THE WIVES

SOLLAIRE

LUCKILY maaga kaming nakarating sa chambers. Wala pa nga rito ang mga asawang nagrereklamo sa akin pati na ang judge na magoobserve sa magiging paguusap namin ngayon. Sana nga ay ma-settle na ang lahat dahil ayoko talaga na mapasara ang pinakamamahal kong negosyo.

Pangako, right after everything is settled, I will carefully pick my clients na. Ayoko na ma-stress sa ganito at ayoko na rin na magalit sa akin si Zion. He's all I have, Iyon bang nakakaintindi at nakakatiis sa ugali ko. Hays, I don't know what I will be without him kaya ayaw ko na siyang bwisitin.

"Aga aga natin sila naman pala 'tong late. Ka-imbyerna." Reklamo ni Nate habang boring na boring na nilalaro ang briefcase ni Zion.

Bawal kasi kaming mag dala ng phone dito sa loob because the judge can't risk having the chamber conversations out.

Zion, looking tired, yawns. "Ganyan talaga. They're late on purpose. Gusto kasi nila ma-intimidate nila tayo when they walked through the door. It is very usual. Ina-advise ko rin sa mga clients ko yang ganyan." He shared.

Sus. Intimidate my ass. Baka sila pa ang ma-intimidate sa akin. But I have to remember na I have to be soft here. Hindi ako pwedeng mag tapang tapangan. Ngayon lang naman, pag tapos nito ay pwede na ulit akong maging dragonita.

"Ooops, I think sila na yan." Nate whispered when we heard footsteps and noise on the hallway.

Napaupo na lang ako ng diretso. Bago pumasok ang mga tao sa loob ay humirit pa ng paalala si Zion.

"Remember, you are not a dragon today. Instead, you are an angel with twice as much of a halo above your head."

I nodded and put in a fake sweet smile. Medyo napa simangot na lamang ako nang makita ko ang asawa ni Zuniga na malaki ang ngiti at malakas ang tawa habang naka sukbit ang kanyang kamay sa judge. My ghad, is he fvcking this old judge man as well? Wala nang pinatawad ang malanding ito.

Kaya pala kailangan kong magpakabait ngayon dahil kahit anong mangyari, matik na pabor na ang gurang na judge na ito sa mga asawang nagrereklamo sa akin.

"Judge Tamayo, how are you?" Magalang at naka ngiting bati ni Zion sa matandang judge.

The judge smiled. "Oh, ikaw pala yan Zion. I wasn't aware that you're handling this matter."

"Yes, Your Honor." Tumabi si Zion para maipakita kami ni Nate sa Judge. "This is my client, Sollair, and her assisstant, Nate."

"Good morning, Your Honor." sabay at magalang na bati namin ni Nate.

The judge smile at us. Mukha naman pala siyang mabait, siguro naman he will give us a fair chance at this meeting and he will not be bias.

"All right, let us start this meeting para maaga tayong matapos. I have two divorce hearing to attend after this."

Agad kaming umupo sa mahabang lamesa. Ang panig namin ay nasa kanang upuan at dahil hindi naman occupied ang lahat ng upuan dahil tatlo lang kami ay ginamit ang sobrang upuan ng mga tao na nasa kabilang panig.

Sinusubukan kong hindi sila tignan dahil ayoko naman na ma-intimidate ako sa kanila. As much as possible, gusto ko mag mukha na wala akong pakielam sa kanila. In short, gusto kong mag mukha na isa akong unbothered person kahit na ang katotohanan ay kulang na lang na sumabog ang puso ko sa sobrang bilis ng tibok nito dahil sa kaba.

"I understand that this is about your..." Napahinto si Judge at tumikhim, parang hindi ito makapaniwala sa nababasa niya sa file. "G-giving service to businessmen that happens to be these women's spouses."

Judge Tamayo looks at me at sa tingin na yan ay alam ko na hinuhusgahan na niya ako. "Can you tell mo more about this business of yours?" He asks.

I smiled and nodded. I sat up straight and looked him in his eyes para mas mag mukha akong confident. "Yes, Your Honor. I established my business years ago, and in this business, every year, pumipili ako ng isang lalaki para maging boss ko at maging secretary nila ako. And in this business, I provide them companionship where they can be comfortable enough to share their hidden feelings with me."

Judge nods, "So, basically, you are playing as their therapist?"

I heard the wives giggle, yung parang nangiinsulto ba.

"Yes, Your Honor. I did this service to help these men's mental health. I provided them a companion, but more likely, I provided them a friend."

Biglang napatahimik ang mga tao sa silid. Para bang wala silang ma-rebat sa sinabi ko. Eh iyon naman kasi ang totoo.

Nag patuloy pa ako sa sinasabi ko, "Most of these men, Your Honor, are seen as strong dahil sa business tycoon image nila, but what people does not know is these men are one of the most loneliest people. Why? Because most of the people in their lives are not trust worthy because it is common for these people to befriend them due to their money..."

Natahimik ulit ang silid pero hindi na ako ulit nag salita pa. Hinayaan ko na magkaroon ulit si judge ng sasabihin.

"Well, I can say that all of that is true. But however, you are being accused of having sexual intercourse with some of these men and these are crucial accusations dahil pwede kang sampahan ng opisyal na kaso rito if all of these are proven true."

Sasagot pa sana ako nang biglang sumagot si Zion. "Your Honor, it is right that my client did have sexual intercourse with some of her clients, but those men are single and we have all of the client's file that could prove this."

"We don't have to bring evidences as of the moment. Today, we will try to resolve this issue as much as possible." Judge Tamayo said.

Napatanggo na lang si Zion.

"How about the other side?" Tanong ni Judge sa mga asawang nagrereklamo sa amin.

Syempre, as expected, nauna mag salita ang asawa ni Zuniga.

"Well, nag usap usap na kami ng mga asawa ng kliyente ni Sollaire and we've come to a decision not to file a case against her if she agreed to make a public apology containing of every thing she did."

What the fvck? Ain't no way I'm doing that shit.

"Fuck no, Zion. A public apology? That's bullshit!" Pabulong kong sigaw sa tenga ni Zion.

"You don't have a fucking choice, Sollaire. Either this or thet kick you out of your business." Inis niya ring bulong sa akin.

Napatingin kami nang biglang mag salita si Judge Tamayo. "Well, that seems fair with all of the emotional and psychological effects these events had brought into these wives life. May I ask for your alternative in case the conditions are not met?"

Zuniga's wife smiled. "If the conditions are not met, we wan't her business to be out. Para hindi na rin siya makapanira pa ng relasyon at pamilya."

Nag pintig ang tenga ko at kumunot ang noo ko. Kung pwede ko lang hablutin ang buhok ng babaeng ito mula sa kabilang lamesa at ginawa ko na.

"This court will give you two weeks to adhere with the conditions said. We expect you to follow---"

"Fuck no."

Napatingin ang lahat sa akin ng dahil sa sinabi ko.

"Excuse me?" Nalilitong tanong ni Judge Tamayo.

Bahagya akong kinurot ni Zion sa ilalim ng lamesa. "Your Honor, what my client means is that--"

"What I said is..." I sighed. "Fuck no."

At kinuha ko na ang bag ko at tuloy tuloy na lumabas ng chambers.