"Kill Me, Attorney." (Law Series #3)

PART TWENTY-FOUR: UNMASKING THE DARK RAVEN

"Of course, I know..." 

Halos tumumba si Andrius sa sobrang pagkabalisa at panlulumo sa narinig namin kay Newt. Ako naman ay humigpit ang kapit sa likuran niya at hindi malaman ang gagawin. Muling tumingin sa amin si Casper at walang bahid ng anumang emosyon ang mukha niya.

"Fuck..." rinig kong bulong ni Andrius. Nanginginig ito at nangingilid ang luha sa mga mata. "How long have you known?" 

"Does that matter?" tanong pabalik ni Newt. "The thing here Judge Blake is, I know." 

Nagsimula siyang maglakad papunta sa amin at nasundan iyon ng pag-urong namin ni Andrius.

"Step back!" bulyaw ni Andrius. "Or else I won't hesitate to slit your throat, you snake!" 

"Hear us out, Andrius," sabat ni Casper. "We have our reasons."

"What reason?!" ganti ni Andrius. "You fooled me! You fooled us!"

"Andrius—"

"I TOLD YOU TO STEP BACK!" inihagis ni Andrius kay Newt ang basong nakapa niya at tumama iyon sa dingding. "The next time I'll throw you something, I'll make sure that it'll ruin your face. So step back, you freak!" mariin niyang sabi. 

Hindi nakagalaw si Newt at Casper. Kapwa ito nag-tinginan at hindi malaman ang gawin.

"Neska, you call the police," Andrius said. "We won't let this pass." 

Halatang na-alarma si Newt. 

"Do it now," Andrius said. His voice cracked. It was obvious that it was hard for him to do so. 

I opened my phone. Nanginginig man ay nagsimula akong mag-dial.

"Neska..." 

Napatingin ako kay Casper. At mula roon ay nakita ko ang pangamba sa mukha niya. 

"If...if you'll report us, might as well hear us out," he said. His voice was shaky.

"Casper joined them on purpose," sabat ni Newt bago pa man kami maka-hindi. "Kaya please, give us the chance to explain. We have our reasons." 

"What reasons?" tanong ni Andrius. "I trusted you...I fcking did..."

Casper gulped. "Andrius..."

"When you begged me that night," Andrius halted him. Tears were building up in his eyes. "You said you have your reasons. You told me you will tell her. You know I was dragging you to a nearby police station that night but you said...you have your reasons and there's no way that you can hurt us. Pero anong ginawa mo?" 

There were tears in Casper's eyes as well. Newt was getting emotional. 

"You lured her here..." Andrius uttered and his voice broke. "Of all places, Casper...For what? I trusted you kahit hindi mo sinasabi sa 'kin 'yong rason mo. Dahil nakita ko kung gaano ka ka-buting kaibigan at anak. Kahit tatay ni Neska, pinagkakatiwalaan ka. You said you will tell her because she'll understand it better than I will. Now, this? I trusted you Casper... for the first time in my life, I did..." 

"Andrius, let me explain—"

"Isa ka pa," sabat ni Andrius. "Newt...I sacrificed my life in Manila to help you and the only thing I'd get is betrayal?!" 

"Andrius, hear us out," sabi ni Newt. "Maiintindihan mo kami 'pag nalaman mo—"

"Let us go," pakikisali ko. "Masiyado nang maraming kasinungalingan. Tama na..."

"Neska..." Casper looked at me when he knew he can't persuade Andrius anymore."It's okay kung magagalit ka rin sa 'kin. Naiintindihan ko. Pero...pero sana...sana pakinggan mo manlang ang side ko...ang side namin. After that, after hearing everything, it's okay if you'll still hate us. There's nothing I can do about that. But first, pakinggan niyo muna kami."