Chapter 28

Incriminating Evidences

"Jia, ayos ka lang ba, hija?"

My thoughts were interrupted by the voice of Feng's father. Iniwan ko ang pagtanaw sa labas ng bintana kung saan kita ang malawak na hardin ng mga bulaklak para harapin siya.

"Ayos lang po, tito," sagot ko sabay gawad ng ngiti.

"Kumain ka na niyang lomi at baka lumamig."

Bumaba ang tingin ko sa puting mangkok na nakalapag sa mesa.

"Sige po. Salamat."

Isang linggo na ang lumipas simula noong naunang trial. Attorney Domingo suggested that I should take a short break. Kinumbinsi ako ni Feng na magbakasyon sa probinsiya nila.

Naupo na ako sa plastik na upuan sa gilid ng mesa. Ipinagpatuloy ko ang pagtanaw sa labas. Natanaw ko si Feng sa labas na may kausap sa kanyang cellphone. Kinuha ko ang tinidor at nagsimula na sa pagkain.

Nangangalahati na ako sa isang mangkok nang pumasok ulit si Feng.

"Nasabi ko na kay attorney ang flight details natin," imporma niya sabay lapag ng kanyang cellphone sa ibabaw ng mesa. "Susunduin nila tayo sa airport."

Binitiwan ko ang hawak na tinidor sa mangkok. Napatingin siya rito.

"Tapos ka na?" she asked.

"Busog na ako."

Naupo si Feng sa bakanteng upuan na nasa tapat ko. "Pagkatapos ng trial bukas, kung gusto mo, puwede tayong bumalik dito."

I nodded. "Feng..."

She leaned forward as she gave me her full and undivided attention.

"In the future, gusto kong magkaro'n ng sariling simpleng bahay tapos may flower garden din."

"Siyempre, oo naman," she said encouragingly with tears in her eyes. Siguro dahil unang pagkakataon ito pagkatapos ng lahat ng nangyari na nagbanggit ako tungkol sa future ko. "Gawin mo 'yon. Susuportahan kita, okay?"

"Kaya ko ba 'yon? Kahit mag-isa lang?" I asked brokenly.

She quickly wiped her tears. "Ano ka ba! Siyempre hindi ka mag-iisa kasi guguluhin kita!" She pretended to laugh.

" 'Yong pangarap kong magkaroon ng sariling pamilya, Feng, hindi ko na matutupad 'yon."

Ngumuso siya, halatang pinipigilan ang paghikbi. "Magkakaroon ka no'n. Matapos lang 'tong pinagdadaanan mo ngayon..."

Umiling na ako bago pa man siya makapagpatuloy. "Feng, I won't be able to bear a child anymore."

Her eyebrows met in confusion.

"Hindi na raw ako magkakaanak pa sabi no'ng doktor na kumunsulta sa'kin pagkatapos no'ng kidnapping." I tried so hard to say it without any emotions. Hoping I could pretend that it's all fine.

Umawang ang labi ni Feng. She looked at me with pity. Hindi ko kayang makita ang awa niya kaya ibinaba ko na lang ang tingin sa mesa.

"That fact was not mentioned during the trial proceedings because I requested the legal team not to," pagpapatuloy ko. "Gusto kong maski man lang 'yon, mailihim ko sa sarili."

I heard the sound of her chair as she moved. Nakita ko ang pagtayo niya.

"Sandali lang ah," awat niya. "Labas lang ako."

She walked away and went outside. Sinundan ko siya ng tingin at tinanaw na lamang sa may bintana.

Nagkasalubong ang kilay ko dahil sa nakitang pagpulot niya ng isang malaking patay na sanga ng kahoy. The log was bigger than her arms. Hinampas niya ang sanga sa isang puno ng kahoy. Isa. Dalawa. She stopped. I saw her wiped her tears. At pagkatapos ay hinampas niya na naman ito ng paulit-ulit.

I allowed myself to shed the tears as I looked at my best friend. Hindi ko na nakayanan pa kaya tumayo na rin ako at lumabas ng kusina.

Nilapitan ko siya at hinawakan ang braso niya para maawat sa ginagawa.

"Tama na 'yan," banayad na utos ko.

Humikbi siya. Ayaw niya akong tingnan dahil nasabihan ko na siya ng isang beses na ayaw kong makitang umiiyak siya para sa akin.

"Hindi mo deserve 'yan! Nakakainis!" asik niya.

"It is what it is, Feng. Tanggap ko na naman."

She tried to lift the log once again but failed to do so. She became weak.

"Bitiwan mo na 'yang sanga. Hindi ka ba naaawa diyan? Gutay-gutay na."

"Si Alec 'to."

I giggled despite the pain. We both looked at the sunset from across the fields.

It was our flight the next day for the trial. Sinundo nga kami nina Attorney Domingo at Attorney Estareja. They gave me a short briefing while we were inside the car.

We did not arrive late in court. When we entered the courtroom, the rest of the legal team were already there.

"Well... last week's trial was one of the most interesting trials I've been on," si Attorney Estareja nang makaupo na kami sa kanya-kanyang upuan namin.

"Anong mangyayari sa kanya? Parang umamin na naman siya no'n," nalilitong tanong ni Feng sa kanya.

Sumulyap si Attorney Estareja kay Attorney Jok na kanina pa tahimik. I glanced at him as well.

"It can't be used against him," tugon niya.

"Pero under oath siya, hindi ba?"dagdag ni Feng.

Attorney Domingo sighed. "It doesn't work like that, Feng."

Mas lalo lang nagtagpo ang kilay ni Feng.

"It doesn't hold in the court," si Attorney Mara na ang nagpaliwanag. She glanced at me. "We can't really call it a confession or an admission."

"To put it simply, sinabi lang niya 'yon dahil gusto na niyang matapos ang trial," dugtong ni Attorney Estareja.

I cleared my throat because I started to notice that they were stealing glances my way. Bumaling ako kay Attorney Domingo.

"Nasa'n si Attorney Lake?" I asked.

"May last minute na inasikaso pa sa firm." He glanced at his wristwatch. "We still have an hour before the judge arrives anyway."

Naputol ang usapan namin dahil sa pagpasok nina Alec at ng kanyang legal team. I noticed a big change in their demeanor. They looked very much hopeful compared to last week.

They all took their seats in the opposite direction. Nagnakaw ako ng tingin kay Alec. He looked tense. May pagod man sa mga mata niya ay may nakitaan din ang galit dito.

Without any warning, he looked my way. Nagtama kaagad ang tinginan namin. There were series of emotions displayed in his eyes as he looked at me. Shocked, anger, and lost. I could not look away. He was looking at me as if he wanted to tell me something which he found hard to say. Na para bang mismong siya ay hindi makapaniwala.

"Jia," untag sa akin ni Attorney Domingo na nakaupo sa tabi ko.

Pinutol ko ang pagtanaw kay Alec at bumaling na sa kanya. Napasulyap siya sa gawi ni Alec bago ibinalik ang tingin sa akin. He shook his head. I felt guilty.

Ibinaba ko ang tingin sa mga kamay na nasa kandungan. Huminga ako ng malalim at naghintay na lang sa pagsisimula ng trial.

Attorney Mendez arrived later on. He looked tense and troubled. I felt like the atmosphere had shifted. Tingin ko, hindi lang ako ang nakaramdam no'n kundi pati na rin ang buong legal team.

Naupo siya sa tabi ni Attorney Domingo.

"We have a problem," panimula niya bago pa makapagtanong si Attorney Domingo sa kanya.

"What's up?" Naging tensiyonado na rin si Attorney Domingo.

"The defense is going to submit new evidences today," si Attorney Mendez sa mahinang boses. He glanced at me. "Ngayon ko lang din nalaman kaya ako natagalan."

Attorney Domingo gave him his full attention. "May ideya ka ba kung anong klase ng ebidensiya ang isusumite nila? Is it possible to make a rebuttal?"

Sasagot na sana si Attorney Mendez nang pumasok na ang presiding judge. We all stood and the session started.

Another set of witnesses testimonies were brought in the courtroom. Nauna ang kampo ko.

"Maaari mo bang sabihin dito sa korte ang trabaho mo, Mr. Soriano?" si Attorney Mendez sa harapan ng witness stand.

"Uh...opo." The man cleared his throat. "Bangkero po ako sa Cebu."

"Ano naman ang koneksiyon mo sa akusado na si Mr. Alec Von Cua?"

Mr. Soriano glanced at Alec's way before looking back at Mr. Mendez.

"Naalala ko po na sumakay si sir— si Mr. Alec sa bangka ko po."

"Papunta saan?"

"Sa Malapascua po."

"Kung susuriin mo sa memorya mo, puwede mo bang sabihin ang eksaktong petsa at oras na naisakay mo si Mr. Alec Von Cua?"

Tumango si Mr. Soriano at bahagyang napatingala. It seemed like he was genuinely trying to remember the details about it.

"Base po sa memorya ko, naisakay ko po siya sa bangka ko no'ng January 19 po."

"Just to confirm, January 19 of 2023?"

"Yes, sir."

"No further questions, Your Honor." Attorney Mendez respectfully nodded at the presiding judge and went back to his seat.

The defense cross examination to Mr. Soriano followed suit right away.

"Anong sinakyan mo galing probinsiya papunts rito, Mr. Soriano?" pambulaga na tanong ng abogado ni Alec.

"Eroplano po."

"Anong hapunan mo kagabi?"

Bumalandra sa ekspresyon ng mukha ni Mr. Soriano ang pagtataka at kalituhan sa takbo ng tanungan ng defense attorney ni Alec. He glanced at Attorney Lake's direction for guidance. Isang beses siyang tinanguan ni Attorney.

Ibinalik niya ang tingin sa naghihintay na abogado ni Alec.

"Kanin, adobo, at saka sinigang po," he replied politely.

"Puwede mo bang sabihin kung ano naman ang naging almusal mo kahapon?"

"Objection, Your Honor," interrupted Attorney Mendez. "Relevance. Lack of foundation—"

"I'm just getting on the foundation, Your Honor," apila ni Attorney Albuero. "Just laying a pattern here. If Mr. Soriano coud just answer me."

"Pakisagot na lang ang tanong, Mr. Soriano," utos ni Judge Luz Lagdameo.

"Uh..." Kabadong natawa si Mr. Soriano. "Hindi ko na po maalala –"

"Pero kahapon pa lang po 'yon, Mr. Soriano."

"Oo nga po. Marami po akong kinain kahapon. Siyempre hindi ko na maalala..."

"Hindi mo na maalala ang mga kinain mo noong almusal kahapon, pero 'yong alegasyon ng pagsakay ni Mr. Alec Von Cua sa bangka mo no'ng January ng nakaraang taon eh naaalala mo pa?"

Naitikom ni Mr. Soriano ang bibig. He nervously licked his lips.

"Mr. Soriano, sa bangka mo, nag-i-issue ka ba ng ticket?"

"Ticket po?"

"Yes. Like a ferryboat ticket."

I saw Mr. Soriano swallowed. "H-Hindi po. Maliit lang po ang bangka ko at hindi po uso ang ticket."

"Tinatanong ko, Mr. Soriano, kung nagbibigay ka ba ng ticket sa mga pasahero mo. Kasi kung may ticket kang ini-issue, may petsang nakalagay 'yon," paliwanag ni Attorney Albuero. "Magsasabi 'yon sa'tin kung tumutugma ba ang sinabi mong petsa sa petsa ng alegasyon na sumakay sa bangka mo ang kliyente kong si Mr. Alec Von Cua."

Beside me, I heard Attorney Domingo softly cursed.

"W-Wala po."

"Kung gano'n, wala kang pruweba?" he asked mockingly. "Ang tanging pruweba mo lang ay ang alaala mo. When in fact, you can't even recall about your meals just yesterday! Paano pa kaya kung taon na ang lumipas!"

I closed my eyes. Pati ako ay kinakabahan na rin when in fact I should not be. Dahil alam kong nagpunta nga si Alec sa Malapascua. Nakita ko siya noong namamasyal kami nina Kai at Willow sa sandbar!

I could not listen to it anymore. I was too tired from everything. Why would they twist someone's words? Bakit gusto nilang baliin ang katotohanan?

Biglang sumikip ang dibdib ko. I felt a heavy weight on it.

"I want to get out," I weakly whispered out of the blue. "Can I just excuse myself?"

Akala ko sa sobrang hina ng pagkakasabi ko no'n ay hindi na ako maririnig. But Attorney Domingo who stayed beside me heard me all right.

"We'll have a court recess in about twenty minutes, Jia," he gently promised. "Makakapag-antay ka pa ba?"

Hindi. I wanted to say, but of course I brave it all out. Kung hindi man ako matapang, naisip ko na siguro puwede naman akong magpanggap sa loob ng bente minutos. So I obediently nodded.

The tiredness and fatigue wanted to conquer my body. I was very grateful when the twenty minutes was over. Nakahinga ako nang natapos pansamantala ang mga katanungan.

We went out because the judge finally issued the court recess for lunch. I knew where we were about to go for lunch. Naging routine na namin ito ng buong legal team. We would have our lunch together in this Filipino food resto. I would be eating quietly maski na kasama naman si Feng. The rest of them would be talking about the morning trial.

Lumabas kami ng korte at nang nakarating sa parking area kung nasaan ang mga sasakyan ay nagbago ang isip ko.

I faced Attorney Domingo because Attorney Lake was not with us, he stayed in the court room for a moment.

"Can I borrow your car? I just want to drive on my own for a bit," panghihingi ko ng permiso.

"Kumain muna tayo ng pananghalian."

I shook my head. "Don't worry, I can find a restaurant on my own."

"Jia..."

"I just want to be alone for an hour, Attorney. Babalik din naman ako."

Isang malalim na buntonghininga ang pinakawalan niya. He glanced at Feng who was just quietly listening to us.

"Payagan mo na si Jia, Attorney," segunda ni Feng.

Attorney Domingo's face was unreadable. Palipat-lipat ang tingin niya sa aming dalawa ni Feng.

"A security staff will tail you," pagbibigay niya ng kondisyon.

"It's fine," pagpayag ko.

He nodded and then walked over to the security staff who stood behind a tinted car. Kinausap niya ito ng ilang sandali. Kalaunan ay bumalik din si Attorney Jok sa banda namin.

He took his car keys from the pocket of his pants and handed it to me.

"Bumalik ka kaagad sa korte pagkatapos," paalala niya. "And make sure to eat your lunch."

"I will," I said as I accepted the keys.

Nagpaalam ulit ako kay Feng at pagkatapos ay inihatid ako ni Attorney Jok sa nakaparada niyang sasakyan. He opened his car door for me and I went in the driver's seat. Minutes later, I drove away.

Nagpunta na muna ako sa isang simple at walang masyadong customer na restaurant. I wanted to reassure Attorney Domingo that I was eating my lunch lalo pa at may pinabuntot siya sa'kin na security staff.

After finishing my lunch, I started aimlessly driving with no particular destination. It was freeing. Pakiramdam ko sa tuwing nagmamaneho ako, nakakapag-isip ako nang payapa. Everything that was happening in my life made me lose my sense of direction. Everything was in chaos.

If Alec wanted for all of this chaos to be over for me so that I could live in peace, he was wrong. Fear has embraced me when I realized that probably, maski pa matapos ang lahat ng ito, hindi pa rin ako mabubuhay nang mapayapa. I was not built strong enough to weather this storm.

I stopped driving on the side of the road when I finally accepted that I was weak. I went out of the car and vomitted what I've eaten for lunch. This often happens reason why I have lost so much weight. I never told anyone about it. Not even my best friend, Feng.

I let myself broke down. I cried. Hinayaan ko ang sarili na iiyak lahat para man lang pagbalik ko sa loob ng korte, makayanan ko pa rin na ipagpatuloy ang pagpapanggap na kaya ko pang harapin ang lahat.

And when my tears had finally dried up, I drove.

Bumalik ako sa korte gaya na lamang nang ipinangako ko kay Attorney. I made sure that all the signs of my breakdown were gone. Nasa loob na rin ang legal team ko. Alec and his legal team were already inside as well.

Tahimik akong naupo sa tabi ni Attorney Domingo. I returned his car key and he accepted it without any words. Feng sat not far away from us. We were quiet as we waited for the arrival of the presiding judge.

After sometime, Judge Lagdameo finally entered. We all stood for her.

Judge Lagdameo reviewed some documents. We were all quietly watching her. Sa sobrang tahimik ay pati tunog ng papel na pinapakli niya dinig namin.

Suddenly, a phone rings. Huminto si Judge Lagdameo sa pagbabasa ng dokumento. He gave a disapproving look towards where Alec and his legal team were.

The use of cellular phones in courtroom during court proceedings and trials were strictly prohibited. Napag-alaman namin kung kaninong cellphone ang tumutunog dahil sa pagtayo ng defense attorney ni Alec.

"My apologies, Your Honor," paumanhin niya. We were all looking at him as he continued looking at his phone's screen. Nang sa wakas ay nag-angat na siya ng tingin mula rito, may naging malaking pagbabago sa ekspresyon ng mukha niya. It was excitement.

"Your Honor, I would like to ask your permission. If I could just answer this call since it's really urgent," mabilisang pahabol niya.

"Is the call related to the case, Mr. Albuero?"Judge Lagdameo looked at him with scrutiny.

"Yes, Judge."

Tinanguan siya ng judge. "If you could just step in the farthest corner. Please don't go out of the courtroom."

Alec's defense attorney gladly nodded and obeyed.

"What's happening?" Hindi ko na napigilan pa.

"Let's just wait for it," tugon ni Attorney Jok.

All of the system in my body had gone alert. I felt like something big was coming. Everyone was waiting for Attorney Albuero. Even Judge Lagdameo was waiting for him.

Natapos din ang tawag ng defense attorney ni Alec. He went back to his legal team. Lahat sila ay umalerto kaagad. He asked for something. Isa sa kanila ay nag-abot kay Attorney Albuero ng makapal na dokumento.

"Fuck. I hate being kept in the dark," dinig kong bulong ni Attorney Jok sa tabi ko.

Mabilisan ang pagbuklat na ginawa ni Attorney Albuera sa makapal na dokumento. It seemed to me like he already knew what he was looking for. He did it very quickly. When he finally found it, hinarap niya ulit si Judge Lagdameo.

"Permission to approach the bench, Your Honor," he asked.

"All right. May I ask the members of both the opposing teams to approach the bench."

Attorney Jok quickly stood. Pati na rin sina Attorney Mendez, Attorney Estareja, at Attorney Santiago. Tumayo na rin at lumapit sa bench ang kampo ni Alec.

Nag-usap silang lahat nang masinsinan kasama ang presiding judge. We could not hear even bits of their conversation because they were talking in low voices.

They listened as well to Attorney Albuero. He was explaining something. Attorney Mendez was standing beside him with the rest of his legal teams in his side. He was listening intently. After a while nakita ko ang marahas na paghilamos ni Attorney Jok sa mukha gamit ang palad niya. Attorney Santiago did something similar as well.

I felt the fleeting chills all over my body. My heartbeat doubled.

The conversation took longer than I expected. Attorney Mendez was explaining something with his jaw clenched. The judge shook his head.

The double doors of the courtroom suddenly opened. Four uniformed men came in. One of them was holding a white envelope. Naglakad sila palapit na rin sa kung nasaan si Judge Lagdameo at ang mga abogado. They spoke and explained something. Lalo lang na humaba ang usapan.

Tiningnan ko si Alec. Nakayuko pa rin siya sa kinauupuan niya. It was as if he was not minding what was currently happening inside the courtroom.

Lumapit na sa akin si Feng. She took my hand and held it. Alam kong ramdam na niya ang panginginig ng kamay ko. She held my hand for a long time.

Sa wakas ay natapos din ang usapan. Nagsibalikan na sa puwesto ang lahat maliban na lang sa apat na unipormadong pulis. They were still with the judge. Naglakad na rin palapit sa direksiyon namin ni Feng sina Attorney Mendez.

I glanced at Alec's defense attorney. I felt like he was holding a key to everything that was happening. I saw him sat beside Alec. Ipinatong niya ang kamay sa balikat ni Alec. I saw him tap on it twice.

"Son of a bitch," dinig kong bulong ni Attorney Jok nang makalapit na sa amin.

Napatingin ako sa kanya at kay Attorney Mendez. They looked dumbstruck.

"Anong pinag-usapan ninyo? Anong nangyayari, Attorney?" I asked.

"The investigators had caught a new suspect to your case, Jia."

Awtomatiko akong napasulyap sa gawi ni Alec. He was listening intently to whatever his defense attorney and his other lawyers were telling him.

"It's not Alec," sabi ko sa mahinang boses. It was a thought at first. And then a sudden feeling.

Lito kong tiningnan si Attorney Mendez.
"If it's not Alec, then... then who kidnapped me! Who?"

Umigting ang panga ni Attorney Mendez. His eyes turned to ice cold.

"The new suspect is your brother, Jia," His voice faltered because of the emotions he could not hide.

"No..." I slowly denied. "It doesn't make any s-sense..."

Attorney Mendez closed his eyes. The time stopped for me when he finally opened them. There was no hint of doubt in his eyes.

"They had found some incriminating evidences against him that he had masterminded your kidnapping..."

"No." An animalistic growl which I could not even recognize as mine went out of my mouth. Para akong pinagkaitan ng hangin sa sobrang bigat ng dibdib.

Unti-unti akong napaluhod nang bumuhos sa akin ang reyalidad. I threw my arms as I wailed. I screamed painfully. Everything was painful again. It was agonizing.

I hit my chest again and again as my own heart squeezed me to death. Even my own heart wanted to betray me.

I felt Feng's arms around me as I broke into pieces. She tried to hug me but the agony won't stop. Everything just hurts so much.