Always Mine [unedited]

CHAPTER 31- DRUNK?

"Where were you on August 5 around 12:00 p.m?"

I asked the witness while staring intently at her. She looks tense. First time niya lang ba matanong sa court?

"I'm at the coffee shop." She tried her best not to stutter.

"With the accused?"

"Yes-"

"Why was he there?"

She raised her eyebrows because of that and confidently looked at me. She was the witness in this crime to prove the innocence of the accused.

"He was my business partner in that coffee shop and when the crime happened, the accused was with me.."Her upper lips went up."..how could he do that terrible crime? He's innocent. He can't kill his wife ."

The case I was handling is about a couple where the husband was suddenly killed by an unknown person. However, the woman's family suspected her husband because there was a time when the man hurt his wife because the woman suspected that her husband was cheating on her.

I put my hands on my back." Do you know, he beats his wife-"

"Objection your honor! The prosecutor is asking the witness about things that have nothing to do with her." The defender interrupted.

"But it is connected to the case." I looked at him emotionless." The victim's family suspected her husband because there was a time when the accused hit the victim..so-"

I pursed my lips, I should stop myself from talking because I might say something.

"Objection."Napatingin kami sa judge ng pumukpok siya doon para patahimikin kami."The prosecutor's questions were connected to the case. Didn't you read the whole case, defender?"

"I-I apologize.."lumukot pa 'yung mukha niya bago umupo ulit.

The judge sighed."Prosecution, you can continue the questioning."

I immediately thanked him before refocusing my eyes on the witness who looked tense, unlike before na kalmado pa siya.

"I repeat my question. Do you know that the accused was hurting his wife?"

"No. I'm not that kind of person who interferes in someone's life."

"So, I assumed you don't know his wife either?"

I put my hands on her standing table and looked at her seriously. She also looked at me with the same intensity.

"Yes. I haven't seen her face yet."

Bokya.

My upper lip lifted before opening the files I had earlier on the flat screen.

I tapped on it and there..ang bumungad sa'min ay some pictures of the witness, the victim, and the accused in one picture.

Murmuring.

Their high school graduation pic. I saw it from the victim's house when I went there to ask her parents about the case. The victim's parents also told me that the three of them have been friends since high school.

I saw the witness's mouth was open and even her eyes widened because of that."T-That's..I-I.."

"Objection! That picture..after their graduation, the witness flew to the U.S. to continue her studies and only this year, she returned to the Philippines for her coffee shop." The defender interrupted. "So it is impossible."

I kept staring at the witness. The defender's words made her feel better.

"Is it true, Miss Aquino?" I asked her seriously.