Surrendering Dreams (Amor Series#1)

SIMULA

Tumunog na ang elevator hudyat na narito na ako sa tamang palapag. Pilit kong kinakalma ang sarili at naglakad na sa nasabing lugar. Sa hindi malamang kadahilanan ay bigla akong kinakabahan.

I have been the prosecutor in this area for years and I have never experienced such tension just to attend a random meeting. It felt like something contentious was about to happen. I was so confident about my work, I was a great legal representative of the prosecution and it is my work to present a case in a criminal trial and to hold the accused responsible for what he or she has done.

Fucking hell. Kinakabahan ako.

Nakasalubong ko si Sandy at nakitang hinihingal pa siya nang tumakbo papunta sa akin. Sandy is actually my legal assistant. She's responsible for the drafting of pleadings and other paperworks.

"Oh?" Tanong ko dahil nagtataka ako sa pagsalubong niya. Normally, she would just warn me through text or call and just wait inside my office. May iniabot naman siyang envelope at agad ko namang binuksan ito. Binasa ko ang laman at naramdaman kong pumunta lahat ng dugo ko sa ulo ko. Halos matupi ko ang papel na 'yun.

Who wouldn't be angry in this situation? It is a letter, formal letter to be exact and another letter for a dismissal of trial. The Spanish government wants to appeal for mistrial in the court and my superior wants to clean this case and stop the investigations immediately. We even haven't had a pre-trial, what's with the rush?

Appeal for Mistrial, when in fact the pre-trial hasn't even started yet. I think someone's leaking false information to the other country. That's the problem of fake news, it can cause conflict between two parties. Nakakahiya.

I know he has dual-citizenship, but really? Mapapahiya ang kabilang bansa kapag nalaman nilang false information ito. They should have done their research first.

"I'll make a formal letter and have it sent to Spain. I'll just finish this meeting. What is it all about?" I asked Sandy. I was just called that there's an emergency meeting. I wasn't informed about what it was all about.

Anyway, Sandy has been working with me since then and I could say that she's really hardworking and very loyal to me. Loyalty is the key to a good partnership, in work and in relationships.

"Attorney, I think it's for the settlement of the case that you're currently handling po." Sagot naman niya na ikinakunot ng noo ko. What settlement is that? I can't even remember what the case is, I have too many cases on my table.

Naglakad na ako at hindi ko pa rin alam kung anong kaso ba 'yun dahil marami akong hawak na kaso ngayon. The reality of being a public servant.

Pagka pasok ko ay nagulat ako nang makita ko ang mga taong kinamumuhian ko at mga taong higit kong hindi inaasahan, na sama-sama sa isang lamesa—the family Villenueva, Atty. Gomez, Atty. Sierra Evangelista, my superiors and their secretary.

I easily composed myself. At least, I did try to conceal myself being surprised to see them in one room.

Napa-tingin ako sa kanya at bumalik ang mga alaalang hindi na dapat binabalikan. Tumingin din siya at nakita ko ang walang bakas na pagka-gulat sa mukha niya na tila inaasahan na ang aming pagkikita.