All Clear, Attorney

Q

April 17, 2022

THE NATURAL LIGHT shining through the window was the first thing that she saw when she opened her eyes. She was lying on her side. The rays bounced off the wall, and something above her shone. . . like stars.

Kumunot ang kanyang noo at umayos ng higa. She laid on her back, at saka iginala ang kanyang mga mata sa itaas. With confusion filling her mind, isiningkit niya ang mga mata, pilit inaaninag ang kumikinang sa kisame.

What are those? They're sparkling.

It took her eyes a minute to fully adjust. When the realization dawned on her, her eyes slowly widened. Umawang ang kanyang mga labi nang mapagtanto kung ano ang mga nasa kisame.

What the hell? Is this even real?

The ceiling has sunflower engravements, and each tip of the petal has an emerald stone embedded on it. Basing on how the gems shone, she's certain those gems are real and rare. She could also see the faint shade of ruby on the gem, confirming her assumptions that those gems are indeed rare.

Damn. Alexandrite. A rare gem, indeed. And she's certain no one in the Philippines has something like these.

If so, is she in paradise?

That thought made her touch her waist where she was stabbed, pero sa gulat niya'y may benda na iyon. Meron ding dextrose sa kanyang kamay. What? Someone saved her?

Before her thoughts about her savior could wander, the door opened, making her head turn towards it. A woman with a short wavy hair entered, wearing a black shirt and cotton shorts. Muntik na siyang mapaurong nang makita ang malalamig na mga mata nito.

Holy. . . Who is she? Ito ba ang sumagip sa kanya?

"You're awake," the woman muttered coldly and let out a small smile. "Stay here. I'll ask the servant to bring you food," pagpapatuloy nito at aalis na sana nang mabilis niya itong pinigilan,

"Miss," her voice came out hoarse. Huminto ito at muling humarap sa kanya. Her eyes are still cold as hell, at wala man lang itong kangiti-ngiti.

Tumikhim siya at hindi pinansin ang nanunuyong lalamunan. Nauuhaw na siya pero pilit niya iyong ininda. "Who are you? Nasaan ako?"

"Your questions will be answered later. Don't worry, you're safe here." Binigyan ulit siya nito ng maliit na ngiti. "Save your questions for later. Kailangan mong kumain muna," sambit nito bago tuluyang umalis at iniwan siyang mag-isa.

Muli siyang napahawak sa tiyan niya at inaalala ang mga pangyayari na ikinakurap niya. She could still recall all the happenings vividly that closing her eyes made her feel as if she was in that moment.

The loud thud.

That pair of eyes.

Her ragged breathing.

Her footsteps echoing through the hallway.

Arms around her.

Knife.

Cold metal sinking into her flesh.

Blood.

Naramdaman niya ang pamamasa ng kanyang mga pisngi na ikinamulat niya ng mga mata, and that's when she realized that she was shaking. Nanlamig ang kanyang mga palad at talampakan.

Her breathing became heavy and her chest rose and fell. Pilit niyang tinanggal ang eksenang iyon sa kanyang isip.

Gusto niyang makalimot. . . but the truth lays on her hands.

She could feel that burning sensation on her waist at parang kinakalikot iyon na ikinangiwi niya. Fuck. Recalling the events made her feel as if she had been freshly stabbed.