Aliyah Yajaira Liwanag has been struggling with life ever since their family fell apart, kaya naman nang makatanggap siya ng offer mula sa isa sa pinakamayaman sa bansa na si Benedict Amadeo ay agad-agad niya itong tinanggap. Sino ba ang makakatangg...
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Dinumog ng mga reporter at mga nagpoprotesta ang sasakyan na kinalalagyan ni Blake.
They have placards screaming about women and their rights. They already have a verdict about Blake's case despite not hearing his side. Mga agad-agad nanghuhusga na akala mo ay hindi sila nagkasala kahit kailan.
Don't get me wrong, I am all about women's rights. I am all about hearing the victim's stories and praising their courage for speaking up, but I condone malicious use of women's rights. It is a calculated move to get the public's sympathy to trap a person into something they do not want.
Hindi naman biktima si Gertrude, sa katunayan ay siya pa nga ang nasa mali sa pagkakataong ito.
I was directly behind Blake in the courtroom.
"I miss you," he mouthed, which made me smile.
"You'll be out of there soon," malambing na sabi ko naman at matapos iyon ay narinig na namin ang hudyat na magsisimula na ang paglilitis.
Blake pleaded not guilty after the complaint against him was read by the court interpreter. There were a lot of things said before Gertrude went into the witness stand.
Simula pa lamang ay kalokohan na ang trial na ito, kahit na mangako pa si Gertrude na sasabihin niya ang totoo ay sigurado akong kasinungalingan dun ang lalabas sa kaniyang bibig para lang mapunta sa kaniya si Blake at hindi mapahiya ang kanilang pamilya.
"Would you please tell us when and where the acts of the accused happened?"
"It usually happens in his office. Madalas ay ipinapatawag niya ako sa gitna ng trabaho. Kung hindi naman ay nagpupunta siya sa aking opisina para doon ako guluhin."
I almost rolled my eyes after hearing her answer. Blake was never in her office. I know that because there are only three places where Blake goes to. One our department's office. Two, his office, and three, the pantry where we eat with the others.
"What does he usually say when he visits you?"
"He will straightforwardly tell me na let's have sex. Pagbabantaan niya ako na madadamay ang aking pamilya kapag hindi ko sinunod ang gusto niya."
"Why are you swayed by these threats?"
"Because his family is powerful."
Someone who doesn't know Gertrude that much would believe her statement, but I know who she was. Para sa akin ay palabas lamang ang lahat ng ito.
Marami pang itinanong ang prosekyusyon sa kaniya na siya namang nilalabanan ng aming abogado na madalas ay pinapaburan ng huwes. Hindi ko maiwasang mapaismid. May mangilan-ngilang pagkakataon na nahuhuli kong nakatingin sa akin si Gertrude kaya naman binibigyan ko ito ng mapang-asar na ngiti. Ilang beses na niyang muntik hubarin ang kaniyang maskara dahil sa pagkairita sa aking pagmumukha.
