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Judge Perez slammed his gavel onto the wooden block to end the hearing. "So ordered."
Hazel stood up from the prosecution side of the court room to collect the documents sprawled on the table.
Lumapit sa kaniya ang asawa ng lalakeng biktima ng hit-and-run case. "Attorney..."
"Yes?" Inayos niya ang mga papel sa loob ng kaniyang attaché case.
"Kailan po kaya ang susunod na pagdinig?" Nag-aalala nitong tanong.
Binalingan niya ang hurado na bumaba sa podium at pumasok sa opisina nito na nasa likod lang ng courtroom. "Don't worry. I think days from may ipapadala naman ang court na notice sa atin kung kailan. I'll call you once our office gets a hold of it."
"Sige po, Atty. Marami pong salamat." Niyakap nito ang binatilyong anak na siyang kasama nito sa hearing.
Muli niyang binalik ang atensiyon sa pagaayos ng mga papeles nang lumapit naman sa kaniya ang abogado ng defense counsel.
"Atty. Dela Merced!" Atty. Alyssa lends her hand for a handshake. Upon noticing that the judge is not around anymore, the lawyer immediately switched talking to her informally. "Sasama ka sa congregation ng lawyers ngayong Sabado? I heard IBP* is sponsoring it." [*IBP – Integrated Bar of the Philippines.]
"I don't think so." Sinara niya ang attaché case. "I have a wedding to attend to."
"Aw, that's very unfortunate." Sabay na silang lumabas sa korte. "Some of my students are eager to meet the undefeated Queen of the Court!" Atty. Alyssa is currently a law professor in a state-run university. "One of these days, I'll ask permission to the judges here to let my students attend one of your hearings so that they could learn a lot from you—"
"I'm not the undefeated Queen of the Court anymore, Lys." Hinarap niya ang kapwang abogada.
"Eh?" Natigilan ito. "What do you mean?"
"I guess news didn't reach you yet." Inayos niya ang pagkasukbit ng bag niya sa balikat.
Umiling ito. "I never heard anything—"
Both of their phones rang a Viber notification.
Mapait na ngumiti si Hazel.
May Viber group chat kasi silang mga abogado kaya may kutob siyang may nagtatanong na sa GC nila kung totoo ba ang natanggap nitong balita tungkol sa kaniya.
"You'll know when you read that message, Lys."
Dinukot nito ang cellphone sa bulsa.
Siya nama'y nagpatiuna nang naglakad palayo.
Due to Andro's guilty plea, it didn't days for the court to give a judgement. After two days, they are notified for another hearing – this time it is the reading of the verdict. She alone, on the defense side, was present. The other party is in full force – family, relatives and friends.
In the end, Andro was seen guilty due to his admission and was sanctioned three months to refrain from practicing his profession and a fine of 300,000 pesos excluding the moral damages and attorney's fees claim by the Mr. Marquez.
It might be a loss but somehow the verdict made her happy.
It was only three-month suspension and not a lifetime revocation of license.
It was unethical to talk to a judge after a hearing but Hazel did so...
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