I hear lots of people say that I was different inside the court. Most probably, they are right. I just can't be the same person while fighting for people's justice, especially with the fucked up system and people behind it. Kindness is not needed in this profession.
"Momma, I'm hungry." Sumulpot si Kie sa kusina. She tried to open the ref but she had a hard time since she was hugging her Buttercup and Blossom stuff toy.
"Come here. I made you a smoothie bowl. You will love this!" I made my tone jolly.
Sumigla naman kaagad siya at tumakbo papunta sa akin. KD carried her and effortlessly placed her in the baby chair. Dumaldal kaagad si Kie sa kaniya. Nagkasundo naman sila dahil mukhang mahilig sa bata si KD.
"Ma," tawag ni Kie sa akin. Nasa kama siya.
"Yes?" Binaba ko kaagad ang ballpen ko at dinaluhan siya.
"Momma, Nonno said that Dada's a... doctor. What's that?" She looked at me with curious eyes.
Naging hilaw ang ngiti ko. I love my dad but why does he keep on saying information about Marco to Kie?! In the end, I stopped working and replied to all my daughter's questions hanggang sa hinila na siya ng antok.
Lahat ng kailangan sa kaso inasikaso ko agad. I wasn't sleeping a wink since I was reading the files Cadmus gave me thoroughly, not wanting to skip any details. I have no room for errors. This was something I just can't do carelessly.
"Ah, Marquez. It's nice to see you again. I hope you're ready to lose this one. No hard feelings." I crossed paths with Fred in the hall. He looked so formal and clean in his tux but that won't change his filthy attitude he had since college.
"It's Prosecutor Marquez for you, Attorney Reyes," mataman na sambit ko. "Let's allow the truth to win in court, shall we?"
"What wins in court is the truth." Ngumisi siya nang makahulugan.
He was fucking right. Kasi kahit totoo iyan, kung hindi nanalo sa korte, hindi pa rin totoo.
It just made me strive harder to set all informations accordingly to events. I dig deep into Cali's hospital records from way back, got her friends and doctor as witnesses. I even made a script for her to know which questions to avoid and what words to say when being summoned. It was needed to prove that Benjamin had a record of assault.
"Kapagod," I mumbled. Nasa hospital ako. Dumalaw ako kay Manu pero lumabas muna ako dahil gusto kong magpahangin. Naupo ako sa bakanteng parking lot ng hospital. Dama ko ang pagod ng isip at katawan ko.
Hindi na ako nagtaka nang may naupo sa tabi ko. Nakita ko naman na siya kanina habang naglalakad palabas ng hospital.
"Gusto mo?" Marco offered me the popsicle he was holding.
"No, thanks." Tipid akong ngumiti sa kaniya pero hindi niya sinuklian iyon. Titig na titig lang siya sa akin.
"How's your little girl?" tanong niya, binubuksan ang balot ng popsicle.
"She's doing good," mahinang sagot ko. I did not know how to act around him because of what happened the last time we saw each other. It still bothered me how he just walked out like that with unfinished sentence.
And the pain in his face. It was stuck in my mind. It kept on playing inside. It added to my list of reasons why I cannot sleep properly at night.
"Why... Uhm..." I trailed off, lost for words.
"Hmm?" He raised a brow.
"How's Tita Amara? And your sisters? Si Leil, okay na ba? Si Ares?" Iba ang tinanong ko sa gusto kong itanong sa kaniya.
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Drowning Emotions (Isla Series #5)
RomanceISLA SERIES #5 Marco, the luckiest surfer in the island but was unlucky when it comes to love. Rejected countless of times by his first love. Ica, an actress, on the other hand, was there willing to give him everything... until it turned to nothin...
