Loving you is a losing game

Kabanata 3

"Goodluck, Prosecutor Bernardo." I rolled my eyes at Jaiden. He smirked at me and leave me here.

"Hindi daw pwede magdagdag ng ebidensya, pero nasa inyo na yon ni Jai kung paano nyo ilalaban." Rhia informed me. Nakita ko syang kausap si Jaiden kanina kaya malamang ay nasabi nya na.

The case that was given to us did not really happened in real life. Gawa gawa lang ni Attorney. The evidences and all of the details were already given. I guess he only wants us to know how to deliver this case. Ang wala lang sa binigay nya ay ang court's decision. 

I was about to answer when I received a call from Aurelia.

"Yes--."

"Sol! Oh my god, may bangkay dito! S-shit--."

"Huh?" Napatayo ako kaya kumunot ang noo ni Rhia.

"Who's that?" She mouthed but I gestured her that I'll go out.

"What are you saying, Lia?" I asked, concerned.

"May bangkay dito! Tangina ang baho!" She shouted again.

"Where are you? Don't move, okay? I'll go there--." I was cutted when a man talked from the other line.

"Ano sinisigaw sigaw mo dyan, Lia? Malamang may cadaver kasi magda dissect tayo diba?" he said that made me stopped. Natahimik din si Lia.

"Alam mo? Gago ka." I said after seconds of silence. Narinig ko ang tawa nya sa kabilang linya.

"Nakalimutan ko!" she said and laughed again.

She's a med student in the same university as mine, kaya pwede ko syang puntahan dahil nasa iisang campus lang kami.

Pinatay ko na ang tawag pagkatapos magpaalam at bumalik sa room. I saw Rhia and Xy talking in front of my chair. Napalingon sila sa akin nang tumabi ako.

"It's my friend, Aurelia. Med student, tumawag kasi may bangkay daw pero pang dissect pala nila yon." Naiiling na sabi ko. Natawa silang dalawa hanggang sa dumating ang prof namin. Jai sat beside me again and we're just silent, listening.

"I heard you have a mock trial?" she said and smiled at us. Tumango naman kaming lahat bilang sagot.

"Don't take it too seriously but don't take it as a joke either. You'll learn a lot of things from that." She said and gave as a nod. Tinaas nya pa ang kamao at sinabing, "Fighting!"

"So let's start," She said again, napaayos kami nang upo. Naramdaman ko ang pagdikit ng braso ko sa braso ni Jai kaya lumayo ako ng kaunti.

Narinig ko ang reklamo ni Yael nang kuhanin ni Professor Hilda ang index cards.

"Ms. Miquela." She called. Rinig ko ang pagsinghap ni Xyrine na nagpatawa sa akin.

"A-attorney?" She stood up, nahulog pa ang notebook nito kaya nataranta sya.

"If you pushed a pregnant woman, and accidental abortion takes place. Can you be jailed? And how could you?" Prof. Hilda asked with a smile on her face.

I can't see Xy's face because her back is against me. I saw her playing with her fingers on her back so I know that she's panicking.

"I-I think..."

"You think?" Tanong ulit ng teacher namin. Napaayos ng tayo si Xyrine, I heard her cleared her throat before speaking.

"N-no, Attorney. You can't." she answered. Our professor nodded while walking back and forth in front.

"Are you sure?" She asked. Xyrine nodded.

"And why is that?" She asked again.

"According to Article 257 of revised penal code, the penalty of prison correccional in its minimum and medium period shall be imposed upon any person who shall cause an abortion by violence, but unintentionally." Xyrine said.

"You--I pushed the woman without knowing that she was pregnant, I am unaware about it. So basically, I can't be jailed." she confidently answered this time. I can't help but to smile.

"Okay, sit down." Prof Hilda said and gave Xyrine a smile.

Nagpatuloy sya sa pagdi discuss hanggang sa tumunog ang bell. Nagtayuan ang mga kaklase ko ngunit biglang pumasok ang isa pa naming Professor. It's Prosecutor Domingo.

"In the case of Kevin Gonzales versus Court of appeals. What happened in this case, Mr. Yael Crisostomo?" Biglang sabi nito. Napalingon kaming lahat kay Yael na nasa pinto na at nakalabas na ang isang paa.

"S-sir?" He nervously asked.

"Where are you going?" Prosecutor Domingo asked. Sabay sabay kaming napaupo. Naramdaman ko pa ang paghila ni Jaiden sa akin.

"K-kala ko po kasi--."

"Sit down!" His voice roared in the whole room. Tarantang napaupo si Yael.

"Did you read the case of Kevin Gonzales vs. Court of appeals?" Prosecutor Domingo asked.

"Y-yes, Sir." Yael answered.

"Can you tell us what happened in this case? What complaints did Mrs. Gonzales filed?" he asked again.

"Sino po si Mrs. Gonzales?" Pabulong na tanong nito. He looked at Liam like he's asking for help but his friend is just looking blankly in front.

"Y-yun po ba yung ni-rape sya kasi ayaw nyang makipag-sex?" Yael asked. Umawang ang labi ko dahil ibang kaso ang tinutukoy nya. That's the case for our mock trial.

"In what world are you, Mr. Crisostomo?" Prosecutor asked.

"Sorry, Sir. I-I didn't read the case..." He said.

"Remain standing. Next!" Prosecutor said, nilibot nya ang mata sa loob ng room. Nagtama ang mga mata namin at huli na para umiwas.

"Bernardo." he called me.

Sa sobrang kaba ay ramdam ko ang pagpapawis ng kamay ko. It's also shaking.

"S-sir?" I said and stood up.

"You heard my question earlier." He said with a blank face. I nodded, I was about to hold my own hand to stop it from shaking when I felt someone held it for me. Napalingon ako kay Jaiden na parang walang ginagawa. Our classmate's looked at us and to our hands but they didn't say a word. Even Prosecutor.

And like a magic, my nervousness was washed away. Sobrang higpit ng hawak ko sa kamay nya sa sobrang kaba.

"Mrs. Gonzales filed a case in the ground of physical abuse or violence, Sir." I answered.

"What is the court's decision?" He asked.

"Mr. Kevin Gonzales was guilty because of enough evidence that he really is abusing his wife. Because of Republic Act 9262, otherwise known as the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Law." I said. He's still looking at me so I continued.

"If the victim does have a serious injury, it is a class A felony, punishable by 10 to 30 years of life in prison. If the crime doesn't result in serious physical injury to the victim, it is a Class B felony, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. In Kevin Gonzales case, his wife was in class A felony, therefore, he is sentenced up to 10-30 years of life in prison." I answered. 

Tumango lamang si Prosecutor bago nagpatuloy sa pagdi discuss. Nang makaupo ako ay inalis ko na ang kamay ko mula sa pagkakahawak nya. He chuckled and lean towards me.

"You owe me again." he whispered for the second time.