Unsteady (COMPLETED | An #imaginepamore MAICHARD fanfic spin-off)

19 Again

Present Time
San Diego, California

"It's the last day. Are you excited?" Ang tanong sa akin ni Adie.

"Nope. I just have a bad feeling about today." Ang sagot ko sa kanya. Hindi ko masabi ang sinabi sa akin ng lawyer kahapon pagkatapos ng trial.

"By the looks of what I saw in the court these past few days, it's not in our favor. The most they can give you is a joint custody but sometimes, if all ends badly, all you get is visitation rights. But, let's hope for the best and hope that we can turn the tide tonorrow."

Halos nawalan ako ng pag-asa sa sinabi niya lalo't dahil sa trial na ito, madami nanaman ang nawala sa akin.

"How is it going with Sophie?" Tinignan ko si Adie dahil di ko pa nasasabi sa kanya. "Don't looked shocked. It's all over TMZ. Don't worry, it's almost as if Sophie is the bad guy, but I'm not saying that's a good thing."

Huminga ako ng malalim at tumingala sa kalangitan. "I just want this to be over. I just want my son to know who I am."

"It will. He will." Ang sambit lang ni Adie.

Wala kaming nagawa kundi maghintay lamang sa aming kinauupuan sa labas ng korte. Huling araw naman na.

4 MONTHS EARLIER

"So? What did they say? As much as I want my son, I don't  want to take this to the extremes. He'll be caught in the cross fire. I don't want that for him." Ang sabi ko sa aking lawyer matapos niya makipagusap sa lawyer ni Maine.

"She said that if you don't stop, she'll file a restraining order. We don't want that."

"Then? What can we do? I've had enough of her. I've had enough lies and I can't stand here without my own son not knowing who I am."

"We are not going to stop Mr. Faulkerson. We'll play that to our advantage. As much as we want to act now, your evidence won't get you a custody. You can charge her with fraud but that's about it. I suggest you get what evidence you can that actually says they are unfit parents and if you can't  find any, the only thing you can ask in a court with the evidence you have is joint custody and you can forget about that, too, once you charge her with fraud now." Tinignan niya ako ng masinsinan bago itinuloy ang sasabihin niya. "Alex will end up with his legal dad if Maine gets charged with fraud. That's  all I'm saying. If he's an unfit parent, too, then we have a chance."

"Ok. I won't  do anything to compromise what we have for now, but when I get enough evidence, and you tell me it's enough and I have a chance, we do it." Huminga ako ng malalim at tinignan ko ng diretso sa mata ang lawyer. "Just make sure I get my son to know me."

3 MONTHS EARLIER

"RJ, the private investigator called." Nasa set kami ni Adie ng TV series kung saan kami'y regular at tinawag niya lamang ako matapos ang mga eksena namin.

"What did he say?" Ang tanong ko habang nagsusuot ng robe matapos ang mainit na eksena namin para sa palabhas. Paglapit ko kay Adie ay inaabutan na niya ako ng donut dahil ilang araw na kami nagdidiet para lang sa eksena na iyon.

"Jake, Maine's husband just got caught with corruption and embezzlement. His banks froze all his assets and are returning the money to the Philippine government." Ang sambit niya habang sarap sa sarap sa pagkagat sa donut na kanyang hawak hawak. Sinabaya ko naman siya dahil ako'y nagugutom na rin at mamaya pa ang kasunod naming break.

"Wow. I didn't even have to do anything for that. Karma really is a bitch." Pag tingin ko sa kanya ay nakangiti siya nanparang batang inabutan ng candy. "What?"