The Magnificent Women of Rafael Silvestre

Lie #7: Xiomara Imperial

"XIOMARA, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US IN THIS SUCH SHORT NOTICE."

"No worries, Delphi," ani Xiomara. "So, Mrs. Silvestre. What can I do for you?"

And we have another lady in the scene. Siya si Xiomara Imperial, one of the top lawyers in the country. Rafael and she have met way back and I'm sure they have some not-so-good past dahil sa mga laban nilang hindi makakalimutan ng mga tao: a rape case of a 24-year-old girl versus a 54-year-old businessman. To cut the story short, pinalabas sa kaso na nagkaroon ng relasyon ang mga ito and there was a consensus between the two. The angle against the girl, which became the more prominent issue, was the embezzlement. Ang ending, money ruled the world and humanity was just a trivial element of entertainment.

It was a good fight. Nanalo si Rafael sa kaso, pero nakisimpatya ang mga tao kay Xiomara. As if Rafael cared. Milyon-milyon naman ang nakubra niya.

"Xiomara Imperial," wika ko, saka kinamayan ang abogada. "Sa totoo lang, itong si Delphi lang naman ang namilit. I don't want to file a case against my husband."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Xiomara. "Rafael Silvestre?"

"He's been cheating on me," I admitted.

"I knew that asshole would do no good," iritableng sabi ni Xiomara.

I chuckled sarcastically. "I'm still the wife, you know? I know, matindi ang galit mo sa asawa ko dahil sa tinalo ka niya sa korte. Pero—"

"You're offended dahil tinawag ko siyang asshole? Oh, should I say sorry?" putol ni Xiomara.

I don't know what to feel, actually. Matutuwa ba ako na nilait nito ang asawa kong taksil? O magagalit dahil nilait nito ang mahal ko?

"Bottom line, I'm saving your ass, Lolli," singit ni Delphi. "I don't want you suffering from this marriage. Ikaw na lang ang mapilit na ayusin ito."

"Because this is all I have!" giit ko.

Rafael was the one who pushed me to my limits. Sa studies, sa career, sa buhay. I couldn't imagine how far I'll go kapag nawala siya sa buhay ko.

"Girl, you can have everything! Everything! May career ka, may pera ka. Kaya mong magkaroon ng buhay na kaiinggitan ng iba," diin ni Delphi.

Siguro nga, I've been believing until now the sanctity of marriage. Nangako ako kay Rafael sa harap ng mata ng Diyos na siya lang ang iibigin ko. Yeah, I may be a slut of my own, but I still do have values.

Tumayo si Xiomara mula sa kinauupuan nito. "I'm really happy and willing to represent you in this case, Mrs. Silvestre."

"Personalan ba ito, Miss Imperial?" tanong ko.

She did a non-committal act. "For you, it is. This is your life."

"And defeating my husband would be the greatest joy you'll ever have, I surmise?"

Kunwa'y nag-isip si Xiomara. "Well, technically, in the sense na maipanalo ko ang kasong ito, I would say. Someone would represent your husband, and he's not really the one I'm gonna crush."

"Pero kalaban mo pa rin ang asawa ko sa trial."

Lumuhod si Xiomara sa harapan ko at hinawakan ang mga kamay ko."The joys of battling someone isn't really found in who you are fighting against. It's how you win that fight. Sa totoo lang, Mr. Silvestre gave me the most unforgettable fight in my life. And I'd be dying happily if I had that extreme battle again. Matalino ang asawa mo. Marami siyang kayang gawin na hindi naiisip ng isang normal na abogado. Iyon ang nakaka-challenge sa kanya. At bilang isang babae, I felt like I had to represent all the women in this world, na ma-outsmart ko siya in any way I can. Come on, embezzlement over rape?"

Tumayo si Xiomara, na tila naging emosyonal na. Her voice was cracking already. "I rarely get emotional, pero ang bigat ng dinadala ko noong araw na 'yon. Parang ang nangyari, dahil sa akin, lahat ng mga rape victim sa mundong ito, tinapakan ang karapatan nila na maipaglaban. I swore to God that I'd fight for the right of every woman in this planet, after that case. At sa iyo, na dearly involved sa lalaking iyon, I would do everything, as a woman, to win this. So, please allow me to represent you."

Tumayo ako sa kinauupuan ko at nakipagkamay kay Xiomara. "Please give me time to think about it. Hindi madaling tumugon sa request mo. More than twelve years kong nakasama si Rafael sa buhay at hindi madaling itapon ang lahat ng iyon just because of our failing marriage."

"I understand," tumungo-tungong tugon ni Xiomara.

"We'll reach out to you soon, Xiomara," sabi ni Delphi.

"Thank you for inviting me, Delphi," anito kay Delphi, saka lumingon sa akin. "Think about it, Lolita. And I do hope you leave him for good."

After Xiomara left the house, tinalakan na naman ako ni Delphi.

"Naku, Lolita. 'Wag mo akong paaandaran na mahal mo si Rafael, ha. That's not the way it should be."

Bumuntong-hininga na lang ako. "Delphi, I really appreciate this. You know, staying beside me, even bringing a top lawyer to fix this legally. Ever since we met, you always have me back. And I thank you for that."

"Dahil ayokong nasasaktan ka. I can tell you've suffered enough in this relationship. New York days pa natin, alam ko na ang hirap mo. Habang nagma-Master's ka sa NYU, nagba-barista ka sa Starbucks, nag-e-edit ka for a local newspaper ng mga news article, and even being a librarian in a community college library. You've sacrificed a lot. And I want you to rest. Let your heart rest. Leave Rafael. Tantanan mo na ang ilusyong magkakaayos pa kayo. Ako ang nahihirapan sa 'yo, eh. Sa pagkamartir mo. Wala na talaga sa lugar, eh."

"Wala naman yatang martir ang nasa katinuan ang pag-iisip," I sadly said. Oo, martir na nga talaga ako. Surprisingly, unti-unting nawawala ang sense of logic ko. Where have gone all my philosophies?

It's the irony of it all.