THE MONTECRISTO (ON GOING)

EKSTRANG KABANATA

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"Congratulations, Attorney!"

My friend, Ace, poured wine on our glasses as he congratulated me for winning the case.

"Thank you, Pare. And everyone, salamat sa inyong lahat. Cheers!" I said.

Mabilis natapos ang gabi at nagsi-uwian na ang lahat. Only me and Ace left here, narito kami sa condo ko, tinulungan na niya akong mag ligpit.

"You won the case easily," He said, smirking. "And besides, you didn't act when you saw her in the witness stand. She looks scared, huh. Nagulat nga 'kong andoon siya, eh. How come she's connected to Maria Geneva Madrigal?"

Tinapon ko muna ang mga upos ng sigarilyo bago humarap sa kaniya. "Even me was shocked. I looked at her and I was also shocked when I saw her, medyo may same features sila ni Geneva. I feel guilty now. Her side loses, now, Geneva will be the sixth person to taste the death penalty..."

Ace looked at me, "What if Geneva is closer to her. I mean, so much close. Like a strong connection. Naiisip mo ba? They have the same feature and the same way of speaking. Maybe it's a mother-daughter connection. Hindi mo ba na meet ang Mama niya noon?"

Confusedly... I look at him. Agad akong dumiretso sa laptop ko and do some research on Geneva's background.

She was sent to jail, with a murder case. Pinatay niya ang anak niya. Pakiramdam ko nga ay wala siya sa tamang pag iisip dahil kanina ay wala siyang pakialam even though she's proven guilty.

"She has five daughters. Oh, fuck..." I covered my mouth using my hands when I saw Amoricia Yvi Istrella Madrigal. Ayi's name.

"Am I right?" Ace asked. Lumapit ito sa akin at ipinakita ko naman ang nakita ko, "Holy shit, bro. You sent her mother to death... oh fuck. Aalis na 'ko, natatakot ako sa ex mo na 'yon, she's... really scary"

At 'yon na nga ang nangyari, umuwi siya, pero naka ligpit naman na kami. I showered first before putting my pajamas on. I looked at my laptop once more and checked Ayi's profile.

Amoricia Yvi Istrella G. Madrigal

Twenty - Eight

Civil Engineering Graduate and currently taking Political Science for her second degree

Daughter of Maria Geneva Madrigal and Leonardo Madrigal

So she's currently pursuing Political Science now? I thought she hated law because Lawyers are Liars. Funny, nag away pa kami noon no'ng sinabi kong sabay kaming mag take ng Law.

She did, actually. She took Law for me, pero 'di niya na raw kaya, kaya 'yon, bumalik siya sa Engineering.

Pucha. I remember those days after she graduated! Ubos savings ko! Paano ba naman kasi, wala raw siyang project kaya 'yon, kahit hindi ko kaylangan ng bahay, nag pagawa ako.

She looks gorgeous while on site. Kahit naka black shirt and acid wash colored pants lang, ang ganda pa rin niya. Especially when her hair is in a pony. Noong una ay ayaw pa niyang itali 'yon dahil daw ang laki ng noo niya, psh, her forehead's width is enough for me to kiss it.