The Ruthless (Quantum Meruit Series #1)

36. Watch

36.
Watch

━━━━━━━

I later confirmed that it was indeed Sigfred who would handle the case. I wasn’t sure what to feel although I somehow understood the situation. It was his job after all. But my friends were saying the otherwise. That if he had enough decency, he wouldn’t have accepted the case because I was his former fiancée.

Huminga ako nang malalim at muling pinagmasdan ang mga kamay kong ipiniit ng mga bakal.

These days, I felt so empty. This void in me was killing the innocence I had been trying to prove. I was getting hopeless and tired.

Hernan, can you see all of these? I wonder if you like that I’m suffering, that you get the revenge for all the horrible things I did to you. Do you think I deserve this?

Did I really kill you?

“Wala namang nakakapasok na media sa korte kaya wala kang dapat ipag-alala,” banayad na sabi sa akin ni Mama na may maliit na ngiti nang napansin yata ang panaka-naka kong paglingon-lingon.

I returned to her a polite smile.

Of all the people affected of this, my parents were with the most bruises. This had interrupted our lives and I couldn’t be sorry enough for eternity.

I still wished this was just a dream.

Today was the scheduled arraignment and pre-trial. We had arrived in the court fifteen minutes before the proceedings would commence. Naroon na rin ang mga kapamilya at kaibigan ko na panay ang mapag-intinding ngiti sa akin na sinimulan ko nang kamuhian. Sa kabila naman ang prosecution kasama ang ilang kapamilya ni Hernan.

I clutched my chest when it started aching once again. This was the first time I saw my co-accused. That one whom everyone thought I hired to murder Hernan.

Tito Lorenzo.

He was silently seated as his lawyer talked to him. I couldn’t see his face but he was emitting this dark aura I never felt around him before. I had heard before that he was caught in different crimes before, even convicted at some, but I didn’t believe any of those because he was always nice.

And now he was saying I hired him for murder . . .

Putang ina.

Inilipat ko ang tingin sa ibang banda bago pa lalong mag-umapaw ang pagkamuhi ko. Napunta ang titig ko kay Sigfred na ngayon ay maligayang kausap si Atty. Roces na noon ko lang napansing wala na sa tabi ko.

Ah, of course. They were friends, I heard. They must be thrilled they were opposing counsels today.

And I will do my best to have you in jail, Miss Barrameda.

Yes, Sigfred. Do it. I challenge you to do it. If it happens in the end, I hope you will always remember me. For whatever reason, I want you to be reminded of how small the prison cell is as I try to fit in there.

I fucking hate you.

“Wala pa rin ba asawa ni Hernan? She also didn’t attend the funeral, right?” I heard Vivienne murmur nearby.