Daddy cleared his throat that ended the deafening silence inside my office.

"The Ynareses might not play fair, Archer."

Napatango ako sa sinabi ni Maverick dahil tingin ko, hindi nga basta na lamang papayag ang mga iyon na makulong ang kanilang anak. Rodolfo Ynares has lots of connection. Lalo pa at senador din ito. Madali lang sa kanila ang makawala sa kasong ito dahil na rin sa kawalan ng ebidensya.

But this lawyer in front of us seems confident that he will win the case. And it sounds too good to be true.

My eyes narrowed as possibilities came in my mind. What is he planning? Baka naman binayaran 'to ng mga Ynares para ipatalo ang kasong isasampa namin?

"They surely will. And they're probably starting already," makahulugang sambit ni Spencer.

Marahas akong napalingon kay Spencer at nakitang diretso sa abogado ang mga mata niya. Tila iisa ang aming nasa isip.

Though Maverick seems trusting this lawyer. As well as my parents too.

Atty. Fonacier let out a throaty chuckle and smirked. "I know what you're pertaining, Mr. Altabida. But I'm not like that. My loyalty, aside from my wife, is for my client."

My brow raised a bit. He's married already? He looks to young to be married though.

"We can't be so sure of that—"

"Spencer," Dad cutted his words, stopping Spencer from what he's saying.

"The Ynareses actually bribed me not to take Ms. Lofranco's case the moment they heard that Senator Lofranco went on my firm," Attorney muttered that made my lips part. "That's just few hours ago."

Mom gasped beside me. I heard her uttered a low curse.

Wala talagang maaasahang matino sa mga Ynares na iyon! But are they that bothered that I might win that they have to bribe and threatened my lawyer?

I watched the man's eyes darkened. "And threatened to harm me, including my family if I did accept the case."

Then why did he...

My forehead frowned when he let out a sarcastic and low laugh. Bahagya pang umiiling ang kanyang ulo na tila hindi makapaniwala sa ginawa ng mga Ynares.

"That's actually one of the reasons too on why I accepted this case."

Bumuka ang aking mga labi. The Ynareses bribed him not to accept the case reason why he accepted it? What the hell? He doesn't looks like he's bothered at all.

"They bribed and t-threatened you?" Paglilinaw ni Daddy at bahagya pang nanginig ang kanyang boses. 

Archer Fonacier nodded his head. "Hmm. But I forgive them for I think they have no idea on what they're talking about."

I swallowed while staring at the lawyer. Why do have a feeling that I can't trust this lawyer?

The meeting about the case we will file for Draven ended after an hour. Wala pa rin akong tiwala sa abogadong iyon kahit na kuhang kuha niya ang loob nila Mommy sa hindi malamang dahilan.

It was Maverick who stayed in my office for lunch. Nagpaalam si Spencer at may aasikasuhin daw ito. Ganoon din ang aking mga magulang. Kaya't hindi ko na nakausap si Daddy. Something inside me was telling me to talk to him. I don't know if he believes me or he's just doing all these for Mom.

As much as possible, we're keeping the case discreet. Ayaw ko na ring maisapubliko iyon hanggang maaari. Ngunit kung malaman man iyon ng publiko, wala naman akong magagawa.

"Babe," I called while we're having our lunch in my office. Hindi na kami nag-abalang lumabas lalo na at siguradong maraming nakapanood ng video na kumalat at nagkalat ang mga taong iyon sa labas.

Mav told me we can go if I want but I choose not to. Mas komportable ako ngayon sa aking opisina.

And even until now, he's smiling at me like everything's alright but I can still tell that his anger for Draven's still pushing him to the edge. Panay rin ang tanong niya sa akin kung ano ang iniisip ko tuwing lumalayo ang aking tanaw. Habang minsan naman, siya ang tila wala sa sarili. I caught him not just once, clenching his jaw while staring at his food.

"About Atty. Fonacier..." I nibbled my lower lip. "Where did you met him?"

"I mean, I don't know if I should trust him or not. There's something in him that I can't—" I decided not to continue.

"His family was once MPL's client. He's a friend, I can say. We can trust him."

I trust Maverick and his words. Ngunit para bang hindi ako matatahimik hanggang sa hindi nakukumpirma kung mapagkakatiwalaan nga ang abogadong iyon. Proof is what I need.

I told Spencer about what's in my mind as I know he knew a private investigator. At tulad ko, iba rin ang pakiramdam ni Spencer sa abogado kaya naman ito na ang mismong nagpresinta na magpahanap ng impormasyon tungkol sa abogado.

Mav can find an investigator for me too but he said Atty. Fonacier is his friend. Hindi man gaanong malapit ngunit kaibigan pa rin ang turing niya rito.

I was pacing back and forth my room as I patiently waited for Spencer's call. We only need basic informations about the lawyer. Kaya't ngayong gabi rin ay makakakuha kami ng sagot mula sa private investigator na binayaran niya.

I lit up my phone and glanced at it but still nothing. Patalikod na ako sa pinto ng aking silid nang may kumatok doon kaya't hindi ako natuloy sa balak na pagtalikod.

I removed the lock and pull the handle of the door to open it. Tumambad sa akin ang bulto ng aking kapatid.

"Fritz," bati ko bago binitawan ang pinto ay hinayaan siyang makapasok.

The corner of his lips stretched for a small smile. "How are you?" he asked as he closed the door behind him.

Dinala ako ng aking mga paa patungo sa aking kama at matamang umupo roon. I watched Fritz as he silently sat in front of me.

Hindi kami ganoon kalapit sa isa't isa ngunit kumpara kay Romulus ay mas malapit ang aming samahan. We all have a tight relationship but that was before. Our relationship was tainted when I started wearing clothes close to men's clothes and they thought that I am a lesbian.

But as time passed by, unti unting bumalik ang relasyon namin ni Fritz ngunit ang sa amin ni Romulus ay hindi na. Though maybe, just like Mom, he's having a hard time to express hisself or his emotions.

"I'm alright. Wala ka sa dinner kanina," I pointed.

Tumango siya. "I was with my groupmates. May tinapos lang kami para sa thesis. I heard you already have a lawyer? Nagsampa na raw ng kaso?"

"Hmm. Kanina—" I trailer off and tilted my head on him. "Do you know someone named... Archer Fonacier?"

Fritz's really fond of being a lawyer. Hindi iyon lingid sa aking kaalaman kaya't nagbabaka sakali ako kung kilala niya ang abogado. Ngunit imposible rin iyon maliban na lang kung kilalang abogado ang Fonacier na iyon.

"Archer Fo—" Natigilan siya habang unti unting namilog ang mga mata. "He's your lawyer?" Bumakas ang pagkamangha sa kanyang mukha na nakapagpakunot ng aking noo.

"Y-yes. Why? What's with him?" I shifted my body to fully face him. Bahagya nang nakataas ang isa kong hita sa aking kama para tuluyan siyang maharap.

Manghang bumuka ang kanyang mga labi. "He's a good lawyer! He'll win your case, Ate! We'll surely win against the Ynareses!"

Marahan akong napa iling.

"We have no evidence. Maliit ang porsyentong manalo tayo." Ngayon ko lang napagtanto ang bagay na iyon. I have nothing to prove Draven's crime. Kaya't malaki ang posibilidad na maibasura ang kaso. Kayang kayang bilhin ng mga Ynares ang hustisya. Though a part of me is telling me my parents can do it too.

"Trust him, Ate. That Fonacier is a good lawyer. Wala pa siyang nahahawakan na kaso na natalo."

Fritz words linger in my mind. At kahit ilang minuto na ang nakaraan mula nang lumabas siya sa aking silid ay nakatitig pa rin ako sa kawalan.

My eyes darted on my phone resting at the bed. Sa pagsulyap ko roon ay dumating ang tawag na aking hinihintay.

"Spencer," agad na sagot ko sa unang pagtunog ng aking phone.

"I got the infos, Rylli." I heard minimal sound that seems coming from flipping of pages.

"W-what is it? Tell me." I don't know why I'm eager to know it but maybe because something inside me is still telling me that I can't trust that lawyer and the Ynareses paid him to lose our case.

"I've seen his records," he started and like what my brother said, Spencer told me that all cases handled by that lawyer always win. Kaya takot ang mga Ynares na tanggapin ng abogado ang aking kaso.

"There's this one case, his client was accused and the prime suspect of the crime. The victim was murdered inside the suspect's condo. There were only three of them inside the condo. The suspect, the victim, and the suspect's three years old son. The alleged perpetrator was arrested but went out the same day. Napatunayan daw na walang sala at hindi na umabot sa korte ang kaso. Walang nakarecord kung self defense o ano ang totoong nangyari."

My mouth hung open as I listened to him. Marahan akong napakurap.

"Fuck! He can definitely win your case, Rylli. Atty. Fonacier seems picky on his cases. Hindi basta basta tumatanggap ng kliyente. He's a CEO too. He's more focused in his company than being a lawyer," Spencer continued from the other line.

"And... there's a report about him saying he's part of an underground organization but there's no evidence that can prove it."

Nagpatuloy pa si Spencer ngunit lumilipad na ang aking utak. I somewhat felt relieved like an anchor inside my chest was suddenly vanished and the weight was lifted.

And just like what Attorney Fonacier said, the trial started moving fast even though the Ynareses tried every possible thing just to delay it.

There was even a time that Milena Ynares went in our mansion. Nakikiusap sa akin na iatras ang kaso. But of course that's not what we're planning. I want Draven behind bars. Walang nangyari kaya't sa huli ay nagbanta itong pagsisisihan ang ginawa kong pagtanggi. The next day, I was about to go out of our company when Maverick suddenly came and immediately pulled me back inside the building.

Kasabay noon ang pagkabasag ng glass door sa entrance ng aming kompanya. I didn't get it at first but later on realized that the glass door was shot by a bullet.

"Fuck! Fuck! Damn it!" Sunod-sunod ang mura ni Maverick habang hinihila pa rin ako palayo sa entrance.

He pulled me closer and enveloped me in his arms as some our employees started yelping. I felt Maverick's chest heaving up and down against me.

Hindi na nasundan ang putok ng baril na iyon ngunit hindi pa rin ako makagalaw sa mga braso ni Maverick. If he didn't pulled me, God knows what will happen. Siguradong sa akin tatama ang bala ng baril kung hindi niya ako hinila!

"W-what was that?" Wala sa sariling tanong ko at bahagyang dumistansya kay Maverick upang makita ang mga mata niya.

"Thank God, you're safe." His chest is still heaving as he tightly shut his eyes closed.

"M-Mav."

"Archer called me. He told me a sniper is waiting for you. He told me— fuck!" sambit niya sa gitna ng paghahabol ng hininga.

I slowly tilted my head towards the entrance. The guards were checking it. Bumalik kay Maverick ang aking mga mata. "H-how did he even know?" I asked, pertaining to Atty. Fonacier. Paano niyang nalaman na may nag-aabang sa akin.

That made Maverick froze. Napatitig siya sa akin at walang nagawa kung hindi ang umiling, siguro ay ngayon lang din niya natanto iyon. "I d-don't know, Rylli."

Weeks after that, the Ynareses targeted our lawyer. They installed a bomb at Atty. Fonacier's car. Galing ang abogado sa aming mansyon dahil sa mga ebidensyang nakuha niya. The moment he got out of our mansyon and was about to go home, someone called him on his phone. After the call ended, he unlocked his car through his key fob and asked us to stay away even though we're far enough from his car.

He stayed with us for minutes after bidding goodbye. I don't know why did he remained standing beside us. Ngunit ilang minuto lang ang lumipas ay kitang kita ko, pati na rin ng aking mga magulang ang pagsabot ng kotse ni Atty. Fonacier.

I was rooted in my place. Ganoon din ang aking mga magulang. But he nonchalantly told us to do not mind the car and let it be. That someone will go in our mansion and remove the broken car. Matapos ay nagpaalam ito na sasakay na lamang daw ng taxi na para bang walang nangyari. Like his car didn't exploded at all!

For Pete's sake! Kung sumakay siya roon ay siguradong patay na siya. But he acted it was nothing!

At lahat 'yon, nagawa ng mga Ynares dahil sa kagustuhang hindi makulong ang anak.

Though I don't know what's with that lawyer. Dahil kahit anong gawin ng mga Ynares, natapos ang kaso sa loob lamang ng tatlong buwan.

Hindi ko inakala na ganoon kabilis uusad ang kaso. It only took three months. Three months to convict Draven Ynares and send him in jail.

__________