Afflicted (TLS #3 - COMPLETED)

A R T I C L E 3 - S E C T I O N 21

"A-ATE Russia?" I heard how Lauren's voice trembled as soon as she saw who entered the room with me.

Another hearing was scheduled for another session after new evidences were presented. We succeeded in planting doubts on their minds about Lauren being the culprit. Now, all we have to do is to prove that Lauren is actually the victim here.

"Hi, Lauren. I won't ask how you're doing since I know it can never be good." Senator Russianna Quintos greeted as she sat on the chair in front of Lauren.

Sinarado ko na ang pintuan bago naglakad sa kanila pabalik at umupo sa tabi ng senadora.

"Ate . . . hindi ko po ginawa 'yon kay Russel . . . hindi ko po magagawa yo'n—"

"Shh . . . tahan na. I know . . . I know you didn't. Alam kong hindi ikaw ang may gawa noon sa kanya, Lauren. I know you're innocent," putol ng senadora sa kanya at inabot pa ang mga kamay niya.

"A-ate . . ."

"She was the one who contacted me about this case, Lauren. Hindi ko alam na wala kang abogado. Matunog ang kasong 'to, kaya naman hindi ko ini-expect na iniipit ka nila sa abogado. And she . . . she was the one who asked me to handle your case. Sa kanya rin halos nanggagaling ang mga ebidensyang ginagamit natin," paliwanag ko sa kanya nang makita ang pagkalito sa mga mata niya.

"I wanted to get justice for my brother's death. And nasabi na rin ni sa akin ni JD iyong nangyari based on your story." Russianna sighed and stared at Lauren apologetically and sadly. Tahimik lang ako sa isang tabi at pinapanood silang dalawa.

"I'm sorry for all of these. Alam kong kahit kailan ay hindi maibabalik ng sorry ko ang mga nawala sa'yo o mabawi man lang lahat ng ginawa nila sa'yo. But please know . . . that I am very very sorry for what you experienced. I swear to God, pagbabayarin natin si Daddy at si Roselle sa ginawa nila sa inyo ni Russel," naluluhang usal ni Russianna.

At first I was very doubtful about this woman. Lalo na nang malaman kong siya mismo ang nagpapadala ng mga death threats sa mga naunang abogadong na-assign sa kasong ito. I, myself even received one too.

Huli ko na na-realize kung bakit niya iyon ginawa.

She wanted to make sure na hindi basta-bastang aatras ang abogadong hahawak sa kaso ni Lauren.

I was her last resort knowing the history I shared with Lauren.

She provided every evidences she could muster just to help me with this case. Maski si Mama ay nagulat nang minsan ko siyang isama sa meeting namin.

My mother already had this prejudice against the Quintos dahil na nga rin sa dinanas niya firsthand sa Daddy nito. But Russianna was able to be the only exception to that. Pinakita niyang iba siya. She was working with us against her own family.

"Ate . . . si Russel . . . hindi niya ako pinabayaan hanggang dulo . . ." Agad akong nag-iwas ng tingin nang makita ang muling pagbi-breakdown ni Lauren.

I could never get used to this scene.

I could never ever get used to seeing my sweet and smiling Lauren being swallowed with sadness and hopelessness.

"My brother loves you so much, Lauren," umiiyak ring saad ni Russianna habang yakap-yakap na si Lauren na wala ng tigil sa pag-iyak.

"He loves you so much and I'll do everything in my power to get you out of here," determinado nitong saad bago ako binalingan ng tingin at tinanguan.

"Are you sure you're alright?" tanong ko ulit kay Lauren. Hindi ko na alam kung ilang beses ko na 'tong natanong sa kanya mula kanina pa pero hirap na hirap talaga ako sa tuwing kailangan ko ng magpaalam.

I hate leaving her here.

Pakiramdam ko I was abandoning her.

She smiled at me sadly before she caressed my cheeks softly and sigh.

"Hindi ko na sasabihing ayos lang dito, kasi hindi ka rin naman naniniwala. I'll just say . . . I'll be waiting for your return?" nakangiti niyang saad.

I loved how she smiled before. Dati nagkikislapan ang mga mata niya sa tuwing ngumingiti siya. Pero ngayon, maski ang pagkurba lang ng mga labi niya ay halatang pilit na.

Her eyes look . . . dead. Dull and lifeless.

"Babalik ako bukas." She chuckled at bahagya pang ginulo ang buhok ko.

"Grabe naman, Attorney. Everyday ka talaga dito?" Hindi ako sumagot kaya naman huminga ulit siya ng hangin at tumango na lang.

"Sabi ni Mama, pupunta din siya bukas," dagdag ko na tinanguan niya lang.

"Laking abala ko talaga sa inyo ni Mama—"

"You're not. Lauren, alam mo kung gaano ka kahalaga sa pamilya ko," seryoso kong saad sa kanya. Tinitigan niya ako sa mukha and I saw how she blinked her tears away.

"Of course, I know. Alam na alam ko, Jasper and you don't have any idea how much I treasure all of you too." Ilang segundo pa kaming magkatitigan bago siya naunang umiwas ng tingin.

Ilang oras pa silang nag-usap ni Russianna kanina bago ito magpaalam na kailangan ng umalis matapos makatanggap ng tawag. Kaya naman ay ako na lang ang naiwan dito. Kanina niya pa ako pinapaalis, kung tutuusin ay sobra-sobra na kami sa visitation hours but the guards won't mind. That's how my father's name works all the time.

I sighed and finally stood up. Tumayo rin siya at pinilit na ngumiti sa akin.

"Can you stop smiling?" pakiusap ko sa kanya.

Agad na napanas ang ngiti sa mga labi niya at seryoso lang na nakatingin sa'kin.

"I hated seeing you smile with your eyes dead, Lauren," usal ko sa kanya bago inayos ang mga gamit ko. Ipinasok ko ang mga papeles sa loob ng bag na dala ko at isinarado iyon. I took my coat na nakasabit sa likuran ng upuang gamit ko bago siya muling binalingan.

"I'll get going . . ." paalam ko sa kanya bago siya tinalikuran.

I was holding the knob at akmang nang bubuksan ang pintuan nang bigla niyang tawagin ang pangalan ko.

I paused by the door but I didn't turned around to face her.

"Can I . . . can I ask you for a favor?" alanganin niyang tanong.

I finally turned around to face her. She was looking down while playing with the cuffs on her wrists.

"What is it?" tanong ko sa malumanay na boses.

"Diba sabi mo . . . alam na ninyo kung sino 'yong totoo kong tatay?" I nodded. I watched her silently as she took a deep breath and struggled to say what she wanted to say.

"Pwede mo ba akong tulungang hanapin siya? I just . . . I just wanted to see him. That is if he's still—"

"He's still alive, Lauren," putol ko sa sasabihin niya. I saw how her eyes brightened a bit after hearing it.

I felt a bit relieved after seeing that tiny sparks in her eyes.

"I'll arranged for you to meet. Pero . . . I'm not promising that he's in a better state than you are now." Hindi ko pa naikukwento sa kanya ang tungkol sa Q Massacre na kinasangkutan ng mga magulang namin. I'm afraid that it would all be too much for her to carry. But I guess this is inevitable.

"What do you mean?" taka niyang tanong.

I sighed at hinarap siya ng maayos. "Your father's in prison too, Lauren."