Chapter 31

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Chapter 31

"Excuse me, Sir?"

Kumunot ng husto ang aking noo. Nagkamot ng ulo ang pulis at tiningnan ang lalaking hanggang ngayon ay hawak ni Kean. We're on our way to look for a nearby police station but we stumbled on a police officer talking to a traffic enforcer. We told him what happened and his response swept me off my feet.

"Ma'am, may ebidensya po ba kayo na hinipuan kayo ng lalaking ito?" He repeated his question.

Pakiramdam ko mas lalong uminit ang mukha ko sa sinabi niya. Kean was looking at the police officer with furrowed brows.

"Sir, do we even need evidence for this matter? It was unforeseen and she was unprepared, kaya paano po kami makakapagbigay ng ebidensya?" Malamig ang boses ni Kean.

"May witness po ba? Na... ah," tiningnan ng pulis muli ang lalaking ngayon ay walang ekspresyon sa mukha, "nakakitang hinipuan kayo ng lalaking ito?"

Is this fucking serious? I don't know much how it works but is the evidence really necessary for this matter? I was harassed but now that I could not provide evidence to support my claim, the matter is going to be neglected?

"I know this woman, Sir at alam ko pong hindi siya nagsisinungaling." Tumigas ang tono ng boses ni Kean.

"Hindi ko nga siya hinipuan, Sir!" Umiling ang lalaki.

I glared at him, I was ready to hit him again but the police officer was looking at me. Gusto kong maiyak sa inis habang nakikipagdebate kami ro'n. It was like I have no right to stand up for myself because it what's the law says.

"Sir, mahaba at mahirap na proseso ito kapag gusto niyong ituloy." Anang pulis.

I was already at the edge of just letting it go... but I didn't want it. Ayaw ko sa pakiramdam na parang hinahayaan kong mangyari rin iyong sa ibang babae. Just thinking about it makes me sick.

"Itutuloy po namin. We will file a complaint." Desidido ang boses ni Kean.

I looked at him and I caught him watching me. He nodded at me like he's assuring me.

"May kakilala akong abogado, I will call him." He said.

Bahagya akong nagulat sa sinabi niya. I saw the panic on the guy's face. I gritted my teeth as I look at him. The police on the other hand just shook his head. Kean pulled out his phone and dialled a number. Dalawang beses niyang tinawagan pero mukha yatang walang sumasagot.

"Ano, Sir? Itutuloy niyo pa po?"

I almost glared at the officer. Kean is starting to get pissed already when he looked at the officer.

"Ma'am, baka pwede niyo na lang itong i-settle at huwag nang palakihin pa. Baka pwede na po ang sincere apology-"

"I said we will file a complaint... Sir." Kean cut him off. "Wala ba kayong anak na babae o asawa, Sir? Kapag sa kanila nangyari ito papalagpasin niyo ba?"

"Wala nga akong ginawa! Kung anu anong sinasabi ng babaeng 'yan!" Tinuro ako ng gagong lalaki.

"Putangina, tumahimik ka. Hindi ka ba nahihiya?" Tiningnan ni Kean ang lalaki.

"Huwag po kayong mag-mura, Sir." Nag-seryoso rin ang pulis.

I was starting to get frustrated, gusto ko na lang sipain ulit 'yong lalaki. How fucking dare him say that he didn't do anything?! Doesn't he have a mother? Is he not ashamed of what he's doing?!

"What is happening here?"

Napalingon kaming lahat sa lalaking tumayo sa tabi ko. My eyes widened when I saw Axev on his formal attire. Kunot ang kaniyang noo at nang tumingin sa akin ay tumaas ng bahagya ang kilay niya.

My lips parted, I could not utter anything because I was beyond surprised! He appeared out of nowhere! Napalinga linga ako at nakita ang Wrangler niyang nakaparada sa harap ng isang building malapit sa amin. Nilipat niya ang tingin kay Kean at sa lalaki.

Kean stared at him then to me. Nagsalubong din ang kilay niya at mukhang naguguluhan. Nagtagal saglit ang tingin ni Axev kay Kean bago niya binalik sa akin.

"Anong problema?" His voice was cold.

"What... what are you doing here?"

Axev stared at me and his lips protruded. Hinarap niya ang pulis nang hindi ako sinasagot.

"Anong problema rito, Sir?" He queried.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Kean. The police scratched the back of his head and looked at Axev.

"Kilala niyo po ba ang mga ito, Sir?" Tinuro niya kami.

"Yes, I know them. What is the problem?"

Umiling ang pulis at tiningnan si Kean. Hindi niya sinagot si Axev.

"Ano, Sir? Nagsasayang tayo ng oras dito. May abogado ba kayong ihaharap?"

Kean clenched his jaw and heaved a deep breath. The pervert guy looked at us with a bluffing expression. The police nodded and glanced at the guy.

"Oh, mag-sorry ka na lang sa kaniya para matapos na 'to."

What? What the hell?

"Sir, bakit ako magso-sorry kung wala akong ginawa? Sinipa niya ako! Dapat siya 'yong nire-reklamo rito, e." Umiling ang lalaki.

"Because you fucking touched my ass, you pervert!" Sabog ko.

"Ikaw lang naman nagsasabi niyan. Oh, bakit? May nakakita bang ginawa ko 'yon sayo? May ebidensya ka?" Hamon niya.

I was already at the verge of giving him another kick and I will damn make sure it will fucking hit his balls. Taas baba ang dibdib ko at pakiramdam ko namumula ang mukha ko sa galit.

"Hinipuan ka?"

Natigilan ako nang marinig ang walang emosyong boses ni Axev. When I glanced at him, he was staring intensely at me. Igting ang panga niya at salubong ang kilay. Napahugot ako ng malalim na hininga at tipid na tumango, ayaw nang magsalita.

Axev clicked his tongue and gave me one last glance before looking at the police. I swallowed the lump in my throat while staring at his fine back.

"I will call a lawyer. If she said that she was harassed, then she really was. We will file a complaint." Axev muttered with finality.

Umawang ang labi ko sa sinabi niya. Walang nakapagsalita sa amin. He pulled out his phone and called someone. Napakamot ulit sa sariling ulo ang pulis at napa-iling.

"Attorney, I'm sorry to disturb you but are you busy right now?" Axev looked at the pervert guy. "I have someone here that needs to be locked up. Can you help with that?"

And just like that, we found ourselves in the police station. The pervert guy keeps on saying that I hit him and he will file a complaint too. Tahimik kami ni Kean habang pinapanood si Axev na kinakausap ang police.

Ten minutes after we got in the police station, may dumating na dalawang lalaki. One was wearing semi-formal clothes and the other one was wearing suit and tie. Agad silang sinalubong ni Axev at dahil nasa gilid lang kami ni Kean, narinig ko ang usapan nila.

"What happened?" The guy wearing semi-formal asked.

Hindi ko narinig ang sinabi ni Axev basta sumulyap ito sa banda namin. Napalingon din ang dalawa. My forehead knotted when I noticed that they look familiar. Saan ko ba sila nakita? Why do I have this feeling that I've met them before? Or I'm just overthinking?

"It will be hard since you said that we don't have evidence but I'll see what I can do. Can I talk to the victim?" Narinig kong sinabi ng lalaking naka-suit and tie.

Lumapit silang tatlo sa amin. They're almost on the same height and built. Tumayo sila sa harap namin.

"Good afternoon, I'm Attorney Rocco Travieso. I would like to discuss with you some things before we proceed with the case. Is that alright?"

Napakurap ako. Travieso? Travieso... nakagat ko ang labi nang maalalang middle name iyon ni Axev. How is he related to this lawyer? But then, that is not what's important right now! Huminga ako ng malalim at tumango.

Kausap ko si Attorney Travieso at pinapaliwanag niya sa akin kung ano ang mangyayari. He admitted that filing a complaint without any evidence documenting the harassment may cause difficulties in proving the case. However, he said that he will do his best.

Nag-uusap sina Axev at iyong naka-semi formal pero nasa akin ang tingin niya. Iniwas ko ang tingin at saktong natapos ang usapan namin ng abogado. Bumalik ako sa tabi ni Kean nang sunod na kinausap ni Attorney Travieso ay ang mga pulis.

"How is it?" Kean asked.

I smiled a little at him and massaged my temple. "I don't know. God, I'm sorry. We should be catching up and studying right now but here we are."

"It's fine. I also like to see that guy get locked up even just for days." He smiled. "And I'm sorry too, the lawyer I was talking about is out of town. I just received a message from him."

Ngumuso ako at tumango. "You don't need to apologize. Your presence is more than appreciated. Kung hindi ka dumating baka hindi lang sipa ang nagawa ko do'n at baka ako pa ang ire-reklamo."

He chuckled at what I said, driving me to laugh too. Nag-angat ako ng tingin at nabura kaagad ang ngiti sa labi ko nang mahagip ng tingin si Axev na nakatalikod sa amin at kausap ang iyong naka-semi formal. Nagtagal ang tingin ko sa likuran niya at nang pakiramdam ko'y lilingon siya ay umiwas na ako ng tingin.

What a coincidence! Among all people, I am not expecting Axev to appear out of anywhere and save my ass. Yes, I am grateful but I'm not that happy about it. Hindi ko alam kung bakit. I feel like I'm bothering him or something and I hate it.

Hindi ko alam kung ilang oras kami ro'n pero naunang umalis 'yong naka-semi formal na kausap ni Axev. Ilang minuto lang din pagkatapos itong makaalis ay binalikan kami ng abogado at sinabing ayos na. Nasa custody na 'yong lalaki. I don't know how he did it but I was so grateful to him. Pakiramdam ko talaga hindi ako mananalo dahil nga walang ebidensya pero nagawan naman niya ng paraan.

Pagkatapos kong magpasalamat sa abogado ay narinig ko ang pagpapaalam nito kay Axev. We were enveloped with silence when it was only the three of us that's left outside the station. Katabi ko si Kean habang kaharap si Axev na seryoso ang tingin sa aming dalawa.

"Uhm... thank you... for helping us out." I managed to say because it's getting awkward.

Hindi siya nagsalita. I swallowed the lump in my throat and glanced at Kean. Nakapamulsa siya at nakatingin kay Axev na nakatingin sa akin. Suminghap ako at muling tumingin kay Axev.

"Pasensya na kung na-istorbo namin kung ano man ang lakad mo. Maraming salamat ulit." Tipid akong ngumiti.

"You're welcome. Then," nilingon niya si Kean kaya nagkatinginan sila. "I'll leave you two."

Tipid na tumango si Kean bago kami tinalikuran ni Axev. I feel like I wanted to say something but he was already inside his Wrangler. Nang makaalis ito'y napabuntong-hininga ako. Tumikhim si Kean kaya napatingin ako sa kaniya.

"Do you still want to catch up or do you want to rest? Pwedeng next time na para makapag-pahinga ka." Aniya.

I smiled and nodded. "I'm actually hungry. Wanna grab an early dinner?"

"Sure." He smiled.

Nagkasundo kaming sa Bugis na kumain at huwag nang lumayo. Kaagad kaming nag-order pagkarating namin do'n. I ordered Laksa while Kean opted for Nasi Lemak. Habang naghihintay kami'y kinamusta niya ang pag-aaral ko.

"Actually, you have more time during the first year so enjoy it while it lasts." He smirked at me.

"And how's the second year?" I said while eating our appetizer.

"Just imagine that this is a game and every time you get on another level, mas lalong humihirap."

Ngumuso ako at napatango na lamang dahil totoo naman. When our food was served, he started asking me questions. His questions were simple and not nosy, I feel like he's being careful and he doesn't want to pry that much.

"Sa totoo lang, nagulat din ako nang malamang umalis ka pala. There were no words from you so most of our classmates were shock."

Tipid akong ngumiti at tumango. Talking about this matter is no longer a big deal for me, it's been years. However, the real reason why I left, iilang tao lang ang nakakaalam. I don't want to talk about it either because I don't want to touch that part.

"Your boyfriend topped the boards, you must be proud."

Muntik ko nang maibuga ang kinakain ko sa sinabi niya. What? Boyfriend? Si Axev? I almost rolled my eyes. Who else could it be, Sien? But goodness, how could he think that? I wiped my lips using a tissue and looked at Kean who's calm and casual.

"You mean Axev? He's not my boyfriend. We broke up after I left Cagayan." I cleared my throat.

Tumaas ng bahagya ang kilay niya. Is this because of what happened this afternoon? Napanguso ako at hindi alam kung kailangan ko pa bang ipaliwanag 'yon. Kaso nga lang, tumango lang siya at hindi na nagtanong.

"Ikaw?" I raised my brow. "Any girlfriend?"

His brows arched and the sides of his lips rose. "Not interested with anyone. If med school can be considered as one... why not."

Tumawa ako at napa-iling. Kean is handsome, beyond handsome actually. Those dimples could make you smile while watching him. At ngayong mas nag-mature pa siya, sigurado akong mas maraming nagkakagusto sa kaniya. I can remember some of my classmates having a crush on him before.

"Hindi ka man lang ba nagka-gusto kahit kanino? You're heartless." Sumandal ako sa upuan.

He tilted his head and stared at me. Nakangiti ako sa kaniya, nanunuya. Imposibleng wala siyang nagustuhan sa mga nakalipas na taon? Pero possible rin naman dahil siya 'yong taog seryoso sa pag-aaral at siguro rin ay ayaw niya ng distractions.

"I had a crush on someone before." He simply said.

"What a lucky girl."

He just chuckled and shook his head. Gabi na nang matapos kami at nasabi ko sa kaniyang malapit lang ang condo ko at gusto kong lakarin. Wala rin siyang dalang sasakyan dahil iniwan niya raw sa university. He offered to take me home and I didn't argue with it anymore. Naglakad kami papunta sa condo ko.

"Thank you for today." I faced him when we're already in front of the condominium building.

"You should take a rest and thank you also for today." He shoved his hands inside his pocket.

Ngumiwi ako at umiling. "I can't. I need to read and review."

Tumango siya at ngumiti. Huminga ako ng malalim at kumaway sa kaniya bago tumalikod at naglakad na papunta sa loob ng building. Babalik pa siya ng university para kunin ang sasakyan niya. That night I couldn't help but tell Tina what happened. Hindi mawala sa isipan ko ang nangyari ngayong araw.

"Baka sign na 'yan na muling ibalik ang tamis ng pag-ibig?" She said and laughed.

Nasapo ko ang noo dahil sa mga pinagsasabi niya. Kanina ay nagmumura siya dahil sa nangyari sa akin at ngayong naka'y Axev na ang usapan, ganito na ang sinasabi niya.

"Tina, I'm serious. I feel like I owe him something now. I don't like this feeling."

Natahimik siya, narinig ko ang pagtikhim niya. Nasa ospital daw siya pero resting time niya. Nasa labas yata siya ng ospital.

"Why can't you just be grateful that he was there? If you feel like you owe him something... maybe there's something more."

"What do you mean?" Suminghap ako.

"Alam mo ang ibig kong sabihin, Sien."

I was silent for a minute. No... no, I'm sure it's not about that. It can't be. I have moved on right? But thinking about what Tina said, I can feel my heart clenching and beating rapidly at the same time.

"He's already successful and happy, Tina." I mumbled. "I'm sure we feel the same way towards each other."

"Kung sabagay, I heard he's courting someone. Architect din yata or Engineer? I'm not sure but that's what I heard from Camden."

Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya. Napakurap ako at napatitig sa librong binabasa ko kanina bago ko tinawagan si Tina. Really?

I can feel the muscles around my heart contracting. Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga at ngumiti sa kawalan. Pumikit ako at tumango tango sa sarili.

"Well..." tumikhim ako, "that's good. He deserves to be happy."

Siguro 'yong babaeng kasama niya no'ng sa café? Umiling ako at bumuga ng hangin.

"And you deserve to be happy too."

I bid my good bye with an excuse that I need to study, however, I couldn't focus. Lumabas ako sa balcony ng unit ko at do'n nagpalamig habang nakatitig sa kabuuan ng syudad. I had so many things in my mind... a lot of them.

I was staring at the blankness of the sky. The wind blew and my curls danced, covering my face. I took a deep breath and fixed my hair. I palmed my face by then I felt something on my cheek. My left cheek was a bit wet.

I didn't know I was already crying. I bit my lip and shut my eyes tightly before heaving a deep breath and walking back to my unit.

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