Bente-Quatro 2 - Star Witness (Completed)

5 - 2100H

A/N: Published at 3:30pm Philippine time. Abot pa rin po sa deadline.

09:00PM, Judge Manalo's residence somewhere over there

The Judge's eyes widened as he studied the visitors."Anong abogado at NBI? Ako ba'y pinagluluko mo? Malilimutin na 'ko pero malinaw pa ang mata ko. Namumukhaan ko 'tong dalawang 'to! Hindi ba kinasal ko na kayo?"

Maine silently groans in frustration. Here we go again. What's with people and our faces?

The subtle change in her facial expression was not lost on Richard, mistaking it for something else. Don't worry, I'll be out of your way in no time.

Sensing their uneasiness on being mistaken for a couple yet again, Atty. Regine tried to divert the dscussion by pulling her grandfather to the dining area while motioning for the three to stay put. "Lolo grandpa, I can assure you hindi po sila mag-asawa. I have it on the best authority na nasa DTR stage pa lang sila nung bigla silang nag-LOTR."

"Diyaskeng bata ka! Kung anu-ano nalalaman mo! Ano na naman yang DTR na yan? May bagong batas ba na dapat kong malaman?"

Atty. Reg bat her eyelashes as she answers. "DTR - Define the Relationship. New term courtesy of your granddaughter. Huwag n'yo na pong tanungin yung LOTR"

"Lord of the Rings? Napanood ko na yan."

"Wala pang palitan ng rings Lolo. Actually, imbento ko lang yon. Basta 'of the Relationship' yung dulo. Loss, leave, whatever. Ano'ng makakain natin dito? Gutom na gutom na po talaga kami."

"Sabihin mo kay manang Salome na maghain. Ang alam ko may pangat diyan."

"Wow! Pinangat na isda Grandpa? Yung paborito kong fish?"

"Hindi, pangatlong init na ulam dahil hindi maubos-ubos."

Now standing by the dining table, Judge Jose was momentarily distracted by the lady still wearing a bandana over her head. "Kung hindi yan ang nanay ng nagtanan, sino naman 'yan? Bakit gabi na e nakatalukbong pa?"

Hindi siya nalalayo sa driver ng taxi sa kulit."Lo, huwag makulit. Hindi nga po nagtanan. Actually, now that you mentioned her. I have a favor to ask." She pulls closer to whisper their request "Bzzzz ....."

Judge Manalo raised his eyebrow. "Gano'n? Bakit kayo nadamay dito? Akala ko ba e sa PAO ka nagtatrabaho?"

"Ganito kasi yon Lolo grandpa, Bzzzz...."

"Bakit hindi mo sinabi agad? Gusto mo litisin na natin?"

"Relax lang po Lolo, hindi siya ang may kaso. We may need your legal advice later, pero for now, we can handle this. We just need to borrow your library."

A/N: Uy otor, anong bzzz.... saan nanggaling ang bubuyog? Diba McDonald's nga, hindi Jollibee?

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Somewhere out there......Pilipinas pa rin.

The path he's treading on the worn out carpet for the last hour is slowly becoming visible. He refused the temptation to get another cigarette from the almost full pack. He promised his wife that he's going to quick and by God, he'll make sure that he will be able to keep it. Or else he'll never hear the end of it.

But the tension and the suspense is killing him. He's not used to having his plans thwarted.

Nalusutan na naman siya. This cannot be.

His man has it in control one moment, then bam! She suddenly disappears from their sight. Mga hunghang! Para isang babae lang, naunahan pa sila!