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 fahil 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 padin 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 n'ya alam na nagtatrabaho ako sa NC. Ito ang papel ko sa NightClub, gumagalaw sa gabi at nag-aaral sa umaga. Kung anuman ang iniisip n'ya tungkol sa club na iyon, I won't let her eat her own curiosity. Klaus works there, hind n'ya tatantanan si Luna.
"Ano naman ang sasabihin mo sa kaniya kung bibigyan ka ng pagkakataon?" Ace asked, breaking the silence.
I thought for a moment. "I would tell him that it's okay to feel lost, that he's not alone and healing takes time to heal. I will tell him that it's okay to forgive and to love. Lastly, it's important to seek help, to ask for someone to listen."
***
Nasa loob kami ng courtroom ngayon. Naghihintay sa mga mahahalagang tao ngayong araw. Kasama ko ang aking kliyente na labinlimang taong gulang.
Mabigat sa tensyon ang hangin sa courtroom. Bulung-bulungan ng madla ay namayani sa buong silid, na sinamahan ng paminsan-minsang pag-ubo ng kakulangan sa ginhawa.
