For the Love of an Angel

Chapter Nine

CONSEQUENCES

"Malaya ang mga tao na gawin kung ano ang gusto nila, ang piliin kung anong daan ang kanilang tatahakin. Ngunit ang lahat ng pagkilos at pagpapasya nila ay may bunga. At kung ano ang kanilang itanim ay aanihin nila..." - Gabriel, Angelic Doctrines IX

Alam nyo yung plot ng stories where a rich kid would be jailed and then a few hours later, dadating yung lawyer niya to get him out?

Very cliché na yun di ba? Very common sa mga movies especially here in the Philippines...

Well that's exactly what happened to James and company. Nakulong sila sa police precinct at around noon time, and by four in the afternoon nandun na yung lawyers nila to post bail. And para mas assured na makakalabas sila, nagsama pa yung mga attorneys ng isang high ranking police official who apparently was a friend to James's father.

Talk about influence, di ba?

After the mumbo-jumbo of paperworks, money, and power play, nakauwi na si James sa house nila.

His parents were waiting for him.

"James, this is just too much!" rant agad nung daddy niya. "Criminal lang yung gumagawa ng ganito! You're turning into a monster!" Syempre, agree ako dun.

Dedma lang si James. Passive listener mode habang nakaupo siya in front of his parents. Sanay na sanay na kasi siya sa ganun.

Sige naman sa pag-rant si Mr. Ledesma. "Alam mo ba kung gaano kahirap pakiusapan yung family nung babaeng biktima nyo para hindi magdemanda?"

Nag-raise his eyebrow si James. "Nagpabayad naman, di ba?" sabi niya like he didn’t care. Obvious naman, he didn’t care.

"Well, muntik nang hindi!” sagot ng daddy niya in a louder voice. “It's just fortunate that the father's boss was my friend! I had to go through a lot, James, just to fix your mess!"

Like always, umirap lang si James. "I didn't ask for your help," sabi ba naman. Ang bastos niya, di ba?

With his reply, nag-cross lalo yung eyebrows ng daddy niya. Lalo ding lumakas yung voice. "Damn it, James! Don't you even care na nahihirapan kami for you?! Or was that really your purpose?!"

Nag-scratch his head lang si James. "Why don’t you ask yourself?"

Nag-flare up si Mr. Ledesma. "I should've let you rot in jail! Wala kang utang na loob!"

"Well, why didn’t you?"

"You monster!" Sinugod ni Mr. Ledesma si James, fist clenched and ready to punch.

Buti na lang nandun si Doktora to stop him. "Huwag, Angelo!"

And I was like... sayang. How I wish he punched James.

Nagpapigil naman si Mr. Ledesma. "Sumosobra na yang anak mo, Jasmin!"

"Calm down. Walang mangyayari sa 'tin kung mag-aaway kayo."

He stared angrily at James, sighed, nag-relax, and then stepped back. "Pagsabihan mo yang batang yan. Baka hindi ako makapagpigil, mapatay ko yan."

With the word ‘mapatay’, nag-raise his eyebrow si James. Tiningnan niya yung daddy niya and his stare was really nakakainsulto.

"James, anak, you need to talk to us." Si Doktora na yung nagsalita. "Ano bang problema? Tell us. Why are you doing all of these?"

Again, umirap lang si James. "Why don’t you ask yourself?"