I am a woman. Not just a woman. Ayokong sinasabihan ako kung anong dapat kong gawin.
I always think that I am right. Hindi ako mapakali kapag nalaman kong mali pala ako, gusto kong lagi akong tama.
I grew up in an abusive family. That's why I swore that I would never become my mother. Ayokong maging mahina. Ayokong maabuso. Ayokong maging kaawa-awa.
I want to be able to defend myself. Bagay na hindi nagawa ng nanay ko.
Yeah, love. Love made her weak. Love made her powerless. Love made her a fool. That's why I hated her. I hated the two of them.
Kung sana pinakinggan ni mama ang kahilingan kong iwan na niya ang kaniyang asawa, hindi na sana kami umabot sa ganito.
Kung sana inisip niya man lang ang takot ko sa gabi gabing nag-aaway sila.
Again, because of love. She was blinded by love.
"Attorney!"
Muntik na akong mapatalon nang marinig ang malakas na boses ng sekretarya ko. Hinihingal siyang huminto sa harapan ko.
"Did you hear the news?" she asked. Hindi pa niya naayos ang necktie at magulo ang pagkakatali niya ng kaniyang buhok.
"Hindi, bakit?" Nagulat ako nang bigla niyang dinampot ang remote sa table ko at binuksan ang tv.
Agad bumungad sa akin ang reporter at sa likod niya ay maraming tao ang nagkakagulo.
My forehead wrinkled when I saw a familiar man who was forcefully being dragged by the people.
It was Engineer Arellano. Nakaposas ang kaniyang kamay habang hawak hawak siya ng mga pulis. He has no emotions on his face.
"He's accused of rape."
I froze when I heard what my secretary said. Napatigil ang ballpen na pinaglalaruan ng aking kamay.
I gulped. He ...what?!
He... raped someone.
Walang pumapasok sa isipan ko sa mga nagdaang oras. Hindi ko alam kung ano ba ang magiging reaksiyon ko.
I'm having doubts. Is he really that kind of person? Did he really rape her coworker?
"A-attorney, kanina ka pa naglalakad diyan," my secretary showed up after two hours.
Hindi ko namalayang sa loob ng dalawang oras ay wala akong ibang ginawa kundi maglakad pabalik-balik.
"Ano? Anong balita?" I faced her.
She sighed. "He choose to plead the fifth. " Ibinaba niya ang tasang hawak niya.
Sh-t. He's not denying it. But he's not admitting it.
Pagod akong umupo sa aking swivel chair. Damn you, Engineer! Dumadagdag ka pa sa mga iniisip ko!
"W-wala raw pong kumukuhang attorney sa kaso niya," she bit her lip and bowed her head.
I stopped.
"Alam ko kung anong sasabihin mo,huwag mo nang ituloy."
She bit her lower lip. "Sige na ,attorney. 'Di ba magaling ka naman?" she asked with a hopeful voice.
Napangiwi ako. She really likes that engineer huh? Eh ano naman kung mabulok siya sa kulungan?
My forehead wrinkled when she walked towards me.
"W-what if.." she bit her lower lip. "What if there's a chance that he is innocent?"
"But what if there's a chance that he's guilty?"
Natahimik siya sa sinabi ko. Hindi madali. Ano naman kung kunin ko ang kaso niya? Hindi ibig sabihin ay mananalo kami.
It's not that I don't believe in myself. Pero iba kasi ito! The victim was a daughter of the vice president of the country!
Kapag kinuha ko ang kaso ay paniguradong madamay ako.
"I can't risk my career," I turned serious.
"Pero, hindi ba't naging abogado ka para ipagtanggol ang mga tao?" she asked in a small voice.
"Hindi lahat ng tao ay ipinagtatanggol ko," I replied.
"Kilala mo siya, attorney. Alam kong sa maliit na panahon na nagkakilala kayo ay kilala mo siya. Hindi niya magagawa ang ganoong bagay" she convinced me desperately.
I eyed her coldly. "Kung anong pinapakita sa iyo ng tao ay hindi iyon ang tunay na pagkatao niya. Katiting na bahagi lang ng ating pagkatao ang tanging pinapakita natin sa mundo. People only believe what they see that's why we only show them what they want to see."
I sighed as I stared at the prison building. Sa labas ay maraming nagkakagulong reporters. They were desperate to get a tiny information.
Who am I fooling?
Niloloko ko lang ang sarili ko. Kung anong pinagsasabi ko pero sa huli, nandito ako sa investigation room.
I can't sleep last night. Binabagabag ako ng aking konsensya. Damn you, Engineer!
Kahit nasa kulungan ka, kinukulit mo pa rin ako!
I took a deep breathe as I waited for Engineer Arellano to come out. I stared at the bottle of water in front of me. Nakakalahati na ako ng ininom pagpasok ko dito.
My breathing stopped when I heard a footstep. Unti-unti akong nag-angat ng tingin at agad nagtama ang aming mata.
I expected him to have dark circles under his eyes with a messy hair but I was wrong.
"Attorney, " He smiled and walked towards me. Nang maupo siya ay walang sawa niyang tinitigan ang aking mukha.
I remained serious. "Nakuha mo pa talagang ngumiti?" I asked unbelievably.
Sumimangot siya.
"Kaya pala wala ka pa ring attorney hanggang ngayon," I rolled my eyes and he became quiet.
"I was waiting for you.." he mumbled and looked away.
"Huh?"
"Hindi sa walang kumukuhang attorney sa kaso ko, itinataboy ko sila. I was waiting for you to come and defend me," the side of his lips rose for a smirk.
I blinked twice. "What the hell, Engineer Arellano!" I exclaimed and he just chuckled.
Nasa panganib na nga siya, nagawa pa niyang lumandi! He will be the death of me!
Napahilot ako sa sentido. "I heard that you choose to stay silent," I said and he became quiet.
Pinaningkitan ko siya ng mata. "Did you do it?" I asked in a small tone.
His eyes became serious. "I won't answer unless you'll become my attorney," aniya.
Huminga ako ng malalim. "Bakit ako?"
"Bakit hindi ikaw?" he asked back.
Pumirmi ang aking labi. Paano ko ba ito pakikisamahan?
"Fine," sumandal ako sa upuan. "I will become your attorney."
Unti-unting gumuhit ang isang ngiti sa kaniyang labi. Tila ba nanalo sa loto. Does he think this is just a game?!
"Engineer Arellano," I cleared my throat. "I'm asking you this not as your client, but as your attorney.."
"Did you do it?" I raised a brow.
He smirked. Wala sa sariling napahawak ako sa aking batok dahil nagtindigan ang aking mga balahibo.
Tila ibang tao ang nakikita ko ngayon sa harapan ko.
"What do you think, attorney?" he asked with a cold voice.