Untying the Rope (Mujer Fuerte Series #1)

Chapter 23 : FIRST TRIAL

The trial court has started.

I only have Nathan with me that will be in my witness stand. He will tell them what my behavior was like before we became friends. He will tell the whole court how traumatized I was before Nathan and I became friends.

Hindi ko alam kung sinong nasa witness stand ni Mateo dahil bukod sa mga body guards at sa abogado niya ay wala na siyang ibang kasama.

The opening of arguments started. Both sides, the accused and the complainant presented enough evidences.

"I was eight, when I started noticing that my father was taking advantages of me. At first... he'll just hold my hand and kiss me. It was supposed to be normal for us since we're father and daughter but I don't know why that at that very young age, I already felt uncomfortable with his touches."

I saw Mateo smirking non-stop.

Mapilas sana iyang labi mo, gago.

I glanced at Nathan and he looked hurt. I know, because I was hurt, too.

"He would always caress my back sensually. He would always kiss me even if it's unnecessary. He would always shower me compliments which I really hate because he's always implying malice into it."

The whole court silently listened to my confession. Little by little, I felt that my wound was slowly healing.

It's been years since I have bottled all these up to myself. It's been years since I was kept hidden in the dark because I was too afraid to step into the light, where all the judgmental people would be.

"My sweet sixteenth birthday celebration was supposed to be a happy and memorable night for me. But my father turned it into one of the nights that I hated the most."

Naaalala ko na naman ang gabi na iyon, kung saan tuluyan nang nawala ang katiting na respeto at paniniwala ko sa kaniya.

"I went inside a bathroom for women in the middle of my huge party. I was alone then, and I was having a hard time to pee because my gown was too heavy. Since I was alone, I removed my gown's skirt so that I could use the toilet flawlessly. While I was peeing, I heard the bathroom door opened. I shrugged it off at first because I thought it was just another woman, since I am inside a women's bathroom. My gown's skirt was hard to lock because the lock was placed at the back part which I can't see. So I went out from my cubicle and I was surprised to see my father there, he said he was waiting for me. He offered to lock my gown so I was confused. How did he know I was having a hard time in locking my gown? And there, he said that he was taking a peek of me while I was inside the cubicle."

I looked at the monster again.

"Tiningnan niya raw ako mula sa taas ng cubicle."

I saw his evil smirk. Damn him.

"Are you okay?" Nathan asked as soon as I sat beside him.

I felt exhausted from all the stories I had to re-tell. It feels like I'm going through the same hell again.

I nodded and rested my head on his shoulder. Inakbayan niya ako at hinagod ang balikat ko.

"You did great," he said so I immediately smiled.

"Thank you."

It was now the turn of the accused to defend himself.

Ang akala ko ay si Mateo mismo ang magsasalita, pero nagulat ako nang magbukas ang pintuan ng korte at iniluwa noon ang isang tao na matagal ko nang hindi nakikita.

Kulubot na ang balat niya dala ng katandaan at kung noon ay may iilan lamang siyang puting buhok, ngayon ay halos wala nang itim na kulay iyon.

"Manang..." I said nonchalantly.

"You know her?" Nathan asked. Napatingin din pala siya sa pintuan.

"Yes. Mayordoma namin iyan sa mansion noon."

Is she... going to be one of Mateo's witnesses?

Hindi nga ako nagkamali ng hinala noong ma-upo si Manang.

The judged signaled to fire the questions away so that's what the lawyer did.

"What can you say about Mateo Arce?"

"Hindi ho ako naniniwala sa mga sinasabi niyan ni Nina. Baka tuluyan lang talagang nagrebelde ang isang iyan." Her first sentence immediately caused my blood pressure to rise above my head.

What the fuck? Ginagago mo ba kami, Manang?!

"Napakabait ho niyang si Ser Mateo. Ni hindi nga ho kami napapagalitan niyan kahit palpak minsan ang trabaho namin. At mahal na mahal niya si Nina. Naglayas lang iyan si Nina dahil hindi niya matanggap ang pagkamatay ng kaniyang ina."

How dare she put my mother on the scene? Tangina niya.

"Gumagawa nga ho kasi siya ng mga kwento na ginahasa raw siya ng kaniyang ama. E, hindi ho matanggap ni Ma'am Regina ang gawa-gawang kwento ni Nina kaya hayun at nagpatiwakal. Nakita na lang namin na ngumunguya at lumulunok ng bubog, kaya nabutas ang bituka at siyang naging sanhi ng pagkamatay."

Ang pagkukwento niya kung paano namatay ang nanay ko ay siyang tuluyang nagpadurog sa puso ko.

Why... Why did she have to go through that? Why did she have to experience such thing?

Why does it have to be my mother?

"Simula noon ay hindi na bumalik sa mansyon si Nina. Ang tagal siyang hinanap ni Sir Mateo," she said and stopped talking just to glance at me and gave out an annoying smirk. "Iyon pala ay lumandi lang sa iba at nakipagtanan pa sa nobyo-"

"Objection your honor! The witness is throwing false accusations and makes up allegations!" ani abogado ko.

"Objection overruled. Please, continue."

What the hell?!

Manang flashed a playful smirk at me because of that.

Tangina mo, Manang.

"Basta ho ang alam ko, ay gawa-gawa lang iyan ni Nina. Kasi kung totoo, bakit ngayon lang siya nagsampa ng kaso? Bakit hindi pa noon? Bakit matapos pa ang higit isang dekada?"

I'm not just sitting here and let this piece of shit keep on bullshitting me.

Tumayo ako mula sa kina-uupuan ko kahit na bawal.

"Dahil kinailangan ko pang mag-aral at mamuhay nang tahimik! At huwag mong sasabihin na bakit ngayon lang ako nagsampa ng kaso riyan sa demonyong amo mo! Hanggang twenty years pwedeng magsampa ng kaso laban sa rapist! Twenty years from the discovery of the incident! Bobo ka!" Gigil na gigil kong sigaw sa matanda.

"Attorney Morales, calm your client down or she'll be dragged out from the court." Walanghiyang sinabi ng judge.

Isa pa iyang judge na 'yan. Kanina pa ako nanggigigil dito, e. Nagiging biased siya!

"Ken, you should calm down," Nate whispered and slowly caressed my back.

"Calm down, Attorney Arce." Pormal na sambit ni Attorney Morales.

Hinilot ko ang sentido ko bago huminga nang malalim.

Damn these kinds of people.

I can't believe that even after eleven years, I feel like justice is still out from my reach.

It's fucking frustrating.