“People of the Philippines versus Cereese Aimee Heluxus y Samaniego.”

They all sat down when they heard the hammer of justice. It was her final trial, she was sitting beside her lawyer, Green Orion Chui while her both hands is cuffed. In front of them is the lawyer who filed a case against her and also the brother of the victim,

Laxus Ausiryo Samaniego.

Beside him is another lawyer who will interrogate her for her case, Xamantha Foster.

Cereese was sitting calmly at her chair while the other party was presenting the evidences against her, kitang kita niya ang mga check marks na ginagawa ni Green sa tabi niya. He was checking something at his papers, hindi niya alam kung para saan iyon but seeing his smug grin on his lips, tiwala si Cereese na nasa kanila ang pabor sa labang ito.

Nang oras na niya para umakyat at kilatisin, hindi maiwasan ni Cereese ang bahagyang kaba, kaba hindi dahil siya ang may kasalanan, kaba para sa sarili niya kapag natapos na ang lahat.

She looked at the whole court room, naroon ang Mommy niya, her eyes were sad from crying. Ilang gabi na rin kasi siyang natutulog sa bilangguan. Her father, Caleb Heluxus, was just sitting there with a serious expression on his face, alam niyang tiwala ang mga magulang niya na wala siyang ginawang kasalanan. Her eldest brother is also there to support her. He's with his wife, Sofia.

“Mrs. Samaniego, ayon sa nakalap naming ebidensya, magkasama kayo ng biktimang si Larry Aurocio Samaniego nang araw bago ito napatay.”

“Yes,” Matapang na sagot niya. “Hinatid ako ng asawa ko sa airport nang araw na iyon.”

Yes, the victim is her decease husband.

“May I ask kung saang bansa ang tungo niyo?” Atty Foster asked.

“I was about to go in Japan for vacation, inihatid lang ako ng asawa ko sa airport at pagkatapos ay umalis na rin siya.”

“Ikaw lang ang magbabakasyon?” Tumango tango ito sa sariling tanong. “Hindi ba't parang pagtakas na rin iyon sa krimeng ginawa mo?”

“Your Honor, my client is not running away.” Singit ni Green.

The judge said continue.

“Ayon din sa examine na nakuha, ininoman mo rin ang kapeng may halong gamot na pwedeng magpa paralyze ng muscles ng isang tao, you have your lipstick mark over the disposable cup, pero bakit ang biktima lamang ang nakaramdam ng pagkaparalisa na naging sanhi ng pag-atake nito sa puso at pagbundol ng sasakyan at naging sanhi ng pagkamatay ng biktima.”

“Your Honor, according to the first examination of the given cup of coffee, the examinee confirmed that there is no medicine mixed to the coffee that can paralyze the muscle of the victim.” Muling singit ni Green bago ngumisi kay Atty. Foster. “It looks like there's a forge of evidences here.”

Nagkaroon ng bulong bulongan sa loob ng court. Yes, ito rin ang hinala nila noon pa lang dahil siya ang ginigiit sa aksidenteng pagkamatay ng asawa niya. Larry has a heart disease, Green also explained that matter, that the victim died via accident.

Habang nagmamaneho ito pabalik ay inatake sa puso kaya bumunggo ang sasakyan nito sa malaking poste at halos sumabog iyon sa lakas, that time Cereese was already at the plane. Sa Japan niya na nalaman ang nangyaring aksidente sa mahal niyang asawa kaya kaagad siyang bumalik ng bansa nang mabalitaan niya iyon.

She will never do that to her husband. Never.

But since Laxus Ausiryo wants her in jail, he'll do everything para siya ang madiin sa kasong ito.

After three long hours inside the court room, finally, the judge announced her not guilty.

Napaluha si Cereese dahil sa huli, pinaboran pa rin siya ng hustisyang nararapat sa kanya. It's been a long battle but still worth it. Green and the evidences proved her innocence.

Tinanggal ng mga pulis ang posas sa kanyang mga kamay. She was ready to give her family a warm and missing hug when her gaze turned to Laxus.

He was looking at her murderously. “You're not so innocent, Aimee. I promise you, this battle is not yet over. Pagbabayaran mo ang ginawa mo sa Kuya ko.”

“Pagbabanta iyan Mr. Samaniego, pwede kang kasuhan ng kliyente ko.” Pumagitna si Green.

Sinenyasan niya ito at umiling. “I'm innocent Laxus, mahal ko ang kapatid mo kaya imposible ang mga binibintang mo. Bumaba na ang hatol and I am not guilty. Deal with it.” She said calmly but the sharpness of her voice slipped at her last words.

“You're not innocent, Cereese Aimee.”

**

Note: after I finished writting Tati's ( Dangerous Obsession) and Frances' (NAKED: Francesca's Torture) I kinda feel like I need to finished Cereese's story too kaya dito muna ako magfo-focus. Mag U-UD pa rin naman ako sa TMIB :)