THE ring bell three times before the students of Saint Carmel High School running towards to their dark brown school gate. In the end room of Clarity Building there is only a girl left putting her things inside on her bag.
Nilibot niya muna ang kaniyang mga mata sa loob ng silid-aralan na para bang ito ay kaniyang mami-miss at itinatak sa isipan na hindi niya ito makakalimutan. Bawat arko at pigura ng mga upuan, pisara, at pintuan ay kaniyang minamasdan at hinahawakan. Mga makukulay na mga papel na nakapaskil sa pader bilang dekorasyon ay kaniyang tinititigan na para bang hinihigop niya ang kaniya-kaniya nitong kagandahan.
Pinikit niya ang kaniyang mata at inaamoy ang mga papel at ang loob ng silid-aralan nang biglang...
"May pa amoy-amoy ka pa diyan para namang gustong mong mag-aral." Bumulwak pa ito ng tawanan sa mga kaibigan ng babaeng nagsalita na nasa labas ng pinakahuling silid-aralan ng gusali.
"Tsk, mga bully." Binalewala nalang nito ang mga nagtawanan at hinakbang na ang mga paa upang lumabas.
"Anong kadramahan na naman ang pinaggagawa mo, Gwy?"
"Parang ga-graduate ka sa mga inaksyon mo ah HAHAHAHA."
"Para naman hindi kayo nasanay. Pupusta ako nang limang piso nag i-imagine yan na may paro-parong lumilipad tapos may pa slow mo effect pa!"
"Bakit limang piso lang?"
"Wala akong budget. Tipid-tipid muna tayo ngayon. Bakit? May budget ka ba?" Sunod-sunod nitong sambit at syempre hindi nila nakaligtan na maghalakhakan.
"The hell hindi ba pwedeng mag emo ako sa sarili kong room? Nakakamiss kaya." Gwyneth, the girl who left in the classroom teased by her friends, pout.
"Miss? Loka ka! 3 weeks lang bakasyon natin, hoyy! Tsaka kulang pa 'yon. Ano akala mo ga-graduate kana tapos hindi kana makakabalik?" Celquinne stated the fact, it's their Christmas vacation but Gwyneth over reacted. Gwyneth acted like she forgot, "Ohmygollyy!! I forgot HEHEHE."
"Ewan ko sayo, Gwy." Sambit na lang nilang apat.
The five girls started walking through the hallway of their school. After an hour, five Grade 10 students formed a circle and started sharing their ideas on how they spent their 3 weeks of Christmas vacation. In the short hand of six and long hand of 8 of the clock, they are already apart and go home.
TACARI MEDICAL CENTER, OPERATING ROOM
Mixed with pressure and duration of time Doctor Surgeon Rheign Bella Muñoz ran quickly in the OR room to save life, again. This is her routine and life for everyday. Her job is not that easy not only because of the life of the patient but also for the remaining people hoping and pleading for the safety of their loved ones.
Everything was okay not until the remodel of the board of directors of the hospital occurred where she belonged and that time her life changed too.
When she passes by the family of the patient, their tears are fake. She knew it because she was like that before.
"Doc, the equipments are all set." Bungad kaagad ng kapwa niya doctor na kasabay niya sa operasyon pagpasok palang niya sa Operating Room, pagkatapos niyang suotin ang mga Personal Protective Equipment.
"Okay, thank you. Remember, this is for the sake of the patient's life, not ours." Paggagabay niya sa mga taong nasa loob ng kwartong iyon. Sumang-ayon naman ang mga ito at nagsimula na.
COURTROOM,
CIRRI, METEO
Murmuring of the people in the four sides room, guarded by more than four personnel and crew of the justice filled the justice courtroom. On both opposite sides, there were 2 persons - the one who had studied the law and the victim or the suspect.
The person on the front, wearing black coat that indicates their position, stated his decision depending on the evidence shown.
"Will the defendant please stand," the defendant stood obediently along with his lawyer.
"You may read the verdict." The guy faced everyone in the court, wearing his black gown and brown varnished gavel on his right side of the table to command the clerk of the court.
As the judge asked him, the clerk of the court stood and faced the audience and released the judgement.
"As the charges against Mr. Sacol, your honor, we find as follows: Mr. Ghil Sacol is not guilty for the crime of Frustrated Murder."
People on the left side facing the bench of the judge happily clasped their hands repeatedly as a sign that they are winning the case.
Celquinne doesn't bother to have a wide smile to his client who committed a crime. Before the judge went inside to their respective path hall, he greeted "Thank you everyone." and the clerk of the court adjourned the trial, everybody rises and she bow herself shows respect in a three pulses she faces against his client.
She knows everything is not right but the defendant group lacks to show their support and evidence to protect their client.
Nang magkatagpo ang kulay itim na mga mata nila sa babaeng biktima ay agad siyang malungkot na ngumiti hindi dahil nagpapakitang tao o nagmamalinis dahil sa resulta ngunit ang dahilan nito ay ang hindi pagkamit ng hustisya ng babae sa sinapit nito.
Even she knows the real event she can't stand in the court and revealing the truth events in the part of the victim while she was a lawyer of a perpetrator, it should be the persecution responsibilities. She knows she did her best but she limit herself and said the real statements only. May pagkakataon na gusto niyang sugurin ang nasa kabilang panig ngunit hindi niya kaya dahil sa responsibilidad na dinadala niya para sa kaniyang kliyente.
Napaisip na lamang siya dahil sa kanilang nakita. 'The judge and the prosecution's side talk each other before the trial. There is something happen between them.' Alam niyang may nangyari sa pagitan ng dalawang panig ngunit hindi niya masisiguro kung ano ’yon lalo na't wala siyang katibayan at ebedensiya.
"You didn't call 'Princess of the Court' for nothing Celquinne Perez." Imbis na pakikipagkamay, ang kaniyang ginawa ay nirolyo niya ang mga mata pataas sa kaniyang kaharap na kliyente na hindi naman talaga karapat-dapat na maging malaya sa kabila ng kaniyang nagawa.
'Everything sucks outside or inside of the court.' nasabi niya sa kaniyang isipan.
RODRIGUEZ COMPANY,
CIRRI METEO
Minutes later, Harika Kheim Rodriguez stepped forward inside towards the blue ceiling-ground door that makes the people wearing suits stand up and welcome her.
Wearing the pink blouse top and brown trouser paired with white designer boots makes her stunned in the room, she frequently asks the presenter when she is already sitting on her swivel chair.
Everything was in mess na dapat nila agad solusyunan.
"That is the only plan that your team produce? Ilan ba kayo? Dalawa lang? I will dismissed this again for wasting my time. Sa susunod gusto kong makakita ng maraming paraan to solve this. Kung wala then all of you resign. I'll wait the drafts this afternoon." Before leaving, the heels of her boots create sound to the floor. Kahit ingay lang sa sapatos niya ay kinakatakutan na ng kaniyang mga empleyado.
Sinundan ng tingin ang kaniyang pag-alis kasabay ang kaniyang secretary na may ng dalang clipboard ng mga tao na nasa loob ng kwartong iyon bago sila nagsalita at nag-uusap ukol sa pinag-usapan nila kanina.
Nagsalita ang lalaking nasa presentation area na katabi lamang ng malaking screen sa harapan. "Nahihibang na ba siya? Almost 3 days na kaming walang tulog tapos hindi niya lang naman nagawang tingnan ang kalahati ng paper report namin ni hindi pa nga niya narinig ang buong detalye."
Harika sipped her green tea when she reached in her office. Leaning on the comfortable black swivel chair, she get the small black piece on her ear and closed her paired brown eyes. Hindi inaakala ng lalaki na nagsalita kanina na pinaringgan siya ng kanilang CEO gamit ang maliit pero may pakinabang na record technology. In the left side besides on her piles paperwork she pressed the number 1 in her black intercom. After many clicks of the clock, her secretary nodded.
Other side of the same floor of her office, somebody screams because of anger. Touching her foot on the floor she starts to walk and then face the woman who is wearing a black terno suit.
"Anong pinagsasabi mo? Pinagbintangan mo akong magnanakaw ng pera na galing sa kompanya?" Harika stood in her front with crossed arm raising her eyebrow. She now stood to the senior employees in her Dad's company. It's almost 2 decades Mrs. Kin began working in their company but the old woman started snatch the company's money when it's her turn as C.E.O.
"Hep! Hep! Hep!" she raised her right hand as a sign to stop talking. "Mrs. Kin wala naman akong sinabi na kinuha mo ang pera ng kompanya. Kahit nga sekretarya ko hindi niya alam bakit kita pinapatanggal. Pero, siguro ngayon alam na niya." She leave the old woman wide eyes open because she doesn't mean to slide her words what she did and Harika give a wide smile to the man who tantrums earlier due to the unread report paper they present. Isa kasi ito sa mga taong nakikinig at nakikiusyoso sa eksena.
"Now, you know the reason why I chose not to read the report Mr. Ramos. So don't call me again nahihibang, I know what action I want to do." She tapped the shoulder of a young man on her side.
Earlier, Ms. Dela, who is their company lawyer, reveals the culprit after the investigation, who is the one behind the money lost. When she read the cover front of the paper reports in the early meeting it stated that Mrs. Kin produced those then she declined not to read it and requested a new report.
Gusto sanang matuwa ni Mr. Ramos sa kadahilanan na hindi tinanggap ang kanilang report ay dahil kay Mrs. Kin pero may gagawin pa pala ang kaniyang team upang hindi sila ang susunod na lalabas sa building na luhaan at wala ng trabaho. Hindi naman talaga nila maitatanggi ng ka-teammates niya na maganda ang binigay ng matanda pero iyon pala ay ginagamit niya upang makalapit pa sa mga pera.
AIZA'S BOOK AND COFFEE CAFÉ,
CIRRI METEO
Money, a thick envelope with a thousand bill money was in front of the Forensic Pathologist, Gwyneth Jehanna Reynes. Gusto sana niyang matawa sa inasta sa taong nasa harapan niya ngunit nagdalawang-isip siya na baka siya ang masusunod na mapunta sa morgue at kailangan ng autopsy.
"A bribe, huh?"
"It's a gift Ms. Reynes. Don't make my kindness turn into darkness."
"Well, I'm sorry but not sorry Mrs. Polo. I'm not temporarily receiving any gifts today."
"Ano pa ba kailangan mo?"
People nowadays wanted to share their money just to clean their image and dignity. Ilang ulit na siyang nakasalumahang tao na may kailangan sa kaniya. She's just an ordinary Pathologist who find some information about the dead bodies. Bakit ba kailangan pa nilang pakialaman ang mga patay na? Tanong na nasa isipan pa rin niya pero hindi niya ito maiiwasan lalo na't epektado din siya.
"Kailangan ko ho? Isa lang naman, kapayapaan. Maibibigay mo ba ’yon?"
Tumingin ang may katandaang kutis tanso ang buhok sa kaniya. Inobserbahan siya.
She's wearing a black top blouse paired a maong shorts, based on the observation of Mrs. Polo she's not wearing any accessories.
Wala nang nagawa ang matanda sa kaniya kaya umalis na lamang ito. Insert her right hand in the right pocket of her maong short she seek her phone. Pahirapan niya itong kinuha dahil sa matigas at mahigpit na kapit nito sa kaniyang ibabang katawan. When she already reached it she sent the voice record to Mr. Polo which is the voice in the record came from to her wife which manipulating the result to his child in his mistress.
'Kayo muna ang mag-away, bakasyon ko ngayon.' Umayos siyang umupo at tinaas ang kamay para tawagin ang waiter na nasa may counter.
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Hindi maikakaila na ang magkaibigang ito ay payapang namumuhay na may karangalang dinadala sa buhay. Hindi nagpapa-api nino man at hindi agad nagpapatalo ni kahit sino. Ngunit, ang kalayaang kanilang naranasan ngayon ay pang habangbuhay ba? O ito'y limitado lang para sa kanila.
Lahat naman ng tao ay may sikreto pero ito ba ay hirap itago o nabaon na sa limot sa mga tao ngayon ay nagbabago?
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"This is Larke Borne reporting."
Ang pagwala ng babae sa telebisyon ay siyang pagkawala rin ng mga hininga nila. Ilang minuto na silang tahimik at hindi mapakali. Gusto nilang may magsasabing hindi totoo ang kanilang nakita o nasaksihan. Gusto lang naman nilang kalimutan ang nakaraan ngunit ito humahabol na ito sa kanilang harapan.
Ang sikreto kanilang tinatago ay unti-unting bumabangon upang sila ay maibalik sa kanilang dating pagkatao.
"Celestine you are already dead, aren't you?"