Chasing Chances

Chapter 25

"This is Attorney Tyson. She's the one who will handle the case. Attorney these are Macus Perez and his parents." Pakilala ni Attorney Cruix. Ngumiti sakin ang ginang na hindi ko naman sinuklian.

"Have a seat." Isa-isa kong tiningnan lahat ng files tungkol sa kaso na kinakaharap ni Mr. Perez. Ramdam ko ang pananahimik nilang lahat kahit ang kabang nangagaling sa kanila ay ramdam ko. Tumikhim ako bago nagsalita.

"Now, let us hear your story. In full details." Saad ko habang nakatingin ng diretso sa mga mata ni Macus. Akala ko mag uumpisa na siyang magsalita ngunit dumukwang pa siya at inabot ang baso ng juice bago sumimsim doon.

"It was the 23rd of April, my birthday. It's only natural for us to celebrate during my birthday. We decided to rent the whole Cyclus to hold a simple party there. Aside from my employee, the employees of Mtech was there. No one else."

Seryoso akong nakikinig habang nagsisimulang magkuwento si Macus about that night when the assault happened. I was attentive to everything he was saying. Trying to find anything suspicious by just looking in his eyes.

"We were all having a good time till around two in the morning. I got bored that's why I walked outside to take a smoke." He said seriously. Kumukunot din ang noo niya ng ilang beses tila iniisip ng maigi kung ano talaga ang nangyari. Smirk form into me.

"That's when I see Miss De Guzman, my employee, with her boyfriend. They were carrying Miss Santillan on their shoulders who looked wasted. So I walked near them and give a help. But Miss De Guzman refused my help. She said she already got a cab. Miss Santillan will ride a cab lonely because they still want to party."

"Ipapasok na sana siya ni Miss De Guzman when Miss Santillan spoke. She said that she want me to bring her home than to let her ride in a cab that she even don't know who the driver is. Miss Santilan's house was on the way so I agreed, aside from being the fact that she's my cousin's girlfriend's sister. Around two-forty when we left the bar. Nakarating kami sa bahay niya almost four na." Sa ilang sandaling nakalipas ngayon lang nagbago ang ekspresyon niya. He looked at me straight to my eyes. I saw how pleading his eyes were. Mahigpit na rin ang pagkakahawak niya sa kanyang baso na kailangan pa siyang hawakan ng ginang upang kumalma.

"I swear I did not do anything. Wala akong ibang ginawa kung hindi ang ihatid lang siya. She was wasted. And I'm not that evil to do that thing to an innocent person like her." Binalewala ko ang sinabi niya, muli kong tiningnan ang folder kung nasaan ang files niya pati ang mga salitang unang sinabi niya.

"The report says that you stayed on Miss Santillan's house for ten minutes. A witness saw you that night. Maraming pwedeng mangyari sa loob ng sampung minuto Mr. Perez." Kita ko ang pagkunot ng kanyang noo dahil sa sinabi ko.

"I was just making sure that she was okay! I swear wala akong ginawa!" Halos hindi malaman ng kanyang mga magulang kung paano siya pakakalmahin. Kahit na si Attorney Cruix ay napipikon na.

"Calm your ass down Mr. Perez. Wala kang kalaban dito. Malamig kung turan na siyang ikinatihimk niya.

"You didn't have anything in your mind when you agreed to take Miss Santillan home?" I asked.

"No! I just want to take her home! And kahit sino naman sa mga epleyado ko ang nasa ganoong kalagayan kagaya ni Miss Santillan ay ihahatid ko rin." Saad niya.

"You are a good employer, then," Medyo sarkastikong saad ko. "The friendliness isn't just to Miss Santillan but for everyone else?" I continued.

"Yes. Ganoon ako sa lahat even I am the CEO's son. I always bond with my employees. I never treat them as my workers." Nakayukong sagot nito. Muli akong napangisi. Damn.

"What do you think about the case? You can be honest with me." Hindi ko agad nasagot ang tanong ni Jc. Pinaglalaruan ko ang hawak kong ballpen bago siya tiningnan at nagsalita.

"He's guilty." Kumunot ang noo niya dahil sa sinabi ko. Hindi naniniwala.
Naglaro ang ngisi sa labi ko dahil sa nangyayari.

"You think?" He asked.

"All the shreds of evidence were pointing at him. That he did that to Miss Santillan even the evidence you gave me." Nawala ang ngiti sa labi ko.

"What evidence?" Naguguluhang tanong nito.

"The witnesses. The medical report. And Miss Santillan's statement. Lahat nang 'yon nagpapatunay na guilty si Mr. Perez. Ang binigay mo sakin ay kabliktaran nang lahat ng sinabi ni Mr. Perez kanina, Attorney. Now, tell me. Where did you get those trash?" Alam kong foul ang hing sinabi ko pero wala akong balak bawiin iyon. Kanina ay halos magkabuhol buhol ang utak ko dahil sa labo ng sitwasyon. Iba ang sinasabi ni Mr. Perez, iba ang statement sa files kung saan naroon ang record niya, at mas lalong iba ang hawak na ebidensya namin ni Jc.

"Then... we'll lose the case?" Umiling ako sa tanong niya.

"No."

"Akala ko ba guilty siya? You'll still defend him?" Ngumiti ako sa sinabi niya. Asan ba ang utak nito?

"Yes. He's guilty because all the evidence was pointing at him. But I'm sure they didn't clean all the path where the pearl was. Ikaw na mismo nagsabi di ba? Masyadong maipluwensya ang pamilya nang taong nang aakusa. But too bad their power can't make the hell obey them. Believe me Jc. Your cousin is purely innocent. Naglalaro pa sa mga kamay ng mga walang prinsipyo at paninindigan ang nagkakapalang pera na kayang bilhin at takpan ang katotohanan." Mahabang lintanya ko habang nakatingin sa kanya nang seryoso.

"Let's do some digging. Yeah, you are going to help me with this. Ang kapal mo naman masyado kung hindi ka tutulong." Natatawang biro ko sa kanya na ikinahagalpak naman ng loko.

Hindi ko alam kung ilang araw na ang nakalipas. I lost count. Basta ang natatandaan ko ang mga oras na ginugol namin ni Jc para sa kasong ito. Halos hindi na kami magpahinga matapos lang ginagawa naming pag aaral. And now we are going to face the reality.

"All rise." Tumayo kaming lahat at inihanda ko na ang sarili ko. Dapat pala nag flat shoes na lang ako. Magkakapaltos pa yata ako nito. Tsk.

"The court is now in session. Judge Cuevas presiding. Please be sitted." Bubulong bulong akong umupo habang tinitingnan ang mga paa ko, ni hindi ko nasundan ang sinasabi ng opisyal ng batas.

"Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Calling the case of the People of the Philipines versus Macus Perez. Are both sides ready?" Tanong ng judge na nasa harapan.

The prosecutor stood up. Inayos ang coat at tumingin sa judge.

"Ready for the People, Your Honor."

Sa seryosong tinig ay nagsalita ako. Hindi alintana ang inis na nararamdaman sa takong na suot ko.

"Ready for the Defense, Your Honor."