The Governor's Daughter (HANDSOMELY COMPLETED)

Kabanata 20

Kabanata 20

Family

"A-anak."

Napatingin ako sa labas ng kulungan. Umiiyak si Mama habang pinagmamasdan ako. Napayuko ako dahil sa hiyang nararamdaman at sa nagawa.

"Anong ginawa nila sayo? Bakit punong-puno ng pasa ang mukha mo? Anong ginawa nila sayo?" she cried.

Agad siyang lumapit at inangat ang ulo ko. Tumulo ang luha sa mata ko habang nakatitig sa Ina ko. Umiling-iling ako dahil trauma na nararamdaman. Hindi ko alam kung paano natapos ang pangbubugbog sa akin. Ang huli kong naramdaman ay ang baril na hinampas sa ulo ko.

"Anong ginawa niyo sa anak ko!? Bakit punong-puno ng pasa ang mukha ng anak ko!? Anong ginawa niyo!?" my mother shouted at the police officers.

Hawak ni Mama ang kamay ko habang nakaharap sa mga police. Bumitaw siya at lumapit sa mga nakatayo na pulis.

"Sagutin niyo ako!? You abused my son!? Ano!? Utos ba 'to ng governor niyo ha!" my mother said furiously.

"Ma'am, we don't know what happens. Dinala nalang siya dito na ganyan ang itsura. We're investigating this case since we are not tolerating abusing inmates." sagot ng babaeng police.

My mother cried while trying to sink-in everything.

"I don't understand why they need to abused my son! Oo at may kasalanan pero ang pagbugbog sa anak ko ay hindi solusyon upang matapos 'tong problema." she lamented.

"M-ma..." I called her.

Agad siyang tumingin sa akin. Luhang-luha ang kanyang mga mata dahil sa nangyayari. Lumapit siya at nilusot ang braso upang mayakap ako kahit nasa pagitan ng rehas. Umiiyak kaming dalawa habang awang-awa siya sa akin.

"Anak, anong nangyari sayo? Bakit humantong tayo sa sitwasyong ito? Bakit kailangan mong gawin 'yon para lang sa babae." she said while crying.

My tears didn't stop pouring. Umiiyak ang puso ko habang naririnig ang iyak ni Mama. Ang sakit pala talaga marinig ang mga hikbi ng isang Ina.

"P-patawarin mo ako, Ma." iyon lang ang nasabi ko.

I'm scared of everything now. The traumatic night always haunts me. It did not stop even after years of fighting it.

Sa tuwing may nakikita akong mga police, nanginginig ako sa takot at nawawala sa sarili. For years, hindi ako makausap ng maayos. I had a record, kidnapping and raping the daughter of the Governor.

Sistine provided the details of the incident. She has it written with her signature. Authorities believe them since she was a daughter. While, I only have my mother and siblings who believes in me.

I was in jail for two years, my mother did her best to make me out of the cold bars. After a year, I had therapy for a trauma. Mahirap lalo pa't mahirap lang din kami. Paunti-unti, naging maayos ako.

"Congratulations, our top passer, Attorney Candro." Celeste announced.

The case was won because of the help of my Attorney Celeste. She was the one who handled my case. Nahirapan siya dahil may sulat ni Sistine sa authority pero kalaunan, habang nasa gitna ng hearing, biglang binawi ni Sistine ang kanyang pahayag at umurong ang kaso sa akin.

I was thankful to Attorney Celeste for being so helpful. Siya rin ang rason kung bakit minahal ko ang pag-aabugasya gayong hindi ko naman ito pangarap dati. With my case under my name, it was really hard to finish my law school.

Imagine, studying while you have a record on authority, and worst is, law is the course. I'm trying to educate people around me that even if you have that record, you still have the chance to create and dream again. It won't end your life.

"Salamat sa tulong, Attorney C." sagot ko sa kanya.

Yumakap sa akin si Mama habang umiiyak. After years of fighting, I'm here, looking at my name under the top passer of the Law Board Exam.

"I'm so proud of you, Anak." she whispered while crying.

I caressed her back softly.

"Thank you, Mama. Maraming salamat sa tiwala na binigay mo ulit sa akin. Thank you." my heart says it.

After ten long years, I finally became the person I did not imagine years ago. Sa haba ng taon na iyon, hindi ko pa rin akalain na aabot ako dito. Best is, ginawa pa akong top passer.

After announcing the board passers, kumain muna kami sa restaurant. It was my treat for the day. Kasama si Attorney Celeste, si Mama at dalawa kong kapatid, we're happy while celebrating my triumph.

"What is your plan after this?" tanong ni Celeste.

She is of aged. Mas matanda sa akin ng ilang taon. She's a public lawyer under PAO. Volunteer of Angat Buhay Organization. Wala pang asawa at anak, until now, she's still single.

"I got an invitation to be part of the Public Attorney's Office. My target is to help those people in a row who cannot afford to have a lawyer." sagot ko sa kanya.

After what happened to me, the trauma and the pain that the love had caused me is the reflection of myself now, eager to help those people in need.

"It's free help, Candro. You know the advocacy of PAO." she added.

"That's the reason why I want to help people for free." I answered her.

She nodded and looked at me proudly. She's like my old sister. She helps me during my law school. Halos lahat yata ng libro para sa law ay binigay niya sa akin. Even the reviewer for the Law Exam was from her.

Natapos ang dinner namin. Hinatid kami ni Celeste sa bahay dahil siya ang may kotse. Binuksan ko ang pinto para kay Mama at sa mga kapatid ko. Napatingin ako sa harap ng gate namin, there was a car with a ribbon and a big Congratulations greetings on the top of it.

"Kanino galing ang kotse na 'to?" I said surprisingly.

Tumingin ako kay Mama, she shrugged her shoulder. Bumaling ako kay Celeste, she shook her head. Nagtaka na ako. Who gave this car?

Lumapit ako sa kotse at nakita ang envelope sa ibabaw. I opened it and read.

Congratulations, Anak!

I apology for everything that I've done. Words are not enough to forgive me but I'm still hoping that one day, your mother and your siblings forgive me. Ingat at mahal ko kayo ng mga kapatid mo.

Napahinga ako ng malalim. Hinarap ko si Mama.

"Galing kay Papa." sagot ko.

She sighed and then smiled at me.

"It's been a long time since your father was gone in our family. I forgive him, hopefully, you are too soon." she said happily.

I nodded and smiled at my mother. Lumapit ako sa kanya at sa mga kapatid ko. I hugged them as my tears dropped again for this moment.

"Thank you, Mama. I love you." I whispered to my family.

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©Alexxtott2024