Kabanata 05

Lumapit si Anna, casually tucking a strand of hair behind her ear like she practiced it. "Hi, I'm Anna."

Napansin ni Isabel ang lalaking naka-pormal—matangkad, mukhang laging seryoso, at may aura na parang lahat ng tao sa paligid ay tatahimik na lang pag dumating siya.

Benjamin.

She hadn't noticed him at first, but now that she had, the air felt different. Benjamin's brows furrowed. Isang hakbang siyang umatras. Malamig ang tono, parang may yelo sa hangin. "Sorry, I don't shake hands. Sino ka?"

Napatigil si Anna, but quickly recovered with a practiced smile. "Senior, I graduated from Casa University din. Three years after you. Remember? Nag-co-host tayo ng gala before." 

She didn't even wait for confirmation and jumped right in. "I'd like to request your help with a lawsuit."

Benjamin stood there, all intimidating 1.9 meters of him, like a walking iceberg in a suit. Even from a corner, the man had presence.

Sumingit si Anton, hawak ang kamay ni Anna. "We want to file for annulment. Don't worry, there will be benefits for you, Attorney Benj."

Ang hindi nila sinabi: if Benjamin took Anna's side, automatic, kailangan nang umalis ni Isabel at maghanap ng ibang firm.

Tumalikod si Isabel kay Anton, tapos humarap kay Miguel. Calm pero direct. "Mr. Miguel, I'm curious—sino po mas mataas ang posisyon, kayo o si Attorney Benjamin?"

Bago pa makasagot si Miguel, natawa na si Anna, sarcastic ang dating. "Miss Isabel, si senior ang chief lawyer ng ZH legal firm. He doesn't deal with scammers."

Sasagot na rin sana si Isabel, pero may nauna sa kanya.

"A scammer?" malamig na boses ni Benjamin. "Miss Anna, may ebidensya ka ba? Kasi kung wala, that's defamation. Criminal offense 'yan."

Nagkibit-balikat si Anna, kunwari composed. "Ganito kasi 'yan. Two years ago..."

Inisa-isa niya ang kwento, na parang expert witness. Kesyo nagkaroon ng fraudulent marriage daw si Isabel, may limang bilyong investment galing sa hindi malinaw na source, na nilabhan sa pamamagitan ng Santos family.

"Lolo Santos even offered her 7 billion pesos para matapos na. Pero hindi, she's asking for 1.5 billion USD!"

Para siyang martyr sa tono. Like she's doing Isabel a favor.

Hindi na binanggit ni Anna ang prenup. Alam niyang makakasira 'yon sa narrative niya.

Miguel, na tahimik lang kanina, biglang sumeryoso ang mukha. 1.5 billion USD? Parang hindi niya kayang ipaglaban 'yun.

Nagtanong siya, diretso. "Miss Isabel, saan mo nakuha ang 5 billion?"

Lahat ng mata napalingon kay Isabel, waiting for her to crack.

All eyes turned to Isabel.

She didn't flinch. Didn't panic. Just smirked, cool and controlled.

"Simple lang po. Kung sino ang nag-aakusa, siya ang dapat magbigay ng ebidensya."

Her gaze shifted to Benjamin.

"Tama ba, Attorney Benjamin?"

Benjamin nodded, face unreadable. "Tama. Kung walang proof ng fraud, walang kaso. Pero kung may ebidensya, the money doesn't go back to the Santos family—it goes to the police."

"...To the police?" Anton echoed, confused and offended.

“Excuse me?!” reklamo ni Anton, pero pinatigil siya ni Anna.

“Two years ago may massive fraud sa bansa,” dagdag ni Anna. “And around the same time, biglang may 5 billion si Miss Isabel. Hindi ba kaduda-duda?”

Just then, drama exploded out of nowhere.

Biglang may tumakbo papunta kay Isabel—isang cleaning lady, umiiyak, sabay luhod at yakap sa pantalon niya.

“Miss Isabel! Pakibalik po ‘yung ₱500,000! Yun lang po ang pampagamot sa asawa ko—wala na po siya! Wala na! Pero may mga anak pa ako!”

Nagkagulo. Tahimik ang lahat. Lahat nanlaki ang mata.

Napaatras si Isabel, pero hindi siya umiyak, hindi siya sumigaw. Tinignan lang niya yung babae, expressionless.

Benjamin, "Security."

Guards rushed in, pulling the crying woman away. Her screams faded down the hall, but the awkward tension stayed.

Anna's smile grew. The damage was done.

Benjamin turned, eyes sweeping the room like lasers.

"Lahat tayo dito abugado. Spread one more false claim and I swear—none of you will work in this field again."

Everyone went silent.

Anna looked confused. Why was he defending Isabel?

Isabel, unbothered, turned back to Miguel. "About the case..."

"Sorry, Miss Fernandez. I can't take it," Miguel said, clearly stressed. "Your story's unclear. The amount is too big. I can't go against my conscience."

Tumango si Anton. "Good decision, Mr. Miguel. At least alam namin na si Attorney Benj ang kakampi namin."

Tumingin siya kay Isabel, malamig ang mata. "Be smart, Isabel. Kunin mo na lang yung 7 billion at umalis ka."

Pero tumango lang si Isabel, with a smug smirk. "Ang lakas ng boses niyo, pero wala namang laman. Hindi lang pera ko ang kukunin ko—magsasampa ako ng kaso. Malicious defamation. Siraan niyo pa ko, sabay-sabay tayong magkita sa korte."

She turned, ready to leave.

"Miss Fernandez."

She paused. Looked back.

"Yes?"

Benjamin met her gaze. Calm. Steady.

"Kukunin ko ang case mo."

The entire room froze.

"ATTORNEY BENJAMIN?!" Anton shouted. "But—you said—"

Benjamin raised an eyebrow. "When did I ever say yes to you?"

Anton turned to Anna, who looked like she'd just been slapped.

She narrowed her eyes. "Senior..." umpisa niya, calm pero may edge, "Kahit kilala mo si Miss Isabel, dapat ka pa ring pumili ng tama. Maraming inosente ang nasaktan sa scam. You're not just a lawyer—you're supposed to represent justice."

Pero nanatiling kalmado si Benjamin. "Exactly.”

Hindi nawala ang titig ni Benjamin. At alam ng lahat—nagsisimula pa lamang siya..