Atty. Christine Villeza
"It must be Jelsey's idea." Anthony uttered while he was guiding me to get down from his car. Habang inaalalayan ako nito sa pagbaba sa kotse niya ay mag-isa namang bumaba si Jelsey na animo'y sawa na sa kalandian ni Anthony.
"What's my idea, huh?" Jelsey asked while fixing her dress. Inirapan din nito si Anthony habang nakatingin sa repleksyon nito sa salamin ng kotse.
"Your color-schemed dresses? Black and white. You two always dress like that whenever you visit me in the police station two years ago."
Nang makababa na ako ng kotse ay inayos ko rin ang suot kong damit. Hindi na sinagot ni Jelsey ang tanong ni Anthony dahil bukod sa masyado na itong obvious, naiirita na rin kasi si Jelsey. Well, this bitch has her period an hour ago so we were kinda late right now. Mabuti nga't nakapag-hintay pa sa amin si Anthony.
After I got myself prepared, humalik na ako kay Anthony bago pumasok sa building ni Severina. Anthony bid us a good bye before he went into his car. "Call me when you got home. I'm sorry, hindi na kita maiihahatid pauwi. May emergency problem din kasi sa Rivamonte Hotel so I'll be late."
"A'right, bye. Mag-ingat ka."
Pagkaalis nito ay agad akong siniko ni Jelsey sabay bulong ng, "Nagsasama ba kayo sa isang bahay?"
I instinctively rolled my eyes and went inside the building. "No, we're not. He's just coming over to my house whenever he wants."
"That's the same. Knowing Anthony, he always wants to go to your house."
As expected, all of the employees working here were looking at us like we were superstars. Well, not really. Isang palapag lang ang kompanya ni Severina pero 'di hamak na malaki ito kaya sobrang luwag pa rin. This building was super organized; you can't even see a single flaw on how the table and the offices are arranged.
It was black and white in motif, just like the motif of Jelsey's law firm. "Sherlock Hemsworth." I uttered under my breath as I was looking the the big name on Severina's office. Nasa dulo ng building na ito ng office niya pero kitang-kita ang pangalan ng detective agency nito.
Nang makarating kami sa dulo, nakita agad namin si Katerina na naghihintay sa labas ng malaking opisina. "What took you so long?" she asked while assisting us with our bags. She just carried Jelsey's bag since I insisted to carry my own. "Anyway, Ate's been waiting in side. Go in."
After she said that, Jelsey pushed the tinted glass door that was the only visible way in and out. Nang pumasok kami'y naabutan naming si Severina sa busy sa pagta-type sa laptop niya. It took her a second before she realized that we're here. Umirit ito nang napakalakas at sinalubong kami ng mahigpit na yakap. "Oh my gosh, I miss you two! Especially you, Christine! How long has it been?"
"I lost count." I replied and smiled at her. Pinaupo na kami nito sa couch sa isang sulok ng kaniyang opisina. The layout of her office was the same as with Jelsey's office. It seems like they have the same engineer and architect then talked about it in pairs. "It's been a while. You're successful as well, Severina."
"Not as much as Jelsey's success." she replied and chuckled. Pinaghanda kami nito ng maliit na comforter dahil napakalamig sa kaniyang opisina. This bitch was also wearing a winter jacket since it was too cold here. Summer sa labas pero winter sa loob ng opisina niya. "What took you forever? Muntik niyo na akong hindi maabutang buhay."
"Don't exagerate, Severina. We're still annoyed that we have to call you by your first name since you and your sister has the same nickname." Jelsey butted in and sighed. "What a pain in the ass."
Severina saw Jelsey's reaction and jokingly asked me what was her problem. "Niregla 'yan, kaya kami natagalan dahil tinagusan 'yan bago kami umalis."
Severina just laughed about it and reclined her back on her seat. Komportable na rin akong sumandal sa aming kinauupuan habang nasa tabi ko si Jelsey na naka-krus ang mga braso. We didn't mind her attitude because we felt like it was just normal to her. Nang mapansin kong wala na masyadong iniisip si Severina ay agad na akong nagtanong. "Out of curiosity, why does this building was divided into two? The left side has black tables while the right side has white tables. May paghahati ba ng organisasyon dito?"
Severina looked at me and nodded. "Those with white tables were in partner with the detective agency of the government. Those with black tables were independent to work enough even without the permission of the government. You know, just like what I did to Sandoval-criminal-case two years ago."
Agad naman akong napaango-tango dahil naintindihan ko na kung bakit ganon ang setup sa labas ng opisina ni Severina. The moment I looked at the door to recall the setup outside, Katerina suddenly entered with three cups of coffee. Lumapit ito sa amin at ibinigay isa-isa. This was perfect for the freezing atmosphere here in Severina's office. "Coffee to stay you up. Baka bigla na lang kayong makatulog sa sobrang lamig dito." Katerina adviced.
Jelsey and I smiled at her while Severina asked her to stay with them. Nasa tapat ko ito nakaupo habang si Jelsey ay katapat si Severina. Saglit akong napatitig kay Katerina at napansin na sobrang magkahawig talaga nilang dalawa. "You look stunning, Katerina." I complimented.
Napatingin ito sa akin at ngumiti. She looked so shy even though we already met before. "Thank you! Y-You too."
"Don't be so awkward in front of her, Katerina." pagsingit muli ni Jelsey pagkatapos humigop ng kape. "It's not as if you did a heinous thing behind our backs."
"She must be sorry for what she did two years ago." pagsunod din ni Severina para asarin ang kapatid niya. "Well, triny lang naman niyang ilubog ang pangalan ni Sandoval sa isang bagay na 'di naman talaga niya nakita. What a bitch, right?" tanong nito sa akin.
Natawa na lang ako't umiling. "Nakaraan na 'yan, h'wag mo nang asarin masyado ang kapatid mo, Severina" Tumingin naman ako kay Katerina't ngumiti. "It's okay now, Katerina. I heard that you defended yourself from the law suit filed against you two years ago, huh? Noong napatunayan mo namang inosente ka, nawalan na ako ng problema sayo."
After I said that, she laughed and hugged me instinctively. Niyakap ko rin ito pabalik tapos pagkatapos ay nag-sorry ulit ito.
As far as I can remember, Katerina was charged of perjury after the Sandoval-criminal-case when Severina asked the judge to sue her. Nito ko lang rin nalaman ang mga nangyari noon dahil nga sa sunod-sunod na pangyayari noong araw na 'yon. After a week of Anthony's release, Katerina was brought to the court for the hearing of her perjury-case.
She bravely defended herself back then. Wala siyang kahit isang abogado na sumuporta sa kaniya. Well, she's a law student so she barely managed to defend herself and won the case. Tinanggap niya na ring hindi kumuha ng abogadong magtatanggol sa kaniya dahil bukod sa kaya niya namang mag-isa, alam niya na rin sa sarili niyang iyon na ang kaniyang parusa.
That act was kinda brave for her as a law student. She was outstanding to be able to get herself from that mess while exercising her rights to defend herself in the court room. Pagkatapos noon ay naging isa na rin siya sa inaabangang mapasama sa pinakamagagaling na abogado sa bansa kasunod ng henerasyon namin nina Jelsey, Dark, at Bright. The expectations were too high so I assume that she'll be able to manage. Medyo matagal pa naman ang lalakbayin niya dahil nagta-trabaho muna siya ngayon habang nagre-review para sa bar exam sa susunod na taon.
"I miss you seeing in the court room, Atty. Christine. Idol ko kayo eh." Katerina added and chuckled. Natawa naman si Severina na nasa tabi nito. "I've watched all the court trials and hearings you've attended that was broadcasted nationwide. Para na rin sa paghahanda ko para sa bar exam."
I instinctively smiled and caressed her hands on her knees. "I don't think I'll be able to go back sooner. I'm not working as an attorney-at-law anymore. Pahinga na muna ako sa mabigat na trabahong 'yan."
After I said that, Jelsey laughed beside me as if she's mocking me. Sinamaan ko lang ito ng tingin pagkatapos niyang sabihin na, "Takot ka na kasi sa media. Pagkatapos mo ba namang mawala nang matagal."
"Why are you so mean, bitch?" I rolled my eyes and chuckled. Bahagya na lang itong natawa dahil sa naging reaksyon ko. Inintindi ko na lang ang gaga kasi nga bad trip sa regla niya.
"Speaking of resting, I'm so glad that you're now continuing with your new life, Christine. Fresh start, far from the sick memories of the past. Have you got enough rest?" Severina asked to divert the topic. Si Jelsey naman ay mukhang nagkainteres sa usapan dahil ibinaba nito ang iniinom niyang kape.
"Yeah. Charisse and I have been helping each other to recover from our own problems and traumas." I answered. Napahinga ako nang malalim nang maalala ang mga araw na kasama ko si Charisse sa loob ng hospital.
I can see in Severina's eyes that she longed for Charisse after I mentioned the latter's name. Kahit si Katerina ay natulala din. They must have missed their best friend so much. "Kumusta na ang kalagayan ni Charisse ngayon? It's been two years and few months."
"Well. . ." I said, trying to recall what Charisse's doctor has said to me a few days ago. "Malapit na siyang gumaling."
"We'll be able to meet Charisse sooner."