Chapter 3

"Totoo po bang murderer si Anthony Sandoval?!" halos pasigaw na tanong sa amin ng isang reporter. Halos magpintig ang aking tainga sa talas ng pagkakasalita niya. Parang may ipinahihiwatig na hindi maganda.

I looked at him, the reporter, intently. "Presumption of Innocence, Sir. He's innocent until proven guilty." 

"Totoo po bang ex-boyfriend niyo si Anthony Sandoval?" hirit na tanong pa nito sa akin.

When I saw his press ID, I saw a name: Jeffrey Skyler. He was from SBS News, the country's most subscribed news channel. He's also affiliated with The Times in France.

He seemed very charming, determined, but he's arrogant and disrespectful. How dare him ask me that question?

"The question is irrelevant. Is that a reporter trained by The Times and SBS News?" I fired back. Patuloy na hinahawi ng mga bodyguards namin ang mga reporter habang naglalakad kami, kaso pasikip naman nang pasikip kaya nahihirapan na rin kaming makakilos.

Napansin kong natigilan ang kaniyang mukha sa aking sinabi.

But after a few seconds, a smirk flashed across his stern face. "Atty. Christine, totoo po bang binayaran kayo ng negosyanteng si Anthony Sandoval para ilihis ang dapat na hatol sa isang mamamatay-tao?" mabilis nitong tanong.

Halos mapatigil ako sa paglalakad at napakapit sa braso ni Jelsey nang marinig ko ang sinabi niya. "I said, he is innocent until proven guilty." I said in a composed manner.

Napatigil din si Jelsey at parang nagpintig ang tainga niya nang makita niya ang SBS News, si Jeffrey Skyler. "You know what, you fucking son of a bitch! That's defamation using verbal means, so it was slander! Do you want me to sue you, paid little rat of The Times?" Halos magbaga ang ilong ni Jelsey sa isinigaw niyang 'yon.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Jeffrey ngunit ngumisi muli. "And that was slander too! You claimed that I was a paid rat by The Times even if you have no evidence, Atty. Jelsey." the reporter spat sardonically.

Jelsey just smiled. "That was slander if I stated a false info." She clicked her tongue and looked at Jeffrey intently. "But it wasn't if it was true. I have my evidence."

Hinila ni Jelsey ang aking kamay at mabilis na naglakad papunta sa entrance ng police station. Mabuti na lang din at malapit na kami dahil baka kung ano pang magawa ko sa hambog na reporter na 'yon.

"Spill your so-called evidence, Atty. Jelsey!" Jeffrey even shouted from afar.

Bago pa kami pumasok ni Jelsey sa police station ay tumigil muna ito. She turned around, raised her middle finger at Jeffrey, and shouted, "Fuck off, paid rat!"

Then we both entered to the peaceful police station.

"That was a heck stress!" I exclaimed while putting my cap off my head. Nagpunas ako ng noo para matanggal ang pawis. 'Yong laptop ko lang ang dala ko ngayon at hindi ang buo kong briefcase dahil hindi ko pa napi-print into hard copy ang files na kailangan ko sa Sandoval case. Pagkatanggal ko ng black coat ko ay dumampi agad sa aking balat ang malamig na hangin sa loob.

"I am public defender Atty. Jelsey Santos. Where the fuck is our client, Anthony Sandoval?"

The police officer looks starstruck to the both of us.

"Hi!" I waved my hand and did a friendly gesture. "I'm Atty. Christine Villeza, Sandoval's attorney-at-law. Where can we find him?"

The police officer went silent and his mind was somewhat in the void. Pagkatapos mag-tap ni Jelsey ng kaniyang kamay sa lamesa, napabalik sa wisyo ang pulis at ngumiti sa amin. "N-Nasa interrogation room po."

Dali-dali akong pumunta doon dahil bahagya rin akong nag-aalala kay Anthony. No! Not that I still have feelings for him despite how he fucked up my whole life. Nag-aalala lang ako para sa isang kliyente, na sa kinamalas-malasan ay siya pa. Nothing more, nothing less.

Pagpasok namin sa interrogation room ay lumabas muna ang dalawang pulis na nakabantay kay Sandoval. Pagsara namin ng pinto ay umupo agad kami ni Jelsey sa harap ng nakaposas na si Anthony. "That handcuffs looks good on you." I mocked derisively.

Mukhang hindi naman siya nainis. Natuwa pa nga ata dahil kinausap ko siya. "I thought, my abs and muscles look good on me. Kanina ka pa kasi nakatitig dito."

Halos mamula ako sa kaniyang sinabi nang mapagtanto kong nakatitig talaga ako doon. "Bakit kasi n*******d ka, ah? Hindi ka naman nagmukhang hot d'yan." Natawa si Jelsey sa aking sinabi.

"They handcuffed me while I was peeing. Mabuti nga't pinayagan nila akong ipasok sa pantalon ko ang aking----!"

"Before the talk gets dirtier, I think we shall start this session now." si Jelsey na ang pumigil sa sasabihin pa dapat ni Anthony. Mabuti na lang din at hindi niya nasabi 'yon. Bulgar pa naman ang bibig ng Sandoval na 'to.

Jelsey clapped her hand and officially start interrogating Sandoval.

She seemed very determined in winning this case just like me. Well, makakatulong naman kasi sa law firm nila ang recognition kapag naipanalo namin 'to. "May sinabi ka ba sa mga pulis kanina?"

Anthony smirked. "I said that I have the rights to remain silent and let my lawyers speak for me." he explained. "And they didn't assault me. They gave me a kinda VIP treatment." he laughed.

"Well done." Jelsey acquiesced. "Ngayon, maging tapat ka sa'min. What do you plea?"

"Not guilty." Then he started tapping the table. It's his way of meditating, if I may say, since I knew it already.

Ako naman ngayon ang nagsalita. "If you're guilty, we can recommend a plea bargain agreement. Just plea guilty and your sentences will be reduced."

I looked at him in the eye, trying to know if he's lying or not. "I won't plea guilty because I ain't guilty." he affirmed.

He wasn't lying. And I hope that he won't lie. "A'right. You made things easier for us."

"By the way, did you know that the prosecutors will come?" Anthony asked. Kumunot naman ang noo namin ni Jelsey. "Yeah, prosecutors."

"I heard that right, Sandoval--"

"--call me Anthony, Christine--" he halted my speech.

"But I haven't heard that they'll come. Why? Are you afraid, Sandoval?" emphasizing his surname.

He chuckled and reclined his back to his monoblock chair. "I've heard that the YinYang of the Court Trials will come. I assumed that those were the prosecutors."

Natawa naman ng bahagya si Jelsey sa aking tabi. Maging ako'y napakamot din sa aking noo. "Well, they already came."

Anthony's brows furrowed. "What do you mean, Atty. Jelsey? You two are just my visitors until this hour--!" his voice trailed as if he realized something. "D-Don't tell me. . ."

"Yes, we are." Jelsey confirmed. She offered her hand to Sandoval. "I am your public defender Jelsey Santos. The Yin of the Court Trials."

We can't deny it. That title was already attached to our names. "I'm Atty. Christine Villeza. The Yang of the Court Trials."

Anthony clapped over his mouth looking amazed. "You two really are a big deal, huh? I must be glad that I have you two as my counsel."

I crossed my arms over my chest. Jelsey's brows raised.

"The YinYang of the Court Trials." he trailed off and smiled.