Defending Mr. Billionaire (Sandoval Trilogy #1) | COMPLETED

Chapter 96

Atty. Christine Villeza

"Ah, so absent tayo ngayon?"

"Yeah." Anthony answered after I asked him if where are we going now. He held my hands as we were walking to where we parked the car.

Pagkatapos naming magkwentuhan kanina sa bench ay naglakad na agad kami pabalik sa kotse. Kung hindi naman kami pupunta ng Rivamonte Hotel, saan naman kami pupunta?

Dahan-dahan lang ang paglalakad namin dahil na rin siguro gusto naming masulit ang pagkakataon na magkasama kami dito sa lugar na 'to. Due to our hectic schedules, we could barely see each other in the office, unless it's lunch time. Dinadalhan kasi kami ni Mama ng pagkain dahil napaka-workaholic daw namin. Sa office ko kami nakain tapos ay bumabalik na lang siya sa office niya pagkatapos. We were like college students during lunch time.

Habang naglalakad kami ay palagi akong napapatingin sa aking kamay na hawak ngayon ni Anthony. When I raised it and saw Anthony's veiny hands intertwined to mine, he looked at me and smiled. Itinalikod niya ang kaniyang kamay para makita ang kamay ko. The diamond on my engagement ring reflected the sunlight that shined on us. "This looks elegant, Anthony. You didn't have to buy me this expensive ring but thank you."

"Kulang pa nga 'yan kung ikukumpara sa halaga mo sakin." Anthony said and smirked. He really knows how to make my heart flutter. "You deserve the world, Christine. I love you."

"I'm just curious. Where and when did you get this?" I asked and put our hands down. Nangalay din kasi ako habang tinititigan pero hindi ko mapigilang mamangha. Being engaged with Anthony was too good to be true. Well, not actually. Matagal din naman na naming plano 'to kahit law student pa lang ako. Naudlot lang dahil sa mga insidenteng nangyari sa kaniya-kaniya naming buhay.

"It was from Europe. I got that after I first earned money when I worked for the Vilallunas." Anthony answered, mesmerizing. He then looked at me and smiled. "I was hoping back then to see you again after I got kidnapped."

Napangiti ako sa kaniyang sinabi't tiningnan muli ang aking singsing. "You've worked hard for this."

"Yeah." he said and chuckled. "That's why I'm so glad that you accepted it. . . of course, aside from the fact that you'll now be my wife."

"I love you----!"

"Ms. Villeza, is that you?"

We insintively stopped from walking and looked at whoever called us out of nowhere. It was a woman in a formal attire with her shades and hat on. She seems to be a professor here in the law school. It can be seen from his uniform and the UP badge across his right chest. "H-Hello po. Sino po kayo?"

After I asked that, she removed her shades and beamed at us. Napatakip ako sa aking bibig dahil sa gulat. "J-Judge Natasha Magnaye?" She'll more likely to be here so I wonder why. "It's a coincidence that we met here po. Good to see you here, Judge."

"First of all, I want to send my condolences to your late brother, Christine. I was there when the incident has happened. I witness it all. I'm so sorry." she said in the most serious manner.

Well, everybody in the court room saw what happened. It's not as if she has an obligation to say sorry and yet, she does. Kaya saludo ako dito kay Judge Magnaye kasi kahit noong professor pa namin siya dito sa law school, napaka-considerate na niya hindi lang sa akin kundi sa aming lahat. "Thank you, Judge."

"Oops, don't call me judge anymore." Itinuro nito ang badge na nasa kaniyang dibdib at ngumiti sa amin. "I went back as being a teacher here in UP School of Law. I miss terrorizing my students."

Bahagya akong natawa, at syempre natuwa, sa sinabi nito. "I would love to see you teach again, Prof. Magnaye." I said and called her by her new title. Natuwa naman ito sa kaniyang narinig. "Anyway, I think Anthony wants to say something to you."

Nang sabihin ko iyon, agad na napatingin sa akin si Anthony na sumesenyas-senyas pa kung ano ang sasabihin niya. I didn't teach him anythiing, and I have no plans on catching him today. Tumingin siya kay Prof. Magnaye at ngumiti. "Thank you for freeing me, Judge. I owe you my freedom today."

Prof. Magnaye chuckled and gave Anthony a handshake that the latter was asking. "Your attorney worked hard for it. Nagbigay lang ako ng verdict and that's it! Congratulations for the two of you." she said then glanced at me. Her answer was like a different term of "Kayo ang naghirap para diyan. Taga-compute lang ako ng grades niyo." -- a common phrase from teachers and professors.

"Anyway, do you have any business here, Prof. Magnaye? Baka po naabala na namin kayo." I asked.

"Actually, I was looking for the two of you. . . specially you, Christine." Her tone changes and became a serious one. "Kaya rin ako naparito ay nalaman kong nandito kayo. Glad that I have an appointment here so it'll be less hassle for me."

"Bakit niyo po kami hinahanap?"

Hindi na nito ako sinagot at tila may kinuha na lang na bagay mula sa kaniyang shoulder bag. After a minute, she finally found it and gave it to me. With my brows furrowed, I stared at the flashdrive then glanced at her. "What was this for, Prof?"

"May nagpapabigay lang niyan sa akin. He or she was from one of your batchmates." Pinagmasdan ko ang flashdrive na hawak ko sabay tingin muli sa kaniya. "Don't worry. I don't think that'll do any harm to you."

I smiled at Prof. Magnaye as I kept the flashdrive in my bag. "Salamat po, Prof." Nagsimula na kaming naglakad paalis dahil naibigay na rin naman ni Prof ang kailangan niyang ibigay. Though, even before we took a step further from Prof. Magnaye, I called her and smiled. "Prof, invited kayo sa kasal namin ah!"

She beamed at us with her eyes somewhat saying that she's proud of what we've become.

IT WAS AN hour of travelling when we went from UP Manila to the New Bilibid Prison here in Muntinlupa City. Kahit na sa Metro Manila Skyway kami dumaan ay tila mabigat pa rin ang trapiko, kahit na ngayon ay maaga pa lang. Wala talagang pinipiling oras ang heavy traffic. Mabuti pa sa Pasig, iilang lugar lang ang may heavy traffic kaya less hassle.

Pagpasok namin ng gusali ay sinalubong agad kami ng iilang mga pulis at gwardya. When they knew that we're going to visit somebody in here, they got some of our personal information just for their documentation. Inalalayan nila kami papunta sa visitor's area kaya hindi na kami masyado nahirapan maghanap. Nagpa-autograph din sa akin yung isang pulis nang patago para raw ipakita sa anak niyang law student.

I smiled at him and gave him the sheet of paper with my signature and his pen. "Pakisabi po sa anak niyo, good luck." I whispered. Bawal kasi sa kanilang makipag-usap nang matagal sa mga bisita habang naka-duty.

Ngumiti si kuya sa akin sabay tago ng papel at ballpen niya. "Salamat po talaga, Ma'am. Sige po, maiwan ko na kayo. Pakihintay na lang po yung dadalawin niyo, Ma'am. Tinatawag na po nila."

Pag-upo namin sa isa sa mga silyang bakante ay pinatong ko na agad ang dala-dala naming pagkain sa lamesa. I placed my arm over the table and played with my phone while waiting. Anthony seemed to saw my ring so he held my hand. "We're gonna tell her right now."

I smiled at him and rested my head over his shoulder. "Yeah, I supposed we will. Sigurado akong matutuwa siya."

As if on cue, the one that we've waiting for came out from the prison cell while widely smiling at us. She rushed to be with us without minding the policewomen clutching her handcuff behind her. Tinanggal din naman yung posas niya noong palapit na siya sa amin. Agad kaming tumayo ni Anthony para salubungin ang taong importante sa buhay niya. "Salamat naman ay nadalaw niyo ako, Anak! Na-miss ko kayo ni Christine."

Anthony hugged her, then I followed next. Niyakap ko ito nang mahigpit at gano'n din siya sa akin.

"We miss you, Tita Cheska."