Bente-Quatro 2 - Star Witness (Completed)

10 - 0200H

"I was there at the place where you asked us to meet that day. I saw you walking away."

"I did not walk away. I tried to stay away and I'm still trying. Those are two different things."

02:05 AM

Richard said those words with his back to her, the recollection of that fateful night still cutting him to pieces everytime it surfaces into his memory. Gripping the knob tightly, he was so torn between opening the door and leaving or turning around to face her and explain.

"What do you mean you tried to stay away? Don't you use semantics on me! Ngayon pa ba tayo maglolokohan? Ano ko, may nakakahawang sakit that you had to stay away?"

He can't bear to hear her voice crack so he did the cowardly thing and opened the door to leave.

Yes, he was looking for closure so she can move on. But discovering that she seems to be unaware of the duplicity of her father, Richard knows he'll be opening new wounds.

Then there's the threat to her life which is still as real as ever.

He should know because the arrangement to protect her was the bargaining chip he used with his Ninong Jose in agreeing to join NBI.

Without anyone's knowledge.

It's the only way he can protect her while he sorts out the tangled case. Protect her from afar.

So he let her think the worst of him.

For now.

Richard made his way outside to the door with heavy steps and a heavier heart.

He met Atty. Reg and the senior female aid that his Ninong sent just inside the garden gate. Schooling his features, he faced his last task which of transitioning what transpired over the last few hours before he can be on his way.

As if he can transition his feelings too.

Atty. Reg saw the pained expression on Richard's face right before he turned a poker face to them. He even managed to smile when he thanked her for continuing to let them use the Judge's home as a 'safehouse'.

A smile that Atty Reg noticed did not reached his eyes.

Haaay, how could two people be so plain stupid?

She will not let her effort go to waste. Atty. Reg excused herself and stormed towards the library.

Naku! Wag ako, lalo't ganitong wala akong tulog.

--------------------

The senior lawyer made her presence felt when she closed the door of the library to the oblivious Maine typing her life away.

"Ano'ng ginawa mo? Gano'n na lang yon? Bakit parang pinagbagsakan ng langit at lupa yung mukha nung mama ..... "

What Atty. Reg saw almost broke her heart.

Almost lang naman.

Maine was furiously hitting the keys of the old typewriter. But there's something about her stance that mirrored the same pain she saw in Richard.

Aaawww, at ikaw naman yung langit at lupa na bumagsak.

Changing her tactics, Atty. Reg silently approached Maine and pretended to observe what she's typing. Her friend's tensed soldier did not escape her notice and so did the jumbled letters on the paper.

Sure, Maine is one of the emotionally and mentally strongest women she has ever encountered but she will not forget that entire week several months ago when she seems to be just going through the motion of working.