章 323: Observing
Chapter 8. Observing
UMILING si Rellie nang hingin ng estranghero ang contact number niya, pero tumango rin kaagad dahil naisip niyang wala namang mawawala. He looked decent and... Bahala na. Basta ibinigay na lang niya ang contact number niya at saka na lamang niya iisipin kung re-reply-an ba niya ito o hindi.
"Ang tagal namang magsimula ng hearing."
Tumawa nang marahan ang kanyang katabi. Hindi niya namalayang napalakas ang pagsabi niya niyon. "Naiinip ka na?"
Tumango siya.
"And, honey, it's not hearing. It's a trial."
"Huh?" She frowned not because she was corrected but because he said 'honey'.
"Oh, don't worry, it's not an endearment. By the way, I'm Timo Estacio," Mukhang nabasa nito ang iniisip niya. Alam naman niya iyon, pero kasi, iba talaga ang tunog nito kanina. He sounded low-key flirting with her, o baka naisip lang niya.
Hinayaan na niya iyon. "Rellie Prietto," pakilala niya. Now that she thought of it, this guy looked familiar. Then, she realized he's that famous journalist.
"You seem to recognize me now, huh?"
Tumango na lang siya. "Pero ano po iyong nabanggit mo? Hindi ito hearing? Trial? Magkaiba ba iyon?"
He nodded. Pakiramdam tuloy niya ay napahiya siya sa pagiging ignorante niya.
"But don't think you're ignorant—"
"Are you a mind reader?" hindi makapaniwalang bulalas niya.
"It shows on your face, sweetie. Plus, you just voiced out your thoughts again."
Napakurap-kurap ulit siya. Now she realized he wasn't flirting. Hindi nga siya naiilang sa mga tila endearment nito. He sounded natural. "Lumaki po ba kayo sa US?" kuryosong tanong niya.
Sumeryoso ito; tila nanantiya. Then, he answered, "I lived there for a few months."
Napatango na lang siya. Noong bata pa siya, apansin kasi niya sa kaibigan ng mama niyang lumaki sa Amerika na lagi itong gumagamit ng mga salitang 'dear', 'honey', 'sweetie'. Hanggang sa ipinaliwanag sa kanya ng kanyang kuya na normal lang daw iyon sa U.S.
Tumahimik ulit siya at imbis na magtanong ay s-in-earch kaagad niya ang kaibahan ng hearing sa trial, and it said:
Hearing is described as a legal gathering, in the court of law, wherein the judge discusses and decides the case, in the presence of the competing parties. Trial refers to the judicial proceeding in which facts and evidences are examined, to find out the guilt or innocence of the accused.
"Ah..." Napatango-tango siya. At least, may natutunan. "Feeling matalino na naman ang Aurelia!" Natatawang bulong niya.
Nang magsimula na ang trial ay hindi na sila nagkibuan ng katabi niya. It amazed her how he immediately shifted as a professional in his field right before the trial had started. Siya nama'y napahanga sa nasaksihan. Mas kamangha-mangha pala ang panonood ng trial ng live kaysa sa cellphone o TV lamang.
She just couldn't remove her amazed gazes to the lawyer who was now cross-examining or interrogating the witness.
He totally looked so professional, and dignified; and respectable, too! His suit was a solid-dark navy in color, single-breasted with a notched lapel and had some French cuffs for cufflinks at the bottom. His dress shirt was long sleeve and a plain light blue; she could see how masculine he was, too. Parang gusto niyang yumakap at damhin ang matipuno nitong dibdib! Gosh! Napailing siya sa naisip bago pinagmasdan itong muli. Gusto niyang matawa dahil imbes na ang kaso ang obserbahan niya ay sa abogado ng akusado nabuhos ang buong atensiyon niya.
She continued observing: his neckwear was just a navy classic tie, yet, it looked subtlety good.
Nang tumayo at lumakad si Attorney ay napansin niya ang suot nitong sapatos—he's wearing a neat burgundy derby pair of dress shoes and, oh, God! She even noticed his shadow-stripe ribbed over the calf socks and they're dark blue, complementing his pants.
His accessories were only the cufflinks and a wristwatch. His hair was nicely trimmed and it's as if he just washed this morning. Mukha itong mabango na laging naliligo!
Nabaling ang tingin niya sa mukha nito, napalunok siya nang mapansing matagumpay itong ngumisi matapos sumagot ng saksi.
"Strike out," bulong ng kanyang katabi kaya napalingon siya rito.
"Ha?" takang-tanong niya
"You aren't really watching the trial, eh?" Ngumisi pa ito.
She licked her lower lip. How would she answer to that question? "I was watching, 'no!" depensa niya.
The latter smirked even widely. "Was," puna nito sa past tense ng ginamit niyang verb.
She only pouted because it's true that she was watching awhile ago. Napansin nga niyang parang matatalo sa kaso ang defense. Then, she continued observing and just stopped when Sinned Hipolito got her full attention.
"Ano po ba iyong strike out strike out na sinabi mo, Sir?" pag-iiba niya sa usapan.
"Drop the Sir and po," pansin muna nito bago nag-esplika. "The lawyer used motion to strike to request the elimination of the witness' testimony."
"But, why?"
"Because the witness' statements are contradicting. He just committed perjury."
"Perjury?" She scowled and she remembered its meaning. "Ah, I know that!" She then nodded while reciting the meaning or perjury inside her head—it's an offense of willfully telling an untruth in a court after having taken an oath or affirmation.
Grabe, may natututunan naman pala ako sa pagsusubaybay sa kasong ito, Aniya sa isipan.
At least, hindi masasabing dahil lang kay Attorney kaya siya interesado. Kahit may katotohanan naman iyon.
"Now, focus on the trial, beautiful. You'll see how the tables will turn."
She nodded and did focus on the trial. That was when the lawyer submitted a newly acquired evidence that made them win the case.
"Wow..." she mouthed. "Kanina lamang ay parang natatalo na sila..."
"That's right," said the journalist. "I have to go now, sweetie. I can't bring you home. I still have a job to do."
Tumango siya rito. "Nice meeting you, Sir." She extended her arms to handshake with him. Gusto niyang iparating dito na hindi siya interesado sa ideya na popormahan siya nito.
The latter grunted, but still, he shook hands with her. "Nice meeting you as well. Take care!"
"You as well."
Iyon lang at umalis na ito.
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