Midnight Momento (Astalièr Series I)

MDT 37

Chapter 37

"Kung hindi ikaw, Atty. Monteves... hindi sana ako papayag." panimulang bungad sa akin ni Atty. Lamirez.

Ngumiti ako at binaba ang tasa ng kape sa coffee table. Binaling ko ang mata sa kliyente namin. She looked restless and anxious, she kept on putting her shaky hands together, rubbing it on her jeans and so on. I heaved a sigh and gently held her hand while looking at her.

"Ma'am, we got this. We'll work on this." I tried to assure her.

She tried to smile at me but her nervousness failed her. Bumuntong hininga ako ulit at humarap kay Atty. Lamirez. Mukha sa kanya palang talaga komportable at may tiwala ang kliyente.

Atty. Lamirez leaned over towards her. He's sitting opposite to us. "This is Atty. Callista Monteves. She's a good lawyer, and from now on she'll take over your case." mahinahon na paliwanag nito.

Humarap ako sa babae. Tumango naman ito. Mukhang alam niya naman ang mga nangyayari, sadyang nahihirapan lang siya. Dala ng mga trauma na nakuha niya sa Sulestra, I know it's hard for her to trust anyone easily right now. Especially if it's about her case. Her life... depends on this.

Natahimik kami sandali at mukhang si Atty. Lamirez ay hindi rin mapakali. "She's the girlfriend of Atty. Atticus Rohen Astalier. Ang unang humawak sa kaso mo." dagdag pa nito kahit hindi naman na kailangan pa malaman iyon.

Nanlaki ang mata ko sa kanya at pakiramdam ko may humigpit sa tiyan ko. I want to say 'we're not together anymore'. But I saw how the client's eyes lit up when she heard Rohen's name. Kaya imbis na may sasabihin pa ako ay tinikom ko na lang ang bibig.

She finally looked at me directly and hope was now plastered on her face. "T-Talaga? Kayo na ba ang pinadala ni Senyor makalipas ang ilang taon?" curiosity and excitement hinted on her tone.

My mouth parted. Pinadala? I glanced at Atty. Lamirez and our eyes locked. He has no clue either.

"P-Pinadala?" I chuckled and tried to keep my cool.

Tumango ito. "Oo... nangako siya sa akin dati na kailangan ko lang muna magtago. Dadating at darating ang araw na makakakuha ako ng hustisya, at may hahawak ng kaso ko. K-Kung hindi man siya... merong mas magaling." paliwanag niya.

Kumunot ang noo ko.

"Alam kong tutuparin ni Senyor ang pangako niya. I-Isa siya sa pinaka-mabait na taong nakilala ko. Kahit lumaki siyang marangya... t-tinutulungan niya ang mga katulad ko. Kahit galing ako sa bayan na kalaban nila... tinulungan niya ako."

I pursed my lips and looked down. I nodded. I couldn't help but agree. She's right. Rohen put so much effort on this case before, the client trusted him so much even after he withdrew and tried to investigate in private.

I gazed at her again. "This time we'll fight. Enough hiding. I'll make sure you're safe while we look for more solid evidence. But you need to trust us... hindi si Rohen ang nandito, Madam. Kami..."

Nahihirapan itong tumingin sa akin pero kalaunan ay tumango rin. I need to gain her trust. I am sure she has a lot to say, marami pa siyang tinatago o alam na hindi pa nasasabi dati. I'll scrape this down to the core until I find evidence that we can use to win in court.

This time, I'll make it right. Kung ito lang ang magagawa kong paraan, para makabawi sa lahat ng ginawa ng pamilya ko, at makabawi kay Rohen sa lahat ng ginawa niya para sa akin. Then I'll finish this.

"Your name, Madam?" I formally asked on the middle aged woman beside me.

"Yolenda Martinez."

Tumango ako haban nakatingin sa personal files nito. "You're based in Sulestra? Right? You lived there all your life?"