Simula

"Please state your name for the record," malamig na utos ng defense attorney sa akin.

"I... I am Jean Caitlyn Villarejas."

"State your relationship to the victim."

"I am his daughter."

"You went home from an exclusive club called ELights, at exactly 11:10 in the evening on January 26, is that correct?"

"Yes."

His stare bore right through my eyes. It was dead of emotions.

"Upon arriving at your father's house that night, you were drunk. Even a bit upset. You automatically knocked on his bedroom door—"

"I was worried about him!" mabilis kong pagputol. "He told me my mother was giving him threats—"

"and you eventually found him on his bed," he coldly cut me off. "With a glass of wine on his hand tainted with poison as the real evidence shown. Unconscious. Lifeless. Is that correct?" 

Namanhid ang labi ko habang tinititigan ang mga mata niya na mistulang walang kaluluwa. Nilunok ko ang pait na nanunuot sa lalamunan.

"Y-Yes..." Derekta kong itinutok ang matalim na tingin sa ina kong nakaupo sa defense table. Even in her seat she tried to act regal. Undisturbed. Prideful. Without guilt.

"My mother killed him," anas ko.

"Tell me, Miss Villarejas." Muli akong napabaling sa abogado dahil sa lambot ng pagkakasambit niya sa pangalan ko. Kasalungat sa lamig ng kanyang tingin. "Did you have a sexual relationship with your father—"

Para akong sinampal sa naging paratang niya.

"No," paos kong sagot. "He's my father...How c-could I..."

"Your stepfather," kalmadong pagtatama ng abogado na para bang walang nangyari. "My client, the defendant who is your biological mother, Mrs. Valena Villarejas married your stepfather, Mr. Apollo Villarejas when you were at the age of eighteen. That makes you his stepdaughter. Technically, the two of you were not related by blood."

Nanatili ang buong atensiyon ng defense attorney sa akin.

"Were you jealous that your own mother and stepfather got back together? Is that the reason why you are accusing my client of committing a crime? Of poisoning Mr. Apollo Villarejas in their own marital home? Did you want your stepfather all for yourself?"

Para akong binagsakan ng lahat sa sunod-sunod at walang awa niyang mga tanong na parang pinaparatangan na ako. Nanginig ang buo kong kalamnan. Halos magdilim na ang paningin ko.

The defense attorney did not stop.

"Is it true that you were your own stepfather's mistress?"

Alam ko na kailangan kong depensahan ang sarili ko. I look at the few people who are seated inside the trial court. Sa mga mata nila ay nakikita kong hinuhusgahan na nila ang buo kong pagkatao. Dumapo ang tingin ko kay Lolo na nakaupo sa tabi ni Attorney Pelaez. Pumikit siya nang mariin.

"N-No... No... That is not true... " namamaos kong paninindigan. Halos maubusan na ng lakas. I could not feel the witness chair where I'm sitting on anymore.

Pumikit ako nang mariin at kasabay nito ay ang paglandas ng maiinit na mga luha.

"Please... Hindi t-totoo 'yan... Please s-stop," pagmamakaawang hikbi ko. Yumuko ako dahil hindi na kaya pang tanggapin ang mga mapanghusgang tingin ng mga nasa harapan. Lalong-lalo na ng abogadong siyang tila ba nagpaparatang.

"Do you have anymore questions, Mr. Attorney?" mahinahong tanong ng judge.

"None, Your Honor," biglang namaos ang boses niya. "No more questions for this cross examination."

Nag-angat ako ng mukha. Tiningnan ko ang hitsura ng lalaki na minsan ko ng minahal nang lubusan. I looked at the face of my mother's criminal defense attorney. The very face of Attorney Lake Jacobe Mendez.