"P-Pardon?" Mrs. Fortalejo looked more pained. "You are his defense attorney? You will defend him? Despite of everything what he have done to you, you will still defend him? He almost killed my daughter! My daughter who is in the critical state! My daughter who once to be your bestfriend! You will still defend him?!" she raised her voice.
I gulped. "My client is innocent until proven guilty, Madame."
The lady looked at me, mockingly. "Still a martyr, Cynwise. Aren't you?"
My calmed palms turned into tensed fist. That was a slap to me. But, it's okay. She knows nothing about me anymore anyway.
"Please excuse us, Madame. My client and I still have to talk on how we should prove his innocence," no more words added and we went out of the scene.
I looked at the police officer I know. "At the old interrogation room, Sir." I smiled then took a different path.
I entered the comfort room. Good thing that no one was there. I need to calm down. I looked at myself at the mirror. Does defending him makes me a martyr? Am I not just doing the things I think that are right? I shook my head. I will defend him not for myself, but for him, for them.
After I fixed myself, I went to the police desk.
"Good morning. I am Mr. Triptivo Lopez' lawyer, Atty. Cynwise Torres." I shook my hand with him. "I just want to ask if the prosecutor already filed a case against my client."
The police nodded, "Yes, Attorney. Actually, she just got here. She might talking to Mr. Lopez right now."
I smiled. "Thank you," then I left.
I went to the interrogation room. I was about to open the door widely when I heard emphatic murmurs.
"I can take it. I can pass this over. J-Just let me defend you," a familiar pleading voice said.
Triptivo sighed. "I already told you-"
He stopped talking when I entered the room. My eyes caught how Celestine Sevilla fix her face.
So, she's the prosecutor in charge.
"I'm sorry if I interrupted your talk. If it's all about the case, may I hear that since I'm Mr. Lopez' defense attorney. And if not, you can visit him and have your talk anytime unless we were discussing about his case, Prosecutor Sevilla." I frankly said to her.
Celestine looked at me. "Here's the copy of complaint," she handed out the papers. "The case filed against Mr. Lopez will be frustrated murder as per initial investigation. We will keep you posted about the arraignment," then she left.
I sat down at the seat opposite to Triptivo. "I want my client to feel convenient with me. So, how should I call you; with formality or first name basis?"
He shrugged while putting the ice pack at his cheek. "Your choice. As long as your comfortable."
Okay. Since I comprehend easily, "Mr. Lope--"
"Fine. Triptivo will do," he cut me off.
I nodded at him. "First things first. I know you are clever as ever. Note, it isn't a compliment but a description. Your cleverness will contribute a lot. If you really want get your ass off the cell, cooperation with me is the key."
His annoying smirk plastered on his face. "I wonder how my sister convince the three of you to defend me."
"For clarification, Yino protested and I'm sure Thelo will, too. Anytime by now he might be here. And that's when Yino told him." I paused. "Your sister and I already associated. She gave me a great offer."
"Really? I don't buy that. Knowing your name is constantly slamming at your field. I guess you are too affluent now," he told comfortably.
"Not enough to exceed your wealthiness." I don't know where this conversation will go. "I came here to talk to you about your case so keep those irrelevant questions and opinions to your mind, specially queries that are not related."
"One last question," he showed me his index finger.
"Fine. Go on."
"Hm, what if I really did the crime? I mean, what if I am the culprit?" he curiously asked.
I sat down properly. "You have the right to have a lawyer if you so desire. But, if you are really the culprit, just tell me so. I won't waste my time."
"So...I'm a waste of your time?" he sounded so hurt. Psh, he's a great actor.
I sighed deeply. "One last question, remember?" smirked etched on my face.
He raised his hands, a sign of defeat. "Right."
"The prosecutor already filed a case against you. I hope we will be handled by an objective and can't be bribed judge."That is our problem. Once we went to a wrong judge, our hopes will be so down.
"Don't worry about that." he calmly said.
I looked at him curiously. He doesn't look bothered though he is facing a heavy case.
"Oh! Don't look at me like that. I know I'm handsome but please, don't make it so obvious." Triptivo boasted.
I rolled my eyes. There's so many air in his head.
"Just kidding." he laughed. I don't know what's funny tho. "I'm fine and calm because I'm innocent."
There's a glint of melancholic in his face but I saw how he restrained it. My chest pained a bit. I guess because I pity him? Yeah. It's pity. A-And l-love. Love as a friend.
Silence deafened between us.
I cleared my throat. "Eena called you and so you came. You let her cried unto you but she didn't mention anything. She let you go home because her bestfriend, Celestine Sevilla will accompany her. Instead of going home, you stalked Darlene Manansala. You logged at 8:00 pm. But, you didn't left. When you heard the maintenance guy, that's when you knew about Eena." I stated his statement when we were interrogated.
He nodded. "Right. Why? Were you focusing your attention on me when we were interrogated?" he widely grinned.
Oh! His mood was back.
"I have two question. When Eena called you, what did she say?" I showed him my index finger indication of my first question. "I left my unit at exactly 8:00 pm. Let' say I spent 2 at the elevator, 3 minutes walking towards the unit, 7 minutes of waiting outside her unit, 5 minutes of being shocked, 1 minute shrieking of the maintenance guy and 5 minutes spent by maintenance guy asking for help and that's when you heard him." I showed my middle finger for the second question. "What were you doing at the area for the estimated 23 minutes if you have logged out already at 8:00 pm?"
His eyes widened a bit but he immediately turned calmed. "U-Uh, c-complete silence greeted me uhm-when she called me." I nodded at him while he cleared his throat. "About the estimated 23 minutes, I-I was worried about Eena. That's why."
He's worried about Eena, knowing that her bestfriend was there and they are both taekwondo black belters.
'Wish everyone was Eena.'
What am I thinking? I'm just kidding. Right! I was just kidding.
Goodness gracious. I need to focus on this.
"There's so many probabilities but one thing for me is kinda sure. Since you said that Eena was involved in an organization and you tried to get that, we can look at the set-up angle. But, the thing is, there was no traces. I know you have thought of that." And, I am sure about that.
But, I'd rather keep the last statement on me. His excessive self-esteem will be bragged.
"Yeah, I already thought about that. If that's the case, we will have a hard time. The crime seemed clean," he amusedly uttered.
Minutes passed I haven't notice that we were enveloped by silence.
"Uh," he broke the silence. "How are you? I hope you don't mind me asking."
I shrugged. "I'm fine. H-How about you?"
"I'm fine, too." he sighed deeply. "Why is it so awkward!" then he guffawed.
He noticed, too. What should I do now? Uhm, Should I go home?
"How's Uncle Thelonio and Auntie Wilhema?" His question made me uncomfortable.
I looked at my wrist watch. "I think I should go."
"Sorry if I made you uncomfortable with question," he told while his eyes were wandering at the room.
I shook my head slightly. A glisten of bitterness passed. I guess he can still predict me.
He suddenly laughed that made me startled.
"What so funny?" I curiously asked.
He held his stomach with his left hand while he raised his left hand and waved it. "N-Nothing."
I scowled. He's laughing about nothing. Is he crazy? Or is he just laughing at me?
"I'm feeling insulted." I retorted that made him laugh more.
"Sorry. I can't help it." he said between his laughs. "This scenario is so familiar."
I tried to dig some of my memories if this scene is familiar, too.
He stopped laughing. "You didn't remember it, did you?"
I didn't answer. Instead, I shot him with a confused stare.
"Remember the time when you were 'so-called' demurely chasing me?"
*****