The Verdict Remedy

Chapter 36

"How have you been" She started asking, but it already made me lose words.

"Of course, you're not fine. You wouldn't call to begin with if everything is going good," She said.

"It's not that—"

"Hush—Shall we begin?" She said. I opened the balcony and leaned on a cold metal as I watched the view of city lights. I gulped on my beer before telling her to proceed.

***

I picked up my LV bag and keys as I was contented with my high-waisted ruffled skirt and a taffeta shirt from Moschino.

I bought some bread and coffee before getting to the venue. I have to earn 50 hours within 5 days, so I better get in early.

Well, Dr. Cabrera never mentioned that the 50 hours should only start when I'm already doing things, so practically, my time starts as soon as I set foot on the site. Time ends when I decide to leave.

It's 7 in the morning. I got out of my car and brought my breakfast with me. I got in there and saw that the covered court in the plaza was still empty.

'Di ba dapat nagsisimula na silang mag-ayos ng ganitong oras? O baka naman Filipino time kaya 'di pa nag-aayos. Gosh kung 'di lang ako nag-iipon ng oras 'di ako pupunta ng maaga rito. I get my phone and decided to call Bea.

"Hmm. Ano yun?" Bungad niya at tila ba kagigising palang.

"Di ka pa naka-ayos?" Tanong ko. Rinig ko ang mabilis niyang pagtayo at ilang sandali ay natigil.

"Potek ka 7am palang. Pinakaba mo ako," Sagot niya

"Yeah 7, 'di pa ba kayo mag-aayos?"

"Aayusin? Upuan, tent, tsaka mesa lang naman, mabilis na lang yan i-assemble. Tsaka 9 pa naman, kaya yan maayos ng isang oras."

"Bakit 'di na ba kayo magkakabit ng mga mukha like the usual?" I asked.

"Anong mukha? paano kakabit?"

"Some tarps and faces of politicians like that?" Tanong ko.

"Aahh, yung mga pang-epal poster? Gaga 'di naman trapo si Mayor. Kahit nga plastic bags ng relief goods ayaw nun palagyan ng mukha o pangalan niya ehh, city lang talaga," Sagot niya. I looked around and see how the plaza is engraved with only the name of its City. Right! How can I forget how his principle works.

"Teka nga, nandyan ka na ba sa plaza?" Tanong niya, dahilan para muli kong maalala na may kausap pa ako mula sa kabilang linya.

"Yes, I'm already here, now move fast and get in here, ayokong mag-isa na walang kilala," Sagot ko.

"Ang aga mo naman? Ano bang rinig mo sa oras na sinabi ko?"