Craving You

CHAPTER 1

THIRD PERSON POV:

The air inside the courtroom was thick with tension, the kind that suffocated the uninvolved but electrified those at the center of the storm. Ethan stood tall at the plaintiff's table, his tailored suit a testament to the precision he brought into every case. Across the room, Leah, as sharp and confident as ever, leaned slightly forward, her eyes locked on him. They weren't just opponents today-they were gladiators in the legal aarena.

"Leah, the law isn't a weapon for your games," panimula ni Ethan, bawat salita niya ay parang kutsilyong tumatama nang direkta. "It's about justice, something you clearly fail to grasp with your weak arguments."

Hindi nagpatinag si Leah. Ngumiti siya-yung tipong ngiti na alam mong may matindi siyang plano. "Weak? That's cute, coming from the guy who's twisting every fact just to make himself look competent. You're not here for justice, Ethan. You're here for the win, and it's painfully obvious."

Humakbang si Ethan palapit, bumaba ang boses pero lalong lumalim ang galit. "If obvious means I'm exposing the cracks in your defense, then I guess I'm doing my job."

Umangat ang isang kilay ni Leah, hindi nagpapatalo. "The only thing you're exposing here is your desperation. Akala mo ba makakalusot ka sa akin? Winning takes more than just fancy words, Ethan."

The judge cleared his throat, reminding them that this wasn't just a private war between two formidable lawyers, it was a battle being witnessed by the world. But neither Leah nor Ethan was willing to back down. This was more than a case. It was personal. And today, only one of them would walk away victorious.

Leah's POV:

Malamig sa loob ng courtroom, pero para sa akin, parang nag-aapoy ang paligid. Nakatayo si Ethan sa kabilang side-confident, as always. Pero kilala ko siya, at alam kong ang pagiging sigurado niya ay maskara lang para sa kung ano ang totoo: he's here to win, nothing more.

Ilang beses ko na siyang nakasagupa sa ganitong sitwasyon, pero hindi ko hinahayaang matalo ako. Hindi ngayon.

"Leah, the law isn't a weapon for your games," he started, parang laging may ibig patunayan. I rolled my eyes internally. His words may be sharp, but I've faced worse. Alam ko kung paano ito laruin.

"Weak?" I replied, letting a smirk cross my lips. "That's cute, coming from the guy who's twisting every fact just to make himself look competent." Alam kong matatamaan siya doon. Ethan isn't here for justice; he's here for the win, at sobrang halata na 'yon. "You're not here for justice, Ethan. You're here for the win, and it's painfully obvious."

I could feel the shift in his stance. Naramdaman ko ang bigat ng titig niya. Kumakagat siya sa painit kong mga salita. As he stepped closer, his voice dropped, pero mas lalong ramdam ko ang tension. "If obvious means I'm exposing the cracks in your defense, then I guess I'm doing my job."

Huminga ako ng malalim, keeping my cool. Desperado ka, Ethan. "The only thing you're exposing here is your desperation," I replied, keeping my voice steady but cutting. Nakuha ko na siya. "Akala mo ba makakalusot ka sa akin? Winning takes more than just fancy words, Ethan."

Nakatingin pa rin ako sa kanya, walang alis, walang takot. Alam ko ang laro ko, at alam ko rin ang kahinaan niya. This isn't just about the case anymore. Mas malalim na ito. Pero sa araw na ito, hindi ako ang magpapatalo.

"Order in the court!" Sigaw ng judge, ang malakas niyang boses ay dumagundong sa buong courtroom. Napatingin ako kay Ethan, at kita ko rin ang pagkaputol ng kanyang momentum. Na-hit ko na siya ng husto, pero kailangan ko nang magpigil. "Ms. Navarro, Mr. Cruz, this is a courtroom, not a boxing ring," dagdag ng judge, malamig ang tono.

Napangiti ako ng bahagya, pero mabilis kong naitago. Sa bawat titig na binibigay ko kay Ethan, alam kong pareho kaming hindi papatalo. Pero hindi puwedeng ipakita sa lahat.

"Apologies, Your Honor," sagot ko nang pormal, pero alam kong naramdaman ng lahat ang tensyon na bumabalot pa rin sa amin ni Ethan. Para bang kahit nag-sorry na kami, hindi pa rin ito tapos. He was seething, I could tell.

"Ako rin po, Your Honor," singit ni Ethan, pero rinig ko sa boses niya ang pagpipigil. Sinubukan niyang magpakalma, pero kita ko sa mga mata niya na hindi pa siya tapos sa laban na 'to.

Pinatigil na kami ng judge, pero para sa akin, nag-uumpisa pa lang kami. Alam kong ganon din ang pakiramdam ni Ethan. This case might be put on hold, pero ang tension sa pagitan namin-personal na 'to. Sa susunod naming pagsasalpukan, mas handa akong pwersahin ang panalo.

The judge nodded, finally satisfied. "Proceed with respect, both of you. Let's move on."

Bumalik ako sa table ko, feeling the weight of Ethan's stare. Alam ko, ito ang simula ng isang mas mabigat na laban. Pero sa isip ko, mas determinado ako ngayon. Kung ano man ang tapos dito sa courtroom, hindi dito nagtatapos ang tensyon namin ni Ethan.