#TPTG34

"What the hell is happening here?" I said to myself when I saw some police in front of the hospital. My eyes widened when I saw my mom being dragged by the police. Kakalabas lang nila ng ospital. Agad akong bumaba sa kotse at tumakbo sa kanila.

"Hey! Stop dragging her!" I yelled as I try to remove their filthy hands on my mother. They were tall and has a huge built. Hindi nila ako pinansin at hinarangan lang ako.

"Tumabi kayo sabi eh!" sigaw ko. Halos maputol na ang litid ko sa galit

"Dadalhin na ho namin siya sa presinto. Huwag na kayong humarang para mapabilis ang trabaho namin," sita ng isang pulis

I clenched my fist in anger. "May warrant of arrest ba kayo?! Hindi niyo siya pwedeng—"

One police stood in front and showed me the warrant. Napakurap kurap ao habang nakatitig doon.

"F-fey!"

I got back to my senses when I heard mom's voice. I tried to reach out to her but the two police kept on blocking my way.

"Mom! I'm here...don't worry. Everything's going to be alright okay?" I said and reached for her hand

Nakita kong nakaposas na ang dalawa niyang kamay. She's still wearing her hospital gown and has a bandage on her forehead. How could they arrest her in that state?!

"Let go of her! I swear to God if you—" hindi ko na natuloy ang sasabihin ko dahil biglang may humablot ng braso ko.

"Attorney."

It was Nicholas.

I glared at him. "Let go of me," I warned

"I'm sorry. I didn't know I was being tracked. Nagulat nalang din ako nung may mga pulis na dumating dito," natataranta niyang sabi

Umiwas ako ng tingin. Nilingon ko ulit si mama na ngayon ay pinapasok na sa sasakyan ng mga pulis

"Mom!" I called and ran towards them

"Fey...please, I don't want to go to jail," sabi niya pagkalapit ko. Muling bumuhos ang luha sa mata niya.

I wiped her tears and held her hand. "Don't worry mom. I'm h-here. Walang masamang mangyayari sa'yo okay? I'll come with you," I assured her

Nagulat ako nung bigla akong nilayo ng isang pulis sa kanya. "Ma'am. Hindi po kayo pwede—"

"I am her lawyer. I have the right to talk to her," matigas kong sabi sa pulis

Nagkatinginan ang dalawang pulis. Nakita kong mahigpit ang hawak nila sa magkabilang braso ni mama. "Sa presinto niyo nalang ho siya kausapin. Kailangan na namin siyang dalhin doon."

Pagkatapos nilang sabihin iyon ay pinasok na nila si mama.

"No, no...please. Fey!" she cried

I was about to speak when the police suddenly blocked her away from me causing my hand to slip. Nabitawan ko ang kamay niya.

I still followed them and looked at the window of the car. "You're gonna be okay mom. I promise."

I saw a tear escaped her eye. I held the window while staring at her. Magsasalita na sana ako pero bigla na lag unti-unting umandar ang kotse. I pounded on the window of the car.

"Mom!" I yelled and pounded the window. "Susunod ako...susunod ako. Just wait for me," I mouthed

Hindi ko na nakita ang reaksiyon niya dahil mabilis nang umandar ang kotse palayo. I was about to run for it when someone grabbed my arm. Lumingon ako at nakita si Nicholas.

"Attorney. Stop it," mariin niyang sabi. His intense eyes bore unto mine. Nakikita ko din ang matinding awa mula doon.

"I told you to look out for her," sabi ko at marahas na inalis ang kamay niya sa braso ko

Umawang ang labi niya. "I'm sorry...hindi ko talaga alam na—"

"Stop apologizing. Huwag ka nang mangako kung hindi mo naman pala kayang panindigan," firmly said and wiped the dry tears off my cheek.

I turned my back against him and ran towards my car. He called me but I ignored him. I went inside the car and drove away as fast as I can. Sinundan ko ang kotse ng pulis.

My vision started to blurr while driving. Napamura ako ng ilang beses habang paulit-ulit na hinahampas ang manibela.

My mother's sorrowful faced flashed before my eyes. It all came back. How the police mercilessly dragged her, how my hand slipped on her hand, how she kept crying and begging for help. My heart ache even more. I can no longer handle this agonizing pain I'm feeling right now. It's too much...it's fucking too much.

If only I came a little sooner...

If only I didn't leave her.

***

I kept on tapping my pen on the table while fidgetly playing with my fingers. It's been an hour and my mom hasn't arrived yet here in the interrogation room. I was getting worried. Baka kung ano na ang nangyari sa kanya.

I heard the door click and I immediately diverted my attention at it. Tumambad sa harap ko si mama. Agad akong napatayo at sinalubong siya ng yakap.

"Mom," I softly said and hugged her tighter

"F-fey," mahina niyang sabi.

Kumalas ako sa yakap at agad na chineck ang katawan niya. "Are you okay? Did they hurt you? How's your leg?" sunod-sunod kong tanong

Umiling siya at malungkot na ngumiti. "I'm fine..." kita ko padin ang bakas ng luha sa mata niya. Her eyes were puffy and her nose is red.

I noticed that her hands were cuffed. I glanced at the police behind her. Nagtama ang mata namin. Binaling ko agad ang atensiyon kay mama.

"You can leave now," I said to dismiss the police.

Ilang sandali ay lumabas nadin siya sa kwarto.

I sighed in relief when it's only just the two of us again. Nakita kong tulala si mama ngayon.

"Mom..." I softly called her

Pumikit siya at mabilis na umiling. "It was an accident...I—I never m-meant to," she paused and cried

Wala akong nagawa kundi yakapin siya. "It's okay mom...I'm here. I'm here..."

I let her cry on my shoulders. Hinayaan ko muna siyang kumalma. I know she's traumatized kung ano man ang nangyari. I don't know what to do in this situation. Mahirap...

She needs emotional and menta support. It's hard because I don't know if I should act like a lawyer or a daughter to her. Either ways, masakit padin.

***

"You want to start now? Just tell me when you're ready..." I carefully said

"I'm ready," she replied, unsure

Yumuko ako. My notebook and my pen is already set but my mind isn't. I am not mentally prepared. I don't think I can do this. I don't know why but my hand started to shake due to nervousness. Hindi ko alam kung saan magsisimula. My mind suddenly went blank.

How can I even do this when my client is my own mother? It doubled up the pressure, stress, and burden on my back. Focus Fey. It's your mother's life on the line. You have to get yourself together.

The door suddenly bursted open. Napatingin ako doon at nakita si Christian.

"Attorney!" he exclaimed

I couldn't utter a word.

Nakita kong gulat siyang tumingin kay mama. "Is she...your mom?" he gulped

"I don't think I can do this Christian," I sniffed

He went to me and knelt on the floor. "Hey...hey, you got this alright? I'm here to help. If you can't do it then I'll represent her. I'll be her lawyer."

Yumuko ako at mabilis na umiling.

"Felicity..." he softly called

"Just...just excuse me for a moment please," I stood up and rushed outside the room.

Sinandal ko ang ulo sa pader. Huminga ako ng malalim at pinakalma ang sarili. I fanned myself and wiped the tears off my eyes.

I can't be this weak. Hindi ako pwedeng paghinaan ng loob ngayon. It's my mother we're talking about for Christ's sake! I can't screw this up. Kailangan kong magpakatatag.

After a few minutes I went back inside the room. "I'm sorry."

"Are you okay now?" Christian worriedly asked

I nodded and let out a heavy sigh. "Yeah."

Nilagpasan ko siya at bumalik sa upuan ko. I keep repeating inside my head that I can do this. I held my pen and opened my notes.

"You got this Fey," he cheered me up

I took a deep breath and slowly lifted my eyes to my mother. Nakita kong hirap na hirap din siya sa sitwasyon namin pareho. I feel like she's more worried about me than herself. I shrugged my thoughts and set my emotions on the side.

"You ready mom?" I asked

She sniffed and nodded.

"Okay. So let's start. Tell me what briefly happened? Don't skip details. We need to strengthen our defense. Remember mom, malakas ang kalaban natin. They will play dirty if they need to."

Nakatingin lamang siya sa lamesa. "I...I don't know where exactly to start."

"Let's start from the very beginning. When you left the condo."

She nodded. "Pauwi na sana ako no'n sa condo galing sa paghahanap ng trabaho...tapos biglang may tumawag sa'kin. It was...Archie."

"So you both have each other's number."

"Yes...I didn't delete it."

"Okay, continue."

"I answered his call. He invited me over to the mansion. He said he has something important to say to me."

"And that is?"

"I don't know...he didn't tell on the call. Sabi lang niya pumunta ako. Noong una ay nangamba ako pero tumuloy padin ako," paliwanag niya

Hindi ko inalis ang paningin sa kanya.

"When I went to the mansion. There was no one. Naisip ko baka nagpapahinga lang ang mga maids dahil gano'n ang ginagawa nila sa hapon. I also thought that the governor is in his office so I decided to go there. As soon as I opened the door...that's where...that's when he attacked me."

Nakita ko kung paano siya hirap ipaliwanag sa'kin ang nangyari.

"What...what did he do?" I asked

"Una sinakal niya ako gamit ang isang lubid. Then he grabbed me by the hair...pinned me on the wall. Sinubukan kong lumaban pero masyado siyang malakas. He locked the door. I was trapped. I tried to call for help but no one heard me...I thought someone would save me," she cried and covered her face

"Then he stabbed me on my leg para hindi talaga ko makatakas. I still tried to escape...I crawled towards the door eventhough I was already bleeding and in pain. I was shocked...when he...w-when he pointed a gun at me. Akala ko katapusan ko na. Umiwas ako nung pinaputukan niya ako ng baril. He then went closer to me and choked me on the floor. I was in the brink of death...when I saw his gun on the floor. Sinubukan kong kunin iyon kahit na hinang hina na ako," she sniffed. "He...he tried to kill me. Ayokong mamatay...I was so s-scared. I was—"

She broke into tears.

Unti-unti akong yumuko kasabay ng pagkuyom ng kamao ko. Silence envelop us. All I can hear are her cries. Hinayaan ko muna siya. I looked at Christian with teary-eyes. He smiled weakly and caressed my back.

"You still want to continue?" he softly asked

I swallowed hard. "Kaya ko pa...kakayanin ko."

Honestly, I'm not sure if I still can. Sa sobrang dami kong pinagdaanan ay ito ang pinakamasakit. I wish all my pain will turn numb. Parang naubos lahat ng lakas ko sa katawan.

"It was an accident. The last thing I heard is the sound of the gun," my mom added

"No mom. You're just defending yourself. It was self-defense," paliwanag ko sa kanya

I comforted her for a moment. It must have been hard for her to process everything, same goes to me.

"But we need a strong evidence para matawag itong self-defense," Atty. De guzman interrupted

"The only way we can prove that this case is a justifiable homicide is one, there is unlawful aggression...and we have that. Archie inflicted a severe wound on her," I said and pointed at my mother's leg. "Second, he choked her using a rope like what mom said. Kitang kita sa leeg niya ang marka," I said and ordered mom to show us her neck. "If they still demand for proof then we have the hospital records."

Christian nodded. "Is there any witness? cctv footage?" he asked to my mom.

"The governor...he saw me. Hindi ko alam kung saan siya nanggaling. Bigla nalang siyang—"

"Wait, is it before or after the incident happened?" Attorney asked

"After. He caught me together with Archie...pero natagpuan niya nang patay si Archie."

"So no one saw the whole incident since sa opisina lang din ginanap," sambit ko

"Is there any cctv inside the office?" he asked

"I think there is...there is."

I hope there is.

"Great, then we can use that right?"

I suddenly remembered what happened at the mansion. I still couldn't believe that Keith's there— with the freakin' governor! I already had a bad feeling about it. Umalis din naman ako kaagad dahil tumawag sa'kin si Nicholas to inform me what happened.

I diverted my attention back to my mom. Halata ang mga sugat at pasa na natamo niya sa insidente.

"Mom...I want you to be honest with me. Is...is the governor abusing you? I saw your previous wounds. Alam kong..." I paused. I want to hear it from her.

She held her arm and nodded. "Yes. Yes he was."

I gulped. "Since when?"

"Eversince you left. He even made me a housemaid. Tinrato niya ako na parang basura. Parang wala kaming pinagsamahan."

"I told you he didn't love you..." malungkot kong sabi

Her eyes turned red. Nagbabadya nanaman ang luha sa mata niya.

"I was wrong. I know. Mali ako ng naging desisiyon. I regret all of it. Sana ay hindi ko nalang siya nakilala..." punong-puno ng sakit at pagsisisi ang boses niya

Napapikit ako at bumuntong hininga.

"How about the murder weapon? The gun? and the rope that he used?" si Christian

"I'm sure they will find fingerprints from mom. Si Archie rin ang may-ari no'n. We'll soon find out about it together with the autopsy report."

He nodded. "Right, I forgot to tell you. The prosecutor will now file the case. Sana lang ay mapunta tayo sa maayos na judge."

"Sino iyong magiging prosecutor?" Mom asked

I heard someone knocked and the door suddenly swung open. Kahit hindi pa ako tumingin ay alam ko na kung sino iyon. And I don't want to see him 'cause he'd make me feel ten times worse.

"Mrs. Cervantes. I'm Attorney Keith Sanchez and I will be the prosecutor for this case," he said in a cold authoritative voice

Maslalo kong kinuyom ang kamao ko. I don't know why the fuck I'm affected. My heart is breaking into pieces. That voice...it's not the same anymore.

I know this may sound wrong but he's a dick for taking the side of the governor. Alam ko sa paraan palang ng pagtitig niya sa'kin nung nahuli ko silang nag-uusap. I bet he didn't even hesitate to accept the case. For what huh? The governor must have brainwashed him too.

Nakita kong naalerto ang mukha ni Christian. He's intimidated by Keith's presence. It's like he's still affected by his loss against him. Parang bumalik sa alaala niya ang naging laban nila sa korte.

My mother's eyes widened when he recognized him. I'm sure she knows Keith. Kahit siya ay hindi inaasahan na si Keith ang magiging prosecutor.

"Let's get down to business. I'm here to inform you about the case that will be filed against Ms. Cervantez," he formally said and went nearer to us. "A case of homicide will be filed against you Ms. Cervantez with Regional Court of Supreme."

I didn't look at him nor glanced at him. My eyes remained on my mom. She's still looking at Keith, shock and hurt at the same time.

"Wait. We weren't informed about the court. Sino ang nag-"

"Mr. Guevarra," he cut me off. "Just to inform you that the court already obtained jurisdiction and you can't do anything about it. If you have concerns, take it to the court."

Ramdam kong nakatingin siya sa'kin pero hindi ko siya magawang tignan. By the tone of his voice I knew he sounded unaffacted at all, what more when I look into his eyes? Sigurado akong wala akong makikitang emosyon doon.

 He diverted his attention back to my mother.

"Where's the copy of the complaint?" I tried my best to make my voice sound normal

He took a long brown envelop inside his case and slid it on the table. "Here's the copy."

I took it and opened the envelop. Tumabi naman sa'kin si Christian at tinignan din iyon.

"Ms. Cervantez will be held custody since it's a nonbailable case," Keith stated. "We'll inform you about the prosecution. Thank you."

Pagkatapos niyang sabihin iyon ay nagpaalam na siya at lumabas na ng kwarto.

"What the hell? Paano sila agad nakahanap ng court?" Christian said, outrage

"It's the governor. He has the power to everything," I said. Binitawan ko na ang copy ng complaint bago ko pa iyon malukot sa galit.

"And what? They know the judge too? Babayaran din kaya nila ang judge?!"

"I don't know what they're planning. They can easily bend the law because they have the money and power."

He sighed in frustration. "If that's the case then how can we even-" he paused. "And Attorney Sanchez...alam mo ba na siya yung magiging prosecutor?"

I nodded and shut my eyes. "I knew beforehand...I just didn't expect that it would be him."

Hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko pa rin matanggap. Sobra na akong nasaktan sa sitwasiyon namin ni mama ngayon tapos ngayon, dumagdag pa siya. Fuck. This is all too much to bare.

"Ang lalakas ng kompetensiya natin. Ang talino din talaga ng governor na si Attorney Sanchez ang kinuhang prosecutor," he added and cursed under his breath

"We still have a chance. I'll do everything to win this case. I'm not afraid of them."

Justice will prevail. We just have to strengthen our heart and defense. And solidify our evidence, otherwise we won't stand a chance.

Tumingin ako kay mama at nakita ko ang matindi niyang pangangamba at pag-alala. "Totoo bang si Keith yung prosecutor?" mahina niyang sabi habang tulalang nakatingin sa lamesa

I bit my lips and closed my eyes. "Excuse me for a minute," sabi ko at tumayo. Sinundan ako ng tingin Christian. "Can you look out for her for a minute?" bilin ko

He nodded and pressed his lips. "Sure."

"Thanks. I'll be back." Binalingan ko si mama. "I'll be back mom."

I took a deep breath and tapped Christians shoulder before leaving the room.

Tumakbo ako at hinanap si Keith. Lawyers and other prosecutors scattered everywhere together with their clients. Nilibot ko ang paningin sa paligid. I ran and it was not long until I spotted him near the exit

"Attorney Sanchez!" I called

He stopped and slowly turned around. Mabilis akong naglakad palapit sa kanya hanggang sa magkatapat na kami. 

He looked at me, his brows shot up.

I swallowed hard. "Why did you accept the case?"

He softly chuckled as if I said something ridiculous. "Why not? I was assigned to it."

Here's him again answering a question by another question or maybe he's just deliberately avoiding the real question.

I sniffed. "I just don't understand why. The last time I checked, galit ka sa pamilya ko."

I remembered how he cursed me to death when I was born privileged; that my family is powerful and I can easily get whatever I want. Why did he suddenly sided with the governor? He must be a hypocrite!

His gaze lowered down and saw a ghost of smile on his lips. "Why would you involve personal matters in our job? It shouldn't cross the line."

His words pierced my heart but I act unaffected. "Did he threaten you? Did he brainwash you? Alam mo naman siguro kung anong klaseng tao-"

"Again, that's personal matters Attorney. It's all part of the job," he replied unapologetically 

Umiwas ako ng tingin. Pati siya ay nabulag sa pera at kinalimutan niya na ang prinspiyo niya sa buhay.

"This is so unlike you Keith. I can't even recognize you.."

Gone the Keith that I once knew before. Even if we weren't that close, I knew he's a man with strong principles. I admired him for that. I guess I was wrong. Hindi ko pala talaga siya kilala. He merely existed from my life. He's just a rival before...one of my few strong competitors. And here we us again.

"Where's your professionalism Attorney? I knew you better."

Diretso lamang akong nakatingin sa mata niya. His eyes were soft yet intense but above all, I can't seem to recognize them anymore. There was no hint of remorse nor mercy. The way he's looking at me right now, it felt like he barely knows me at all. Parang bang wala kaming pinagsamahan noon. We were back to strangers.

But deep down, I do feel that there's a much deeper reason why he accepted the case.

Aside from the governor, he's the only person who can make me feel worthless.

Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga at inangat ang paningin sa kanya, this time with much courage and integrity. I must not appear weak nor threatened in front of him. Keep in mind Fey, he's not the same man you used to know before. At gano'n din siguro ang tingin niya sa'kin.

"Don't underestimate me, Atty. Sanchez," I firmly said

He let out an amused grin before turning his back on me. I watch him as we walk towards the exit until he disappeared in plain sight.