Chapter 91
Jeisen Jee POV
Gareth deserve someone better.
Hindi kagaya ko na maraming issues.
Napatingin si Amil kay Gareth saglit.
"Tss. If only he knows how lucky he is to have Gift. The brainiac Attorney Gift and the country's Philippine Am---"
"Oh! I'm really sorry, Attorney Amil. Medyo natagalan ako. I was with Attorney Debbie Labajo. May papeles lang akong inabot and we were also talking about Attorney Gift. Ah..."
Tumigil ito sa pagsasalita ng mapansin kami. May tinitingnan kasi 'to sa bag niya.
"My bad," napatutup ito sa labi niya.
"No, it's okey Attorney," salita ni Amil. Tumayo ito at may binulong sa kanya.
Nanlalaking mata itong napapatingin sa 'kin. Tumango-tango at lunok pa.
"I-I didn't know," sabi niya at inabot agad ang kamay sa 'kin. Tumayo ako at tinanggap ito. "I'm sorry, pañera. I really don't know that it's you. Ito pala ang sinasabi sa 'kin ni Amil. God law! You are real. Ang bata mo pa pala. I was thinking you were like our age. But nevermind about that. Haha! Age is just a number. Right? And you are with..."
"I'm Gareth Liu Fortel, attorney ," seryosong pakilala ni Gareth dito at nakipagkamay. "I heard our company and family lawyer's name. I'm the acting VP of the Fortel Group of Companies. I'm sure you are familiar with El Grande Mall and El Grande chain of Hotels. I'm with her. My Jeisen."
Psh! Kung makipagkilala akala mo nasa business meeting ito. Ang pormal.
"God law! Of course I know you, Mr. Fortel," sabi niya at ngumiti sa 'min. "Nagtaka lang ako. But, oh ok. I got it. Shocks! Power couple! Genius genes."
"Ah, hello?" agaw atensyon sa 'min ni Eanela. "Pwede naman kayong umupo. I'll just call the waiter for your order, Attorney Bernal. Ano pong gusto niyo?"
"I'm not yet hungry, dear Eanela," sagot nito at umupo na kami. "Coffee well do."
Inusog uli ako ni Gareth sa tabi niya.
"Jeisen," bulong niya. "Kanina ko pa naririnig 'yang pañera. You are not even a lawyer to be called as that. Aish! Studyante ka palang. And who's Gift? Attorney Gift that they are talking?"
Nagkibit balikat ako.
If only I can tell you about me, Gareth.
"Ah, Attorney Gift," salita ni Atty. Bernal.
Mariin akong napapikit.
Basta 'pag mga lawyers na ang kasama mo. Ang dadaldal. Kagaya nitong dalawa.
Ang dami ko rin kasing lihim.
"As a was saying, Attorney Bernal," si Amil na ang nagsalita. "We can trust Gift for this case. You know she's the mighty person that we can front to Attorney Zarte. We can use her expertise from Criminal to Civil Law. Ako, limited lang focus ko. And just for a fair trade, pañera. May ipapakiusap din siya sa 'yo."
Nagtatakang tiningnan naman ako ni Attorney Bernal. Hindi pa pala lahat ng nasa Law Firm namin ang nasabihan nito.
I know Christineangela will not just give way her case to some random lawyers.
We are talking about legal matters and not a simple game that needs substitution just because you are tired playing it.
It's an insult to her profession.
"What's the catch then?" tanong niya. "Amil, I know Gift don't do oral argument in court. She's been hiding us. The Bireo Law Firm is broken and the Gift for Justices are not united. Esmael, that hard headed dude is an ass in court. How can she handle it? Can she win an argument against him? We are barking a big tree. I am telling you. And I doubt she can take care of this case. Don't get me wrong ha. I've been in this field for quite long. I just have an image to maintain. God law!"
Lihim akong napakuyom ng kamao.
Iba ata ang pagkaintindi nito.
Pwede ring minamaliit niya si Gift.
She's still frank as always. Isa sa maganda at hindi magandang katangian ng isang abogado.
"Annoying people can be charged for being annoying, Attorney Bernal," seryoso kong salita at sumandig ng maayos sa upuan. "You know, it's a crime, right?"
"God law! Oo naman," agad na sagot nito. "We condemned Unjust Vexation."
"I remember that," salita ni Attorney Amil. "The act of annoying someone is called unjust vexation and considered a form of light coercion punishable under Article 287 of the Revised Penal Code. It is punishable by imprisonment ranging from 1 day to 30 days or a fine of 5 pesos to 200 pesos. Kung pwede ko lang kasuhan ang kapitbahay namin na kung makapag karaoke, akala mo wala ng bukas. But, it's just a shallow crime though. I'm not always at home, so I just let them. Ba't mo nasabi 'yan, J-Jeisen?"
Kinuha ko ang wallet ni Gareth.
Ang wallet niyang maswerte.
"Pahiram ng 200," bulong ko sa kanya.
Hindi ko na hinintay itong sumagot.
Sinamaan niya naman akong tingin.
"The case that we are talking is not all about Criminal Law that needs savage court hearings and savage oral arguments, Attorney," sabi ko at pinaglaruan ang malutong na 200 pesos na papel sa daliri. "We are talking about the Property Law. Documents. Legal documents. Proofs. Research and understanding about the case."
Tumigil ako sa pagsasalita at tiningnan ang ekspresyon ng mukha ni Atty. Bernal.
Nagtataka ito.
"Being a lawyer doesn't need to become badass during cross examination because not all lawyers are into Argumentum Ad Hominem in court. Nakalimutan mo ata, Atty. Bernal na may spesyalisasyon ang pagiging tagapagtanggol. Kanya-kanyang paraan para manalo. And lawyers have a wide array of jobs. Masyado ka naman atang bilib sa sarili mo para maliitin ang kakayanan ng iba. Bakit kaya? Dahil ba isa ka na sa pinaka magaling na abogada ng bansa? Ha? Attorney Bernal? You know, I was even thinking you were doing great as a lawyer. Ibang rulings ata ang naiisip mo. Even Attorney Amil understand what I'm trying to say. Nagets mo rin kaya?"
"H-Hala! Ba't nadamay ako, pañera?"
Damay-damay na 'to, Amil.
I maintained my poker face.
Ang itsura ni Attorney Bernal parang 'di na maipinta. Namumula na kasi 'to.
Are you triggered now, Attorney?
"I think you are still at the door of your being a Criminal Defense Lawyer or maybe you want a recognition from the League of Defenders about your greatness in all field of law. Well, to be honest. I'm not impressed in you Attorney Christineangela Bernal."
Tumawa ako ng mapang-asar.
"Sa edad mong 'yan. 'Yan palang narating mo? How pathetic. Very pathetic."
