I continued because we already have evidence regarding this.

Iñigo looked at me like he'd rather be anywhere else but here. "He's already tying up loose ends," sabi niya.

Napa-kunot ang noo ko. "You mean... he's killing more people?" I asked because what else would that mean? When he's talking about someone who'd commit a whole fucking massacre para lang pagtakpan ang isang kriminal.

"Amongst other things," sagot ni Iñigo.

I pursed my lips together. "Fine. Then, what?" I asked. If he's killing more people, then I guess I'd just have to charge him for those, too.

I hated this.

Bakit ba may mga tao na kagaya niya na basta na lang tratuhin ang buhay ng mga tao?

"Tali—"

"Out with it," I said, cutting him off. "Don't force me to involve your wife, Iñigo. Because at this point, wala na akong sasantuhin."

He looked at me and I knew that he knew I meant it.

I didn't want to, but what choice did I fucking have?

"I'll call Lui again in the witness stand," Iñigo said. Bahagyang napa-kunot ang noo ko. "I knew—he knew—that the only way to get this case closed is if he'd admit to being a part of the conspiracy. Because if he admits to it, then the conspiracy becomes a reality. And it will be an incontrovertible fact that Villamontes is criminally liable."

"No—"

"We discussed this, Tali—"

"Discussed what? Kung paano siya makukulong? Bullshit. Bakit kailangang makulong si Lui?"

"I'd try to get him less time—"

"Fuck you," mabilis na sabi ko sa kanya. "Kung si Cha kaya ang ipakulong ko kahit minimum lang, papayag ka?"

I saw his jaw clenched. I knew I hit a nerve, but he just told me na itatapon niya sa kulungan si Lui. Did he expect me to what? Thank him?!

"The difference is that Cha never committed any crime, Tali," kalmado pero seryoso niyang sagot. "You know—even Lui knows—na may ginawa talaga siyang mali. Kahit ikaw alam mo. Involved si Lui. He may not have directly done anything, but he was there, Tali. Kaya nga siya iyong star witness mo, 'di ba? Kasi alam niya lahat. Kasi nandon siya. Kasi kasama siya."

Diretsong naka-tingin sa akin si Iñigo na para bang gusto niyang idikdik sa utak ko iyong mga sasabihin niya.

"Just because you love him doesn't make him a saint, Tali," he said. "He participated in a crime—that's a fact that can easily be proven in the court of law."

I felt my chest tightening.

No.

I wouldn't have this.

I knew Lui wasn't exactly a saint... but to be in jail for something that Villamontes did? How was that fair?!

"Don't you think I don't know that?" sagot ko sa kanya. "But he shouldn't even be in jail! Why should he be in jail instead of your client?!"

Iñigo was looking at me like he was trying to understand where I was coming from. I guess he could. But it's been years for him. I am here now.

"Ano? Bigla na lang siyang tinubuan ng konsensya?"

"Because this is the easiest and fastest way to close this case—"

"Says who?"

"You know we're right."

"No."

"You know it's guilt beyond reasonable doubt in criminal cases, Tali. You know it's hard to prove this case—lalo na ngayon na—" he said and then stopped. He couldn't even bring himself to say that his client's out in a fucking killing spree and what? He expects me to just be okay na si Lui ang papalit sa kanya sa kulungan?

"No," I said as I looked into his eyes. "No," I repeated.

"Tali—"

"Oh, fuck you, Iñigo," I told him. "And fuck Lui. Fuck you both," I said. There's no way I'd let Lui be stupid and willingly throw himself in jail.

Because if that's what he wanted, I would've happily thrown him there before! Not now when we're having a whole fucking child! God, I couldn't believe that his child made him an idiot!

"You and I both know that what wins in court becomes the truth. Once he does this, he'll be in jail. It'll follow him forever. He'll lose his license."

I couldn't let Lui do that.

I couldn't let him spend even a day in jail.

I couldn't let him ruin his name.

No.

Not in my fucking watch.

"You know that's not true—you and I know about all the people thrown in jail dahil lang wala silang matinong abogado. We know about the innocent people rotting in jail, doing undeserved time, dahil lang magaling magdelay iyong kalaban nila."

"What's the sense of being innocent kung nabubulok ka lang din naman sa bilangguan?" I said. "And that's not gonna be Lui,"

"Tali—"

"No," I said, cutting him off, as I unlocked the door on his side. "Prepare Villamontes. I will see you next week. Tell him that he can bury all the body that he wants—I'll just have to bring a fucking shovel."

**

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