Our Mental Polarity

Chapter Fourteen

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

“That’s for certain, Ethan Luiz Grey.”

Nang mga sandaling maproseso ng isip ko ang mga salitang binitawan ni Attorney Shim ay bumagsak ang panga ko. Tila tumigil pansamantala ang aking sistema at pakiramdam ko ay binuhusan ako ng malamig na tubig.

Ethan smirked, and that made me feel intimidated. His presence itself trashes my entire identity.

“Very well,” he uttered and fixed his bowtie. He then looked at Jake, and scanned me from head to toe right after. “See you later then.”

Just then, he started walking away with his footsteps screaming much authority.

“S-so that is Ethan?” utal at nanginginig na tanong ko.

“Apparently,” sagot ni Attorney Shim sa akin habang nakatingin pa rin sa papalayong si Ethan.

“He’s much intimidating, isn’t he?” sambit ko pa at ikinalma ang sarili ko.

“He is. He has always been, but do not get intimidated. He is not even starting yet so be warned and don’t let yourself be chewed alive by that beast.”

Sandali lamang ay namalayan ko ang sarili kong nasa loob ng trial court. Nasa harapan ko si Attorney Shim at katabi ko naman si Almyra, sumunod siya kagaya ng ipinangako. Sa kabilang panig naman ay ang napakalakas na presensya ni Ethan Luiz Grey at ang mga kapartido. Nanginginig ang mga tuhod ko at halos hindi na ako mapakali.

Mas lalo namang tumindi ang bigat ng ihip ng hangin nang makita kong pumasok na ang dalawang akusado sa pagkamatay ni papa. Nakaposas ang mga ito at binbantayan ng dalawang pulis. Sa mga sandaling iyon ay panandaliang naalis ang kaba at nangibabaw ang galit ko sa mga akusado.

Hindi rin nagtagal ay dumating na ang hukom at nagsimulang tumahimik ang lahat. Maya-maya pa ay tumayo na ang hukom sa gitna ng lahat ng nasa loob ng bulwagan bilang hudyat ng panimula.

“For the trial, all rise. RTC branch 17 is now in session, Honorable Judge Dolor Gonzales residing,” ma-awtoridad na sabi ng isang babae sa kanang bahagi ng bulwagan.

Tumayo ang lahat nang marinig iyon. Sinundan iyon ng pagsasalita ng hukom.

“Thank you, you may now be seated.” Umupo ang lahat. “Now for the case,” sambit pa ni Judge Dolor.

Nagbaling ng paningin sa akin si Attorney Shim.

“She was a senior student during my sophomore years. The majestic Dolor Gonzales, she’s too good at court,” bulong ni Attorney Shim sa akin.

“The court is now in session, we call on the case number 860014. In the homicide case of Honrado Alonzo Jr., people of the Philippines versus Rolando Perez and Hugo Salazar,” tuloy pa ng babae.

“Is the prosecution ready?” usal ng hukom.

“Yes, your honor,” buong lakas ng loob na sagot ni Attorney Shim.

Tumango ang hukom.

“Is the defense ready?”

Napansin ko ang pagbaling ni Ethan ng kaniyang tingin sa aming direksyon bago nagsalita,

“Definitely as I should, your honor.”

Muli siyang tumingin sa akin at umangat ang sulok ng labi nito.

Hindi ako p’wedeng magpaapekto sa mga ginagawa niya, mahaba pa ang itatakbo ng paglilitis. Focus, Aeshia.

“With that, let us proceed with the arraignment.” Matapos sabihin iyon ay binuksan ng hukom ang isang brown envelope at isinuot ang kaniyang salamin. “In the homicide case of Honrado Alonzo Jr., reported dead upon arrival at Playa Medical Center, Metro Manila on February 4, 2017 allegedly due to extreme blood loss because of two separate eight to eleven inches deep stabs, two men with the names of Rolando Perez, 49, and Hugo Salazar, 44, are accused. Upon reviewing the case of Rolando and Hugo, it was found that on February 4 of the current existing year, 14 minutes past 8 in the evening, the two have crossed their path with the victim, Honrado, and shortly left him with two stabs on the abdominal area. That resulted to the sudden death of the victim. The evidences presented from the previous case hearing showed the suspects’ possible violation on Article 249 of the Philippine Revised Penal Code, or the crime of homicide. May the people whose names are forementioned stand up and present themselves in front of this court?”

Tahimik ang lahat, kalmadong nagmamasid sa mga nagaganap.

Sandali pa ay tumayo na ang dalawang akusado.

“Rolando Perez and Hugo Salazar, in the said homicide case against Honrado Alonzo Jr., do you plea guilty or not guilty?”

Nakayuko lamang ang dalawa, tila nagpapakiramdaman—lahat ay nakikiramdam. Sa lawak ng bulwagan ay walang maririnig kun’di ang sunod-sunod na mabibigat na paghinga ng mga tao. Bawat segundong itinatagal ng pagsagot nila ay mas tumitindi ang tensyon. Maya-maya pa ay natapos ang mahabang paghihintay ng bawat isa nang mag-angat ng tingin ang dalawang akusado at direktang tumingin sa hukom.

“Not guilty, your honor,” sabay na sabi ng dalawa.

Doon ay literal na nanlaki ang mata ko kasabay ng bahagyang pagbagsak ng aking panga.

Noong nakaraang paglilitis lang ay halos aminin na nila na guilty sila sa krimen ngunit ngayon ay diretsahan nilang itinanggi? What are these assholes playing at?

Hindi ko ma-proseso. Ano ang pina-plano ng kabilang partido? Una, nagpalit sila ng abogado, ngayon naman ay itinatanggi na nila ang krimen. Mayroong nangyayaring hindi maganda, iyan ang natitiyak ko.

Nagising ang diwa ko at nahimasmasan nang umugong ang malakas na bulungaan dahil sa tinuran ng dalawang akusado. Tila mabilis na nag-faade out ang kaninang mga nasa isip ko at bumalik ako sa katotohanan.

“Case number 860014, the accused plead not guilty,” sambit ng hukom at naupo na ang dalawang lalaki. “We may now proceed with the prosecution.”

Nang bigkasin iyon ay mabilis na bumaling sa akin ng tingin si Attorney Shim. He gave me an encouraging smile and finally stood up in all confidence driven by the urgency to win.

“I won’t make this long, each and everyone. In the case of Honrado Alonzo Jr., there were presented evidences from the previous case hearing that completely prove the deed of homicide by the accused. However, to further show the people of the Philippines and give clearer judgement of the case, series of new evidences are to be presented,” sambit ni Attorney Shim at walang mababakas na kaba sa kaniyang mukha.

Nagsimula siyang lumakad mula sa kaninang kinatatayuan papunta sa witness stand. Ang lahat naman ay maang na pinagmamasdan siya.

“Rolando Perez and Hugo Salazar, you sure you both aren’t guilty?” sarkastikong tanong ni Attorney Shim habang binabato ng matatalim na tingin ang dalawang akusado. “Better think twice after looking at this.”

He then flashed something on the screen. As planned, it was the screenshots from Merlinda’s dashcam footage.

“With your farthest concern, take a look at the first exhibit. As you all can see, these are clear screenshots of a footage from the night the crime occurred.” Attorney Shim then slid his hand in his pocket and took a small pen-figured remote.

He started showing series of screenshots from Merlida’s dashcam footage.

“Screenshots? As your first exhibit?” the judge curiously asked.

“Yes, your honor,” sagot ni Attorney Shim na animo’y nang-iinis.

Sa mga ngiting ipinapakita niya ay malinaw na iisa ang sinusubukan niyang maapektuhan. Sandaling tiningnan ko ang mukha ni Ethan ngunit wala siyang reaksyon… at all.

Attorney Shim cleared his throat.

“In addition to the first exhibit, here is the complete dashcam footage taken that night. Oh, just in case you’re thinking where on earth did I get this dashcam footage, take a look at this short clip first.”

He then presented the short CCTV footage showing Merlinda’s car passing by A. Bonifacio corner, 8:03PM of February 4th and stopped at the convenience store at 8:06PM of the same night. The video then ended.

“As shown, there was not a single vehicle present or passed by the corner that moment but the white hatchback car, right?” Attorney Shim started asking. People then silently agreed. “Stating the obvious, the first exhibit are the screenshots of that white hatchback car’s dashcam footage on February 4th.”

Every single person but one nodded—Ethan.

Everyone then looked at Ethan, flustered, as he cleared his throat and spoke.

“Why are you presenting the screenshots, not the actual video?” kalmado at walang emosyong sabi nito. Diretso ang tingin niya at wari’y inaaral nang mabuti ang bawat detalye.

Ang hukom naman ay gulat na napatingin kay Ethan sapagkat nagsalita ito nang walang pahintulot. Nililimitahan ang walang pahintulot na pagsasalita lalo na kung mula sa kabilang partido sapagkat maaari itong makaapekto sa maayos na daloy ng paglalatag ng ebidensya, maaaring maapektuhan ang nasa kabilang partido o hindi naman kaya ay magsimula ng argumento o pagtatalo sa hindi tamang oras.

Hindi naman ako nagulat doon, sa mga kilos pa lamang ni Attorney Shim mula kanina ay halatang sinusubukan niya nang paglaruan si Ethan. Ang ikinagulat ko ay nang biglang gumuhit ang malawak na ngiti ni Attorney Shim.

“Finally, you asked, Mr. Grey.” Ipinagpatuloy niya ang kaniyang sarkastikong ngiti. “Getting into it, eh? You seem not, though,” pang-aasar pa ni Attorney Shim.

“Prosecution?” pagputol ng hukom sa obvious na pang-aasar ni Attorney Shim.

“Still here, your honor. Anyway, to proceed, I’d be delighted to show Mr. Grey and every one of you the actual footage caught by the white hatchback car’s dashcam.”

Attorney Shim presented the footage from Merlinda’s dashcam and every person was seriously paying attention. No one is taking an eye out.

It was the exact same video we have watched the other day. Attorney Shim then continued explaining about the footage and the crowd unsurprisingly started agreeing on our side.

I sighed, letting go of much pressure I had been carrying since the start of the trial. Almyra then held my hand, comforting me.

Everything is going according to plan, Aeshia. There is absolutely nothing to worry about.

I just got back on my senses nang biglang maputol ang video. It was quite shorter than what we have watched when we were planning. Nang tingnan ko ang oras ng footage kung kailan ito tumigil ay napansin kong 8:13, isang minuto bago humawak sa dibdib si papa.

Doon ay biglang naalala ko ang maliit na pagtatalo namin noon ni Attorney Shim.

“I will not show them this entire clip yet. I’ll just show them whatever is favorable for us to make sure we win. Kung ipapakita natin ang buong video, bababa lang ang verdict para sa kanilang dalawa.”

“Hindi ba evidence tampering iyon? You could be charged!”

“It is not tampering, it’s a tactic.”

Ngayon ko lamang naintindihan, it’s clearly a tactic, Attorney Shim.

Ilang sandali pa ang lumipas at nagsimulang ilahad ni Attorney Shim ang ikalawang exhibit.

“Upon reviewing possible evidences to resolve the case, I have checked the CCTV footages around the crime scene,” panimula mula ni Attorney Shim. Napansin ko namang umayos ng upo si Ethan. “However, footages from all three streets were corrupted. Oh wait, were those really corrupted?” Gumuhit muli ang mapang-asar na ngiti ni Attorney Shim.

Sa unang pagkakataon, nagreact si Ethan. Tumikhim ito ay nagsmirk.

“Your honor and people of the Philippines, if incapable of having the CCTV footages, why would I insist? Therefore, I now present to you the second exhibit.”

Ang lahat ay atentibong nakatingin at nakapakinig sa kaniya. Walang nagsasalita at halos lamunin ng katahimikan ang buong bulwagan.

Inilabas ni Attorney Shim ang iang brown envelope. Maya-maya pa ay marahan niya itong iniabot sa babaeng kanina ay nagsimula ng paglilitis. Ito ay ang post death report na minsan nang ipinabasa sa akin ni Attorney Shim.

“Playa Medical Center, Metro Manila, Philippines.” Sinimulang basahin ito ng babae. “February 18, 2017, Dr. Paciano Flores.”

Nagpatuloy sa pagbasa ang babae at ang lahat ay buong atensyong nakikinig.

“According to pre-pathological tests and examination, the most probable cause of death is extreme loss of blood because of two separate eight to eleven inches deep stabs—one on left abdomen, little lower than the other.”

Ipinagpatuloy pa ang pagbasa ng post death report. Matapos basahin at ma-verify ay nabakas sa mukha ng dalawang akusado ang kaba.

“The prosecution respectfully rests its case.”

Namalayan ko na lamang si Attorney Shim na naglalakad pabalik sa direksyon ko at sinasalubong ako ng malawak na ngiti.

“Good job, Attorney Shim,” bulong ko sa kaniya.

Tumigil siya sa harapan ko at nagwika,

“Outside, I am Attorney Shim, but here, call me Prosecutor Allistair.” He smirked.