According to Article 315 of Revised Penal Code, there are different ways estafa is committed, a.) with unfaithfulness or abuse of confidence, b.) by means of false pretenses and fraudulent acts, and c.) through fraudulent means.
Aldrich handed Yezennia a single sticky note that had names written on it. It was the note he jotted down in the papers he reviewed.
The latter frowned her eyebrows, "What is this?" she asked.
"A little bit of clue?" he responded with a question mark. He notices her prem eyelashes, his eyes streams down on her plump red lips. He swallows as he feels his throat dry.
She threw a look of confusion, "Why would you even bother? It either has nothing to do with you nor a part of your business."
He grinned as he realized that he doesn't have business with her and he doesn't have any reason to intervene. It's just his feelings that brought him to cling wherever she is.
'Why wouldn't you be grateful for it? I wasted a lot of time and effort to find those names–" he nodded as a bright idea popped up in his mind, "Okay, I can take it back, I hope you'll find them without having any lead."
Yezennia realized something, hindi nila alam kung sino-sino ang sangkot sa kaso kaya nahihirapan silang hanapin kung nasaan ang mga ito. She didn't even recognize their faces, it's like a blurry sketch with imprecise features.
She bit her lower lips, "Akin na nga 'yan," she intended to grab the sticky note. However, Aldrich is faster than her.
He raises his hand and grins, he already calculated their situation. Well, he won't engage with war without having a gun, he must have many bullets, as much as he can.
"Kung tumulong ka para magkapera, sorry to tell but I can't give millions for your nobility." She directly uttered as she gave him a dash of hopes.
He smiled mischievously, "Well, I'm accepting a quid pro quo, dear."
Tumaas muli ang kilay ng dalaga at nalukot ang noo nito, "What do you mean by that?" she crossed her arms trying to surpass his superiority.
"Is it something merely traded for something else–like a coffee date?" he responded and wet his lips suppressing it to form an arc.
She smirks with annoyance, "Are you here to help those poor people or you're just here to flirt with me?"
He poked his cheeks inside with his tongue, "I can do both, Miss." He replied with a tone of determination.
"Is a coffee date enough for the price of those names?" She motioned the sticky notes as she thought of something fun. If he can use her for his own advantage, she must do likewise, or more than likewise if possible.
His smile flickered across his face like a hologram, "Meet me at the Green Valley Cafe at 10:00 PM. You can also bring a hard copy of your proposal about our business." He announced and voluntarily handed her the sticky note and now with a wide smile.
Yezennia's lips upturned as she nods. This man doesn't have any idea of what she's planning to do.
Aldrich succeeded on his mission, he left the station with an obvious smile and an excited heart.
"Mission accomplished, Sir!" masayang bungad ni Junard sa amo nang pumasok ito sa loob ng kotse. Abot tenga ang ngiti nito habang hindi makuha kuha ang malisyosong tingin sa binata.
"Anong pinag-usapan ninyo ni Atty. Moore, Yez? Tungkol ba doon sa kotse mong nabangga niya?" tanong ni Hesley ng tuluyang mawala sa paningin ang kotse ng abogado.
Napabaling ang tingin niya sa kaibigan na ngayon ay kumakain ng cream stick, "It's about the scam case." Walang alinlangan na sagot ng dalaga at inisa-isang ni-research ang mga pangalan.
"Gusto ka niyang tulungan sa kaso?" tanong ulit ng huli, "Walang duda, mananalo kaagad iyan, si Atty. Aldrich iyan eh!" pagpapatuloy ni Hesley. Kain ito nang kain ng chocolate pero hindi naman tumataba.
"He's just a lawyer and not a king, Hes. Stop treating him like he was great at everything, kaya mas lalong naging feelingero eh." She complaint, totoo naman ah, kaya mas lalong dumarami ang hangin sa ulo niyan kasi pinupuno nila ng papuri!
Umiling ang kasama, "Hindi eh, Atty. Aldrich is a great lawyer, Yez. You'll soon realize that." Sambit ng lalaki at tinapik ang kaniyang balikat bago itago ang isang pack ng cream stick sa loob ng drawer nito.
Irap na lang ang tanging naging tugon ng dalaga sa kaibigan. She's not still convinced, she knows that he has something dark– like a dirty little secret. Kasi alam niya sa sarili niyang hindi lahat ng mabuting tao ay mananatiling mabuti.
As of now, kailangan niya munang pakisamahan ang lalaki, alam niya din na malaki ang maitutulong ng binata sa kaniya, she won't be taking any advantage because it's a win-win situation.
Katulad ng napag-usapan nila ay tumungo siya sa nasabing lugar na napagkasunduan nila ng binata.
She was bewildered as she saw the premises. It isn't called Green Valley for nothing.
The interior of a cafe fills with the vibrant yet pleasant emerald green ancient vases. The walls have gems that could only be seen in fantasy movies. The hanging rare plants look so lively and refreshing and the glittering fairy lights make it undoubtedly fascinating.
She entered the premises and the aroma of a coffee lingered on her nose. By nature of her work, that smell keeps her wide awake every night.
Tumingin siya sa paligid upang hanapin ang binatang abogado, hindi niya pa ma nalibot ang buong sulok ay nakita na niya kaagad ito.
He's wearing a baby blue long sleeve, it is folded on the level of his elbow. He's also wearing eye glasses and his whole attention was engrossed on his laptop. The place is superb but the view where she's heading is top tier.
Napansin niya rin ang babaeng nag bubulong-bulongan habang nakatingin ang mga ito sa direksyon ng binata, hindi niya alam pero nakaramdam siya ng inis sa mga iyon.
Her heart suddenly races when his eyes landed on her, hindi niya alam kung itutuloy niya pa ba ang paglapit rito o tatakbo na lang palabas sa cafe. Her heart pounds more than it's normal rate when the edges of his lips formed into a smile.
"You're five minutes late." He uttered as he checked his wrist watch. Hindi nito inalis ang salamin pero hindi iyon naging hadlang para pagmasdan maigi ang mukha ng dalaga.
Umupo ang dalaga sa harap na upoan at pilit na pinapakalma ang dinadagang puso, "The number one problem here is the traffic. You must first give a solution to that before complaining that I'm late."
But the truth is, it wasn't the traffic after all, but it's a sudden slowness of her world when she saw him at this rate.
Sinong babaeng hindi mapapalingon sa itsura nitong fresh pa bagong pitas na mansanas kahit gabing-gabi na!
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THE LAWLESS AFFECTION
Short StoryNOVELETTE | ROMANCE-THRILLER | ONGOING Yezennia Cordova trained herself to solve the mystery that lies within her life and her parents who passed away twenty years ago; a tragedy that everyone tries to forget and bury. She found herself yearning...
