Prologue

Trigger warning: Contains sensitive words and sexual harassment. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK! 

“Objection, Your honor! The defense  attorney are making baseless accusation.” 

A man stood up with dignity. Walang bakas na takot ang makikita sa kaniyang mukha. 

He was standing among the crowd. Scared with no one. A man who works for truth. 

Sa loob ng apat na sulok ng korte, hindi na mahalaga kung ano ang katotohanan. Kapag may pera kang pambayad para ipaglaban ang kaso mo, panalo ka. Regardless of your crimes. 

In court, only few works for the truth. Because a lot of them became the slave of money. 

“Objection sustained. Defense attorney, change the question.” 

The judge-in-charge declared. 

Nakangising binalingan ng babaeng attorney ang lalaki. A woman in the corner smirked. The total opposite of Attorney Grey Collins, she is no other than Attorney Phoebe Quinn. 

She is a competitive woman. She strived hard to be where she is now. Even protecting the bad guys. 

She became the voice for ruthless men. Won a countless case mostly involved politics. She made their hands clean from murders, killings, and rapes. 

A queen in court. 

An attorney who craves for power and connections. 

A woman who is thirsty for money. 

It is not the truth she want to uncover but to protect her position by any means. 

“Let's proceed to exhibit 3,” she uttered with emphasis. 

“As you can see, witness number one was seen in public with Mayor Dave Guerrero. They were rumored as office couple. They broke up months ago,” she confidently uttered while walking in a slower phase in front of the crowd. Captivating everyone's attention. 

“Objection, Your Honor! The defense attorney is stating something far from the real case,” the plaintiff attorney objected. 

“Objection, Your Honor! My statement is relevant to this case, I'm just stating the relationship between my client and the witness and its possible effect to her statement,” attorney Phoebe answered back. 

The judge waved his gavel three times and slammed it against the wooden sound block. 

Naputol ang mariing titigan ng dalawang tanyag na Attorney ng magkabilang panig. Sa paraan ng pagtitigan nila, mababakas mo ang namumuong tension sa dalawa. They were crashing each other mentally. Fortunately, the judge's gavel silenced them both before the tension flares up. 

“Objection overruled. Defense, continue.” 

Attorney Phoebe gave Attorney Grey a victorious smile. A cunning one.

“As what I said AWHILE AGO...” she said, emphasizing the word 'awhile ago'. Letting Attorney Grey know that she was being interrupted. “Mayor Dave Guerrero and Vice-Mayor Fernandez has this what they called unsettled relationship with each other. Who knows if she is holding grudge against my client. Her statement is bias. I request to remove her from the witness stand, Your Honor!” 

“Request granted. Please summon another witness, Attorney Collins.” 

Attorney Grey Collins in defeat, summoned another witness.

“Please come forward. State your name for the record and your relationship with the victim. Take the oath of affirmation.” 

Witness number two went forward. Taking oath that she will state nothing but the truth. Disclosing information either spilling the truth or bluff may used against her, under the oath she is taking. 

Sexual harassment and malicious messages were the cases they were debating about. 

“Three years na po akong regular government employee while Miss. Elena is just newly hired. I have been through the same phases she was experiencing for these past few months. Lahat kami ay biktima ng sexual harassment ni mayor. Ang matira-matibay. Ang magtatangkang magsumbong ay automatically sibak sa trabaho. We endured a lot. Oras na rin siguro para tuldukan ang ganitong sitwasyon. Miss Elena is a good friend, a loving daughter, and a respected wife. Now that someone is paving way to the truth, I stand with her. We will fight it together.”

Natapos ang statement ng witness. Bumalik ito sa kaniyang inuupuan kanina. Nilingon niya si Elena na prenteng nakaupo katabi si Attorney Collins. Binigyan niya lang ito ng isang tipid na ngiti. Ibinalik rin ni Elena ang ngiti sa kaniyang kaibigan. Kinakabahan man ay hindi siya nawalan ng pag-asang maipanalo ang kaso. She did not trust the justice system. But she fully trusted Attorney Grey Collins, who served as the voice for wounded and helpless souls.

“To support my witness stand, I hereby present to you the photos and messages taken from my client's phone,” Attorney Collins butted in. 

“Let's start from exhibit 1.” The judges flip the pages until they reached the said photo. 

“When exactly did the exchange of messages started?” the right seat judge asked. 

“Fourteenth day of March 2021, Your Honor!” Attorney Collins answered.

The judges nodded their head in unison as they examined the said photo.

Exhibit 1

(March 14, 2021)

Hey

Yes mayor? 

Natapos mo na ba ang pinapagawa ko sa 'yo sa office? 

Yes po. Nailagay ko na po sa ibaba ng locker nyo po. 

Good to hear that. I have some other job for you. 

Ano po 'yon, mayor?

I'm cold.

Po?

Keep me warm. 

Larawan ito ng screenshot conversation sa pagitan ni Mayor Guerrero at ni Miss Elena. 

In a grown-up perspective, it is not just a simple message that holds no meaning at all. 

Napuno ng bulungan ang paligid. Tila hindi makapaniwala sa nasaksihan. Ang tinitingalang mayor ng nasabing komunidad ay may tinatago pa lang dumi. 

Kilala ito bilang magalang at marespeto sa mga kababaihan. 

Who would not be shocked in a sudden revelation?

The judge slammed the gavel to silence the crowd. 

“As you can see, the defendant are initiating something unethical,  something sensual. As a government worker, a mayor to be specific, you should act ethically and accordingly,” Attorney Collins continued. “Let's move to Exhibit 2.” 

Exhibit 2

(March 21, 2021) 

Elena, my wife is not at home now. Come here. Let's have some fun tonight. 

On the next screenshot photo shown in front, mayor Guerrero started acting aggressively towards his employee. 

“Exhibit 2, the defendant is trying to do sexual activity with my client. It is obvious that the mayor has something on her. No grown-up man would invite a woman alone in the house especially when his wife is not around. Next.” 

Despite the murmurs wandering around, Attorney Collins managed to continue. The crowd especially who sided Mayor Dave Guerrero started doubting him. In the first place, they are just siding him according to their own basis without knowing the entire scene of what really happened. 

Exhibit 3

(March 24, 2021) 

*sent photo*

“Exhibit 3, the defendant became more aggressive. He was now sending a naked photo of him. He was giving signal that he wants her in bed, that is for certain,” Attorney Collins explained. 

The photo showed the defendant's naked body. His upper part was exposed as well as his V-line down there. 

Wala itong suot na anumang damit sa taas at kita ang maskulado nitong pangangatawan. 

Kuha ang larawan sa loob ng banyo ng lalaki. Naka-exposed pa ang mataas na parte ng kaniyang kabuuan na para bang inaasar o inaakit ang sinumang kausap. 

Naglandasan ang pawis nito mula sa leeg hanggang sa katawan nito. 

Mas lumakas ang bulungan ng tao sa loob ng apat na sulok ng korte. The judge slammed his gavel once again.

The crowd are still gossiping despite the warning but in a lesser tone. 

Exhibit 4

(March 25, 2021)

*sent photo*

“The next evening, the photo shows the whole naked part of him. It supports the first photo taken.” 

The photo showed the wholeness of the defendent. A photo of him— jerking. 

Kung sa naunang ebidensiya ay kalahati lang ng katawan ng mayor ang nakita, ngayon ay buong kabuuan na nito. 

Walang saplot o ni-anumang harang para takpan man lamang ang maseselang katawan nito. 

He purposely showed his manhood to Miss Elena. 

The picture was slightly censored to cover vulgar photos and to save the crowds' eye. Gayunpaman, kahit medyo pinalabo man ang larawan ay halata at kita pa rin ang kabuuan ng lalaki. 

“That's all, Your Honor!” pagtatapos ni Attorney Collins. From facing the crowd, Attorney Grey Collins turned around and faced the judges. He bowed his head as a sign of respect— his closing gesture. 

“Defense attorney, do you want to cross examine?” the Judge asked. 

“No, Your Honor! I just want to say something, may I?" Attorney Phoebe Quinn responded. 

“You may,” pagpapayag ng punong hukom 

“It has been a month when the incident happened. Why did she allowed it to happen? Why not blocked him? She did not report it either. She also did not do anything about it. Then, does it mean that the plaintiff tolerate my client's deed? Ignoring such thing can give mixed signals. My client will think that the plaintiff like the idea. Right?” tanong niya sa kaniyang kliyente. Tumango lang ito bilang tugon. “As a conclusion, the plaintiff has a fair share why it happened. That's all, Your Honor! I rest my case,” Attorney Quinn asked, obviously defending her client as a part of her job. 

“Objection, Your Honor! Blocking your employer is just a waste of time. They will find ways to contact you since you are working under them. And one more thing, Attorney Phoebe, sexual harassment is sexual harassment. No why's and whatsoever. And one more thing, my client was being threatened by the defendant. He was sending photos of her child when he was at school like someone is monitoring the kid. That was when he decided to temporarily transfer her child to another school for its own sake. I rest my case, then,” Attorney Collins fired back. 

Bullseye! Attorney just drop the bomb. 

Attorney Quinn might be using tricks by cutting off Attorney Collins' arms and feet before targeting the head or doing anything she can do to disprove the plaintiff's claim but she failed to do so. 

Marahang tango lamang ang ibinigay ng tatlong punong hukom sa dalawang abogado. 

They didn't utter a word of agreement nor a word of objection. They simply nodded their head letting the both sides know that all their statements were kept in the judges' mind. They heard the statements of both side and they both made sense. 

“Thirty minutes break. We will be back for the final verdict,” pagpapaalam ng punong hukom. 

Then the three judges found their way out to their office. Malakas na bulungan ang namutawi sa paligid. Animo ay mga nakawalang mababangis na hayop. Kaliwa at kanan ang ingay. Naglalaban kung anong panig ang papanigan. Kung sa umpisa ay halos panig lahat kay mayor, ngayon naman ay tila nagbago ang ihip ng hangin. They are torn between siding only one of the both sides. Lumipat ang karamihan sa panig ni Elena, mga government employees na biktima rin ng sexual harassment. 

Attorney Grey Collins sat confidently on his chair, knowing that this case is his. He will win the case as he always do. 

Attorney Phoebe Quinn on the other hand, sat on the opposite direction where attorney Collins sat at.

Defeated. 

They all know that they lose the case even before the verdict was announced. As expected from the king of court, Attorney Grey Collins.

Smirked.

'I will win against you one of these days', she mentally uttered. 'Wait for me, until then'. Pagpapatuloy nito habang nakatitig pa rin kay attorney Collins. 

Lumipas ang ilang minuto, humupa na rin ang ingay sa loob ng apat na sulok ng korte. Naghihintay sa pagsabog ng resulta. After this day, a lot of things will change. 

Limang minuto pa ang hinintay nila bago dumating ang tatlong punong hukom. 

Tuluyan ng bumukas ang pintuan ng korte. Tatlong magagaling na judges ang naglalakad papasok. Dala-dala ang resulta ng kaso matapos ang ilang oras ng pagdedebate. 

They sat on their seat mightily. 

“The court will now announce the final verdict,” the left seat judge announced. 

Biglang umayos ng upo ang mga tao. Naghihintay kung ano ang hatol na ibibigay ng mga judges. The case is a sure win. Hinihintay nalang ang pag aanunsiyo nito. 

Will the sexual harassment that constantly happens in the government office finally reached its end? 

Tuluyan na nga ba itong matutuldukan? 

A lot of crimes are still happening for its not fully recognized and cutted off. Mga krimeng hindi pa tuluyang natatapos at natutuldukan. Oras na nga ba para tuluyang marinig ang hinaing ng mamamayan? 

“The defendant are found guilty. Under the Republic Act 7877 also known as 'The Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995', he will be put in jail for 6 months, 20,000.00 pesos penalty and a dismissal for service.” 

The judge slammed the gavel three times for the final verdict. 

“Case closed. All rise.” 

Nagsitayuan ang mga tao bilang pagbibigay-galang. 

Saya at galak ang makikita sa mukha ng biktima. Sa wakas ay nabigyang hustisya na rin ang pambabastos ng kanilang sariling mayor ng lungsod. 

Tila ba nanghina ang mga tihod ni Miss Elena ng maranig ang hatol ng hukuman. She cannit still grasped the situation. Imagine, they just won their case! 

“Maraming salamat, Attorney Grey Collins. We owe you a lot.” 

Tipid na tango lang ang tinugon ni Attorney Collins, the plaintiff's attorney. 

Kinamayan niya lang ito at lumakad na papalabas. 

Nasa kalagitnaan siya ng paglalakad ng bigla siyang harangin ni Attorney Phoebe. 

“Good job, Attorney Grey! You are indeed a good rival in court,” sarkastikong saad ni attorney Phoebe Quinn. 

“It is Attorney Collins for you, Attorney Quinn. Know your place,” tiim-bagang tugon naman ni Attorney Grey Collins. 

He don't wanna be called using his first name. Kasi para sa kaniya, it's unethical inside his workplace. He is not just an ordinary attorney to be addressed like that. Besides, they are not that close to begin with. 

“Ow, my bad!” walang bakas na pagsisising saad ni Attorney Phoebe. “Sorry Attorney COLLINS for my informality speech. Anyway, did you received a lot of money from the plaintiff, ATTORNEY?” she provoked. 

“Stop sneezing your nose in someone's business, Attorney Quinn. Even if they gave me millions or even billions amount of money to win this case, you have nothing to do with it. Stop provoking me, you will not like it if I will fight back... Now, move out of my way,” mahabang litanya nito. 

“Chill. We are not yet done. I will be your greatest downfall,” agarang sagot ni Attorney Phoebe na puno ng kumpiyansa. 

“Are you declaring war against me... just now?” nanliit na matang tanong ni Attorney Collins. Bahagyang pang kumunot ang noo nito sa kausap. Hindi niya nagustuhan ang pagiging pakialamera nito. 

“A-huh!” she nodded, confirming what Attorney Collins asked. Bahagya pang nakataas ang sulok ng kaniyang labi na para bang natutuwa sa reaksiyon ng kaharap.

“Okay then, try your luck. Just a piece of advice, your tactics and strategies no longer works on me. Change your way,” he encouraged. “I will remember this. See you in our next case,” bored na sagot ni Attorney Collins sa kausap. 

Just then, Attorney Grey Collins started walking away. 

Attorney Phoebe Quinn smiled like she won a lottery. She knew that defeating attorney Grey Collins is just a waste of time. She just want to provoked him, no one can defeat him. Beside of his intimading aura, he is a man of justice. A man who cannot be moved even in exchange of any wealth. 

A man who is badly needed by this fucked up society. Ang taong may paninidigan. Walang kinikilala at walang sinasanto. A man who punished people according to the crimes they committed in the name of law. 

She hates his guts. She hates his principle sa kaisipang masyado lamang itong idealistic. Thinking that he can change the world with his goddamn principles. 

The world itself is full of wicked people, and the only way to survive is to be one of them. 

He got the power and enough authority and he can do whatever he pleases. 

But despite having all of those, he still humble and so down to earth. 

Exactly, why she hates him that much. His trying to change the world! And she don't like the idea. 

He is too good to be true. 

But despite the fact that he hates him to the core, she is still proud of him. She cannot denied the fact that she is proud of him. 

In our next case. 

In our next case. 

In our next case. 

Mga katagang paulit-ulit na bumabalik sa isipan ni Attorney Phoebe Quinn. 

“In our next case. See you then, Attorney Grey Collins.” she mentally uttered and started walking away in a different direction.