Chapter 24

Liar

Attorney Domingo brought me to the hospital instead of the police station. Nagulat nga rin ako dahil ang buong akala ko ay dederetso na kami sa pinakamalapit na police station.

I told him everything that had happened. He saw the bruises in my body. He made a sharp turn with his car until I finally found myself in a hospital room with a doctor and nurses all over me.

"May... pamilya ka ba na puwede kong tawagan?" Attorney Domingo asked me hesitantly when the doctor left.

Pamilya. Unang sumagi sa isipan ko si Papa at Kuya. I think of them as my family but am I a family to them? Naisip ko si Alec. I would rather crawl and die than see him again. I thought of Feng and how I assured her that I would be okay but I failed her.

I shook my head at Attorney Domingo. I had no one.

He looked at me pitifully. "What about these Kai and Willow? You stayed with them for over a year... would you like for me to contact them?"

"Maybe after I talk to the police," desisyon ko sa huli.

Tumango siya. "Okay. The police will be here in an hour."

I was done with some tests when two police officers arrived. Nanatili ako sa hospital bed gaya na lang ng sinabi ni Attorney Domingo. Hindi naman siya umalis sa tabi ko.

I told them what I had told Attorney Domingo. Hindi na ako masyadong naging emosyonal nang binalikan ko ang mga nangyari. It was as if I was telling someone else's story. Siguro dahil nailabas ko na iyon kay Attorney.

They stared at me for a little while after I told them everything.

"Sigurado po ba kayo na ang asawa ninyo ang kumidnap sa inyo?" deretsahang tanong ng pulis. "Gaya ng sabi mo, madilim ang kuwarto at ang madalas mo lang na nakitang palatandaan ay ang Rolex na suot ng lalaki."

Napatingin ako kay Attorney Domingo. Sinabi niya na sa'kin na maaaring itanong nga ito sa'kin ng mga pulis. Parte ito ng trabaho nila. Attorney nodded at me. Ibinalik ko ang tingin sa lalaking pulis na nagtanong.

"Yes. Gaya nga ng sabi ko sa inyo, nakita ko siya sa loob ng SUV bago pa ako nawalan ng malay. I've seen his face as well during the... assaults."

They looked at me critically for a while. My gaze was intense. Ayaw kong bigyan sila ng rason para hindi ako paniwalaan. Wala akong palatandaan na nabasa sa mga mata nila kung naniniwala ba sila sa akin.

"Sinusuri na ngayon ng mga kasamahan namin ang lugar kung saan ka dinala. Base sa initial reports ng mga kasamahan namin, wala na ang mga kidnappers mo sa lugar," imporma ng babaeng pulis. "Kakalap kami ng mga ebidensiya ro'n."

I wanted to ask them how long it would take. I wanted it to be over. Pinigilan ko ang sarili na magtanong. Attorney Domingo already warned me that it would be a long process.

Saka pa lang ako tuluyang nakahinga nang maluwag nang makaalis na ang mga pulis.

Attorney Domingo stepped out of the room to make some calls. Humiga ako at natutulala habang tinititigan ang puting kisame.

I stayed in the hospital for a few days. My bruises were slowly healing. I forced the intake of hospital food just to nourish my body's health again. On my third day, Kai and Willow visited me.

I talked to Willow for a while. Hindi ko sinabi sa kanya ang totoong nangyari. Her young mind could not handle the evilness that I went through. I was dead inside that not even her fun stories could cheer me up.

Mukhang napagod siya sa biyahe dahil ilang isang oras matapos ang pag-uusap namin ay nakatulog siya.

Kai put her on the sofa. Pagkatapos itong gawin ay binalingan niya ako ng tingin. Nakita ko ang galit at pagsisisi sa mga mata niya.

"Dapat prinotektahan kita, Jia."

"Don't," pigil ko sa kanya sabay iling. "It's not your responsibility."

Nagtagis ang bagang niya. Kitang-kita ko ang pagpipigil ng galit sa mga mata niya.

"Noong hindi ka nakauwi, pumunta ako agad sa istasyon ng pulis," pagkukuwento niya. "Sabi nila hindi ka raw puwedeng ideklara na missing kasi wala pa raw 24 hours ang pagkawala mo."

I nodded in understanding. That's how it works.

"Sinabi sa'kin ni Attorney Domingo ang nangyari." I saw pain in his eyes as he gazed at me. Paulit-ulit ang pag-igting ng panga ni Kai.

Mas lumapit siya sa'kin. Inangat niya ang kamay niya na para bang hahawakan ang mga kamay kong nakapatong lang sa kandungan ko.

I flinched. I was scared of anybody's touch.
Napansin iyon ni Kai kaya hindi niya na itinuloy pa. Wala sa sarili siyang napaatras.

"Gusto kitang tulungan pero hindi ko alam kung paano."

Malungkot akong ngumiti sa kanya. "Sapat na ang tulong na naibigay mo sa'kin, Kai. Naging masaya ako sa loob ng isang taon."

"Uuwi ka ng Maynila?"

Tumango ako at naramdaman ang bahagyang paninikip ng dibdib.

"I have to. Tutulungan ako ni Attorney Domingo na makamit ang hustisya... sa nangyari sa'kin."

Lumantad ulit ang sakit sa mga mata ni Kai habang pinagmamasdan ako.

"Puwede kang bumalik sa'min ni Willow pagkatapos ng lahat. Maghihintay kami, Jia."

Mabilis ang ginawa kong pag-iling. I was already broken. I didn't want to break another person. Lalong-lalo na si Kai at Willow.

"Please, don't wait for me," I brokenly said. "Kai, what happened to me... in that room, it changed me."

He swallowed and he looked confused.

"Don't hope for me anymore. Mas deserve ninyong dalawa ni Willow ang hindi...  tulad ko."

He stared at me for a long time. Kung pagmasdan niya ako ay para bang minimemorya niya ang bawat sulok ng mukha ko.

I let him. Hinayaan ko siya na titigan lang ako. He's my friend. And I believed, that he loved me. Kitang-kita ko ang panghihinayang sa mga mata niya. At sa wakas ay nakita ko ang pagtanggap dito.

Pagkatapos ng isang linggo na pananatili sa ospital ay tumulak na kami sa Maynila. Attorney Domingo had made me under a protective custody. I stayed in a private home outside the city. Walang nakakaalam kung nasaan ako para na rin sa proteksiyon ko.

I never went out of the house. All the things I needed were provided by Attorney Domingo. My foods, clothes, everything. He was very kind to me. I told him I didn't know how to pay him back. Ang sagot niya lang ay huwag ko nang isipin pa iyon.

I had millions in my accounts but those were Alec's money. Iniisip ko pa lang na pera niya iyon ay gusto ko nang masuka.

"You can't sleep at night, right?" puna ni Attorney Domingo nang binisita niya ulit ako.

"I'm fine..." Nag-iwas ako ng tingin." I get nightmares, so..." Hindi ko alam kung paano niya nalaman. Ganoon siguro kapag abogado, lahat napupuna.

"I want you to reconsider, Jia. May kilala akong trauma expert. Puwede mo siyang kausapin at—"

Halos pagalit ko siyang tiningnan. Madalas niya itong nababanggit kapag nag-uusap kami pero alam niya naman ang sagot ko rito.

"I don't want to talk about it anymore." Seryoso ko siyang tiningnan. "May update na ba sa kaso? Hinuli niyo na ba si Alec?"

Nagpakawala siya ng isang malalim na buntonghininga.

"We're gathering evidences against him. It's almost enough to build a case." He licked his lower lip and studied me carefully for a while. "Nahuli na ang dalawang lalaki na nakasama mo..."

Huminto ang oras para sa'kin. Hindi ako kumurap at tinitigan lang si Attorney.

He swallowed hard. "Positibo nilang tinukoy na si Alec Von Cua nga ang mastermind ng pagdukot sa'yo."

Unti-unti akong napapikit. A wave of pain and violent anger hit me. Naging mabilis ang paghinga ko.

"I'm positive that this will go to trial," pagpapatuloy ni Attorney Domingo. "Sa kakayahan ng asawa mo, alam kong lalaban ang kampo niya para dumepensa."

Dumilat ako. Matalim ang tingin na ipinipukol ko sa kanya.

"I want him to burn to the ground," I softly whispered. "Dapat pagbayaran niya ang... kababuyang ginawa niya sa'kin."

"My team and I are doing everything we can," pangangako niya. "Jia, this will go to trial and even though I want to defend you I can't, because I am not a trial attorney. But I know someone who is very capable."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Sino?"

"You know him." Nanliit ang mga mata niya. "He's Attorney Lake Jacobe Mendez."

I gasped in complete outrage. Napatayo ako mula sa sofa.

"I can't. He also knows Alec." I shook my head furiously. "I can't trust him!"

Kalmado lang akong tiningnan ni Attorney Domingo.

"Nabanggit ko sa kanya ang kaso mo. He's willing to help."

"At may tiwala ka sa kanya?" Hindi ko siya makapaniwalang tiningnan.

"I trust him as a lawyer. He was my mentor and  he is very capable. Isa siya sa pinakamagaling na abogado rito sa Pilipinas, Jia."

"I only met him once with his girlfriend. Alec probably knows him longer."

Tumayo si Attorney Domingo. He put his hands in his pockets as he stared at me.

"Look, I understand your hesitation to put your trust in someone especially after everything. But you trust me, right?"

"I do," pag-amin ko na may buong kumpiyansa. He had helped me a lot. "I trust you, Jok."

Tipid siyang ngumiti. "I trust Attorney Lake Jacobe Mendez, perhaps much greater than your trust in me. I want you to give this a chance. Talk to him. At kung pagkatapos mo siyang makausap at wala ka pa ring tiwala, maiintindihan ko 'yon."

I looked at him for a while. Nakita ko sa mga mata niya kung gaano siya ka-sincere sa gusto niya. Hindi ko maitatanggi na sobrang laki ng utang na loob ko sa kanya. Sa maikling panahon ay nakuha niya na ang tiwala ko.

"Alright," pagpayag ko sa wakas.

"I'll set up an appointment with him tomorrow." He looked at me in the eyes. "Magpahinga ka na muna."

Kalaunan ay umalis din si Attorney Domingo. He was expecting me to rest and I couldn't. Sa dami ng pinagdaanan ko parang wala na akong lakas na magpahinga.

I never contacted anyone from my family. Matagal na rin naman kaming walang komunikasyon simula noong tumira ako sa Malapascua. Naputol na rin ang komunikasyon ko kay Feng. I could not imagine what she thought of me not being able to contact her anymore.

I left that life. Akala ko ay nakatakas na ako sa masalimuot na buhay na iyon pero may mas ikasasalimuot pa pala ito. I ran away from my husband only for him to capture and torture me.

I wanted everything to end. I wanted justice. I wanted him to rot in jail for the awful things he did to me.

Sa gabi, sa tuwing pumipikit ako, bumabalik lang ako sa madilim na kuwartong iyon. That's why I'd rather stay awake than sleep and had those nightmares.

Sinundo ako ulit ni Attorney Domingo kinabukasan. I was quiet and nervous when we arrived in the building of Lake's law firm. He was already waiting inside his sleek office with three other lawyers.

Nakipagkamayan ako sa kanila. They did not ask how I was. We did not exchange pleasantries. They were more formal and business-like. Mas naging komportable ako sa trato nila sa'kin. Pagod na ako sa mga taong nakausap ko na puno ng awa at simpatya ang mga mata.

Tahimik lang ako habang nag-uusap sila ni Attorney Domingo. They were talking about some technicalities.

Matapos ang pag-uusap ay inihatid din ako ni Attorney Domingo pabalik ng safe house. I had decided to officially have them to represent my case.

The following day, Attorney Domingo visited me again. Nang buksan ko ang pinto para sa kanya ay nanibago ako sa hitsura niya. He was wearing a casual black shirt and denim jeans. His full-sleeved tattoo was visible.

Hindi nagtagal ang tingin ko sa braso niya dahil nakuha ng babaeng nagtatago sa likod niya ang atensiyon ko.

Nalilito ko siyang tiningnan. He stepped to the side and then I saw Feng.

Napasinghap ako nang malakas. Hindi ako sigurado kung sino ang unang yumakap sa aming dalawa ni Feng. We were both crying.

Attorney Domingo urged us to go inside the house. He stepped towards the kitchen for a while to give us some privacy.

Namumula pa ang mga mata ni Feng dahil sa kaiiyak.

"Pa'no mo nalaman na nandito ako?" tanong ko.

Napasulyap si Feng sa bandang kusina. "Sinundan ko si Attorney Domingo sa club."

"How did you know him?"

"Nagpunta siya sa restaurant at nagtanong tungkol sa'yo. Nagduda na ako kaya sinundan ko siya sa club niya at kinompronta."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Club? He has a club?"

"Oo. ELights ang pangalan. High-end club." Seryoso na akong pinagmasdan ni Feng. "Sinabi ni Attorney Domingo sa'kin ang nangyari sa'yo..."

Hindi ko matingnan si Feng. Ayaw kong makita ang galit at paghihinagpis sa mga mata ng kaibigan ko.

"Ang sinabi lang ni Attorney Domingo sa'kin ay ang pagkidnap sa'yo ni Alec. Hindi ko maintindihan kung pa'no... kung pa'nong nagawa ni Alec 'yon sa'yo..."

Nanginig ang mga labi ko.

"Hindi mo kailangang sabihin sa'kin ang lahat, Jia. Ayokong balikan mo ang nangyari at masaktan ka ulit. Pagbabayaran ni Alec ang ginawa niya sa'yo."

I finally looked up and saw my best friend's rage. Umawang ang labi ko at nagsipatakan na ang mga luha ko.

"He... He raped m-me." I finally broke down.

Feng leaned in and embraced me as my whole body shook. The wall of courage I've built collapsed. With Feng, it was okay to stop pretending to be brave. With her, I could be weak all over again. Feng had seen me at my best and lowest moments. She had witnessed it all.

"He kicked me again and again. And he wouldn't s-stop..." I sobbed so hard. I sounded like a broken child.

Lalong humigpit ang yakap ni Feng sa'kin. Niyakap niya ang lahat ng pag-iyak ko. Nabasa na ang damit niya ng mga luha ko. She did not complain and just held me for a long time until exhaustion got me.

Gusto sana ni Feng na samahan ako sa bahay. Hindi pumayag si Jok dahil hindi raw ligtas sa seguridad ko. Marami ang magtatanong kung bigla na lang mawawala si Feng. It would lead to more questions from people. Jok was afraid that it could lead to Alec finding me.

I communicated with Feng from time to time. Mas maigi na iyon kaysa siya ang bumisita sa'kin sa bahay. It was a risk that we could not afford.

Jok and I went back to the firm for a thorough discussion about my case.

"This will go to trial," si Attorney Mendez sabay pukol ng seryosong tingin sa'kin. "And it will be ugly."

Tumango lang ako. Inasahan ko na naman iyon.

"The police had taken some biological samples from the crime scene," sabad naman ni Attorney Mara Santiago, ang nag-iisang babaeng abogado sa team. "We've already applied to court for a DNA testing order."

"We have the sworn testimonies of the two suspects who had positively confirmed that it's Alec Von Cua who masterminded and perpetuated the kidnapping and the assaults."

"He was booked for questioning yesterday," si Attorney Domingo. "His attorneys had posted bail. Alec Von Cua denied the accusations."

" 'Course he would," grunted Attorney Marcus Estareja. "What else did he say?"

Tila nagdadalawang-isip pa akong sinulyapan ni Attorney Domingo.

"He said he fucking wanted to see Jia," pagalit na tugon niya at ibinalik na ang tingin kay Attorney Estareja. "He wanted to see her so bad he almost begged."

"You will not see him," babala naman ni Attorney Mendez na derektang nakatingin sa'kin.

"She won't. A TRO has also already been filed against him," si Attorney Domingo. "But, yeah he's out."

I gasped in protest. "Why is he getting away with it!"

"He's not," si Attorney Domingo sa mababang boses.

"He has a lot of money and influence!" giit ko. I was panicking on the inside as I looked at all of them. "He will pay them and I will never get my justice!"

"Well, he sure as hell won't be fucking paying us," si Attorney Domingo sabay suyod ng tingin sa mga kasamahan niya.

"Once the DNA result is up, he's cornered. We can hold a press conference. We will use the media," suhestiyon ni Attorney Mara Santiago.

"I think it would be a good idea," sang-ayon naman ni Attorney Gerardo na tahimik lang sa gilid. "The Cua's influence and power had kept the on going investigation away from the public eye for now. Once we use the media, this will blow up. We can gain sympathy from the public."

They all looked at Attorney Lake Mendez for his approval. He only looked at me with his sharp gaze.

"There will be backlash. Will you be ready for it, Jia?" tanong niya.

"I... I don't know."

He leaned a bit forward. His gaze was intense.

"Once we hold a press conference, you will become vulnerable to the public. They will know what happened," marahang paalala niya. "The public can either believe you or believe him. Evidences be damned."

"I think she should do it," dinig kong sabad ng isa sa mga abogado.

Attorney Lake Mendez held a finger to silence whoever it was. His serious dark eyes were waiting for my answer. They were all waiting for my answer.

"I'll do it," matapang na sagot ko. "I will face them and tell my story."

"Alright." Tumango si Attorney Lake Mendez at saka binalingan na ang buong team. "Now, let's get back to work."

I left the law firm with enough confidence. May kumpiyansa ako sa team na binuo ni Attorney Mendez at Attorney Domingo. They were competent.

Maraming nangyari sa loob ng dalawang linggo. I wasn't sure how they pulled some strings but the press conference became possible. I had a week preparation for it. Tinulungan ako ni Attorney Domingo at ng team.

Ang daming tanong na ibinato sa'kin. I had already rehearsed for those questions but nothing prepared me for the reality of it all. Sinunod ko ang payo ni Jok sa'kin. I sticked to my story. I stood to my truth. I held my ground.

Marami pa ang gustong itanong ng mga taga media sa'kin pero limitadong oras lang ang ibinigay namin sa kanila. When I went down the stage, the security surrounded me right away to protect me from the media voltures who wanted more scoop with my story.

I safely exited the room without any scratch. Kaagad kaming nakapasok sa kotse. At hindi nag-isang minuto ay nasa kalsada na kami. Another car of security was tailing us behind.

Naupo si Jok sa tabi ko sa may backseat. He proudly looked at me.

"You did good back there," puri niya. "You didn't break down."

"Kailangan kong maging matapang kung gusto ko ng hustisya."

Tinanguan ako ni Jok. May sasabihin sana siya nang bigla na lang marahas na huminto ang sasakyan sa gilid ng kalsada.

Malutong na nagmura si Jok. I put a hand on my chest in fear and looked straight ahead. Nakita ko ang sasakyan na humarang sa kotse namin. Napagtanto ko ang dahilan ng pagmumura ni Jok nang makita kung sino ang nakatayo sa labas ng sasakyan.

"Huwag kang lalabas," malamig na bilin ni Jok sa'kin bago niya buksan ang pinto ng sasakyan. He quickly stepped outside of the car.

I gritted my teeth as I looked at Alec who stood outside. He was alone. He was wearing a suit like he was just coming from another conference. Far a distance, he still looked very attractive and perfectly fine like he had done nothing wrong. I loathed him for it.

Nakatingin siya sa kotse na sinasakyan ko. The car is tinted so I don't think he could see me.

Kaagad siyang pinalibutan ng security na nakabantay sa'kin. Nanatili ang mga mata ni Alec sa kotse na sinasakyan ko.

"I want to see her." His voice rang.

"You have a restraining order," saad ni Jok habang lumalapit sa kanya. "You are not allowed to come near her."

"I don't fucking care! Let me see her!" Halos mapatalon ako nang makita ang marahas na paghakbang ni Alec patungo sa sasakyan.

Isang beses na tinanguan ni Jok ang head ng security. Everything happened so fast. Two men held Alec's arms, restraining and stopping him from taking one more step.

"Jia!" Alec shouted.

Nagpumiglas si Alec. The men had a hard time stopping him because of his height and strength.

One man had no other choice but to twist Alec's arm. He cursed out loud. Pinagtulungan nila si Alec hanggang sa napaluhod siya sa sementadong kalsada. They forcefully put his arms behind his back and in a matter of seconds cuffed his hands.

"Gusto ko lang siyang makita..." halos pagmamakaawa niya.

Jok only shook his head. Tinalikuran na niya si Alec at humakbang na siya pabalik sa sasakyan.

Jok opened the car door and slid inside. We looked at each other and before he could protest I opened the side of my door and stepped outside.

Nasa akin kaagad ang buong atensiyon ni Alec. Nanatili siyang nakaluhod at nakatanaw lang sa akin. Ilang dipa lang naman ang distansiyang nakapagitan sa aming dalawa.

Nanatili ako sa may pintuan ng sasakyan at tahimik lang na pinagmamasdan si Alec. Kung makatingin siya ay parang uhaw na uhaw.

"Gusto mo ba akong makita para matingnan kung naghilom na ba ang mga sugat na ibinigay mo sa'kin?" Gusto kong bumilib sa sarili dahil walang bahid ng panginginig ang boses ko. I did not want to appear broken in front of him.

"Nagsisisi ka na ba dahil hindi mo na lang ako tinuluyan do'n sa isla?" matapang na tanong ko.

I stepped forward. His bloodshot eyes became clearer. His jaw slacked. Despite the expensive suit, his confident aura was all gone. He looked tired and restless. He looked wounded and miserable.

Miserable ba siya dahil hindi niya ako pinatay at ngayon ay naghahanap ako ng hustisya?

"Nagsisisi ka na ba dahil hindi mo'ko napatay, huh?" I shouted. I saw him painfully winced. "You hit me with a bat without any sign of remorse. You kicked me over and over again... that there was no part of my body which didn't fucking hurt!"

I wanted to break something when I saw his face contorted in pain. I wanted to kill him when I saw tears streaming down his cheeks.

"I prayed so hard in that dark room that I would die just for every pain you inflicted in me to be over," pagpapatuloy ko sa nahihirapang boses. "Wala kang itinira sa pagkatao ko... kaya hindi ko maintindihan kung ano pa ba ang gusto mong tingnan sa'kin!"

"I c-could never do those things to you, Jia," he painfully sobbed. "I could... never hurt you."

Naningkit ang mga mata ko. Hindi ako makapaniwala sa pagtanggi niya.

"Liar!" I screamed. "Liar!"

He closed his eyes as if seeing the pain and anguish in my face tortured him.

"I'd rather kill myself first than hurt you," aniya sa basag na boses.

I stared at him. Siguro kung hindi ko pinagdaanan ang lahat ng masasamang karanasan sa loob ng madilim na kuwarto na iyon ay makukumbinsi pa ako ng mga kasinungalingan niya. It was not a nightmare. It was my reality and yes, he did all those things to me.

"You will rot in jail," matigas na pangangako ko. "You will pay for everything you did to me."