Midnight Memories: Our Boundless Trial Love (Memories Series #2) [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT

“THIS HONORABLE court of the Philippines with Honorable Judge Jay Carlose Swerdy is now on session. All rise.” Tumayo kami kagaya ng pagkakasabi ng court clerk. Nang makaupo ang judge ay umupo na rin kami, ngunit nanatiling nakatayo ang magkabilang panig, ang prosecutor at ang defense attorney. Katabi niya ay namatahan ko si Senator Villaborde na prente lamang na nakaupo sa upuan.

Nayukom ko ang aking kamao at umiwas ng tingin sa kaniya. Lalo kong nayukom ang kamao nang makita kung sino ang prosecutor ng kaso.

Prosecutor Ann Kassandra

I wonder what is Aria’s doing this hour? Nakikibalita kaya sya sa kaso? From what happened in the past, now I understand while she’ll not able to represent it, and it is very clear to me now everything, I am also glad that she will not represent this because of the old man

Baka lalo lang sya matrauma sa mukha nito

I heard that Ann Kassandra is also savage, hindi naman halata sa mukha, parang kapag tiningnan mo sya ay nagkaroon ka ng death wish, yeah.. mark my sarcasm.

“Is the prosecution ready for the trial?” tanong ng court clerk. Kassandra stood straight.

“The prosecution is ready for the People, Your Honor,” Kassandra smiled. This is a jury trial, not a bench trial. The judge will only facilitate the case, and the jury will give the verdict based on facts, and nothing but the facts.

“The court will now pick the jury.” Napahinga na lamang ako sa sinabi ng court clerk. In this preliminary trial, malalaman namin kung ano ang plea ng defense, either guilty or not guilty.

The judge started picking the juries. One is the president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. Naririto rin ang isang viable candidate para maging Chief Justice ng Supreme Court. One is a representative from the regional court. Naroroon din ang mga chairman Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, Committee on Good Government, Presidential Committee Against Crime and Corruption, as well as famous lawyers. As soon as the juries are picked, the trial have started.

Tumayong muli si Kassandra, saka taas-noong hinarap ang judge.

“The prosecution will now prove the case, Your Honor,” she said then faced the crowd. She nodded at me then removed her eyes on me.

“Thirteen years ago,” she started. “The case had been dismissed and labelled as a cold case due to the absence of concrete evidences. Justice was not given the opportunity to be served. With the newly gathered evidences and new witnesses, we filed a new charge which fortunately got approved.”

Nag-igting ang panga ko nang bigyang-diin niya ang salitang fortunately. Binabalewala nila ang kaso ng tatay ko, at ang hustisya para sa kaniya dahil lamang sa senador ang nasa likod nito.

“Today, at this trial, as commanded by Your Honor and the law, the prosecution will prove the urgency for this case to be considered.” Humarap siyang muli sa judge, sa defense, at sa mga tao. “The People of the Philippines therefore summon to the witness stand, the former prosecutor and detective of the case.”

As what had been planned, Bryle and Tyler are summoned in the witness stand.

“Please state your name, and spell your last name for the record,” sabi ng court clerk.

They did.

“Take the oath of affirmation.”

“I swear by Almighty God that the evidence I shall give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”

In one blink, Kassandra is in front of them.

“What are you?” she asked them.

“Hindi mo man lang ako kinumusta,” the crowd laughed the moment Bryle said, while Kassandra, on the other hand, rolled her eyes. Siniko naman ni Tyler si Bryle para umayos ito.