Hide And Seek (A Series #4)

Chapter 22

Chapter 22: President

"Good day, gentleman and Madame," bati ni Attorney Paloma sa pormal na boses.

Napagkasunduan na sa conference room ng C & H kami magtatagpo. Ilang minuto nang dumating kami, dumating din sila Lolo Andrino kasama si Lola, leader ng nagrarally at lawyer nila. Fidai's men is still working around the perimeter kaya kampante kami.

"Good morning," tipid na bati ni Attorney Ruiz.

Mommy on the opposing seat, beside me, remains at her stoic expression. Nang makita muli sa isang panahon si Lolo at Mommy, nagpapaalala ito sa mismong nakitang kong pangyayari. Noong sinampal niya si Mommy. It ached my heart right now.

Sobrang hanga ako kay Mommy dahil mataas ang respeto niya kina Lolo Andrino at Lola Nicole marahil magulang ito ni Daddy at naging manugang niya. Sa lahat ng sakit at panliliit na pinapamalas nila sa kanya, Mommy tried so hard to keep herself from bursting. Kaya ngayon, I don't want to give them a reason to hurt my family again.

"Drop the formalities, Attorney Paloma. My client have business after this,"

"So do we."

"Mom..." mahina kong tawag sa aking ina.

Tumikhim si Attorney Paloma at umupo ulit sa aking tabi. Ako ang nasa gitna nila ni Mommy. Kaharap namin sila Lolo Andrino, Lola Nicole, Attorney Ruiz at ang leader ng rallista na hindi ko alam ang pangalan.

Lola Nicole gave a me smile. I smiled back thinly. Her pinkish white skin complimented her rosy soft dress. Ngayon ko lang napagtanto medyo pareho ang damit nila ni Mommy. Mom is wearing a soft flowery dress too in soft colors. Matanda na si Lola Nicole, she's passed seventy and her wrinkles are shown on the sides but it did not hinder the beauty she has.

Kahit sa idlap ko ng tingin sa kanya, nakikita ko si Daddy. I turned my gaze away to focus on the real agenda.

"I saw all your papers and it's all forgery. In that white folder, there are copies of Haime's will and final statements." pasiuna ni Attorney Paloma.

Tamad na binuksan iyon ni Attorney Ruiz at pinasadahan ng tingin lamang iyon nila Lola at hindi ginalaw.

"My client can sentence you to six years in jail upon this serious case. I'm sure you know that, Attorney Ruiz. Under Article 170 of the Revised Penal Code, it defines the crime of Falsification of Legislative Documents which includes forgery and falsification of private documents."

Lolo interrupted with a chuckle. "George, my, my. What makes you think the papers we have are forged?"

"Because it is, Mr. Felicano."

He chuckled loudly this time. "Assumptions is all that lawyers do."

Attorney Paloma politely smiled. "I base things on evidence, sir."

Tumango si Lolo ngunit mukhang sarkastiko lamang.

"Your piece," bigay daan ni Attorney Paloma kay opposing Attorney.

She's very composed. She's wearing all black from coat to shoes. Talagang professional at mature ang tingnan ngunit sa ilalim ng itim na kasuotan, maitim din ang kanyang panloob na anyo. She's almost porcelain like a doll but her tentacles are dark and hideous.

I've researched about her again. She won a recent case. It was about an old man, a street sweeper, accused of raping a teenager on a nearby street. Nakulong ang matanda ngunit ang totoong may sala ay ang anak ng Mayor. The girl was raped in the hotel and the body was thrown mercilessly on the street where the old man passed by to cleanup early in the morning.