A Rebel Match For The Senator

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Clarence

"YOU hired her back," Thirdy said after I placed my bag on top of my working table.

Tumingin ako sa kanya una bago sa mga kasama namin sa loob ng opisina ko. My brother is with some junior partners of our law firm whom I know has potential when it comes to bringing justice to our clients. Graduate sila sa school kung saan kami graduate ni Thirdy.

Except the fact that Thirdy attended an international law school and practiced his expertise abroad. Ngayon naghihintay lang siya ulit na mabalik ang lisensya para naman matulungan na niya ako dito.

No, he'll have this firm because of my plans to run for office. My first stop is the House of Representatives.

"Why did you hired back the one you fired before?" tanong uli ni Thirdy sa akin.

Huminga ako nang malalim bago sumagot. "She essential to this case, brother,"

Kinuha ko ang case files at tinungo na ang kinaroroonan nilang lahat. I placed my phone on top of the table and lifted up the marker. Nilapitan ko ang white board saka gumuhit ako doon ng diagram. Tapos isa-isa ko dinikit ang picture ng biktima kasama si Czarina at si Jeni na tinago ko ang katauhan sa isang codename.

I know Thirdy already knew that codename by reading his confused facial reaction.

"These women, including my now assistant, are Apollo's victim. They're formerly working inside the Garden of Eden." Nilagyan ko ng check ang mga naki-cooperate na sa amin at cross naman ang hindi pa na walang iba kung 'di sina Czarina at Jeni.

"Why Miss Guevarra still not cooperating when she's working for you now?" tanong ni Atty. Roberts na dahilan para tingnan ako ni Thirdy ng nakakaloko.

"Why this Miss Aurelia still hiding up until now?" Isa pang tanong galing sa junior partner naming si Atty. Cameron.

Sasagot na dapat ako pero may kumatok at pumasok si Czarina na may dalang mga papel at ilang folder. She stop and stare at everyone as if she's thinking of interrupting an important meeting.

We'll she really did and I wasn't able to hide the white board behind me. Gumawa na lang ako ng paraan para makalusot ngunit wrong move iyon.

"Atty. Roberts, about your question, the one who should answer it is here."

Tumingin ako kay Czarina na nakita ko na nakatingin sa white board kung nasaan ang picture niya. The next thing that happened to me was unexpected. Czarina slapped me, and that shocked everyone. It's indeed a wrong move.

"Hindi ako dapat naniwala sayo," aniya saka lumabas na ng opisina ko. Agad naman tumayo si Atty. Cameron para pulutin ang mga papel na nagkalat sa sahig. Thirdy also stood up and fixed his coat.

"I'll find that Aurelia and convince her since we're negative with your assistant, brother." May halong pang-aasar na sabi ni Thirdy saka lumabas na rin.

Huminga ako nang malalim saka binalingan ang dalawang abogado na kasama ko. "Kausapin niyo iyong ibang biktima pa. Don't let them have a chance to change their statements." Iyon ang utos ko na sinunod naman ng dalawa.

Nang maka-alis lahat, doon ko pa lang nahimas ang pisngi ko na sinampal ni Czarina. I felt it hot, and there was still a tingling sensation. No one ever did that to me, and I feel so embarrassed. But that's not important now. I screwed up and had to fix it before Czarina could flee.

It's persuasion time again. . .

~•~•~•~

NILIKOM ko lahat ng gamit ko na nasa ibabaw ng aking working table pagka-ayos ng suot ko na coat. It's time to go home and do my other job aside from being a lawyer and aspiring politician.

Hindi pa nga politics related ang ginagawa ko dahil nakatuon pa ako sa pagpapakilala sa taong bayan. And that's through this special case I am handling now.

It is a very complicated case which involves heinous crimes and politics.

Alam ko na marami ako makakalaban pero hindi ako aatras kaya kailangan ko maibalik si Czarina sa puder ko.

"Where she might hide?" Nag-isip ako ng isasagot sa sarili kong tanong. Ngunit ng walang maisip na sagot ay nagdesisyon na lamang ako na umalis. Sa paglabas ko ay naabutan ko si Czarina na kinukuha ang gamit niya. "You're back."

Kanina lang ay nasa isip kung nasaan na nga ba siya. Ngayon ay narito na sa aking harapan. Hindi ko inasahan na babalik pa siya.

"Not for you, Atty. At hindi mo na ako maloloko ulit." She's mad and I know why. Like I said earlier, I screwed up and have to fix it. "Gusto mo pa ba i-check kung may dinala ako na galing dito sa opisina mo?"

"I want us to talk -"

"Kausapin mo ang sarili mo."

"I didn't reveal your friend's identity, Czarina."

"Dapat ba ako mag-thank you sa 'yo?" Seryoso siyang nakatingin sa akin at hindi ko alam ang isasagot. "Fine. Thank you po!"

Tumalikod si Czarina pagkasabi noon pero agad ko naman siya pinigilan.

"Wala ka kasalanan sa mga nangyari. You just need to speak up and help the other victims like you."

"Hindi nga ako biktima. Bakit ba ang kulit mo?"

"Then why did you agree to work for me again?" Siya naman ang hindi nakasagot. "You want my protection. Just like your plan before, right? Which I misunderstood at first but now I understand everything."

Czarina scoffed.

"Wala ka pa rin naiintindihan kasi kung meron, hindi mo naman sasabihin sa mga katrabaho mo kung ano buhay na meron ako dati." Unti-unti lumuwag ang pagkakahawak ko sa kanyang braso. "Ginagamit mo lang itong kaso para makilala ka ng taong bayan. Para iboto ka nila sa eleksyon, hindi dahil gusto mo silang tulungan. Saying I'm not at fault hides your misogynistic attitude, Atty. Good job then."

Iyon lang at tumalikod na siya bitbit ang mga gamit na iniwan kanina. Sandali akong hindi nakagalaw matapos marinig ang mga sinabi ni Czarina. No one ever called me misogynist before. People, especially women get pissed of me sometimes but not enough reason to call misogynist.

Why?

Because I am not.

I know I am not and can prove it in many ways.

~•~•~•~

"YOU are indeed a misogynist, Kuya. How dare you do that? If mom will know this, sigurado na magagalit iyon."

Iyon ang sabi ni Maddie sa akin na dahilan upang huminga ako nang malalim.

"Only if mom will know. May I remind you that she despised Christine -"

"Czarina." Maddie and I corrected JD.

"I'm sorry, okay?" JD said.

"Bakit kasi hindi mo magawang ipakita sa mga biktima na sinsero ka tulungan sila, JC? You're not what they describe because I know you." Iyon naman ang sinabi Addie.

Sila ang mga bisita ko ngayon dito sa aming suite at hindi ko alam kung paano nalaman iyong tungkol sa nangyari kanina. Someone in the office has a big mouth.

"Who told you about it?" tanong ko.

"Thirdy." They say in unison.

I knew it. Huminga ako uli nang malalim. Hindi na ako binalikan ng kapatid ko na iyon kung nakausap niya ba si Jeni. Ito at si Czarina ang malaking susi sa kaso na hawak ko. Sila kasi ang sinasabi ng ibang biktima na binibigay ni Apollo sa mga kilalang politiko na parokyano ng Garden of Eden.

"You need to court that woman to help you." JD suggested.

"Not a chance. Bad shot na si Kuya doon for the second time around." Gusto ko i-zipper ang bibig ni Maddie ngunit huli na dahil nasabi na niya kay JD at Addie ang lahat. "Use your charms, Kuya. Para matapos ka na."

"Enough with the case, folks," I said, helping myself in getting my usual drink. Hindi namin dapat pinag-uusapan iyon pero ewan ko ba at lahat sa pamilya namin ay involve sa hawak ko. Except the only one who's currently living in his island.

"Oo tama na sa kaso. Doon naman tayo kay Ylona. Our parents loves her."

"Dean asked me not to marry again and I'll honor my son's request." Nakita ko na nagkatinginan sina Addie at JD matapos marinig ang sinabi ko. "Ayoko rin naman na magpakasal ulit. Not when I am going to secure an office."

Sigurado na ako na tatakbo pero alam ko na may kulang pa. Kilala lang naman ako ng mga tao bilang anak ni Matthais De Luna ang dating presidente. Meron pa akong ilang buwan bago ang filling of candidacy. And the pressure is getting on my head now.

"But soon he will understand that you have to marry for their good," Addie meaningfully said, silencing JD and Maddie for a second.

Addie knew what happened to every relationship I had except the last one and that's with Ellary's mom. I keep my family home closed a year after I married Ellary's mother. Para takasan namin ang lahat at itago ang katotohanan na hindi sa akin si Ellary.

I did it to save a friend, which was Ellary's mom's role in my life. She's a friend whom I help, and now I understand Czarina.

Binitiwan ko ang hawak na baso at tumayo na.

"Saan ka pupunta?" tanong ni Maddie sa akin.

"Outside," I answered.

"Gabi na -"

"I owe someone an apology. . ."