"Defend Me, Attorney." (Law Series #1)

PART NINE: SHE WHO RETURNED

Pile of papers.

Books scattered on the table.

Sound of finger typing something.

Serious faces.

I sighed as I turned the last page of the documents I was reading about Traise's last trial case.

"Are you done reviewing the case?" Newt, the defender, asked me, who was just sitting beside me. We were inside the query room which we often use as if it's our office.

"Not yet," I replied, without looking at him, emotionless.

"Sino nag re-review ng evidence?" the former prosecutor, Tyler, asked.

I don't know, even though he was on our side already, I  call him prosecutor still and my blood boils the same way with the sight of him.

"Ako," Newt said, looking at his papers too.

"I'm done reviewing the testimonies," Tyler said. "I'll summon past witnesses and new witnesses in court. We shall start brainstorming ten minutes from now."

I smirked. "Minamanduhan mo ba kami?"

"What?" he asked, caught off guard. "I'm just making things organized."

I looked at him. "Just to remind you, you are in the defense counsel not the prosecution and whether you like it or not, you're under us."

"Alright," he smiled. "If you say so."

I rolled my eyes. I am not usually this rude, and I'm not actually rude.

Maybe, just for him? I don't know. I developed hatred against him ever since I received perjury. I literally cleaned streets in broad daylight for six straight months!

"Guys I've found out—" the prosecutor.

"CAN YOU PLEASE LET US FINISH FIRST?" I frustratedly exclaimed. "YOU'RE DISTRACTING ME!"

"Why are you treating me that way?"
he reasoned out, he was just on the side of the table and the other side was Traise, reading related cases.

“You're treating me as if I did something bad to your ancestor!"

"JUST STOP TALKING!" I exclaimed. “YOU LOOK LIKE A BUBBLE WRAP I WANNA POP!"

Beat.

Silence.

WAIT.

WHAT DID I JUST SAY?

Tyler tried his best not to laugh, and Newt burst out laughing.

"That sounds so wrong!" Newt said in between his laugh, trying his best not to laugh anymore. "Sounds like something sexual!"

"EXCUSE ME?!" I exclaimed and they all went back to what they were doing, fearing what could I do.

It had been weeks since Tyler joined the team. It became too controversial, of course. Imagine the defense counsel and the prosecution of the same case joined forces to prove an accused's innocence.

Ever since he joined us, some people started doubting if Traise really did it kasi nga 'di ba, bakit kakampihan ng prosecutor noon ang kriminal? It created division in public but there were still more people who condemned him. The verdict was attempted murder but for them it was intentional.

The division in public made the prosecution more triggered to persecute him, though. Halatang  politicians were behind this. Pinag-aralan namin lahat ng juries representatives and more than half, and almost all of them actually were close to the officials before who manipulated the case na mga nasa gobyerno pa rin.