I open the door and came inside this law firm office. They stop doing something and took a glance at me. Are they surprised that I came today?
"Attorney!" I walk towards my table when Attorney Santos suddenly stops me from going there. 'Problema into?'
"What the hell?! Hindi mo sinsagot ang lahat ng text at tawag ko sayo! How are you? Are you fine? How about that-" mabilis kong tinakpan ang bibig niya dahil sa ingay niya. Tch. Ang aga aga tumatalak ang isang ito.
"Let's just talk later. Where is the kid?" I said calmly. It's been two days since I left here. Isang araw lamang ako nanatili sa kamang iyon at muling binantayan ang lagay ni Calvin. His condition isn't good and that leukemia gets him tired easily. I want to stay longer but the trial is in the process now. We just have more or less 1 week to go for the first trial and I can't give this up because of that stupid bastard playing around. If I lose this trial there is a possibility that everyone's life would be in danger. Calvin might in danger too if they found out that I have a brother. No one knows I have Calvin even with this talkative attorney in my side trying to know what exactly happened to me after that night. September is strong enough and has been experienced that accidentally. Yeah, I knew myself and I have limitations too but September is stronger than what they think.
I seated down in the chair and placed my favorite Piccolo latte coffee in the side corner of a customize playground minature that my brother bought for me as a Christmas present. I took a glance at it then before placing my small pouch on the other side.
"Sabihin mo kay tanda na nandirito na ako, we are going to have a small talk before leaving." sabi ko pa bago muling tiningnan ang mga bagong papeles na nasa aking mesa.
"Alam mo bang dalawang araw akong nagbantay at wala manlang tulog kakaantay sayo? Sana naman di ba kahit isang simpleng text na 'okay lang ako. I will be back after two days' Isang beses ka lang nagtext tapos wala na? Can you see this face?! I have a big eyebags!" Tch. Hindi ba napapagod ang bunganga ng isang ito? Kanina pa siya dada ng dada, nakakainis na ang ingay niya.
"Can you please shut up your mouth? Sabihin mo na lang na narito na ako kung ayaw mong mag isang lumabas ngayon." nakakunot at naiinis ko namang saad sa kaniya ngunit saglit siyang natigilan bago ngumiti. Mas lalo namang napakunot ang aking noo dahil sa kanyang inasta sa akin. What the hell? Anong nakakatawa sa sinabi ko?
"Okay." He said before leaving a gaze on me then go. May sapak ba ang isang iyon?
Napailing na lamang ako at muling tinignan ang mga files na kaylangan ko.
"Attorney Jason where did you found this?" tinaas ko ang papel na nakita ko at ipinakita iyon sa kapwa ko attorney na inutusan ko para sa properties ng mga Bautista. Yesterday I need to called my co-attorney with the files I needed because I need to make this trial finished as soon as possible. Magaling at mabilis maghanap ng mga impormasyon si Attorney Jason at hindi nga ako nagkamali dahil mabilis niyang nakita iyon. Bautista family is very private with there lives including the senator who passed away. This properties may help the case for the first trial before hitting a big fish inside of a box.
"I have my ways like you Attorney." Isa yun ang hinangaan ko sa kaniya. I just remember when he said he wants to be greater than me and I guess this is his first step before reaching my range. I just gave him a smile and a thumbs-up before I stand ready to go with Tanda's office. I open the door and lock it to avoid a necessary interruption of the other attorneys outside.
"Oh you're here." sabi yan ni tanda bago ko inikot ang aking paningin para hanapin ang batang iyon. This kid reminds me of Calvin and I can't loose him up too. He trust me more than I think and gave him a favor. Muntik na akong madisgrasya ng malala dahil sa kasong ito kaya hindi ko na ito pwedeng pakawalan pa. No matter what happen, I won't stop helping this kid until that bastard go in jail. Kailangan kong makaganti sa saket ng paghampas sa akin ng mga anino niya sa kalsada. He needs to pay me a debt.
"Buti naman at naisipan mong magpakita at nahihirapan na din akong lumabas basta basta. Nabanggit sa akin ni Hector ang nangyare sa iyo noong nakaraan. Ayos ka na ba?" This old man sounds concern huh? He brought me this kind of damn case!
"Tch. You knew who I am and I think you've been thinking twice before giving me this case right? Because of that, you'll need to pay me to double." I casually said then put a look with the kid beside of him.
"How was this environment? Now tell me, should I give up or continue?" I said that make him surprise what I'd said.
"Hindi ako susuko attorney! I will stay here until my father goes out of jail!" He said determinedly.
"Oh, okay? I think we need to bring an armored suit before proceeding in a war." Sumandal ako sa sofa na aking kinauupuan. I need more energy for this day.
"Ano nang plano attorney? May nabago ba? Tell us your plans." Tch. Mainipin talaga itong si Hector.
"Get it up. Pupunta tayo sa apartment nila." After resting my back for a while, I decided. we need to finish the first move for this day.
"Wala pa tayong address. Bata anong address ng apartment niyo?" nagsimula na akong maglakad palapit sa pinto ng habang si Hector naman ayun at nagtatanong pa sa bata.
" I already have it. Bilisan mo kung ayaw mong maiwan. Tanda, tatawag ako mamaya." I said before leaving.
Muli akong bumalik sa aking mesa at kinuha ang envelope kasama ang sisi at wallet. Nauna na rin akong lumabas sa opisina.
"Hoy sandali!" I heard his voice again. Tch. So childish. Kaya naman binagalan ko na lamang ang aking paglalakad para iaabot sa kaniya ang envelope na dala ko.
This will be a stressful day for me.
"Anong gagawin ko dito?" We go down stairs.
"Go to your car I am just in your back." I said before moving quickly down stairs too. Mabilis naman kameng nakarating sa parking lot at pinatunog ang aking sasakyan.
"Hoy sandali! Ano yan? Na saan ang kotse mo? Sa sasakyan ko na lang ikaw sumakay!" This man isn't really thinking.
"Sumakay ka na sa sasakyan mo dahil baka nasa likod mo na ang kalaban hindi mo pa nakikita." He quickly go inside of his car, he maybe scared from what I said. Tch. Bading.
Sumakay na ako sa aking motor at pinaandar iyon. Nasira ang mamahalin kong sasakyan dahil sa mga pesteng alagad ng mga anino ng kalaban. I have no choice but to use this. I am actually more comfortable with this bike. We are going to act like a private investigator or something and find some evidence. Pinaandar ko na ang aking motor at huminto sa tabi ng sasakyan ni Attorney Santos.
Binusinahan ko siya at kaniya naman niyang binuksan ang bintana niya.
“Look at the envelope nandiyan ang address, bilisan mo at ma-una ka na. I will follow you behind.” I said then arranged my hair before placing my black helmet. Hindi na nagtagal at bumusina na rin siya hudyat na lalabas na siya ng parking space. We need to be careful and It is good that we have a separate vehicle in case of emergency.
We arrived almost an hour, Ifound out a peach and modern type of apartment that I saw in the files earlier. It looks like no one dares to rent with those units. Kitang kita na din ang kalumaan nito.
“Did you do what I said to you two days ago? How about the teachers? Are they agreed?” Pinapaikot ko ang aking susi sa aking daliri habang nagsasalita at nakatingin sa kabuuan ng apartment na ito. Hindi siya kumibo kaya naman hindi ko maiwasang tumingin sa kanyang direksyon malapit sa akin.
“Tch. Baket bigla kang tumahimik? Hindi mo ba ginawa ang pinagagawa ko sayo?” nagtatanong at nagtataka ko siyang tinititigan ngunit hindi katulad kanina ay napakaseryoso ng ayos ng mukha nito.
“I did. You don’t have to worry.” He just simply said. Nauna na siya sa paglalakad papasok sa apartment na iyon. Tahimik ang paligid at kung tutuusin ay para na itong inabandona. Sumunod na lamang ako sa kaniya at nagtataka sa biglaang pagbabago ng mood niya. Tch. Problema nito?
“What’s the matter? Did you just acting right now?” I said when we should go upstairs. The first floor of the building is for the parking space. This building has ten units until the 3rd floor.
“Tss. Wala. Mag ingat ka at wag kang pupunta kung saan saan baka hindi natin alam may nag aabang na pala sa atin dito. Hindi gagaling yang sugat mo ng dalawang araw lang.” Sabi niya ng huminto at pakatitigan ako. Hindi pa rin pala tapos yang pangangamusta niya sa akin.
“I can protect myself. Ikaw ang mag ingat dahil walang papalit na ibang Hector sa mundo para sayo.” I said looking at him too. I said a joke but he didn’t even laugh. Tch. 'Ganun ba talaga siya kaseryoso? May mood swings ba siya?'
“Tss. Tara na nga at dito ka lang sa tabi ko. Baka paglingon ko sayo wala ka na.” Hinila niya naman ako palapit sa kaniya at nag umpisa muling maglakad papataas. Muntik pa aking madapa dahil sa kaniyang paghila.
What the hell?!
Ang laki talaga ng sapak ng isang ito. Hindi na lang ako kumibo sapagkat baka masira pa ang laman ng isip ko. Ito ang unang beses na nakita ko siyang ganito ka seryoso kaya sobra naman ang paninibago ko sa kaniya. Gusto kong tanungin siya kung ano ang kaniyang problema ngunit mayroon akong naramdamang kaba sa kung ano ang kaniyang sasabihin. Hindi ko alam kung sa tama ba ng aking sugat ang dahil kung baket ako nakakaramdam ng ganito sapagkat simula ng magkasaket ako ay para bang hindi na normal ang nasa paligid ko. I hate what I am thinking right now.
‘September! This isn’t the right time for that weird thoughts!  Focus on the case!'