Act I: Sinful Acts ✓ [EDITING]

•°Eighteen°•

"The truth." Dumbledore
sighed. "It is a beautiful and
terrible thing, and should
therefore be treated with
great caution."
- J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Way to the truth

After the call ended inayos ko na ang gamit ko at nag madaling umuwi. I want to see Nathalie. Right now she's my only strength. I was about to enter my car when a hand stopped me.

Marahas kong liningon ang may-ari ng kamay na iyon. Hilam pa ng luha ang mata ko kaya hindi pa ako makakita ng maayos. I wipped it to see the man clearly. Halos manghina ako ng mapagtanto ko kung kanino ang mga brasong mahigpit na nakahawak sakin. More of nanghihinayang.

"Stan..."

Mahinang usal ko at nilayo ang sarili ko.

"Natasha..."

Saad nya na parang nahihirapan. Matalim ko syang tinignan. I don't know if he knows the dirty deeds of his parents. And I swear sa oras na malaman ko na meron syang kinalaman. I'll cut all the ties with him too!

"Kasabwat ka ba nila?" Mahinahong tanong ko. I hope he'd tell me the truth now. I've had enough of lies in my life now at hindi ko na kakayanin kung dadagdagan pa nya.

"What?! No! I didn't even know they're the reason behind the financial crisis of the company. I swear Hon. I loath them too now."

"Are you saying the truth now?"

Pinahid ko ang panibagong bugso ng luha mula sa aking mata. My eyes are aching. Maybe because of so much crying. He nodded. Lumapit sya sakin at niyakap ako. Hindi na ako nag abalang kumawala sa kanya dahil pagod na ako.

"I'm sorry for what they did hon." He softly said while caressing my back.

Lumayo sya at binuksan ang pinto ng kotse sa passenger seat. Pumasok ako then he entered too. He drove to our house.

Nag dumating kami biglang tumunog ang cellphone ko but I didn't bother answering it. I hurriedly looked for my daughter. I found her in the kitchen with yaya Len. Agad akong lumapit at niyakap sya. Bakas sa mukha ng anak ko at ni Len ang pagkagulat ngunit hindi ko na yun binigyang pansin.

"Mommy... You aryt?" Nathalie asked.

"Yes baby Mommy's alright."

I gently said and kissed her hair. Right now she's the only one I got that I'm sure I can trust. Stanley entered the kitchen kaya naagaw nya ang atensyon ng anak ko.

"Daddy!" Nakangiting lumapit si Stan sa amin.

"Hey there baby." He said and kissed my daughter's cheeks.

"Can we go out today? Mom, dad?" She asked while giggling.

"I'm sorry honey but Mom and Dad has work to do. Maybe next time." Pagpapaliwanag ko.

I want to talk to my lawyer. Ngayon na mismo. I want to know what cases I can file for Stan's parents. Gusto ko na ring malaman kung paano ba namin bubuksan ang kaso ng mga magulang ko.

"Kayo nalang muna ni Yaya Len ang mag mall." Nakangiting saad ko. I'm trying my best for her not to notice. My daughter is a genius she'll know if I'm not okay. She just nodded. Sinenyasan ko naman si Stan na sumunod sa akin. We went to our bed room.

"I'm going see a lawyer today. I need to consult what case I can file to your parents. I'm sorry Stan."

He just nod and gave me a weak smile. Hindi ko sya masisisi, anak sya at siguradong nasasaktan din sya sa mga nangyayari. Dahil hindi nya alam kung saan lulugar.

"Let's eat lunch first, can we? I'll call my friend lawyer to set an appointment while we're eating."
--

Habang kumakain he made some calls. Mahapdi pa rin ang mga mata ko pero hinayaan ko nalang. After the lunch we went to the law firm.

Magaling kaya syang Lawyer? I want a great one. I want someone whom I can trust.

"Don't worry he's a great lawyer."
Paninigurado nya sakin. Saglit ko syang tinapunan ng tingin at naglakad ng muli. I'm thinking of the questions I can ask. Para madali na mamaya.

We entered the firm. Stan talked to the receptionist and the she led us the way to the lawyer's office. Nang makapasok kami ay agad naman kaming binati ng huli.

"Good Afternoon. Is this your wife Stan?"

Stan didn't answer the question. He's probably thinking kung ano na nga ba talaga kami ngayon.

"Please have a seat."

Agad naman akong naupo. Our conversation started. Nagtaka pa si Mr. Santos ng mapagtanto nya na mga magulang ni Stan ang kakasuhan ko ngunit hindi nya na yun masyadong pinagtuunan ng pansin. The meeting was smooth sailing. Pakiramdam ko mabibigyan ng karapatang parusa lahat ng kasinungalin at kataksilan nila sa akin. Kung lahat lang sana ng mga taong nagsisinungaling ay napaparusahan maayos siguro ang mundo. Wala sigurong nasasaktan. But who am I kidding? All of this things makes the world stand in the equilibrium. Balance and consistent.

Kaya kahit ano pang gawin mo may masasaktan at masasaktan pa din.

"The case almost 3 years ago is a different story. Medyo mahirap at madugo kung bubuksan pa natin ang kaso. Sigurado ka ba dito Ms. Cordoval?"

"Yes Attorney I'm sure of this. I need to know the real father of my daughter." I said firmly.

"And if you found out who anong gagawin mo?"

Good question. Nakapag-isip isip na ako tungkol sa bagay na yan. I'll file a case, rape. It will surely sent him to jail. Namatay man si Mr. Ronzon hindi parin pala yun sapat. Dahil sa kasamaan at kababuyan nila nagulo ang maayos kong buhay. I know justice is not common nowadays but I'm sure it's on my side now. Malakas ang lahat ng ebidensya. Hindi lang naman kasi nabigyang halaga ang kaso dahil walang lumaban para dito.

Ganun naman lagi eh, kung hindi mo ipaglalaban walang mangyayari, mababalewala ka lang. I won't let that happen again. I will fight.

Nakapagdesisyon na rin ako. Nathalie will never know him. Waka syang karapatang makilala ang anak ko. Binaboy nya ako pakatapos ay iniwan sapat ng dahilan yun. Wala siguro syang bayag para harapin ang kagaguhan nya. Okay nang si Stan ang tinuturing na ama ni Nathalie kung maghihiwalay man kami matapos ang lahat ng ito, ayos lang. Vince can be her papa. That's why I don't need that rapist. Sapat na si Stan at Vince para kay Nathalie.

"Ano pa ba Attorney? Not because he's the father of my daughter ligtas na sya sa kasalanan. I'll file a case, Rape. Malakas naman ang ebidensya hindi ba?"

Tumango sya ng marahan. Stanley is just listening. Tahimik lang sya buong oras.

"Malakas ang ebidensya. Yung records mo sa ospital matapos ang insidente ay sapat na."

I smiled and sigh. Mabuti naman kung ganoon. Hindi na ako mahihirapan. Nararamdaman kong sa akin papanig ang korte. Magiging masaya rin ako. Matapos lang talaga ang lahat ng ito.

"Okay, then its settled. You can count on me Ms. Cordoval."

I nod and make a genuine smile. Nakipag kamay ako at nagpaalam na. Malamang madilim na rin sa labas. I want to go home. I miss my daughter already. I need a recharge.

[UNEDITED]