Chapter 61

Lui looked like he was debating as to whether he'd strangle me or force-feed me. Nasa isang kwarto kami ngayon habang hinihintay na magresume iyong hearing. I was quietly sitting while trying to review my notes. Lui decided to sit on the chair that was across the room. He's been throwing me daggers. I could feel his anger, but it's been minutes at wala pa rin siyang sinasabi na kahit ano simula nung pumasok kami dito.

I ignored his tantrums.

I had more important things to do.

"Why did you do that?" he asked.

"Did what?" I asked back. "I did a lot of things—be specific."

Ni hindi ko kailangang tumingin sa kanya para malaman kung ano iyong itsura ng mukha niya. His jaw was most definitely clenched. He'd run his fingers through his hair. If this was before, he'd probably smoke dahil sa stress na binibigay ko sa kanya.

I could say the same—I'd been stressed since the day I found out na iyong magaling niyang plano ay magpa-kulong.

"Why did you lie?"

"Again, be specific," I replied as I flipped the page to the next. Iñigo will be doing his examination. If he's smart, he'd request for the examination to be rescheduled. That's probably what would happen. I saw how rattled Villamontes was. He's probably scrambling for ways to prove na kilala man niya si Patrica, that he didn't have any vested interest in her living or dying.

"Saan mo nakuha iyong birth certificate?" he asked.

"Ah, that," I said. "I asked for help." I looked at him. "Your family agrees with me—ayaw ka rin nilang makulong."

Lui's eyes widened. "You... talked to my family?"

"Yes," I replied as my eyes went back to my notes. "Totoo pala talaga iyong sinabi nila na basta illegal, walang impossible."

I did ask Niko tungkol doon sa bata. He straight up told me no and that there's no way na pwede kong idamay iyong bata. He told me that if I wanted to prove paternity, I'd have to find another way.

And so I did.

May silbi din pala na may-ari ng hospital iyong pamilya ni Lui.

Even medical records could be forged.

"Tali, why did you have to do this? You're risking your license—"

"You forced me to do this," I quickly told him.

"I forced you?"

"Yes."

Hindi agad siya nagsalita. Tumingin ako sa kanya. Our eyes instantly met the moment I looked at him. Anger was very evident in his eyes.

He's mad? I should be mad! Did he think I wanted to do this?! Did he think I enjoyed lying in court?! This was against everything I stand up for!

"Tali," he called my name, this time calmer. "You can still leave. Please leave."

Humigpit iyong hawak ko sa papel. Agad na nalukot iyon.

"So what? So that you can do your brilliant plan?"

"You know it's the only way—"

"I'm not discussing this now, Lui," I cut him off.

Ibinalik ko iyong atensyon ko sa binabasa ko, pero agad na napa-tingin ako kay Lui nang lumapit siya at kunin iyong notebook ko. Napaawang iyong labi ko dahil sa ginawa niya.

"Tali, these people—"

"Don't have rules they play by, so I just did the same! Hindi ba ganito rin naman ang gagawin mo?!"

"That was before," he said. "Before I knew that you're pregnant!" I could see him trying to reign himself in. He took a step back. He turned around like he didn't want me to see him mad. "Tali... these people... if they feel like they're backed against the wall... they'll do something... Sa tingin mo bakit nangyari 'yung kay Patricia? Because they knew that once she steps foot in the Court, it's all over."

He looked at me.

"You're taunting them."

I knew he's right.

After all, he was once with them.

He knew how they play.

But until when will we play by their rules? I refuse to. Not anymore. Now, they're in my court. They'll play by my rules.

"I don't care. I will continue to do so. If you don't want to help me, then do me a favor and just watch me. Don't do anything."

Lui was staring at me. He wasn't saying anything, but his stares were enough to tell me that he won't just sit idly and watch me. He would do something... but I didn't care as long as he didn't get in my way.

* * *

"We'll now continue with the examination. Atty. Borromeo, you may begin."

Naka-hawak ako sa ballpen habang pinapanood ko ang bawat galaw ni Iñigo. Ramdam ko na nasa akin iyong mga mata ni Villamontes. I ignored him. I knew that if I allow myself to look at him, I would just smile at him to taunt him.

"Your Honor, in light of my client's visible distress and deteriorating health condition, I must request the rescheduling of the examination. Mr. Villamontes clearly needs medical attention and is in no state to testify further today."

As I expected.

This was the smart thing to do because clearly, Villamontes was so rattled by his own admission na kilala niya si Patricia—that he has all the reason to dispose of her.

"Objection, Your Honor," I said because I had to. At this point, this was a fucking show for public consumption. I didn't care anymore. The more eyes on this, the better. "This is clearly a delaying tactic. Mr. Villamontes was well enough to answer my questions just moments ago."

"Atty. Hernaez, I'll listen to your argument."

"Your Honor, we've seen this pattern before. Every time we get close to the truth, suddenly Mr. Villamontes is too ill to continue. We've seen the display of the wheelchair, the oxygen tanks. This is nothing but a ploy to obstruct justice. As the saying goes, justice delayed is justice denied."

I allowed myself to look at Villamontes.

"Your Honor, he's alert and responsive. This sudden 'illness' is too convenient. The victims' families have waited long enough for justice. We cannot allow these stalling tactics to continue."

"Your Honor, my client is innocent until proven guilty in the court of law. And my client's health issues are well-documented. This is not a tactic; it's a genuine medical concern."

"Then let's have a court-appointed physician examine him right now, Your Honor. If Mr. Villamontes is truly unfit to continue, surely an impartial medical professional can confirm that."

"That's enough, counselors. While I appreciate your passion, Atty. Hernaez, I cannot force a witness to testify if there's a possibility of a health risk."

I conceded after I made a whole show out of it. At the very least, I was pretty sure that I made this entertaining enough for the people to talk about this. Sigurado ako na nagpapanic na lahat ng pamilya na involved dito.

The moment I got all my things inside my bag, mabilis na hinawakan ni Lui iyong kamay ko. It was obvious that he wanted to drag me with him, but he was restraining himself.

"Where are we going?" I asked because instead of heading straight back to the condo, we were in the expressway.

"To my house," he replied.

Napa-kunot ang noo ko. "What?"

"Why? Kilala mo naman na sila, 'di ba?" he asked, his tone was clipped. "At least let me finally formally introduce you to each another."

Even a deaf person could hear the anger in Lui's voice. I understood that by doing what I did, I risked my license... but did he seriously expect me to just leave the country and let him throw himself in jail? If he did expect me to do that, I'd be very disappointed in him.

And he probably did not know me at all.

Tahimik lang ako buong byahe. I could clearly feel Lui's restrained anger. But even when he's angry at me, he still made the driver go through a drive thru and got food for me. Hindi na ako nakipagtalo at tahimik kong kinain iyong binigay niya sa akin.

Naka-tingin lang ako sa labas ng bintana. Pinanood ko na magbago iyong tanawin mula mga matatayog na building hanggang sa maging malawak na kalsada at hanggang sa makarating kami sa probinsya.

At nang huminto na iyong sasakyan.

I thought about this moment before.

Nung simple pa ang lahat at tanging problema ko lang ay kung mahal ba ako ni Lui. I did fantasize about him bringing me home and introducing me to his family... I thought about what I'd wear and how I'd present myself para magustuhan nila ako.

It fucking happened—not just how I wanted.

Naunang lumabas iyong driver at iyong security. Naiwan kami ni Lui sa loob ng sasakyan.

"I asked for their help," I told him. Alam ko na hindi niya kinakausap iyong pamilya niya. Kaya rin nagkalakas ako ng loob na humingi ng tulong sa kanila. I knew that at the end of the day, even devils care about their family. Kaya nga pinagtakpan ng Villamontes ang isa't-isa. Alam ko na masama man ang pamilya ni Lui, tutulungan pa rin nila ako.

Naka-tingin lang si Lui sa akin.

"Kung galit ka—"

"God, of course, I'm mad, Tali!"

I bit my tongue. I didn't have the energy to argue with him. Again.

"You forged documents; you lied to the court; you taunted Villamontes! It's like you're asking to be killed!"

I bit my tongue harder.

Lui stopped himself. Sinandal niya iyong likuran niya sa upuan. Pinikit iyong mga mata at saka hinilamos iyong mga kamay sa mukha.

"I understand..." he began. Mas malumanay na iyong boses niya ngayon. "I understand that you don't want me in jail. I understand that, Tali. You told me that it was a dumb decision. Sure. But seriously, Tali, I'd rather spend a few years in jail and then have the chance to start over again with you."

"Do you seriously think that, Lui? Do you seriously think that you'll just 'spend a few years in jail?'" I mocked him. "I'm not as naive as you think I am. Alam ko kung ano ang nangyayari sa loob ng kulungan. Alam ko kung gaano kadali mag-utos ng tao doon para bigla ka na lang itumba."

Ramdam na ramdam ko iyong panlalamig ko. I couldn't even think about him being gone—even imagining it was torture enough.

"If you honestly thought that I'd just sit and watch you kill yourself, then maybe you don't know me at all."

I hated that we're here, fighting each other when we should be fighting Villamontes. I wanted to just apologize... but I knew I did nothing wrong. I knew that had the situation been reversed, there's no way that Lui would just sit and watch me throw myself in jail for him.

So, why was he expecting that from me?

Agad na napa-tingin ako sa kanya nang abutin niya iyong kamay ko at hawakan iyon.

"You're right. I'm sorry," he said as he held my hand tighter. "I tried so hard not to compromise your integrity... but you're right," he continued. I didn't know for sure what he meant when he told me that I was right. All I knew was that we got out of the car, walked in to his house, and finally, I was face to face with his family. 

**

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