The Unwritten Thesis

Chapter 21 : Poisoned

Dante's POV

"This boy is just fifteen years old," simula ni Primo. "He is now living with this dark reality. His mother killed his father. Nakakalula,"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Jake. He shook his head slightly. "What could have driven her to do something like that? It must be so confusing for him,"

Nagpakawala ako ng malalim na hininga. Pinapakalma ang sarili habang pinapanood ang mga kasamahan kong may sari-sariling opinyon tungkol sa kaso na hahawakan ko ngayon.

The boy's mother killed his father. It was stated in the papers. Noong una ay hindi ko sana hahawakan ito dahil hindi ko kayang makita ang batang iyon, but I need to help him win this case and put her mother into jail. She deserves to be in jail after all.

"I know!" sambit naman ni Ace.

My heart aching for the boy. "The reports say that she struggled with mental health issues for years. It's like she was a different person, someone he didn't recognize anymore. Now that he's stuck in this limbo-grieving for his father, but also struggling with feelings of anger and betrayal towards his mother."

"But what about the justice system? I mean, if she's charged with murder, he could end up losing her as well. Isn't that too much for a boy to handle?"

"Iyan din ang iniisip ko," sabi ko. "The boy is being pulled in every direction. He's been placed in the care of relatives, but what if they can't provide the stability he needs? It's like he's losing everything at once. His father, his home, and possibly even his mother in the long run. The whole situation involves trauma."

Bahagyang dumidilim ang mga ilaw nang sumapit ang gabi, at lumipat ang usapan sa law seminar na dadaluhan ko sa susunod na linggo.

"Do you think they will allow the boy to speak?" tanong muli ni Primo, bakas ang pag-alala. Ang softhearted ng gago. Hindi dapat gano'n.

"I hope so," mariing sagot ko. "He deserves to have his voice heard.

Binuksan ko ang cellphone mula sa aking kamay. Nakita ko ang mensahe ni Aling Waning. She said na kauuwi lang ni Rose galing university. Tumango ako at palihim na umirap upang hindi mapansin ng mga kasama ko.

Hindi pa rin kami nag-uusap. Sa tuwing nagtatagpo ang mga mata namin lagi akong umiiwas. Natatakot ako... natatakot na baka masabi sa kaniya ang lahat. I don't want to let her go, I like her. Kahit itago ko pa itong nararamdaman ko, mabubunyag at mabubunyag din ito kalaunan. For now, aayusin ko muna ang dapat ayusin. Babawi ako sa kaniya kapag matapos ko itong kaso na hinahawakan ko ngayon.

Hindi niya alam na nagtatrabaho ako sa NC. Ito ang papel ko sa NightClub, gumagalaw sa gabi at nag-aaral sa umaga. Yes, I'm still a student, pero may alam na ako sa ganito. Pinag-aralan ko na ito noong nasa Canada ako. I transferred here dahil kay Lola. Hindi ko kasi matiis e. Gusto agad niya akong pag-asawahin kahit wala pa sa plano ko.

Kinuha ko ang itim na envelope sa ibabaw ng lamesa. May nakaukit na letrang AS sa bilog na logo nito na pinalilibutan ng gintong ribbon.

What the fuck is this? Bakit ngayon ko lang 'to napansin?

Binuksan ko ang envelope. Bumungad sa akin ang pangalang hindi ko kilala. Alixir Seville. Who the hell is this? Imbes na alamin ang pagkatao ng taong ito, pinili ko na lamang balewalain saka muling bumalik sa pagkakasandal. Iniisip si Luella.