Overrated

Chapter 40 – What You Will Be Fighting For

We were together that night.

I woke up with Jiro slipping beneath my sheets.

“Hindi ako makatulog,” sabi niya.

“Halika rito.” Niyakap ko siya at hinalikan sa noo. “Tama na muna ang pag-aalala, kailangan mong magpahinga. May pasok pa bukas.”

Nagsumiksik siya sa aking dibdib at naramdaman ko ang mukha niyang basa ng luha.

“Bicoy...” bulong niya, “hindi ka ba nandidiri sa akin?”

Ikinuwento kasi niya sa amin kanina ang lahat ng mga pinagdaanan niya, as per Mamoru’s request. Ilang beses ito pinaulit ni Mamoru, at ang dami pa niyang mga tinanong kay Jiro. Inilahad niyang lahat ito in English, dahil ayaw daw niyang magtago pa nang kahit ano sa akin.

“Naikuwento ko na rin sa `yo ang mga pinagdaanan ko, `di ba?” paalala ko sa kaniya. Noon ko lang naipaliwanag kay Jiro at sa aking sarili kung bakit ako ganito. At si Jiro ang tumulong sa aking maintindihan ang parte ng sarili kong iyon.

“Ngayon, kasama na kita.” patuloy ko, “Ngayon, alam ko na kung ano talaga ang mag-mahal... paano ko pa magagawang iwan ka?”

Humigpit ang yakap sa akin ni Jiro at hinalikan ako sa labi. “Ganoon din ako, Bicoy,” sabi niya. “Akala ko wala na akong makikitang taong mag-mamahal sa akin. Na ang lahat ng tao, gusto lang akong gamitin. Pero nang makilala kita, pinakita mo na p’wede rin pala akong mahalin.”

Muli ko siyang hinalikan sa noo. “So, anong plano natin ngayon?” tanong ko. “Handa ka na ba talagang harapin ang sarili mong nanay sa korte?”

Tumango si Jiro sa dibdib ko. “Oo...” sabi niya. “As long as kasama kita... kahit ano, kakayanin ko.”

Kinabukasan, dalawa ang kumakatok sa pinto namin.

“Bicoy! Jiro! Open up!” tawag ng naiiritang boses ni Keito.

“Jiro, please open the door,” sabi naman ni Mamoru na mukhang inis din.

Tumayo ako mula sa kama at iniwan si Jiro na mahimbing pa rin ang tulog.

“Shh, Jiro’s still sleeping!” sabi ko sa pagbukas ng pinto. Pero diretsong pumasok si Keito sa loob at pinuntahan ang pinsan niya sa kama.

“Ken-chan! Wake up!” tawag niya kay Jiro.

Tinitigan ako ni Mamoru mula ulo hanggang paa. Buti at naka boxer shorts ako.

“Wa... now what...?” tanong ni Jiro na kinukusot ang kaniyang mata.

“What are you doing in Bicoy’s room again?!” tanong ng nakakairita niyang pinsan.

“Sleeping, obviously!” sagot ni Jiro na naghihikab pa.

Biglang hinatak ni Keito ang kumot na nakatakip sa katawan niya. Nakasuot si Jiro ng boxers tulad ko, at mukhang nakahinga siya ng malalim ng makita ito.

“What? Are you disappointed we weren’t doing it?” tanong ni Jiro kay Keito na tinulak niya sa pagtayo mula sa kama.

“I’m just worried about you... who knows what you’ve been doing here all night!” sabi ni Keito.

“Everything.” binelat siya ni Jiro. “There’s nothing you can imagine that we haven’t done already.”

Nag-init ang mukha ko sa sinabi ni Jiro! Natawa naman si Mamoru sa tabi ko.

“Really, Kenjiro, I’m still not used to how much you’ve changed!” sabi ni Mamoru.

“Well, you’d better! I’m no longer that innocent spoiled kid you used to play with. That person died years ago,” sagot ni Jiro.

“I know.” lumungkot ang mukha ni Mamoru. “So, I guess you’ve made your mind up already?”

“Yes,” sagot ni Jiro. “We’re going to fight.”

Nagsimula na ngang umusad ang kaso.

Mukhang napasubo ang nanay ni Jiro nang nalaman niyang nagpataw din kami ng demanda labas sa kaniya. Child abuse, neglect, malicious intent, estafa at libel na pinataw sa kanila ng pamilyang Akari for all of their false accusasions.

About a week after magpa-interview ang nanay niya sa balita ay pinatawag kami ng korte para magharap sa fiscal.

Alas-otso ng umaga ang usapan. Hindi kami pumasok ng araw na iyon para lang makaharap siya, pero ngayon, mag-aalas-dose na, wala pa rin sila!

Sa wakas bumukas ang pinto at pumasok ang nanay ni Jiro, si Mrs. Karen Lucero. Kasunod niya ang lalaking kasami niya sa campus namin noon.

“Sa wakas.” napasinghal si Jiro.

“Remember your temper.”

Nakaupo kami sa likod ng silid, sa likod nila Keito at Mamoru. Katabi namin si Sam.

Nang nakita kami ni Mrs. Lucero ay agad itong naluha at madramang lumapit sa aming direksyon.

“Jiro! Anak ko!” nanginginig pa ang mapupulang labi niya sa pagsalita. “Miss na miss ka na ni kaa-san!”

Napaismid si Jiro na mukhang gustong magmura, pero pinanatili niyang tikom ang kaniyang bibig.

“That’s as far as you go,” sabi ni Keito na humarang sa kaniya. “Jiro have placed a restraining order against you.”

“What?! My own son?!” mukhang hihimatayin ang bruha. “You see, Atty. Lucas?!” hinarap niya ang lalaking kasama niya. “See how they have turned my own child against me?!”

“Mrs. Akari, don’t worry, we will fight for your son until he finally sees how much he means to you!” sabi naman ng dala niyang abugago.

“Mrs. Akari?” nakangiting sabi ni Mamoru. “Why are you still using our family name, when you have already re-married? Which also makes me wonder, Mrs. Lucero, why are you still demanding for pension from us, when you are no longer part of the family?”

Hindi nakasagot si Mrs. Lucero.

“Further more, we have evidence that you have been neglecting your son Akari, Kenjiro. You have been taking the pension meant for him and sent him away to fend for himself.”

“T-that’s not true! I have never neglected my son!” humarap sa amin ang nanay ni Jiro. Mukhang kaawa-awa siya. “Tell them, Jiro... anak, `di ba, mahal na mahal ka ni mama? Didn’t your Tita Agnes give you your allowance? Nagpapadala ako sa iyo every month!”

Umiwas ng tingin sa kaniya si Jiro.

“If that is true, Mrs. Lucero, can you show us your bank records and give us proof that you have been sending him the money?”

Muling natahimik ang nanay ni Jiro.

“These are all lies!” bulyaw nanaman ng kaniyang attorney. “As you can see, your honor, they wouldn’t even let the child speak!”

“Mr. Lucas, Kenjiro is no longer a child,” sabi ni Mamoru na ngingiti-ngiti lang. “He is already 20, and is turning 21 next month. I merely adviced him to keep silent during this whole proceedure.” may ipinatong siyang long folder sa mesa sa pagitan nila at itinulak iyon palapit kay Atty. Lucas. “We have filed a counter affidavit, and cases against you as well. We shall gladly see you in court.”

“B-but, this could all be over if you just pay the 75 million!” biglang sigaw ni Mrs. Lucero.

“And isn’t that exactly what you want?” sabi sa kaniya ni Mamoru na may nakakalokong ngiti sa mukha. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Lucero. But my client wants to fight, and that is exactly what we will do.”

“You won’t get away with this!” sigaw nanaman ni Atty. Lucas.

“Ah, and by the way,” pahabol ni Mamoru na binara siya. “We have also requested for a gag order. You are no longer allowed to talk about this case to anyone, most especially, the media.”

“Gusto ko talaga s’yang saksakin kanina!” nanggagaliiting sinabi ni Jiro nang nasa sasakyan na kami. “Lumabas din ang tunay na kulay niya ng pera na ang usapan!”

“Hayaan mo na muna `yun, `wag mo nang galitin ang sarili mo at baka mamaya magkasakit ka lang!” sabi ko habang tinatapik ang balikat niya.

For our late lunch, dinala kami ni Mamoru sa isang Ramen Shop na nasa 500 ang isang bowl.

Wow.

Nag-react agad ang pagiging makunat ko, pero natahimik ito nang makita ko ang size ng bowls, lalo na nang matikma ko ang ramen nila.

Lahat kami, solb, at pati si Jiro na akala ko ay mahina ang appetite, ay naka dalawang order pa ng gyoza.

Kumakain na kami ng ice cream with red beans, nang tumikhim si Mamoru.

“From this day on, I want all three of you to let loose. Do all the things you want to do – as long as they are legal.” habol niya. “Eat what you want, watch all the movies you want, and just leave everything to me. I’ll take care of the rest.”

“Why? What for?” tanong ni Keito.

“Just relax for now,” sabi ni Mamoru. “Especially you, Kenjiro.” tumango siya sa kangyang pinsan na tumango rin pabalik.

“It will take about 2 months before our civil procedere can actually start. And when it does, it will still take some more time before you would actually need to show in court.” patuloy ni Mamoru. “So For now, I just want you to put it out of your heads. Don’t worry about it.”

“Would that be a good idea?” tanong ko sa kaniya. “What if... Mrs. Lucero decides to play dirty and turn the tables around us? Just earlier, she was already implying that Jiro’s aunt Agnes was stealing his allowance!”

“Yes, that’s possible, in fact, there are several other tricks she might try to pull, but it’s my job as your lawyer to be ready for them. That’s why It’s important that I know everything about you. Your pasts, your darkest secrets, the things that happened right after you met each other.” tumingin sa akin ng diretso si Mamoru. “And I trust that you have both told me the truth?”

“Of course!” agad naming sagot ni Jiro.

“But I’ve been wondering,” sabi ko, “why ask me? I’m not part of this case, am I?”

“You are the friend Kenjiro ran to. It’s possible they would expose your relationship and use it against our case.”

Napakagat ako sa labi sa kaniyang sinabi.

“If that happens, I want you to be ready for what their lawyer might ask you, as well as how you should answer them.”

Marami kaming pinag-usapan noon. Maraming payo ang binigay sa amin ni Mamoru, at habang nagpapayo ay pinatawa niya kami at pinalakas ang loob namin.

“Don’t worry. This case is as sure as won. She might dig up a lot of dirt, but she can never kill your spirit,” sabi niya.

“Remember, they might uncover your deepest secrets or your dark past, but that is your past, and what is important is your future. And that future is what you will be fighting for.”