Yaya Series 3: Vow To Me, Master!

Preview

“What is your job, Mr. Cano?” she asked as she walked in front of him.

“Wala ho, Ma’am.” 

She nodded. “Do you have other sources of money? Income? Any?”

Naniningkit na ang mga mata ko habang pinapanood ang abogado na kinuha ng kabilang panig sa kasong ito. Mr. Cano looked at me and bowed his head. Kahit sandali lamang iyon ay bakas sa ekspresyon niya ang kaba at takot.

He shook his head.

Inayos ko ang suot na black americana suit. Pakiramdam ko kasi ay biglang sumikip ito sa katawan ko. At umayos ng upo.

“Kung wala ka palang trabaho at pera, paano ka naka-su-survive araw-araw?” 

Naikuyom ko ang kanang kamay na nasa ilalim ng mesa.

“Nakatira ho ako ngayon sa ate ko. Pero minsan naman ay naghahanap ako ng mapagkukunan para sa amin ng anak ko. Hindi rin naman kami pinababayaan ni ate,” pagpapaliwanag niya.

“But that's not enough reason, Mr. Cano, para mapunta sa iyo ang custody ng bata. Ibig lamang sabihin no’n isa kang pabigat lalo na sa ate mo, pagkatapos ay idadagdag mo pa ang anak mo. Paano kung mapuno ang ate mo sa responsibilidad na ipinatong mo sa kaniya at palayasin kayo? Saan naman kayo pupulutin ng anak mo in case?”

My fist is already sweating from the pressure I gave. 

“Hindi gano’n ang ate ko! Hindi siya katulad ng ina ng anak ko.” Tumingin siya sa taong tinutukoy niya, ngumingisi at napapailing ito ngayon na para bang isang malaking pabulaanan iyong mga sinabi niya.

I stared at him back intently. The pain and suffering in his angry eyes were as clear as water even though they were stained with tears. I bowed when I remembered someone like his condition.

“Everything is already in the pass, Mr. Cano. Sa ngayon ang isipin natin ang magiging kinabukasan ng anak mo, ninyo. Hindi kasi natin masasabi kung ano nga ba ang susunod na mangyayari. Hindi sa lahat ng oras ang ate mo ang sasalo sa mga pagkukulang mo sa iyong anak. You have no job. You also have no wealth. How will you raise your child? How can she study? How can you provide the tuition fee in the school she wanted to study in highschool and college? How you give to her everything she like? Do you want her to be like you? A nothing? Mr. Cano, babae pa naman ang anak ninyo. Hindi bubuhayin ng ipinaglalaban ninyo ang magiging kapakanan ng anak ninyo sa ’yo. Masisira lang ang buhay niya. Why not give it all to your ex-girlfriend? Sa kaniya, magiging maayos ang kalagayan ng anak ninyo.”

“Objection, Your Honor! She is already insulting my client!” I almost blurted when I stood up. Masiyado ng matalim ang dila ng babaeng ito at halos yurakan na ang pagkatao ng kliyente ko. Kanina pa ako nagtitimpi.

“I'm not insulting anyone here, Mr. Salmonella! I'm just stating the truth.” She looked at me with full determination.

I understood that she had a concern for the child but I couldn't understand why she had to personalize the father. She did not even appreciate those sacrifices of the father to his daughter. “Yes, you are. And because of that I can charge you with slander.” I even pointed at the floor because I was annoyed.

Hindi siya makapaniwalang napabuntong hininga. “Huah! Paano magiging paninirang-puri iyon kung totoo naman? Kapakanan at kinabukasan ng bata ang ipinaglalaban natin dito hindi ng magulang. Oo nga at ang mga magulang ang kliyente natin pero isipin mo… isipin mo rin ang bata.”

Ako naman ang napabuga ng hangin.

“That’s also my point here.” I looked at my client when I said those words. But I didn't last long either and I turned my gaze back to her. “Yes, I know the child's mother is rich and can provide for all her needs, but is the child happy? Whenever the child is on the mother's side, she always looks for her father. Hindi nga makuha ng bata na mamalagi sa malaking bahay na ’yon. Don’t you see, the father works hard for the child from the first place since the mother left them and God knows all his sacrifices. Poverty does not determine whether you will be a good parent or not!”