Chapter 16

I WOKE up, from my deep shit and prepared myself for work. The dinner went well, I enjoyed seeing the drunk Devon again.

After driving him home, he opened his eyes and settled himself to his bed. I just made sure that he's fully settled before I leave him. I called my brother to pick me up and he scold me, what a luck.

A nearly 30 years old woman is being scolded by someone half her age. How ironic.

I quickly washed myself and stared at the mirror. I looked like hell, these days I have more nightmares, I cannot hold it anymore. Maybe, I'm reaching my end.

Mabilis akong kumilos at pumasok sa trabaho, tahimik ang lahat ng pumasok ako.

"G-good morning po, Attorney." Bungad ni Oreo.

Nginitian ko siya at nagpatuloy ako sa paglakad. Pumasok sa loob ng opisina ko nang may natagpuan akong tatlong tao ro'n na presentableng naka-upo.

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• The Verdict   Chapter 17

  KINAUMAGAHAN, medyo sumasama pa rin ang pakiramdam ko, pero sinikap kong maligo at pumasok. Napakabait kong trabahador, tularan. "Good morning po, Attorney!" Ngumiti lang ako tsaka dumiretsyo sa pantry para magtimpla ng kape. Sa hindi inaasahan, nalaglag ko 'yung tasa. Nag-cause iyon ng ingay sa loob ng firm. Dahan-dahan akong huminga ng malalim tsaka unti-unting ginalaw ang aking kamay at ang aking mga munting daliri. "Attorney? Okay ka lang po?" Agad na tanong ni Chizkeyk. Nag-angat ako ng tingin at napatingin sa kanila. "Pakitawag na lang si Mang Se, ta's palinis." Ngumiti lang ako sa kanila at dumiretsyo sa opisina ko. Nadatnan ko naman na may kausap ni Iñigo nang makita niya ko agad niyang tinapos ang tawag at tumayo. "Good morning po, Attorney." I just gave a weak smile. "Get me some coffee." Tumango-ta

• The Verdict   Chapter 18

  "STILLno update?" Bungad ko sa kanila habang humuhulas. Nabasa ako nang sinuong ko ang umuulang panahon, hindi ko naman alam na uulan eh, sana nagdala ko ng payong. PAGASA 'nu na? Dati may pa-message sa phone ko ngayon ni hi wala, sawa ka na ren? Bigla namang lumapit sa'kin si Dev tsaka ako binalibutan ng towel, kumuha pa siya ng separate para sa buhok ko. Nagtataka akong napatingin sa lahat na ngayon ay gulat dahil sa kanyang ginawa. Ngumiti ako sa kanya. "Salamat." Tsaka ko inabot 'yung towel at tinignan ang ginagawa nila. "Kakalagnat mo pa lang kahapon, Attorney." Saad niya tsaka iniabot ang isang bottled water and medicine. I laughed. "Opo, Mr. Aircon." Habang kinukusot ang aking buhok nanatili ang aking pansin sa case file, mahihirapan nga kami. Sobrang sungit ng panahon ngayon, ang dating maaliwalas na kalangitan ay napalitan ng kadiliman. Ang dating huni ng mga ibon

• The Verdict   Chapter 19

  "KAIN muna kayo." Napa-angat ako ng ulo, naka-idlip ako?Hindi lang pala ako."Anong oras na?" Tanong ko kay Mancini."Lunch time."TATAYO na sana ko ng may naramdaman akong naka-unan sa'king hita. Nakita ko si Devon, mahimbing ang kanyang tulog.Wala sa sarili akong napangiti, hinawi ang buhok na nakaharang sa kanyang maamong mukha.""Yieee." Rinig ko'ng tukso nila.Agad akong nagising sa realidad, inipon ko ang lahat ng aking lakas tsaka ito ginising."Gising, nangangalay na ko." Reklamo ko.Dahan-dahan naman itong tumayo at nagkusot ng mata. "Good morning, Attorney."He look so lovelyyyy!I cleared my troat and stood up. "Ayan, gising ka na."Naririnig ko pa ang paghikab niya bago ko tumayo at ginising ang ib

• The Verdict   Chapter 20

  AFTER having breakfast, hinatid ko na sila sa kani-kanilang mga bahay. Si Kanluran ay nagpababa sa isang building, hindi ko alam kung ano 'yun. For sure natanggal na naman siya sa luma niyang trabaho kaya sa ibang building ko na naman siya kailangan ihatid.Si Isaiah naman ay hinatid ko sa day care. Sinalubong siya ng kaniyang mga guro at mga kaklase. Ang chaka nila, si Isaiah lang may itsura.I should go out with Isaiah next time, so I can recharge myself."Attorney, pupunta na po kayo sa korte?" Bungad sa'kin ni Iñigo.Mukha siyang sabog, malalim ang eye bags. Pinuyat ko kasi kagabi, ang bad kong boss."Yes, let's go." Saad ko tsaka tumayo.Ilang minuto pa lang ako'ng nakakapasok sa office ko pero aalis na ulit ako. Dumaan muna kami sa opisina ni Lake dahil may sasabihin daw siya sa'kin."What is it?" Tanong ko.Nauna na si Iñigo sa parking, naglakad ako papalapit kay Mancini."Let's go t

• The Verdict   Chapter 21

  MAY naamoy akong pamilyar na amoy dahilan para magising ang diwa ko. "Attorney, nandito na tayo." Napadilat ako ng wala sa oras, nakasandal pala ko kay Dev. Nakabaon pa ang mukha ko sa leeg niya. His gentle face welcomed me, POTA! Sabi ko pahinga lang eh, hindi bagong kahihiyan. "Pasensya na." Agad na sabi ko tsaka umayos ng upo. I'm so disappointed at you, Elara. That's what my mind is screaming at the moment. "It's okay, Attorney." He smiled and pointed outside. "Pumasok kana ro'n, baka matapos na 'yung visiting hours." "Yes, thank you." I said and quickly fix my things. "Should I go with you, Attorney?" I looked at him and examined him. Deep dark circles, a tired face. He looks worn out. I smiled and patted his head. "You rest here." "Is that okay?" Tumango naman ako tsaka dahan-dahan lumabas. Napahawak ako sa ulo ko dahil sobra ang pagkirot nito. Napakapit ako sa

• The Verdict   Chapter 22

  "WE already inject normal saline 200 cc per hour and gave her fever reducer. It's a syncope, she's showing symptoms of serious dehydration. Let's just hydrate her for now. She will feel better after a good sleep." I heard the doctor says. Agad kong pinikit ang mata ko at kunwaring nagtulog-tulugan. "Also, fatigue and fever is not a very good combination. She over worked herself, I suggest that she won't drink coffee for two weeks and eat a proper meal." Dagdag pa nito tsaka tumingin kay Dev. "Ano ba ang nangyari? Bakit siya nagkaganyan?" Tumikhim si Dev bago nagsalita. "Kagagaling lang namin sa detention center. Masyado siyang nai-stress sa

• The Verdict   Chapter 23

  DAHAN-dahan niyang hinawakan ang buhok ko at hinimas at inayos 'yon."Wag kang susuko, Elara. Nandito ko, lumaban ka! 'Di kita pababayaan! Wag mo kong iiwan!"Napangiwi naman ako sa pagdra-drama niya, agad ko siyang binatukan at umupo ng maayos."Tangna ka! Pinatay mo na ko sa isip mo."Nanlaki ang mata niya at napatayo."Kala ko ba critical ka? Ang sabi ni Storm malala ang lagay mo!"Napa-irap naman ako. "Mukha bang malala ang lagay nito?" I asked and raised my middle finger.

• The Verdict   Chapter 24

  INALALAYAN ko siya paakyat ng kwarto niya at kumuha ng isang palanggana ng warm water at bimpo para panlinis sa kaniya. Sobrang gulo rin ng kwarto niya lilinisin ko na lang mamaya lilinisin ko muna 'yung may ari napakabaho niya kasi. Isa-isa kong tinanggal ang mga damit niya ng hawakan niya ang kamay ko. "N-no! M-may gi-girlfriend ak-ako!" Nanlaki naman ang mata ko tsaka nagpameywang sa harap niya. "F-fuck! Magagalit si M-mount sa'kin." Mount? Ta's Lake? Ano 'to Nature?

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• The Verdict   ALTERNATIVE ENDING

  "IS it okay? A nice ending huh?"I smiled and kissed his lips."You should put a small detail here like a shoe print."I nodded. "Yes, since there are no other evidence present. Let's make an obvious one.""Hmm, add also hidden clues."I laughed, turn my chair around and looked at him."How about this idea?"He smiled and caresses my face and hold the pen to draw something."A murder disguise as suicide. How could you think of that?"

• The Verdict   SPECIAL CHAPTER: DEVON SELVANTES

  SHE'S there, I could touch her... She's real. I smiled as soon as I saw Elara smile, I unconsciously smiled as well. The cold dusk sky's wind run through our skin. The breath of fresh air releases the heavy burden of sorrow weighing on my heart. It was reassuring. I stared at Elara. She had pale but glowing complexion, her clothes portrays her character more. Her frail frame that I couldn't easily hold. "Look, the view here is much prettier." I said and smiled. Elara drifted her gaze and chuckled. "Yes, tha

• The Verdict   SPECIAL CHAPTER: ELARA MIRANDA

  I USED to be brimming with passion, love and joy. I was once everyone's favorite, the kind that everybody wants.But that was a long time ago, the time where I'm still me. Where I am special and innocent.But everybody has its own constraints. Nobody can resist the sense of grief, sorrow and suffering.When they reach their fullest pain, everyone changes."ATTORNEY!"Nag-angat ako ng tingin kay Guy na ngayon ay masayang tumatakbo papunta sa'kin hawak ang isang envelope.Tinagilid ko ang aking ulo tsaka siya pinagmasdan.

• The Verdict   Epilogue

  "MY precious grandson. I'm sorry I won't be able to love you anymore." I kneeled and hold my grandmother's hand. "No, Granny. You have loved me enough. If it weren't for Granny, I wouldn't be here now." She smiled and patted my head. "Deviii..." I sniffed and hold back my tears. "No, you have to see me get married. You can still live up to 5 more years." "Don't cry, my precious grandson. Granny is still here, I'm not gonna leave you yet." The only thing left for me is my grandmother, I'm not requesting anything else. Just let me stay with my grandmother who warmly smiled at

• The Verdict   Chapter 60

  "ELARAAAA!" I sighed before sitting in the stool. "Why did you set an appointment again?" Bungad ko. "You're acting like this is your own house again." "That hurts! My friend! I was the one who is with you when you're alone, why are you like this!" He sounds like crying. This is Judge Leonel Gregorio. "When did I do that?" I asked while drinking an alcohol placed in front of me. "Have you been fooling around?" "Do I look like I am?" I asked

• The Verdict   Chapter 59

  "I WAS suicidal. I always experience anxiety, guilt, sadness and pain but here I am still smiling and talking in-front of all of you." I smiled and looked at the camera before looking to the new building in front of me. "I took my life a couple of times but every time I tried, nothing works. Maybe they are right, evil people won't die easily, ey?" They all laughed at me, they are raising their camera's, phones and even news outlets are here. I suddenly became a famous person. "That was my life, I was living because I need to. I'm living myself just to survive no other meanings. I once was lost in the darkess skies yet I made my own light, someone thought me that I'm the brightess moon that ever exist." I sm

• The Verdict   Chapter 58

  "Oh, goodness! I'm not gonna kill myself, get out!" I shouted from the bathroom. "Just making sure, fucker." I heard Aza shouted. I rolled my eyes and started taking a bath. Afterwards, I dry myself and wear the dress. I paired it with my favorite heels. I contacted the roses boutique where Dev usually buy his flowers. I ordered a bunch of them, Dev would love it if his coffin is surrounded with flowers. I went down to the living room with the phone in my hand. Everything is set, I smiled to the workers and request to have all the flowers removed. They followed my request, after a couple of hour the white daffodils arrived. They started designing again. I sat down and looked at my phone. His family, Mother and sisters. They deserve to know. I let out a long sigh before standing up, I dialed his Mom's number. ["IHA! I'm just about to call yo

• The Verdict   Chapter 57

  I RAISED my head when there's someone tapping me. The surrounding is suddenly change, its so strange. I just stared into it, not moving in my position. Moments later, Easton opened the door. Surprised on what he's seeing, he immediately scan the room and looked for me. When he found me, he immediately kneeled down and hold my hand. "Snap out of it." He said. I looked at him, took my hand and looked at him in the eye. "Easton, he's gone. He's gone" I burst out laughing. Easton immediately hugged me. "Shh... shh, stop." "Why didn't I notice?" I hug him back, I couldn't understand myself. I'm supposed to be in despair! I should be crying my eyes balls right now. But, why can't there be a single drop of tears? "He left me all alone. Alone, again." I hit Easton's back. Ambulance.

• The Verdict   Chapter 56

  I SLOWLY opened my eyes. Something doesn't feel right and the bed is cold. I sat down to reach my phone that is ringing. "Yes? Hello?" I answered as I rub my eyes. ["Is this Elara Miranda?"] "Yes, who is this?" I yawned. ["I'm Detective Olten, you are the emergency contact of Devon Selvantes?"] "Yes, I am. Did something hapenned?" I can feel something unpleasant. ["Yes, Mr. Selvants is found dead as of September 1, 6:54 in the morning."]