ARE YOU MAN ENOUGH?

Chapter Sixty-One

JARED REMAINED COMPOSED. The look in his eyes unwavered at his staring match with Miss Jackie. That look that seemed to say its already finished. She's done for for sure.

"I gave print outs of the CCTV footage and screen captures from the desktop to Sir Basil," patuloy nito.

Naguguluhang nilingon ni Miss Jackie si Basil. "You authorized him to see the CCTV footages in this company?"

Hindi ito nasagot ng kausap. Nagmamadaling binuklat ni Basil ang folder na dala nito kanina. Napaghahalataang walang oras kanina ang kapatid para silipin iyon kaya ngayon lang nakita ang mga nabanggit ni Jared. As his eyes scanned the pages, he was instantly absorbed in his own thoughts.

"I managed to retrieve web history records from Lily's browser. Dahil bago lang 'yung post, madali kong nahanap. Nandiyan ang petsa at saktong oras ng log-in at log-out," paliwanag ni Jared. "At dahil naiwang naka-log in ang account ni Lily sa website na iyon, nakakuha rin ako ng history records ng mga activities na ginawa niya sa account na iyon, tulad ng pagpapalit ng pangalan niya."

Basil pulled out a paper and placed it side by side with the other one. Malapit si Lily sa kapatid kaya nakikita niyang ang isang pahina ay print out ng CCTV footage at ang isa naman ay kuhang mga larawan mula sa kanyang desktop, mga screenprints.

Lily's chest pounded with anticipation. This is it. Now that Basil was getting an idea that she was really telling the truth, it's time for her to speak—

All of a sudden, Jared's voice echoed at the back of her mind.

"At dahil naiwang naka-log in ang account ni Lily sa website na iyon, nakakuha rin ako ng history records ng mga activities na ginawa niya sa account na iyon, tulad ng pagpapalit ng pangalan niya."

Pinanlakihan niya ito ng mga mata.

Tiningnan niya 'yong account kong iyon! So does it mean...

Napalunok siya. Tumuwid ng upo para walang makahalata sa pagkabahala niya.

Nakita ba niya?

"Why don't I have a copy of these print outs?" lingon ni Miss Jackie kay Jared. "Isn't this some sort of trespassing me? And for what? Para hindi ko maidepensa ang sarili ko sa mga akusasyon mo?"

"I believe, I already gave you a hint earlier," titig ni Jared sa babae.

Miss Jackie just scoffed. "Ano ang hint sa mga pinagsasasabi mo sa akin sa opisina ko kanina? You are clearly playing dirty with me, Mr. Guillermo. These accusations—"

"Accusations? There's a proof against you, Miss Jackie."

Damn. How could this man stay that firm and unshakeable?

Why was it him who was speaking the whole time?

When it was supposed to be her speaking her truth.

When it was supposed to be her defending herself?

Why is it that this time...

Pigil ni Lily ang mamasa ang mga mata. How she wished she managed to, but she clearly could not.

She just could not believe that someone was finally defending her.

Protecting her.

Believing in her.

"Maybe, you have proofs against me," bahagyang pagtaas ng tono ng babae. "But that doesn't mean your proofs are legitimate! That doesn't mean you interpreted your proofs correctly!"

"But that's what you're trying to tell Miss Marlon earlier. That there's proofs against her, so she should just resign."

Natigagal ang matandang babae sa mga sinabi ni Jared. It was a blow she did not expect and it hit her really hard. For the first time, they gained a genuine reaction from her. Mouth gaping and eyes bulging with perplexion. It was as if she stopped breathing when she froze where she sat and remained motionless.