Never an Ever After (Never Series #1 | COMPLETED)

Chapter 35

Chapter 35
Mishap

Just as what we have talked about, we were now working on the cases. George was still a bit hesitant, but was still working nonetheless. Tinitingnan din namin ang statutory limitations ng mga kaso nila o kung meron man. We've been focusing on this matter for a week now. A week had already passed but Guia hasn't woken up yet. Pinaalam ni George na may ta-trabahuhin kami sa mga magulang ni Guia kaya sila ang kadalasang nagbabantay sa kaniya. But I do visit her every day and be with her every night.

Nahirapan kami ni Stan puntahan ang mga nabiktima noon. They were all abused and harassed physically and sexually. The thing we discovered: the Morales' are also behind prostitution. They have lured almost a thousand of women in their shady business in exchange for providing them of what they need which isn't lawfully and morally right. Thus, the quid pro quo.

And because almost all the cases we're similar, we had a hard time convincing the victims to stand as witnesses in court. The wound of their pasts will come haunt them again and as much as we don't want to cause them more damage, they have to cooperate in order to receive the justice they deserve. It's been long overdue but it would still give them strength to brave each day especially once the monster behind their sufferings pays the price for their crimes.

For today, I have to talk to Lewis about their progress and tell him about ours.

"You're just in time," bungad sa akin ng nakangiting si Celise nang pagbuksan niya ako ng pinto ng condo niya. Nang tuluyan akong makapasok ay natanaw ko kaagad si Lewis na nasa veranda at nakatalikod sa akin, mukhang abala sa kung ano.

Celise noticed my curiosity over what Lewis was doing. My forehead formed a crease when she tried to divert my attention by hauling me to the kitchen. "'Di ka pa yata kumakain. Mag-meryenda ka muna," sabi niya while my head was craned over Lewis' direction.

I caught a glimpse of something metallic, but I couldn't guess what was it, it was too small for me to see it unmistakably.

"Nagluto ako ng lasagna," nakangiting sabi ni Celise, still persistent on getting my full attention. Hindi na ako nagmatigas at umupo sa harapan niya. She placed a plate of lasagna in front of me which I gladly ate. Sa ilang araw na pinupuntahan ko sila ni Lewis, nasanay na ako sa kakaibang aura na meron siya pero minsan ay hindi ko pa rin maiwasang hindi mag-isip kung sino ba talaga siya.

I couldn't just overlook this unknown feeling that Lewis and Celise might not just be ordinary people but noxious ones.

"Yo, Pierce," rinig kong bati mula sa likod ko. Hindi ko na siya kailangang lingunin dahil kilala ko na ang boses na 'yon.

"Hey, Lewis."

Ngumiti siya sa akin at naupo sa kabisera. Celise served him a plate, too, bago siya naupo sa harapan ko at nagsimulang kumain.

"I want you to accompany me somewhere."

Tumagal ang tingin ko sa nakangiti niyang mukha. He seemed uplifted. What's going on with him? The more time I get to spend with him, the more mysterious he gets.

"Where to?"

"Orphanage."

Just as what we have talked about, Lewis drove us to an orphanage with a signage 'Heaven-Sent' after the brief discussion.

"Is this where you've been raised?" Tanong ko sa kaniya nang naglalakad na kami papasok ng bahay-ampunan. Malaki ito at makulay ang paligid. I even saw kids playing on the playground which was situated on the front yard of the place. I even saw a chapel on the other side.

"Yup, dito ako lumaki. Dito ko rin nakilala si Celise. She was my first friend in this house."

I didn't say anything. So, he continued, "I have a half-sister here. The kids in this orphanage are being sent to a Catholic school, doon ako gr-um-aduate ng elementary at high school. When I got in college, I passed in a state university in Batangas, there I studied Development Communication. Journalism became my escape. It was sweet revenge..."