Loving The Light [Cosmos Series#4]

Kabanata 4

Napangiwi ako sa sarili dahil sa naalala.

Sabagay, bata pa naman talaga ko noon. I mean, me and Prestin was three years accelerated in elementary. Kaya naman bata pa ang tingin niya sa akin noon kahit na college na kami.

My eyes darted at Archer, may mapaglarong ngisi sa kanyang mga labi. Siguro ay natantong may naalala ako dahil sa sinabi niya. "Does it still stand?"

Napapantastikuhan ko siyang tinignan. "Attorney-"

"How about we talk about this over dinner?" Anyaya niya. As much as I want to accept his invitation, I can't risk it. He's a part of Cosmos and Cosmos' looking for me. Who knows, maybe this is one of their plans. And I suddenly remember why I chose to be far from him years ago. Tila ba nakalimutan ko iyon at ngayon lang naalala.

Agad na tumalim ang aking mga mata. "I don't want you near me-"

"Auriese!"

Naputol ang pagtanggi ko nang may tumawag sa akin.

Napabaling ako sa likuran ni Archer. Naroon si Ryke at kalalabas lang ng presinto.

"We can now go, I already settled everything."

I almost told him Archer settled everything but I didn't. Mabuti na lang ay napigilan ko ang sarili.

"Thank you, Attorney," Baling ni Ryker kay Arch, noon lang napansin na bukod sa akin ay may iba pa siyang kaharap. He offered his hand and Archer immediately accept it for a handshake.

"Attorney-"

"You, murderer!" Marahas akong napapitlag nang may humatak sa aking buhok. Bahagya akong nalingon at sandaling nakita ang humihila ng aking buhok.

"Fuck!" Malutong na mura ang pinakawalan ko nang pakiramdam ko ay matatanggal ang aking anit.

Hindi ko siya magawang labanan dahil kahit paano ay may natitira pa naman akong respeto sa kanya at naiintindihan ko ang reaksyon niya dahil sa nangyari sa kanyang anak.

Ryker immediately pulled Salvia San Sebastian away from me. Si Archer ay inilayo ako kay Salvia matapos ay inilagay ako sa kanyang likuran upang maprotektahan. I don't need anyone to save me though.

Nang tuluyan kaming mapaglayo ay nahuli ko ang pagpormal ng ekspresyon ni Archer.

"I can sue you for harassing my client, Madame." Attorney Fonacier's voice thundered, it sent shiver down my spine. His cold eyes were fix at Calvin's mother.

"There's no need for that, Attorney," agad na pigil ko. Si Ryke ay alerto pa rin sa maaaring gawin ni Salvia.

As expected, Salvia didn't back down. "Ang kapal ng mukha mo! Idedemanda kita, sisiguraduhin kong makukulong ka sa ginawa mo sa anak ko!"

"She didn't kill Calvin, Tita. That's already settled-"

Naputol ang mga salita ni Ryker nang mapanuya siyang tinignan ng ginang.

"Do you think you can fool me?" Inilibot niya ang tingin sa aming tatlo habang napapailing bago tuluyang nagpatuloy. "I know you killed my son!" She shouted while pointing a finger at me.

"She didn't kill anyone, Madame. You're just blinded by your own anger. Try to calm yourself first and go inside the precinct. You'll find answer inside," Archer muttered in a matter-of-fact tone. He even coldly gestured the entrance of the precinct.

"You'll pay for this!" Muling baling niya sa akin bago tuluyang pumasok sa presinto.

Can't she understand that I didn't kill her son? Don't she wants to have the justice that his son deserves or she only wants someone to suffer even if that someone's not really the killer?