“What happened to your face?”
Nagtatakang tanong ko nang makita ang maliit na sugat sa gilid ng kaniyang labi. Mukhang matagal naman na ang sugat at hindi naman na masyadong halata kung hindi mo talaga siya tititigan.
“Oh, this?” Dinama niya ang sugat gamit ang daliri at saka nakangising umiling. “This is nothing.”
Tumaas ang kilay ko. “Napaaway ka?” Halos hindi pa makapaniwala na tanong ko sa kaniya.
Inilagay ko ang hawak na glass ng juice sa may harapan niya. I was surprised when he just suddenly showed up in front of our house this morning.
“It's no big deal,” pagsasawalang-bahala niya. “Anyway, I'm here because mom wants to invite you once again for a dinner tomorrow night.”
Agad akong napangiti dahil sa sinabi niya. “Tita Annabel must be enjoying my presence.” I smirked. “You must be a boring companion,” I added to tease him more.
Sumama ang mukha niya at saka ako sinamaan ng tingin. “She said to invite your parents too so don't be too full of yourself, attorney.”
Natigilan ako saglit dahil sa itinawag niya sa akin. I pursed my lips then look away when I am suddenly seeing Caesar in him. They may have the same feature but they are different people. They are different.
“You okay?” He asked when he notice that I went silent.
Tumango ako at ngumiti. “Yeah. I just remembered something.”
“I see. . .” Tumango siya at saka tumingin sa mamahaling wrist watch na suot. “I have a meeting so I will not be able to take you to lunch today.”
Mahina akong tumawa at nagkibit-balikat. “I'm not expecting you to take me to lunch either so it's fine, Acel.”
Tumawa lang naman siya bilang sagot sa sinabi ko. He finishes the juice and sandwich I prepared for him bago siya nagpaalam na aalis na. I escorted him up until the front door.
“Regarding the dinner tomorrow night, I will just fetch you and your family.” He asked in his usual formal tone.
Nakanguso akong tumango. “Okay. . .sounds like a plan.” I said. “See you tommorow, then?”
Inilagay niya ang dalawang kamay sa bulsa at saglit na nagtagal ang titig sa kabuuan ng aking mukha bago tumango at saka nagpakawala ng isang buntunghininga.
“I'll see you tomorrow, Ricca.”
Nang makaalis siya ay agad na akong umakyat sa kuwarto. Naupo ako sa study at sinimulan ulit basahin ang bagong case na ini-assign sa akin nang pinagtatrabahuhan kong firm.
Noong isang linggo ko lang naisip na bumalik na sa trabaho. Hindi rin naman problema ang naging pagbalik ko lalo na't magulang nang kaibigan ko ang may ari ng law firm. Hindi rin naman madali ang pagbalik ko sa trabaho dahil matagal-tagal din akong nawala at noong huling beses na humawak ako ng kaso pero susubukan ko. Ginagawa ko naman na ito dati kaya magagawa ko rin ito ngayon.
Hindi ako papasok ngayon sa opisina pero bukas ay papasok ako para makilala ko na kung sino ang complainant. The files said that it was a rape case of a sixteen years old boy by his bisexual swimming coach. There are no strong evidences aside fom the victim's recorded statement before he died for the claim of their team but for sure this is not enough. I reviewed some more documents and created a game, a so called game plan since I'll be on the plaintiff side in the court.
My phone as been ringing for a couple of times already but I am so drawn in the case right in front of me that I didn't even bother to check who was calling.
