Midnight Momento (Astalièr Series I)

MDT 10

Chapter 10

"Heaven is really siding with me." I whispered to myself after everything I went through today.

Akala ko uuwi akong bigo ngayong araw at walang patutunguhan ang pagod ko. Pero sino ba naman ang mag aakala, na si Atty. Simeon Alvarez pa ang lalapit at susulpot sa harap ko.

I smiled widely and went near him. I offered my hands, "Atty. Callista Monteves." pakilala ko.

I saw the amusement on his face. He gladly accepted my hands and smiled back at me.

"So, what brought the Monteves heir here in our humble place?"

I pursed my lips. "I need a lawyer who can represent me."

His brows almost snapped together, but he quickly gathered his reaction and lend his hand to an empty table. I nodded at him and followed him.

"I think we need to settle and sit for us to talk." he chuckled. Instantly understood what's happening.

Pareho kaming umupo at magkatapat lang kami.

"I'll order first, what do you want? Atty. Monteves?"

"Just iced americano."

"Alright, excuse me." tumayo na ito at pumunta sa counter.

I'll just order a take out for Carlos later I think. Ang init kasi maghintay sa parking.

Bumalik na ito na may dala-dalang resibo.

"I'll pay for my drink."

Natawa siya. "It's okay. It was just a simple drink." umupo na ito na maayos at humarap sa akin. "So... why not represent yourself?" he drew his palms together.

I crossed my legs under the table. "Because I want them to see that I am giving a fair fight."

"Fair fight with whom? Them? Bunch of people?"

I plucked my lower lip. "Yeah... the hacienderos. I mean, I am not gonna fight them! But just incase maipit ako dito, kailangan ko ng magtatanggol sa akin."

Nanliit ang mata niya. This is getting more interesting in his point of view. "What happened? Bakit maiipit ka?"

I seriously looked at him and went closer to the table. "Are you willing to represent me? Because I am not gonna spill anything confidential not until you agree. We just met today."

He let out a loud laugh, he even held his stomach like I was trying to be funny. He rubbed the upper side of his lips while looking at me. He tried to relax himself.

"You're an intense person, Atty. Monteves." he closed his eyes and nodded. "Of course, I'll take your case and represent you,"

I sighed and nodded. Not minding that I am becoming his entertainment when we just met three minutes ago.

"There was a fire occured on the field last week. Halos kalahati ang nasunog sa maisan, obviously Rohen made it investigated and I convinced him to interrogate the people dahil walang ibang paraan para makakuha ng impormasyon. The main crime scene has no surveillance cameras and it happened at night, which means nag uwian na ang mga tauhan at maaaring walang nakakita kung sino ang gumawa."

He suddenly became serious and bent near the table.

"You all suspected that it was done on purpose?"

"Yes." buong loob kong sagot.

"Why? Pwede namang may nagtapon ng upos ng sigarilyo at baka nagsimula ng sunog."

I licked my lower lip. "I might not be familiar with farm life, but I know how the hacienda was being managed by my Dad before. All the workers were well trained. And not a single one of them will mistakenly throw something hazardous there and risk their source of living."