Kairos Zack Romero, a hardworking law student, and Cassieca Amara Vargas, a dedicated nursing student, both with different backgrounds but unexpectedly meet. As they deal with the challenges of their demanding studies and professions, they find rest...
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The law may be harsh, but it's the law.
Dad never misses a chance to remind me of that. He's been in law enforcement for decades, and to him, the law is as straightforward as a traffic rule, no exceptions, no second chances, and frankly, I'm getting tired of hearing it because I don't see it that way.
"Kairos, ang batas ay batas. Walang gray area," lagi niyang sinasabi.
"Walang gray area? Eh bakit maraming hindi naaabot ang hustisya?" lagi kong sagot.
"Maraming dahilan kung bakit hindi naaabot ang hustisya, tulad ng kakulangan sa resources, limitadong ebidensya, o pagkatalo. Minsan, may mga biktama rin na natatakot magsumbong," sagot niya.
"I get it. Resources and evidence are key, but it's not just about that. There's more to justice than just making sure things are done 'properly.' What about the people who can't even get their voices heard, the ones stuck in a system that's rigged against them? It's not just about the rules, it's about fairness, equality, and access."
"Ginagawa ng kapulisan ang lahat para bigyan ng pantay-pantay na pagkakataon ang lahat na makamit ang hustisya."
"Talaga ba?" sagot ko, may bahid ng lamig sa boses ko. "Kung ginagawa niyo 'yon, bakit may mga kasong hindi umuusad nang dahil lang sa pera? Justice is only for those who can afford it, 'di ba? Hindi nyo naman ginagawa nang tama."
Kitang-kita ang pagdilim ng mukha ni Papa. "Kairos, wala kang alam sa trabaho ko! Hindi madaling magpatakbo ng sistema kung puro reklamo ang maririnig mo. Gusto mo bang ikaw na ang gumawa? Ha? Subukan mong mapunta sa posisyon ko at tingnan natin kung hindi ka bibigay!"
I scoffed. "If the system itself is broken, maybe it's time to change it. Isn't that the point? To fix what isn't working instead of letting it drag people down even further?"
"Sinusubukan mo talaga ako?" Giit ni Papa at akmang tatayo siya sa upuan.
"Enough!" sigaw ni Mama. Napatingin kaming dalawa ni Papa, parehong natigilan. "Tigilan niyo 'yang pagtatalo niyo! Wala kayong ibang ginagawa kundi magsigawan habang kumakain. Nasa hapag kainan tayo! Learn to show respect, both of you!"
Nanatili akong tahimik, habang si Papa naman ay nagbuntong-hininga, halatang pigil ang galit.
Madiin kaming tinignan ni Mama. "Kung gusto niyo magtalo, sa ibang lugar, hindi dito. Let's eat peacefully, please lang!"
Hindi na ako sumagot. Umupo lang ako, nilalaro ang kutsara ko habang iniwasang makipag-eye contact kay Papa. Sa bahay namin, bawat sagot ko ay parang bala. Siguro kaya hindi kami magkasundo ng tatay ko. Sa tingin niya, masyado akong idealistic. Sa tingin ko naman, masyado siyang makaluma.
Our house is more like a battlefield. Every dinner feels like a trial, me, the skeptical law student, and him, the enforcer who thinks everything is black and white. I've learned to keep my thoughts to myself, to not rock the boat.
