Reclaiming the Stars (Agustin Series #1)

Kabanata 16

"Miss Priyanka Guevarra?" may pumasok na isang lalaki na naka-polo. Kasunod noon ay ang nurse na malimit nagbabantay sa akin.

"Sino ka?" I asked him.

"I am the Agustin's family lawyer," umiging ang pandinig ko.

"Get out," malamig na sabi ko.

"You might want to hear news from your family, Miss Guevarra," he sounded too formal.

"Anong gusto mo?" I'm aware that he's a lot older than me but my pained heart won't give them any sign of respect.

May iniabot s'ya sa aking folder at inassemble naman n'ya ang laptop sa gilid ng kama ko.

"Those are the files and cases your father did for the past years. He committed quite a lot robbery-"

"Sinungaling ka!" ibinato ko sa kan'ya ang folder. He sighed before picking all the papers and handing it back to me. My father is not and will never be a thief.

"Why don't you read it on your own? I can guarantee that all words you will see on those papers are products of truth," seryoso n'yang sabi. 

Nanginginig ang kamay kong binuksan ang folder. I didn't want to believe him but I have to at least see. Then I saw several number of addresses from the previous places we've stayed at. Maging ang mga dyaryo at larawan kung saan nakalagay na wanted si Papa.

"N-No... Hindi s-si Papa 'to..." tumulo ang luho ko.

"I knew you would say that. Dala ko rin ang copy ng CCTV footage mula sa mansyon," he placed the laptop closer to me and pressed the play button.

He's giving me the benefit of the doubt.

Nakita ko doon si Papa. Galing s'ya sa may pool area, sa likod ng mansyon, ang sunod n'yang pinuntahan ay ang kusina. Matagal s'ya doon at ang sumunod na ay ang pag-akyat niya sa hagdan. I gasped when I saw him outside Lolo Agustin's room. Lumingalinga si Papa bago kinalikot ang doorknob at nang makapasok ay nilock niya ang kwarto. What he did next killed me. He opened a painting which shows a vault inside. Mabilis nabuksan iyon ni Papa at saka kinuha ang lahat ng laman. 

It was money, all in thousands and in bundles. 

Hindi ko nakayanang mapanood ang buong video. Ayaw kong maniwala na si Papa iyon but his face and body structure screamed that it was him.

"I'm here to compromise, Miss Guevarra," he started. "You can file a complain against us-"

"I won't file anything," malamig kong sinabi. "Even if I will, wala rin namang mangyayari. Everything works under money's favor and I have nothing in that term. I won't even be able to afford a lawyer," sa kabila ng kagustuhan kong bigyan ng hustisya ang pagkamatay ng kapatid ko, I know the end of it. 

I don't have anyone to testify my statements. Wala na akong natitirang pamilya.

"We might have to agree that this won't spread anywhere," he added.

"Si Lolo Joaquin ba ang may sabi n'yan?"

"No, Mr. Agustin wanted you to file a case against him. He told me he's willing to take all the sequences of his actions but I didn't let him. Parehas lang kayong mahihirapan so it's better to settle it as early as possible," he said.

"Can I ask one favor?" I said and he waited for me to speak. "I don't want to have any connections with their family from now on. Lahat sila."

Napakurap-kurap naman ang Attorney. "You have my word, Miss Guevarra."

Lumabas na si Attorney at doon lamang ako nagkalakas ng loob na umiyak. 

I felt so much that I started to feel nothing. Tinakasan na ako ng lahat ng nararamdaman ko. I saw my reflection from the window for the first time.